The immune system is a network of cells, organs, and tissues that helps the body fight off infections and other diseases. An infection occurs when a germ, such as a bacterium or virus, invades the body and multiplies while attacking it.<\/p>\n

The immune system is made up of several different components, each with its own function:<\/p>\n

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• Skin: acts as a barrier, keeping germs from entering the body.<\/li>\n
• Mucous membranes: moist inner linings found in certain body cavities or organs, generally serving to trap or fight off germs.<\/li>\n
• White blood cells: fight off germs that have entered the body and are produced with the help of antibodies.<\/li>\n
• Lymphatic system organs and tissues: made up of organs such as the spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow, responsible for producing, storing, and transporting white blood cells.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  What Are Immune System Diseases?Although the immune system exists to fight off disease, it can also develop its own conditions.<\/p>\n

  Sometimes the immune system triggers a response when there’s no real threat, which can present as asthma, allergies, or autoimmune diseases.<\/p>\n

  The immune system can also malfunction and develop immunodeficiency disorders, which cause a person to get sick more often, take longer to recover, or experience more severe illness than usual. This often results from a genetic disorder.<\/p>\n

  There are also diseases that directly attack the immune system itself, such as HIV, which destroys the body’s white blood cells.<\/p>\n

  Different Immune System DiseasesThere’s a wide range of immune system diseases and disorders that can occur, generally classified into two categories:<\/p>\n

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  • Defects in overall function: this includes immunodeficiency diseases, which are extreme cases that result in severe or recurring infections that can be life-threatening. These occur more frequently in children, but can also affect adults, and aren’t always easy to treat.<\/li>\n
  • Malfunctioning immune response: when the immune system functions in an uncoordinated way, it can cause damage to the person’s own tissues, potentially resulting in conditions such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, leprosy, autoimmune thyroiditis, primary biliary cirrhosis, or autoimmune hepatitis, among others.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Treatments for the Immune SystemSince there are so many possible causes behind immune system diseases, a wide range of treatments is also needed. Some are used therapeutically to modify a person’s immune mechanisms, such as monoclonal antibodies, fusion proteins, soluble cytokine receptors or recombinant cytokines, small-molecule modulators, and cell-based therapies.<\/p>\n

    In addition, when possible, it’s also important to address the root cause behind the immune system’s malfunction. Because of this, receiving proper, individualized medical care is essential for each case.<\/p>\n

    Preventive Steps to TakeWhile not every immune system disease can be prevented, there are steps each person can take to help reduce the risk of developing one:<\/p>\n

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    • Healthy diet: always key to overall health, eating well gives the immune system the energy and micronutrients it needs to function properly.<\/li>\n
    • Exercise: physical activity supports muscle development and helps reduce stress, but it can also improve immune function by boosting overall circulation and helping immune cells move more efficiently throughout the body.<\/li>\n
    • Hydration: lymph, a fluid in the circulatory system that transports immune cells, is made up largely of water.<\/li>\n
    • Sleep: many important bodily processes happen during sleep, including the production of molecules that help fight infections.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      It’s also important to maintain regular medical checkups to help catch any of these conditions early, if they occur, making treatment easier and, in some cases, preventing the disease from progressing.<\/p>\n

      At ABC Medical Center\u2019s Internal Medicine area, we can provide you with specialized care related to the immune system and its diseases. Contact us!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      The immune system is a network of cells, organs, and tissues that helps the body fight off infections and other diseases. An infection occurs when a germ, such as a bacterium or virus, invades the body and multiplies while attacking it. The immune system is made up of several different components, each with its own […]<\/p>\n

      Read More… from What Is an Immune System Disease?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":238883,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[947,2999],"tags":[3232],"class_list":["post-610034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-digital-magazine","category-internal-medicine","tag-internal-medicine"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n