Building up the immune system - Systematic defense
I got it: my nose is running, my throat is scratching, my head hurts. For three days a severe cold has plagued me. I only commute between the sofa, the fridge and the paper tissue depot. I huddle under my blanket and fall asleep again, unimpressed by the hectic hustle and bustle that reigns in my body. I do not have to worry about the fact that my immune system has extra shifts around the clock for coughs, runny nose, hoarseness.
Right now the cold viruses are in full control of me. Ultimately, it makes no difference which of the many different pathogens with such complicated names as rhino, adeno, parainfluenza or respiratory syncytial virus is responsible for my complaints. After all, everyone wants to do just one thing: to inject their genetic material into my cells in order to produce as many virus offspring as possible. So the evildoers plant themselves mercilessly and make me sick.
Maybe a cold person has coughed or sneezed me. The cold viruses allegedly fly 150 kilometers per hour and up to four meters wide. Or I picked up the pathogens on a doorknob, a grab handle in the bus or a damp towel and did not wash my hands often enough. So the viruses got into my nose sometime and stuck there in the mucus. If I had cleaned my nose, the Enter attempt of the germs would have failed. But when the pathogen reaches the first cell layer of the mucous membranes in the nose, in the mouth or in the throat unscathed, they are almost at their destination. Then only our body's own defenses can intercept the dangerous invaders.
Our immune system is extremely sophisticated
Our immune system is one of the most sophisticated organs of our body. Flexible, purposeful, adaptable and non-stop in action. Trillions of immune cells patrol our bodies day and night, always on the look-out for dangerous viruses, bacteria, parasites and tumor cells. A separate security force that we carry around with us for a lifetime.
Like a large supra-regional security company, the immune system has several major sites with various functions, including the spleen, thymus, tonsils, and lymph nodes. The most important employees are the white blood cells, the leukocytes. They arise from stem cells of the bone marrow and are trained in the different departments to experts with special tasks. As needed, they then swarm to take necessary security measures anywhere in the tissue, between the cells, in the blood and lymph channels, as soon as unwanted intruders overcome the outer protective barrier of the body. Already in the skin store substances that dissolve the shell of pathogens and make them harmless. That's why it's important that we build a strong immune system.
Such endogenous antibiotics, such as defensins, also lurk in the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat and nose. Although they eliminate bacteria quickly, they can not harm most common cold viruses. Why this is so, science can not explain exactly, despite intensive research. The fact is, however, that the ill-producing little ones mostly calmly dock to the first cells of the mucous membranes, open their sheaths and thread their genetic material into them. The body cells are infected with it, and after about ten hours, the first virus offspring hatch out of them.
Now the alarm is sounded. The affected body cells but messengers from, there are cytokines such as interferon and interleukin formed. They cause the typical cold symptoms: The mucous membranes inflame and swell. More secretion is produced, the nose is running, eyes are watering.
More importantly, employees of the security company can use these substances to communicate with one another without the need for a higher-level control center. The messengers give the signal that safety specialists are sent to certain corners of the body, helpers are increased and productivity is increased as quickly as possible.
After a few days, the immune system has won the fight
First of all, the chemical call for help kills natural killer cells exactly where the invaders have taken root. Unerringly, they use their enzyme tools to destroy the virus-infected cells. Then the clean-up team gets there: phagocytes like the macrophages (Greek for "big eaters") that can stretch, twist or flatten their monstrous bodies like amoebae. These shapeshifters enclose unpleasant intruders, engulf them, and drag them into their digestive vesicles to finally decompose them.Equally insatiable are the circulating monocytes ("protozoa") and neutrophils granulocytes ("granular cells"). And also the dendritic cells like to eat viruses. With their long cell processes, the dendrites, they resemble small octopuses, which shimmy through our body tissue.
The pharyngeal cells will infiltrate everything foreign that comes to meet them. Whether something is actually foreign or belongs to our body, recognize the hungry on the house card of the cells, the so-called MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex), which indicates the tissue compatibility. This molecular pass differs from person to person and sits like a flag on almost all body cells. Only red blood cells and sperm lack this mark? otherwise sexual reproduction would be just as impossible as a blood transfusion. However, cold viruses do not have this house ID. Therefore, sooner or later they will be exposed as intruders, picked up, digested and dissolved. The Natural Killer and Fresszellen need three to five days until the last virus is neutralized. Then the immune system won the fight. And after two more days, which are needed for cleansing the body, the disease is finally over.
But why do you always get a cold after that? Why is one not immune to the pathogens for life, such as measles or whooping cough? Research has long been interested in this question. Because cold viruses are among the infectious agents that affect us most often. Every adult suffers from run cold, coughing, hoarseness about two to four times a year. "An 80-year-old man has spent at least a year of his life with colds," says Professor Johannes Stöckl, an immunologist from the Medical University of Vienna. Extremely unpleasant for us and economically also an enormous damage valued at billions of euros. So it is understandable that science wants to find out what is different with cold-causes than, for example, measles viruses.
Cold viruses are cunning tricksters
An important reason for the lack of immunity, the researchers already know: Cold viruses are cunning tricksters. As Stöckl could prove, they deliberately bypass the heads of the immune system. The bosses? these are the T cells, highly specialized immune cells that are trained in the thymus gland and that control and regulate almost every procedure in the security company. They have tremendous expertise and a fantastic memory. So they save the profile of every intruder they've ever dealt with. If germs of the same type get in their way again, the T cells deliberately mobilize their special forces in order to switch them off within a few hours. Measles viruses have no second chance with these safety strategists. You will be immediately recognized, many years later? therefore we are immune to it for life after an infection.
