Immune System Facts
Immune System Facts
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| Interesting Immune System Facts: |
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| One of the first responses by the immune system is inflammation. Common symptoms of inflammation in the body include redness, swelling, pain, and even heat at the site of inflammation. It can also occur inside the body where we can't see it. The process of inflammation draws immune cells to the injured area to promote healing. |
| Although many people think a fever is bad - it is actually good in most cases because it is the body heating up to fight off infection. |
| Sleep is very important for a person's immune system. If a person does not get enough sleep every night their immune system becomes tired and it can't do its job. |
| Stress can damage a person's immune system. Some stress is good, but too much of the bad stress can make the immune system unhealthy. This leaves the person more vulnerable to all types of illnesses. |
| Sun is important for the immune system. When a person spends time in the sun their body produces vitamin D, which is vital for health. People with autoimmune disorders need even more vitamin D. |
| The immune system benefits from laughter. It is estimated that 20 minutes of laughter each day helps to keep the immune system healthy because laughing releases hormones that decrease stress. |
| The human body is full of good bacteria necessary for life, but the immune system can learn which bacteria and germs are not healthy and fight them off when they try to invade the body. This is why eating food that builds good bacteria in the digestive system is important for a healthy body and strong immune system. |
| Some people are born with almost no immune system and must live in an environment that is completely sterile to avoid becoming sick. A movie about a boy with this disorder was made in 1976 called The Boy in the Plastic Bubble. 1 in 100,000 people are born with this. |
| Vaccinations are designed to provide the body with defence against dangerous and deadly diseases such as smallpox, flu epidemics, and polio. |
| Autoimmune diseases are those that cause the body's natural defense system to attack healthy tissues, such as psoriasis, celiac disease and rheumatoid arthritis. |
| In the immune system it is the white blood cells that travel around in the blood and lymph to fight infections. Despite their small proportion of only 1% of blood they are extremely effective and important to one's immune system and health. |