IMMUNITY: THE ARMY INSIDE YOU

Edward E. Jacobs, Jr, MD (Dr Ted), a graduate of Princeton and Harvard Medical School, is a biotechnology consultant with over 25 years experience in biopharmaceutical and medical device development, as well as, 35 years of teaching and direct patient care. His drug development experience has involved international human and animal trials, including medical support for the FDA and global regulatory affairs. Dr. Jacobs received surgical training at Harvard and held research positions at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD, and at St. Thomas’ Hospital Medical School, London. He has served as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Harvard Medical School, on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Armenise-Harvard Foundation and the Publications Committee for the New England Journal of Medicine. His current focus is on natural supplement formulations for human and animal use, anti-aging strategies, and primitive cell biology. He is an author of more than 40 scientific publications and is the holder of four patents.

The Immune System

Our bodies are under attack constantly. Every second of every day, our tireless internal frontline warriors keep us safe from threats in the world around us and even ones that arise from within us. But how does the immune system work?

First off, the immune system protects us from a long list of threats, including germs like viruses and bacteria, toxic materials like tobacco, and undesirable chemicals from defective cells due to traumatic injury or abnormal growth.

The immune system is an army of specialized cells that serve primarily to identify and destroy these attacking health threats in order to minimize the damage they cause to your body’s normal organ cells.  When the body detects a need for an immune response, it starts a complex immune reaction through an Inflammatory response that dilates local blood vessels, causing increased blood flow with battle-ready immune cells to contain and confront the invaders.

This involves the activity of many different specialized immune cells like neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells.

Types of Immune Cells:

• Neutrophils are very active in combating invaders like bacteria and a majority of them die in the battle.
• Macrophages are known to eat large numbers of intruders before dying.
• Dendritic cells help identify threats and alert the other immune cells.
• In addition to the force of these soldiers, there is a defensive release of many specific chemicals, including antibodies, cytokines, and oxygen radicals, to combat the threats.

Primitive Cells

This initial defense is followed by replacement of any of the body’s damaged cells with healthy ones. To accomplish this, primitive cells, including stem cells and their derivatives, are activated by the immune system to produce more healthy immune cells and to promote the restoration of healthy organs and tissues.^1,2  The primitive cells are found in the bone marrow and in every organ of the body.  They act like a factory to produce immune cells and whatever specialized cells are needed to repair organs like the LUNGS, HEART and LIVER.

Infections: Bacteria or Virus?

When it comes to treating infections, many people think of antibiotics. But, in contrast to many bacterial infections, antibiotics are not generally effective for viruses. In many viral attacks, when no protective vaccinations or effective therapeutic drugs are available, the immune system may be the body’s only main defense.

Maintaining Healthy Lungs and Immune System

Weakened immune function results from many factors, including immune system disorders, unhealthy lifestyle, and the co-existence of severe diseases like cancer, diabetes and hepatitis. Often simply aging can weaken the immune system.

Strengthening the Immune System

Inherent major immune system problems and co-existing disorders usually require specialized management by professionals.

A healthy lifestyle, including adequate nutrition, sleep, exercise, and avoidance of environmental hazards, like smoking, generally supports normal lung and immune function.