Part 2 - "If Not Us, Who? If Not Now, When?"
"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less." ― Marie Curie
Part Two—Healthy Immune Systems Kick A$$!!!!
“Trust the Science,” — Dr. Anthony "I AM Science” Fauci
When in reality, what he means is…
Personally, I prefer to trust REAL SCIENCE and the TRUTH.
Please Read and/or Listen to the Audio. For clarification and verification, definitely check out the videos, the references, and the links. Please feel free to comment—And Please Share. As always, I appreciate that you’re here, and I truly appreciate your support. P.S. I’ve had a ton of issues with the audio having some “glitches” with substack’s audio recorder, hence this being my 5th attempt at recording…which I’m now doing via an app on my phone…if there are any little glitches in this audio, please forgive me, (insert smile). As much as I want everything I share with you to be as flawless as possible, I can’t keep fighting with this #@!#! audio, as I really want to get this out.
I hope you all doing well. I was hoping to have this done before now, however, life had other plans, by way of a whole lot of new-to-me, information that I had to read, research, and get my mind around. It’s taken a while, but I think I’ve got it managed now, so I can continue writing. I’ve got 4 other parts in the works as we speak, or read, haha, and am really chomping at the bit to get them done and shared. As I said in Part One, I am trying to do these parts methodically…I truly believe knowledge is power. And knowledge can help us overcome fear…which through my own observations, seems to be what just might help a whole lot of people. So, hang with me…it won’t all feel like school, I promise…There truly IS a method to my madness…You’ll probably see and hear me say this a lot…
So, ok, let’s go….
As I know you all most certainly are aware, the past almost 3 years have been non-stop Covid-19—EVERYTHING is about Covid-19 now. It’s high time we all snap out of this and remember what REAL science is, and that there’s way more going on with our health and lives than a VIRUS!
I wonder, quite often, how many of you spend every day worrying about Covid-19, and living in fear. How many of you have believed, and still believe that a mask and a shot are your only hope? How many of you don’t know that viruses and bacteria are part of everything…and that they’re not all bad?
How many of you live your life like this while knowing little to nothing about masks and mRNA, or the true meaning of vaccine and immunity? While also knowing little to nothing about your own immune system, or what viruses actually are?? How can a person EVER truly give Informed Consent for any medicine or treatment if they’re not aware of, at the very least, some of the ways the body functions, and other information that matters??
Am I saying that not knowing means people are dumb? No, not at all. What I mean is, if you don’t know, you just don’t know. But you can change that, at least to some degree.
Before going to Nursing school, I had no idea about how complex a human body is. The Anatomy (what it is) and Physiology (how it works) are complicated topics, made even more complicated by the many differences each of us have. All of that, along with Pharmacology (medications), Microbiology, just to name a few in total, are very huge and very complicated. I learn new things about all of the above, quite often.
So, how could you possibly know all about your body and how it functions if you’ve not had medical education or training, or you don’t just find these things interesting enough to learn about them? How can you possibly know that what a medical professional is telling you, or your family, to do, is right and/or safe?
How would you know that healthy people do not wear masks, and why that is? [No, I’m Not referring to healthcare workers, or people who are immunocompromised, or other occupations that require the use of a mask for protection, or anything else outside of Covid and the general public]. I’ll include some info in this part, but Masks will be addressed more in Part Three.
[More than 150 Comparative Studies and Articles on Mask Ineffectiveness and Harms] By Paul Elias Alexander
[How Dangerous Are Masks for Children?] By Paul Elias Alexander
Dr. Paul Elias Alexander, 2023 Brownstone Fellow, is an epidemiologist focusing on clinical epidemiology, evidence-based medicine, and research methodology. He has a master's in epidemiology from University of Toronto, and a master's degree from Oxford University. He earned his PhD from McMaster's Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact. He has some background training in Bioterrorism/Biowarfare from John's Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland. Paul is a former WHO Consultant and Senior Advisor to US Department of HHS in 2020 for the COVID-19 response.
So, without the education, or the natural interest to learn it on your own, how are you know about viruses, vaccines, and medications, or the history and true meanings of things like ‘vaccine’ and ‘immunity’…And how can you know the details about your immune system and how it works?
