The Immune System & The Central Nervous System

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The Immune System The Central Nervous System

• Stress and Anxiety

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The Immune System

• A network of cells and organs that work together
  to defend the body against attacks by foreign
  invaders.
• If harmful bacteria does enter the body the
  Immune System seeks to destroy it

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How does the Immune System work?

• An extremely complex system through which
  communication takes place between major organs of
  the body and millions of even the most
  microscopic cells.
• Lymphoid System
• Consists of lymphoid organs
• host lymphocytes (white blood cells that
  originate in the bone marrow)

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Organs of the Lymphoid System

• Thymus
• Located behind the sternum
• T cell maturation takes place here
• Lymphatic vessels
• Like other blood vessels
• Carry Lymph
• Lymph Nodes
• Small structures that line the lymphatic vessels
• Concentrated mainly in the neck, armpits,
  abdomen, and groin.
• Immune cells remain in the lymph nodes awaiting
  antigens

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Contd

• Spleen
• Located in the upper left area of the abdomen
• Functions like a larger version of a lymph node
• Tonsils/Adenoids/Appendix
• Lymphoid tissue located near gateways to the
  body
• Act as security/alarm systems

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Microscopic Functions of the Immune/Lymphoid
System

• Immune cells
• regulate their own growth and behavior
• Activate other cells that take part in an immune
  response
• Aid in the direction and correct implementation
  of immune function
• Can work individually, but work most effectively
  in conjunction with other cells
• Communicate via physical contact or chemical
  messaging
• Only a few of each cell type are permanently
  stored in the body

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Specific Cells of the Immune System

• Lymphocytes
• B and T cells and phagocytes
• B cells
• Produce antibodies to attack antigens in the
  bloodstream
• Are unable to infiltrate other cells
• Produce one specific antibody that marks the
  antigen for destruction
• Plasma cells are activated in order to replicate
  B cell antibody
• Antibodies belong to a larger group of
  immunoglobulins

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Contd

• T cells
• T lymphocytes (helpers) aid in direction and
  regulation of immune responses via secretions of
  lymphokines
• trigger cell growth, provide organization and
  direction, and activate phagocytes
• T killers/Natural Killer Cells (NK cells) attack
  harmful cells and material
• T killers attack specific targets
• NK cells attack any antigen

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Contd

• Phagocytes/Granulocytes
• Eat foreign cells
• Can alert antigens of harmful material
• At the conclusion of this process Memory Cells
  are created Immunity

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The Immune and Nervous Systems

• The Brain is a (obviously) major component of the
  Nervous System
• Sends information by way of nerve cells
• Nerve cells and the information they transfer
  have been shown to interact with immune cells and
  immune responses

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A Link between the two systems?

• Research on stress has demonstrated a link
  between the two systems
• Specifically, the adrenal glands
• Once stress triggers activity in the adrenal
  glands, via the central nervous system (CNS),
  cortisol is released into the bloodstream.
• Cortisol (the stress hormone) can often depress
  the proper function of an immune response and
  effects of antibodies and lympocytes.

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Anxiety and the Immune System
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Anxiety

• Anxiety is an unpleasant complex combination of
  emotions that includes fear, apprehension and
  worry, and is often accompanied by physical
  sensations such as palpitations, nausea, chest
  pain and/or shortness of breath.
• Blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, blood flow
  to the major muscle groups are all increased, and
  immune and digestive system functions are
  inhibited.
• Externally, anxiety may include pale skin,
  sweating, trembling, and pupillary dilation.

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Anxiety Disorders

• Anxiety and stress are the two most common types
  of mental disorders in the U.S., 19 million
  Americans a year are affected
• Anxiety disorders cause people to feel frightened
  for no apparent reason.
• If the illness is not treated they can reduce a
  persons ability to function in their daily life.

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Types of Anxiety

• There are five types of anxiety disorders
• Panic Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Phobias
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder

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Stress

• Psychological and Physical response to the
  demands of daily life, that exceed a persons
  ability to cope successfully.
• Stress is characterized by fatigue sleep
  disorders and constant worrying and depressing.
• Stress can come from multiple situations in a
  persons life, work related, personal problems-
  family and financial concerns
• Stress usually derives from a combination of
  those pressures

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Treatments

• Treatments include medication and Psychotherapy
• Two types of psychotherapy Behavioral and
  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Medications Antidepressants are used in
  combination with Behavioral Therapy to eliminate
  anxiety and stress
• Two Major types of antidepressants SSRIs and
  TCAs
• Less Frequently used medications are MAO
  inhibitors, Benzodiazepines such as Valium.
  (Highly addictive and often cause depression)

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Treatments Contd

• Moderate Exercise Running Walking, and strength
  training- has shown to be helpful in reducing
  stress and anxiety
• Adapton in Europe and Japan

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Stress Effects on the Body

• Stress has more negative effects and has become
  more prevalent than the common cold in the United
  States.
• When living with continual stress it is enough to
  cause breakdown of the immune system and cause
  disease.
• When combined together stressors such as angry
  emotions, lack of sleep, and work, disrupt immune
  system efficiency, hormone balance, and effect
  the bodys ability to protect itself from
  everyday infections and how quickly we age.

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Stress and Our Body Chemistry

• The flight or fight response is a way our body
  deals with extreme situations of stress.
• When at risk, the brain tells our adrenal glands
  to secrete adrenaline and cortisol, which gives
  instruction to the body to fight or run.
• As a result of the response being continual due
  to everyday stressors our immune system becomes
  imbalanced.
• With this our adrenal glands become exhausted,
  which weakens the cardiovascular and endocrine
  system.

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Stress and Our Body (contd)

• Cortisol is a stress hormone that causes a
  corresponding drop in our anti aging and immune
  enhancing hormone, DHEA.
• Research has shown, when the level or cortisol
  goes up the level of DHEA drops.
• When cortisol is normal, then DHEA will also be
  normal.
• People with arteriosclerosis, diabetes, and lupus
  have low DHEA levels.
• Low levels of DHEA cause memory loss, sexual
  dysfunction and poor immune function.

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Stress and Our Body (contd)

• Cortisol in low doses stimulates the immune
  system, but in high doses it can be immune
  suppressing.
• With this, the right balance of cortisol is key.
• With depressed people, the brain fails to control
  cortisol levels and they remain too high.
• Inflammatory immune factors secreted by immune
  cells cause an increase in cortisol secretion and
  promotes depression.

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Cortisol Balancer

• Excessive exercise and overtraining increases
  cortisol levels.
• As cortisol levels rise our body decreases in
  health and vitality.
• People who are committed to a exercising and a
  healthy living style wont just stop because
  their cortisol level is too high.
• Instead they should try to ensure proper immune
  function, increase recovery, and improve
  performance.
• Taking certain anti oxidant nutrients such as
  sterols and sterolins, vitamins A, C, E, B6, B3,
  zinc selenium and a diet of fruits and vegetables
  all provide defense against negative effects of
  stress.

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Conclusion

• Anxiety and stress are key components of the
  breakdown of the immune system.
• When the immune system breaks down it leaves a
  person vulnerable to infection, disease and other
  health issues.
• Treatment for anxiety and stress should not be
  over looked and be taken very seriously for
  disease prevention.

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References

• http//www.homesteadschools.com/LCSW/Courses/Healt
  hy20ImmuneSystem/chap4.htm
• WWW.healthyimmunity.com