Our immune system has to start over with every cold
This does not work for cold viruses. They camouflage themselves so well that the bosses do not know anything about their presence in the body. Normally, the voracious dendritic cells act as rapporteurs. Once they devour a culprit, they present the remnants of their meal to the T cells. The bosses memorize their structure and subsequently order B-cell-formed B-cells to make antibodies specifically tailored to them and release them into the blood as a precautionary measure. These antibodies to certain pathogens, also called immunoglobulins, remain in our veins for a lifetime. If such an intruder re-emerges, immediately stick to it. This attracts phagocytes that engulf the whole body of antibodies. The danger is banned.
However, cold viruses elude this safety concept very cleverly: Before they are digested by the dendritic cells, they still manipulate them quickly so that they can not tell the T cells about the intruders. But without a report and profile, there are no tailor-made antibodies in the blood. That's why we have a cold again and again. And the immune system has to start all over again from time to time with its laborious work. We can only support it a bit at the most. Even the best medicines and home remedies can only relieve the annoying symptoms, but hardly shorten our suffering time. A cold takes just seven days with medicine? and without a week. The body can not do it faster.
Strengthening root potion for the immune system
"In the winter, I fortify my immune system with a root potion, adding a teaspoon of dried angelica root from the pharmacy, a slice of fresh asparagus and a piece of cinnamon bark, both about one centimeter long, and boil two to three cardamom seeds in half a liter of water, Let it rest for a few minutes and then strain it, and drink a cup of it every day, sweetened with a little honey. "
Susanne Fischer-Rizzi, expert for medicinal plant science, from Sulzberg
Biochemical immune cure
"As an immune cure, I recommend that my patients melt two to four tablets of the following Schüßler salts in their mouths for four weeks: in the morning Ferrum phosphoricum D12 (salt no. 3), in the afternoon magnesium phosphoricum D6 (no During the evening potassium sulphicum D6 (# 6). "
Günther H. Heepen, non-medical practitioner and expert in biochemistry according to Dr. med. Schuessler
Bioactive nutrition for a strong immune system
"Of particular importance to the body's defense system are bioactive substances in the diet, such as secondary phytochemicals, especially carotenoids, which are dyes that give fruit and vegetables yellow to red color, and sulfides, sulfur-containing fragrances and flavorings in onions, Garlic and leeks stimulate some functions of the immune system and probiotics - living microorganisms such as lactic acid-forming bacteria in yoghurts - have a positive effect on the body's defenses every day.
Also good is vitamin C. However, recent analysis of more than 50 studies using ascorbic acid to prevent colds has shown inconsistent results. Instead of taking vitamin pills, our recommendation is still: to consume fresh fruit and vegetables at every meal, five servings a day. "
Antje Gahl, graduate ecotrophologist at the German Society for Nutrition e.V. in Bonn
Mindful lifestyle
"The immune system is an expression of the balance between the self and the stranger, so it can never be considered isolated from my way of life, so I recommend looking at one's personal life rhythm, pausing time and time again, wondering how I live, for which Goals How to design my day How to deal with my needs such as eating and drinking, sleep and wakefulness, rest and stimulation, community and being alone What harmful effects, such as nicotine and alcohol, can I avoid This mindful lifestyle can lead to an improved personal immunological balance.
Anyone who still gets sick should accept this as a necessary phase to find a new balance. So treat yourself to rest, not suppress fever by medication and support the self-regulation of the body by indicated homeopathic remedies or herbal home remedies. "
Lars B. Stange, General Practitioner from Kissing and Chairman of the German Central Association of Homeopathic Physicians e.V.
Modest sport strengthens the immune system
"My personal recipe: wear jogging shoes during lunch break or after work and walk comfortably through a park Regular, moderate physical activity strengthens the immune system.
The sport does not matter. Optimal is a mixture of endurance, strength and flexibility exercises. Much more important is to find the right level and enjoy it. If you feel tired and exhausted, you should take it easy. If you are energetic, the immune system can sometimes take a kick. But you should never overdo it. Too intense or too long sports units weaken the defense. "
Professor Petra Platen, sports physician at the Ruhr University Bochum
Stress can harm the immune system
Anyone who is heavily stressed in everyday life, gets sick faster. How this can be avoided, explains private lecturer Sigrid Elsenbruch of the Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Immunology at the University Hospital Essen.
ChroniquesDuVasteMonde-WOMAN.de: Does stress damage the immune system?
Sigrid Elsenbruch: Stress is harmful if it is very stressful and lasts for a long time. This can be the case with divorces, for example, or when you have to look after your mother or father. Even bullying at work triggers chronic stress that weakens the body's defense. It has been scientifically proven that people who are permanently stressed, have frequent colds. In contrast, short-term stress does not harm the immune system. It is important that you can always recover afterwards and not slip directly into a new exhausting phase.
ChroniquesDuVasteMonde-WOMAN.de: What exactly happens with stress in the immune system?
Sigrid Elsenbruch: The immune system consists of very complex networks that change under stress. The brain is linked to the immune system via the hormonal system and various nervous systems. Short-term stress can mobilize forces in the body. In such situations he raises the immune system. The number of natural killer cells is increasing, and their ability to eat other cells is increasing. In chronic stress, however, the concentration of stress hormones, including cortisol, remains permanently at a high level. This weakens the body, increases its susceptibility to infections and makes us ill.
ChroniquesDuVasteMonde-WOMAN.de: What can be done about it?
Sigrid Elsenbruch: It would be good to keep relaxing after stressful phases. Yoga, meditation and laughter have been proven to help relieve chronic stress. But also the circle of friends is important. Lower social contacts and support? as well as relaxation? the cortisol level.So they can protect their health through the immune system. This effect is actually proven for colds.