Not knowing makes people easy targets for those who wish to manipulate others through fear, as evidenced by the nearly 3 three years of nonsensical and definitely Unscientific, slap a mask on it, lock it down, push vaccine, vitamins are bad, fear driven propaganda via “case & death” counts, coercion, threatening, churches-gyms-family gatherings bad, rioting-protesting good…you catch my drift, right?
I want to help change that for you, and for whoever I can. There’s no way for me to explain every detail in a short and sweet few paragraphs, and I have tried. I’d like to try to give you, at the very least, some of the most important pieces of information, with videos, and some links, so you can have a better understanding, and learn more if you wish to. Maybe this will help you not feel so afraid of viruses, or confused about masks and vaccines, as well as help you learn how to be healthier, as well as protect, and advocate for, yourself and others when it comes to healthcare.
Please, do not ever take anything I say as Medical Advice…Rather, what I say is meant to be informational and educational, and is me doing what I can to advocate for, and to, all of you to help you be better informed.
The sad truth is, we don’t seem to have a completely functional medical system at this point. BUT, there MOST CERTAINLY ARE STILL GOOD DOCTORS, NURSES, SCIENTISTS, ETC…we just need to know what to look for, and who and where they are. I 100% encourage everyone to educate yourselves, research, know what doctors and resources are available, ask questions, KNOW and REMEMBER: HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK FOR & WITH YOU, AND ARE SUPPOSED TO ALWAYS CONSIDER WHAT IS SAFEST AND MOST ETHICAL FOR YOU!!
Before we get into all the Immune System stuff…I decided at the last minute to include some excerpts from a very good article I came across. I encourage you all to consider reading it in full. (Link is attached)
**I had to look up the word “Morass” —New one on me….thought I’d go ahead and include the definition so nobody else has to look it up. I have no idea of the author’s intent for the use of this word, but I can see where she could be referring to Covid as a “swampy, complicated, and confusing situation”…
“The Covid Morass: An Academic and Mother Asks Questions”
-10/21/2021 Written By Genevieve Newton —Brownstone Institute (you can find the full article [here])
In March 2020, I watched along with the rest of the world as a new pandemic took hold. SARS-CoV-2, or Covid-19, was its name. As a trained biologist I knew that pandemics are an unfortunate and inescapable part of human existence. Although we hope never to see one in our lifetime, there is a decent chance that we will. And here it was.
Early on, there was mostly unity in our societal approach: “We can get through this together” was a mantra we heard regularly. As the strict measures remained in place, divisions emerged as people started questioning their effectiveness, and it became evident that the measures themselves were inducing suffering. As a scientist, I knew that data would be generated that would begin to either support these strategies or to encourage their reconsideration. And of course, there was historical data to draw upon. —Why is there no public health messaging around important modifiable risk factors?
“Why is there no public health messaging around important modifiable risk factors?”
According to the current public health message, there is only one way out of the pandemic: MASS UNIVERSAL VACCINATION. Other external measures are also used to reduce virus transmission, such as mask wearing, school closures, social distancing, and limits on personal contacts. However, the official public health narrative does not include anything that one can do for themselves to reduce their personal risk.
In contrast, many medical experts have shared suggestions about how to strengthen the human immune system to reduce risk during the covid pandemic. Talking about immunity has been widely criticized by authorities who see this as distracting from the one and only solution — vaccines. The goal of vaccination is to decrease the incidence and severity of infection by triggering the immune system to generate antibodies against the Covid spike protein but the immune response consists of many different players. Are there other ways to improve immune function that might provide protection against Covid-19?
Vitamin D, which is produced in the body through exposure to sunlight, occurs naturally in some foods and can be taken as a dietary supplement, is an important modulator of human immune function. Several studies have previously found that vitamin D supplementation can reduce the risk of influenza, although research findings are not unequivocal. There are also some observations that suggest vitamin D could be involved in Covid infections. The most recent meta-analysis on vitamin D and Covid concluded that Covid-19 patients supplemented with vitamin D are more likely to demonstrate fewer rates of ICU admission, mortality events and RT-PCR positivity.
This article really is very good…and in my opinion, spot on.
You may remember—(from the not too distant, much more rational past)— when the simple, but crucial, fundamentals and benefits of Healthy Habits were taught in schools, promoted in children’s books and shows, stressed to us by our Doctors, and Departments of Health. Posters of healthy food groups and food pyramids, showing us how and why to eat a balanced diet. Additionally, things like exercise, weight control, stress reduction, restful sleep, and hand washing, were promoted. We were told about the importance of vitamins and minerals, proper hydration, fresh air, and sunlight."
