A new blood test can reveal whether your immune system is fighting properly by looking at the balance of various immune cells, but there may be an easier way to measure immune health. Hmm
health
January 31, 2023
Keep track of how many illnesses you have each year to keep track of your immune health Vicky Turner
When you’re under the covers and smelling your third cold this year, you may be wondering if your immune system is functioning properly. A question we all want to answer: Is our immune system healthy? I’m here. The idea is that it could help people stay ahead of problems and motivate them to make lifestyle changes to avoid illness.
To understand how healthy the immune system really is, let alone improve it, it helps to first understand what it actually does. Think of it as your internal army, using it to eliminate enemy invaders, avoid collateral damage to your organization, and constantly adapt to new challenges.
Like a real army, the immune system can also be disrupted, causing some units to underperform and others to go out of control.
So how do you know if your army is doing its best? Let’s start by looking at the various components. The first line of defense comes from innate immune cells such as macrophages. Macrophages engulf bacteria and release chemicals that cause inflammation, helping the cells keep pathogens at bay.
Once a threat is identified, a second line of defense called the adaptive immune system kicks in using more specialized tools. For example, B cells form antibodies that bind to unwanted newcomers and render …
