february, 2019 | The Health
column
freepik
17
17
Our immune system
A closer look into the body’s
powerful defense mechanism
against foreign invaders
the surgical option, “explains Dr Agilan.
However, azoospermia caused by
blockages will need surgery, either in the
form of extracting sperm or relieving the
blockage.
Private heartache
It’s no secret. Infertility is almost
always thought of as a woman’s issue.
The traditional concept of “a real man” is
often a pressure and even those who have
looked for support hesitate to identify as
someone struggling with male infertility.
“Some men quietly do a sperm test to
find out about their condition. They’ll
come in and I’ll tell them to bring their
wife in because she has to know what their
spouse is going through. Men normally
don’t express their emotions but you
know they are very much affected.” — The
Health
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diagnostic laparoscopy and dye test, the
cause of the condition could be known
and further treatment could be done in
the same setting. Attempts to remove scar
tissue that has been formed could be done
to restore as much as possible the function
of the fallopian tube. Unfortunately, in a
majority of case, once the tube is damaged,
it will be difficult to repair it.
What would be the
treatment?
For patients with blocked both tubes and
keen to conceive, only IVF treatment
would be the most suitable fertility
treatment and with the highest rate of
pregnancy rate.
In a nutshell
There needs to be public awareness that
women aren’t the only cause of infertility.
Even men could have issues with their
sperm contributing to fertility issues. It is
always important for the couple to be sup-
portive of each other. We need to be aware
that men and women both get affected
emotionally but have different ways of
coping and would require as much support
as possible. In addition, the surrounding
relatives and community as a whole should
be sensitive and supportive.
Infertility should not be treated as a
taboo issue, instead we should be more
open to discuss about it and treat it as a
medical condition which should be treated
early with the right doctor and treatment
to have a better outcome for majority of
women. . — The Health
By DATO DR RAJBANS SINGH
T
he immune system is the body’s silent but
powerful defense mechanism against “foreign
invaders”. These invaders might be those
capable of causing infections such as viruses,
bacteria or fungus. On the other hand these
invaders may be the body’s own cells, growing
in an abnormal malignant fashion.
The immune theory of ageing suggests that as we get
older our immune system becomes less efficient and we
become more prone to infections and cancer. Even in the
recent severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS)
epidemic the disease was more severe in the older age
group. Hence having a powerful and efficient immune
system could be one of the keys to age successfully.
Like the brain, the immune system is one of the body’s
most complex organizations. The precise coordination
of the billions of cells and numerous chemicals is truly
phenomenal.
Our immune system
The immune system is composed of billions of white blood
cells that move in and out of the immune system organs
such as the thymus, lymph nodes, liver and spleen. These
disease fighters also travel in the blood system and lym-
phatic channels to wherever they are needed, for instance
to the skin, intestine, lungs or brain. Each cell is very spe-
cialized and they all interact with each other in intricate,
very rapid patterns to protect us from foreign invaders.
The five main cells in the immune system are:
• The T-cells : helper, suppressor and killer
• The B-cells
• The macrophages
The system is never totally at rest. It is on guard 24 hours
a day. The most important task of the immune system
is the recognition of its own cells against an intruder or
foreign invader.
The macrophage is a large cell that wanders around
the body looking for intruders and is usually the first cell
An illustration of the human spleen.
to come in contact with an invader. Macrophages can
flow along with the blood and can move very fast when
stimulated. When really stimulated, they actually eat live
virus, bacteria and cancer cells. If they have any problem
in identifying an invader, they can call a T-helper cell for
verification.
• T-helper cell is the main cell of the immune system
because it is the cell that activates the whole system to
go to war.
• AIDS is a disease of the T-helper cell. The T-helper cell
works with the macrophage in identifying an intruder.
Besides just turning the system on, the T-helper cell
excites the whole immune system. He starts the war
and keeps it going at a high level of activity. To keep the
balance someone has to calm things down when the war
is over. That’s where the T-suppressor cells come in.
• T-suppressor cell calm down the immune system when
the war is over. When the battle is won, the suppres-
sors slow down the activity and restore the system to
normal.
• B-cells produce antibodies. These are specific chemicals
to destroy or neutralize invaders. Each antibody is
designed for one invading organism.
• T-killer cells are our first line of defense against cancer
cells. They are able to recognize own cells gone bad
and destroy them before they can multiply and cause
harm. — The Health
Dato Dr Rajbans Singh is the Malaysian Wellness Society
president and Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur consultant physi-
cian and geriatrician. He can be contacted at drrajbans.com
Immune system associated with ageing
The following features of the immune
system are associated with ageing:
1. Cell-mediated immunity wanes,
leading to a resurgence of
tuberculosis and varicella (in the
form of herpes zoster).
2. Mucosal immunity declines.
3. There is a decline in humoral
immunity (antibody production), but
only to antigens requiring T- helper
cells which are depleted following
thymic involution. This impairment
of immune surveillance may
impede the elimination of abnormal
and neoplastic cells. Hence the use
of thymic extracts to boost immune
response has shown results.
4. Immunization to influenza remains
effective but that to hepatitis seems
to less so.
5. The T- suppressor cells
function less well, so
auto-antibody production
increases leading to some increase
in autoimmune diseases.
6. The macrophage response seems
less vigorous.
7. Malnutrition and diabetes are likely
to compound these problems.
Gerontologists believe that this
failure in immune system that ultimately
leads to premature death in an older
person. The question is what weakens
the immune system and what can
we do to maintain and strengthen the
immune system.
Immune system destroyers
1. Inadequate rest which includes
adequate sleep. Poor sleep quality
and insufficient rest weakens the
immune system.
2. Stress
3. Fat and high cholesterol-lab.
Studies have shown that the speed
of the macrophages had slowed
down considerably in people with
high
cholesterol levels.
4. Heavy metals such as lead,
mercury and cadmium all depress
the immune system even at very
low levels.
5. Over consumption of sweets and
junk food.
6. Alcohol and tobacco abuse
7. Toxic environmental chemicals
- pesticides, herbicides and the
thousands of chemicals from our
huge industrial complex.
8. Depression
9. Obesity depresses T-cell
response and movement of the
macrophages.
10. Hormone deficiency
especially growth hormone
as this is needed for the various
cells to communicate with each
other.
11. Free radical damage which
reduces the response of the whole
immune system.