Honestly, the BEST thing we can ALL do is our best to continue, start or get back to this way of living.
Risk Factors vs Protective Factors, how the immune system works, and tips to get and/or keep your mind, body, & spirit as healthy as you possibly can, and more…
This used to be, what I still refer to as, the “Gold Standard” of recommendations to live by—(( also known as Protective Factors)). Protective Factors help us have a way better chance to be and stay healthy. When we are healthier, if or when we’re faced with an illness, like the flu, or Covid, these protective factors set us up in such a way that a positive outcome is much more likely…right?
This “simple” Gold Standard [Protective Factors], consisting of multiple small things, when combined, is a LONG PROVEN, phenomenal “recipe” to help us have, for example, a Stronger Immune System. A stronger immune system then helps us to avoid illnesses like viruses, or to have a better outcome if we do catch them.
So, Protective Factors, can help prevent or improve things such as Diabetes type 2, Heart Disease, High Cholesterol, Obesity, High Blood Pressure, Digestive Issues, etc—which, in the Bigger Picture, gives us a MUCH BETTER chance of avoiding things like organ and vessel damage, amputations, strokes, heart attacks, cancers, weakness, bone fractures, headaches, fatigue, depression, anxiety, dehydration, and COUNTLESS other ailments.
[[→IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: ***Not ALL health issues & illnesses are preventable or curable. Safe, effective monitoring, medications and treatments are important when needed, and applied appropriately—meaning benefit for the patient outweighs the risks of harm to the patient…you know, Ethical, Evidence-based, and Safe Medical Care.**]]
I, myself, live with and fight thru a combo of 3 Rare Diseases, that are life threatening at times, but all 3 are related to my genetics and cells—so I get it, it’s not just clear-cut for all of us. However, I AM saying that following the “Golden Rule” as best as we can, can definitely, greatly improve the outcome for many who have known Risk Factors, due to diseases or illness, aka Pre-Existing Conditions, when we are faced, for example, with a Virus.
A Risk Factor is a condition, a behavior, or other factor that increases risk.
Here’s A (HOPEFULLY) non-realistic example:
Someone who is Smoking 22 packs a day, while every meal is 15 pounds of bacon, 14 eggs, a loaf of bread, and 17 Twinkies, all washed down with 25 beers→has Increased RISK FACTORS for things like obesity, lung cancer, high cholesterol, diabetes, alcoholism, dehydration, vitamin deficiencies, and weakened immune system→which then creates INCREASED RISKS for things like Metastatic Cancer, Heart Attack, Stroke, Liver damage or failure, and therefore, Greatly INCREASED RISK OF BECOMING SEVERELY ILL FROM SOMETHING LIKE A VIRUS, and on and on, until the ultimate outcome can lead to death, which happens all too often, and it’s heartbreaking, especially when it could have been prevented.
With so much focus on, and fear of, Covid—I’ve put a graphic below, that I’m calling an Example, with a breakdown of how likely a person is to DIE “(Of) Or (With)” Covid, based on pre-existing medical conditions (RISK FACTORS). (The “OF or WITH” is something we’ll get into soon)
For the sake of keeping this simple, we’ll only consider a couple of factors—
Say a person is, for example, has Type 2 Diabetes and High Blood Pressure—
If we take the number associated with diabetes (7.3%), and then also the number associated with Hypertension (High blood pressure) (6.0%)—and we add those together, we get the total of (13.3%)—which means a person with just those 2 pre-existing conditions has a (13.3%) chance of dying if they get Covid—
But, it ALSO means they have an EIGHTY-SIX POINT SEVEN (86.7%) CHANCE OF SURVIVING IF THEY WERE TO GET COVID…Is THAT something anyone’s been telling you??
