What You Need to Know About Your Immune System

Our immune systems are made up of cells, proteins, tissues, and organs that defend against germs and other microorganisms. For the most part the immune system does an excellent job at keeping us healthy but sometimes things can go wrong in the immune system and cause infections, illness, or diseases.

Immune response is the steps the immune system takes to attack organisms and other intruders of the body, called antigens. Leukocytes or white blood cells are the cells that are part of the defense system; they seek and destroy the organisms. White blood cells are produced and stored in many different locations of the body like the spleen, thymus, and bone marrow. That is why those organs are called the lymphatic organs. Clumps of lymphatic tissue are placed throughout the body as well, they are known as lymph nodes.

The leukocytes circulate through the body between the organs and nodes through the lymphatic vessels. They also travel through the blood vessels. There are two types of leukocytes, phagocytes and lymphocytes. Phagocytes are cells that chew up the intruding organisms and the lymphocytes are cells that allow the body to remember and recognize previous intruders to help destroy them.

Every one is born with a natural immunity. It is called innate immunity and it is a type of general protection that we have. Many of the germs that affect other species can't harm us. Distemper in dogs or leukemia in cats can't affect humans and the AIDS virus can't make cats or dogs sick either. Innate immunity includes skin and mucous membranes. So it is what heals cuts and causes running noses.

Adaptive Immunity is our active immunity that develops throughout our lives. It develops as children and adults that are exposed to diseases through immunizations or vaccinations. Passive immunity is borrowed from another source like a mother breast feeding an infant. It does so because the mother is immune to certain diseases so drinking the milk from the mother will give temporary immunity to diseases that the mother has been exposed too. This can help to protect the infant from infection in the early years of childhood as well.

As we get older we become immune to more bacteria and germs, which is why more adults and teens tend not to get sick as much as children do. But there are many things that can go wrong with the immune system. There are many disorders that can happen in the immune system such as immunodeficiency, autoimmune disorders, allergic disorders, and cancers of the immune system.

Immunodefiencies happen when part of the immune system is not there or is not working correctly. AIDS or HIV are immunodefiencies. Autoimmune disorders are when the immune system attacks its own body by mistake. Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are autoimmune disorders. Allergic disorders happen when the immune system overreacts to exposure of antigens in the environment. Asthma and eczema are examples of allergic disorders in the immune system. Cancers in the immune system are when cells grow out of control. Leukemia involves overgrowth of lymphoid tissues and is the most common childhood cancer.

Immune disorders usually can not be prevented but you can keep your immune system strong to help it fight off illness and stay healthy. Alternative Health Supplements offers a product called Immuno Xcell. It is made to supplement what nutrients you don't get in your everyday diet that helps strength your immune system. It has probiotic support for optimal immune system function and defense. This product has all natural ingredients and has no side effects so it is perfectly safe to use on a daily basis. It will give you better overall health and an improved sense of well being.