fyi—Things like stress, isolation, anxiety, depression, anger, frustration, and fear, and yes, wearing masks unnecessarily, can and do negatively affect our health, in many ways!! The Health and Government Agencies we’re all supposed to be able to trust, have caused all of the above, some, seemingly purposefully and without remorse. And then a large portion of society has been making it worse. That all righteously ticks me off—One of the Many negative effects of all of the above→the protective actions of our Immune System can become LESS EFFECTIVE, WEAKENED, increasing our Risk Factors, and making us MORE likely to end up getting sick—
[[What can you do to boost your immune system -Harvard 2016]]
[The best foods for vitamins and minerals - Harvard 2021]
[7 lifestyle changes to strengthen your immune system - 2020]
[[As far as diet goes…I know it’s not always easy, or realistic, for everyone to be able to have fresh vegetables and fruits, whole, clean, healthy foods. There is something fundamentally wrong when heavily processed, artificial, full-of-chemical-and-crap “foods” are more affordable than REAL fruits, vegetables, grains, and meats. Do you see that there’s a problem when things like “fast food” and “quick-fix foods” are less expensive than things that come from nature? I'd feel pretty safe to assume that most of you DO see the problems…but life and finances make you feel in between a rock and a hard place. I’ve been there myself, when my kids were young, I get it. I do wish I’d had the information resources we all have now…here is a route to a ton of different links that you may find helpful…
FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN, HEALTH & SCIENCE, SOLUTIONS
Finding Sources of Fresh Food
May 9, 2022 / 13 Comments
By Corey Lynn
COREY LYNN
Corey Lynn is an investigative journalist, co-host of the weekly Dig It! podcast, and co-host of The Solution Series. Follow her at coreysdigs.com, on Gab, Truth, Rumble, and Telegram. Support her work by becoming a Patron or making a donation.
Credit: Corey’s Digs & The Sharp Edge
I’ll share more resources with you as I find them.
So, Have You Met….Your Immune System?
I figure some of you are already VERY familiar, but for those of you who are not: Science, Microbiology, Virology, and Medicine are huge and complex subjects, filled with countless definitions, differing methods, terms, abbreviations, and opinions. I’m hitting some of the main highlights. I’ve included some really good videos, and tons of links that I encourage you to check out. I always encourage that you do your own research. I try, very hard, to make sure I give the most accurate, verifiable, information possible…but that doesn’t mean I think I’m above making mistakes or misunderstanding, so definitely check things out for yourself.
You may not see it yet, but…There truly IS a method to the madness here…
Some basics first, so everything else will make more sense as we go…
The topic of Immunology is a LOT—Though it has proven to be quite challenging, I’ve really tried to work out how to make this short, as in less than an hour, while also informative, AND easy to understand. There are only so many corners to cut though, because understanding the bigger picture IS so important—
So, What exactly IS the Immune System, and WHY is it such a big deal??
→The Immune System is complex but Amazing!! It’s like a “Police Force” and is different from any other of our body systems—it has to be ready, at all times, to react, in any part of our body, to defend against attacks by “foreign” invaders—the enemy—microbes (germs), tiny organisms, like bacteria and viruses that can cause infection or illness in us.
[[I’ll go into what vaccine induced immunity is in part 3]] And no, I am not Anti-vax…
For right now, I’d like to show you what a healthy, functioning immune system does, on it’s own…
Parts of the Immune System
The immune system provides two levels of defense:
INNATE IMMUNITY
and
ADAPTIVE IMMUNITY.
What parts (the Anatomy) of our bodies make up our immune system?
Organs and tissues are one part:
Organs and tissues important to the proper functioning of the immune system include the thymus and bone marrow, lymph nodes, vessels, spleen, and skin.
Bone marrow and thymus:
If the immune system is a police force, the bone marrow is the police academy because this is where the different types of immune system cells are created.
All cells of the immune system are created in the bone marrow from a common type of starting cell, called a stem cell. These stem cells later develop (“differentiate” or change) into specific/specialized cell types, including red blood cells, platelets (important for blood clotting), and white blood cells (important for immune responses).
The cell generation (creation) and differentiation process occurs every day for as long as we live. As a result, in the same way that the red blood cells in our blood are replenished after an injury or blood donation, our immune system cells are constantly replenished.
Some of the stem cells will become a type of immune system cell called a lymphocyte.
Two types of lymphocytes comprise the Adaptive immune system — B cells and T cells.
B cells mature in the bone marrow (hence the name “B cell”).
Cells that eventually become T cells travel from the bone marrow to the thymus by way of our bloodstream where they mature (hence the name “T cell”).
The thymus is located just above the heart behind the sternum, or breastbone.
Lymph nodes and vessels
Lymph nodes are tissues full of immune cells. These nodes are located strategically throughout the body. Some are better known than others. [Lymphatic System]
→A good example, many people are familiar with are the tonsils and adenoids in the neck, but may not be aware of Peyer’s patches, which are lymph nodes that line the intestine.
→Numerous unnamed lymph nodes also exist throughout the body; in fact, virtually every corner of our body has some group of lymph nodes associated with it. Lymph nodes tend to be most prevalent in areas near body openings, such as the digestive tract and the genital region, mouth, and nose, because this is where pathogens most often enter the body.
If the immune system is a police force, lymph nodes are their stations.
Once a pathogen is detected, nearby lymph nodes, also called ‘draining lymph nodes,’ become hives of activity, where cell activation, chemical signaling, and expansion, or increases, of the number of immune system cells occur.
The result is that the nodes increase in size and the surrounding areas may become tender as the enlarged nodes take up more space than usual.
“Swollen glands” in the neck are an example that most of us have experienced. But, the same thing can occur anywhere lymph nodes are activated.
What is Cell Signaling? (BiologyDictionary.Net)
Cell signaling is the process of cellular communication within the body driven by cells releasing and receiving hormones and other signaling molecules. As a process, cell signaling refers to a vast network of communication between, and within, each cell of our body. Cell signaling enables coordination of many different kinds of cells.
Two vessel systems are critical to the immune function of our lymph nodes:
Blood vessels — “Lymph”, which is a fluid full of immune system cells and signaling chemicals, travels from our blood vessels into our body tissues, by way of capillaries, which are the smallest blood vessels we have.
Lymphatic fluid, “Lymph,” collects pathogens and debris it finds in our tissues. Then the lymphatic fluid, full of immune cells, enters draining lymph nodes where it is filtered. If pathogens are detected, immune system components are activated.
Lymphatic vessels — Once filtration is complete, lymph vessels carry this fluid toward your heart. Depending on where the filtered lymph arrives from, it enters either the thoracic duct on the left side of the heart, or a similar, but smaller duct on the right side of the heart. The thoracic duct collects lymph from the whole body, except the right side of the chest and head→The lymph from the right side of the chest and the head drains to the smaller duct. From here, the lymph and its immune cells are returned to the bloodstream for another trip through the body.
Spleen
The spleen is the largest internal organ of the immune system, and as such, it contains a large number of immune system cells.
About 25% of the blood that comes from our heart flows through the spleen on every beat.
As blood circulates through the spleen, it is filtered to detect pathogens.
As pathogens are detected, immune system cells are activated and increase in number to neutralize (destroy) the pathogen.
The spleen is particularly important in protecting people from bacterial infections, such as meningococcus and pneumococcus.
So, while people can live without a spleen, it is important for them to be up to date on vaccines that protect against these infections because they are at greater risk of suffering from them.
The Innate Immune system
This is our FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE against pathogens.
You can think of the Innate immune system cells as the cops that patrol local areas. They take care of most of the criminal activity that takes place in a community and generally keep the peace.
→Physical barriers
Our bodies physically ward off many potential pathogens.
Our skin is an important protective barrier. But, most people don’t realize that the top layer of skin cells, that are designed so pathogens cannot easily get between the cells and into us, unless we have, for example, a cut.
Epithelial cells that line openings into our bodies, such as the nose and mouth as well as throughout the respiratory, digestive, and genital tracts, tend to have one or more additional protective features.
First→ the epithelial cells in these areas are coated with mucus, a thick, sticky solution that makes it difficult for pathogens to attach to them. [I know, ewwww, not my favorite either. ;) ]
Second→ some of the epithelium also have microfibers {microtubules}, kind of like tiny fingers, called cilia, which “sway” in synch with each other to move the mucus, and any pathogens in the mucus, along the cell surface, away from our lungs.
Hairs in the nasal cavity work in a similar manner to trap pathogens in the air to prevent them from getting into our lungs.
Our bodies use muscles to move air and liquids in such a way to keep pathogens from infecting us.
Also, Sneezing, watery eyes, vomiting and diarrhea are all examples of our Innate immune system working to protect us by “forcing” pathogens toward the exits
Chemical barriers
Mucus not only provides a physical barrier, it also contains chemicals that help protect us from pathogens. This is true of epithelial cells on our skin and in our digestive, respiratory, and genital tracts.
Our body also uses acid, to create harsh environments for some pathogens. For example, the stomach has an acidic pH that makes it difficult for many viruses to survive the journey through the digestive tract.
Fever, although not a chemical barrier, also makes the environment more difficult for a pathogen to survive while simultaneously enhancing the immune system’s ability to be effective against pathogens.
Just for funsies… a little ‘WIPEOUT’…LOL…The people represent the viruses and bacteria and the Ball Crusher is kinda like the Innate Immune System…Yep, super cheesy, but still funny!! :
Partnerships
Certain Bacteria do live in us and on us…Always have.
As humans evolved, so did the bacteria that live with us.
As a result, they are able to survive on our skin or in our digestive tract without our immune systems acting to get rid of them.
These bacteria are known as Commensal bacteria (Normal Flora), but these “residents” are not completely risk-free.
For example, Staphylococcus bacteria (which you may know as Staph) are generally harmless on our skin, but if they enter our bodies, they can be troublesome.
In some cases, the disturbance is minor, such as a pimple. In other cases, the result can be deadly, such as a bloodstream infection, also known as Sepsis.
So, even though our immune system doesn’t actively rid us of these bacteria, it does work to keep these commensal or “resident” (Normal Flora) bacteria in check and under control.
You may be wondering, then, why does our immune system allow these bacteria to be around at all?
Like with other things in life, the answer comes down to a risk vs benefit ratio.
When these bacteria are covering the surface of our skin, they are actually providing us with an extra layer of protection, which give bacteria that are more harmful, less of an opportunity to hurt us, because the “resident” bacteria are taking up most, if not all of the spaces on our skin and other areas.
Also, Commensal (resident) bacteria, aka Normal Flora, help create conditions in the local environment (our body) that keep infectious agents from causing problems.
For example, commensal bacteria may release chemicals that are toxic to other types of bacteria.
Evidence of the importance of the Commensal bacteria can really be understood when their numbers are decreased, like when we take antibiotics. You may have loose stools or intestinal cramping for a few days, or the dreaded yeast infection or thrush, which occurs because the “bad” bacteria are able to kind of take over. I know, ewwwwww….
This is because antibiotics, such as penicillin, tend to kill many different types of bacteria — good and bad. If you have to take an antibiotic, talk with your doctor about whether things like eating yogurt or taking probiotics would be helpful and safe for you.
So, Until the commensal (or good) bacteria repopulate, your Innate immune system has to work a bit harder to fend off bacteria that wouldn’t otherwise have been a problem.
The most important cells associated with Innate immune responses are:
Neutrophils — These are the most numerous type of Innate immune responder cells. Their primary job is to destroy pathogens. Neutrophils circulate in our blood. When a neutrophil finds a pathogen, it surrounds and ingests, or eats it — a process called phagocytosis. Neutrophils only survive a few days.
Macrophages — These long-lived cells are present in virtually all tissues of the body where they use phagocytosis to trap invaders found in the tissue.
Macrophages that have ingested a pathogen secrete chemical signals, called cytokines, which help recruit or call other immune cells to the area — this leads to inflammation. [video - Cytokines]
Inflammation is important for a few reasons:
Inflammation establishes an environment in which cells traveling in the blood vessels can more easily move into the affected tissue.
Inflammation allows for clotting factors to become activated in an effort to contain the infection, and third, it promotes tissue repair.
→Pain, redness and swelling at the site of a wound are indicative of the inflammatory response induced by macrophages.
Dendritic Cell — The main purpose of dendritic cells is not to destroy pathogens (like neutrophils) or to alert the immune system to cause inflammation (like macrophages). Instead, dendritic cells serve to bridge the Innate and Adaptive immune responses.
Natural killer cells (NK cells) — These cells work to keep viral infections from getting too severe while the Adaptive immune system is generating a targeted response
Unlike neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells — all of which employ phagocytosis — NK cells attach to an infected cell and release chemicals into it to kill it.
Natural killer cells are also known for their ability to fight tumor cells.
Adaptive Immune System
When pathogens get past the non-specific mechanisms of protection provided by the Innate immune system, the Adaptive immune system takes over.
Think of the parts of Adaptive immunity to be the “Bosses” and the “SWAT Team”
The “SWAT TEAM” of the Adaptive immune response have TWO important jobs:
Stop the current infection
Generate immunologic memory →Memory cells monitor the body to stop or lessen the impact of future infections by the same pathogen. If a second infection occurs at all, it is typically shorter in duration and less severe than the first encounter.
Calling in the “SWAT Team”
The Adaptive immune response is driven by the activities of cells called Antigen-Presenting Cells (APCs)—
Three cell types can serve as Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs) —
DENDRITIC CELLS
MACROPHAGES
B CELLS
→Of these, DENDRITIC CELLS are the most common and powerful (APC)-Antigent Presenting Cell type. They are considered to be the bridge between the Innate and Adaptive immune responses.
Dendritic cells →When they encounter a pathogen, they phagocytose it, break it into pieces, and put the pieces on their surface as a “signal” to other immune system components/cells.
As this happens, the dendritic cell migrates from the tissue to the nearest lymph node where these surface signals, called antigens, help to activate T cells. Dendritic cells can process and present most types of pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites.
I know….this part really sucks, all the science and such…like being in school and blah!! Yes, it’s a lot…but did you know how much our immune systems actually do for us?? And there’s a bit more…but at the end of the day, maybe knowing all of this will help maybe a lot of people. I promise, the videos do make it so much better….I encourage you all to watch them…stick with me…
Ok, so, let’s keep going…
When antigens are presented in draining lymph nodes, the Adaptive immune response starts in earnest, full effect…the antigen presentation results in an “all hands on deck” response.
These responses are fascinating because they are primarily guided by small proteins and “matching” markers on cell surfaces. The small proteins are called cytokines, and when they bind to a cell’s surface, the cell acts accordingly.
The actions are wide-reaching, but can include growing, changing, reproducing, or interacting with other cells. More than 50 kinds of cytokines have been identified.
For a particular cytokine to bind to a cell surface, the cell must have a “matching” marker, called a receptor. Different types of cells have different receptors, and, therefore, can be more or less affected by particular cytokines. (Like how a lock can only be opened by the right key)
Additionally, some cytokines cause more than one action, and multiple cytokines can cause similar actions. This seeming “overlap” is important because it positions our immune system to avert infections in multiple ways. It also allows for people born with immune deficiencies to survive.
And this…A healthy immune system can tell the difference between which cells belong in our body and which cells are invaders (Self vs Nonself).
Some people’s immune systems do malfunction, which causes their immune system to mistakenly see the cells that belong, as invaders, and essentially attacks itself. This is called ‘Auto-Immune Dysfunction’ or ‘Auto-Immune Disease” — For more about this aspect of the immune system, see the video below, and check out this link “What Happens when the Immune System Does Not Function Properly.”
In addition to the cytokines and APCs, two primary cell types are CENTRAL to the efforts of the Adaptive immune response — T cells and B cells.
T cells
These cells are important in moderating the Adaptive immune response. You can think of them like the police chiefs and sergeants making sure the appropriate numbers of officers are responding to a situation. Three types of T cells each have distinct roles:
Helper T cells oversee cytokine signaling to activate B cells and increase the efficiency of other immune cells, such as macrophages.
Cytotoxic T cells are important in viral infections in that they kill cells that have been infected by viruses.
Regulatory T cells regulate the immune response. They signal for increased activity early in an infection, and conversely, signal for a decrease in the response as the infection is brought under control.
B cells
Once activated, B cells start to reproduce, quickly increasing in number. B cells are the SWAT that descend on the crime scene. And, like SWAT, B cells are also well armed. The sole purpose of most B cells is to secrete large quantities of antibodies. B cells that secrete antibodies are also known as plasma cells.
Antibodies secreted by B cells are a crucial weapon of the Adaptive immune response. They are specific for the pathogen that is attacking, so they can bind to and neutralize it. Five different classes of antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins (Ig), exist in people: IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE, and IgD. Each has unique characteristics and roles.
After successfully whooping an infection/illness , our cells prepare for the future
Most of the cells that are activated during an infection die during or shortly afterward— However, a small subset of both B and T cells remain indefinitely.
→The B and T cells that remain are called MEMORY CELLS. These memory cells will recognize specific antigens if they ever show up again.
→Most of us have Memory B and T cells that, for example, monitor our body for influenza after we’ve had it, which is when our immune system originally went through the process of becoming activated and responding to the assault.
This first response is called the primary immune response. The memory cells that remain after a primary infection serve as guards watching for illness like influenza to appear again. If it does, these cells will quickly activate allowing the immune system to produce a faster and more efficient immune response to this second attack.
Immunologic responses driven by Memory cells are called Secondary Responses.
→PRO TIP—Another very important protective factor to help keep yourself from getting sick, (and to help prevent spreading germs and making others sick), is to WASH YOUR HANDS, WITH SOAP & WATER & FRICTION (Scrubbing)!!!!!!
In Nursing, there’s a very particular hand-washing technique—it’s very good, and I personally use it all the time, no matter where I am. The following video is a good, simple guide…You can also use these additional links for more info→ [RNSPEAK.COM] [VERYWELLHEALTH.COM]
How can we best protect ourselves and each other from getting sick?
Wash your hands, with soap and water for 20-30 seconds, including under your fingernails!!
Don’t touch your face!!
Cover your nose & mouth if you cough or sneeze!!
Stay out of general population if know you’re sick!!
Clean your phone and case!! [See video below]
Eat Healthy, keep yourself hydrated, and exercise!
Get fresh air! Sunlight!
Learn about which vitamins and minerals can help you (get with your doctor on this)
Try to get good, restful sleep
Explore healthy ways to manage stress and anxiety
Focus on the people and things that bring you joy and peace….and laughter
Research and educate yourself
Some important excerpts from:
‘The Biggest Public Health Threat Is Not a Virus but a Weakened Immune System’
BY CARLA PEETERS OCTOBER 18, 2021
[Link to Full Article @ Brownstone Institute] with tons of hyper-links throughout
“In England, various immunologists have spoken out about the danger of a weakened immune systemwithin the entire population, which increases the risk of infections and chronic diseases. As a result of the lockdowns and measures such as keeping one and a half meters distance and wearing masks, the immune system in many people may have weakened compared to the days before the pandemic.”
Children and adults have come into less contact with other viruses and bacteria, so the immune system is less challenged and therefore less trained. Outbreaks of infectious diseases in isolated communities who had not been exposed to the corresponding pathogen for a long time and lacked immunity are well documented e.g. the outbreak of whooping cough in 1908 and 1918 in Papua New Guinea.
In addition, factors such as changed diet and lifestyle, exposure to toxic substances through frequent use of disinfectants and facemasks, and the increase in stress play an important role. As well, obesity is a correlating condition related to a serious Covid-19 condition, and the lockdowns have resulted in higher obesity rates in the UK, the US, and other Western nations. Obesity has long been associated with prognosis of viral infections. It was recognized as a predisposing factor for worse clinical outcomes and death in the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.
On the opposite side of obesity of the pandemic and its measures we see a rising problem of undernutrition with increased risks for pneumonia and mortality in children younger than 5 years of age. The problem of malnutrition, either due to over- or undernutrition, and as a consequence immune dysfunction may cause enormous damage for years and generations to come. The onset of heightened tuberculosis incidents is deeply troubling.
Drug use has also increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. Statistics from the Netherlands report that mental health in the Netherlands in the first quarter of 2021 was the lowest for the past twenty years. Nivel reports that the use of psychotropic drugs among young people aged 15-24 increased in the first quarter of 2021.
This has been seen before in England and the United States. The pandemic led to a stark rise in depressive and anxiety disorders in women (28%) and adolescents (26%) globally. Also the proportion of patients with dementia who has been prescribed antipsychotics substantially increased. More people with dementia died in 2020 as compared to previous years in the UK.
For many years Psycho Neuro-Immunology Studies demonstrated that mental health is important for a well-functioning immune system. Several researchers have shown a relationship between the increase in stress experiences and the risk of upper respiratory tract infections and mortality. A significant overall association between the susceptibility to sepsis and accelerated biological aging has been found as well as negative associations between mean cytokine levels and chronic stress. A long duration of the measures can weaken the innate and adaptive immune system and worsen a disease outcome.
Please check out the full article.
Please, also take into account that this article is from 2021, and although there is mention made of how children are being affected, I think it’s imperative to really consider how the children have also been deeply affected by all this.
[How the Innate immune system works.]
[How the Adaptive immune system works.]
[“IMMUNE SYSTEM” MICROBIOLOGYSOCIETY.ORG]
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Trying to write even just the basic, but most important, information and squish it into a short piece, has been, ugh, ya, not so easy…and I’ve tried it several different ways. There’s a Lot of very important things to be said and shared. With that said, some parts will inevitably be longer than others, depending on the topic.
I hope you’ll stick with me.
Things are MOST DEFINITELY going to get more spicy as we go!!
Again, Thank you so much for reading, listening, and sharing. Please feel free to leave comments.
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