Immune System Diseases

Immune System Diseases
Immune system diseases can be put into two general classifications: There are disorders or diseases of the immune system where the body ceases to have the defenses necessary to fight off disease, and the other disorder is where the body overly reacts to stimulus, which consequently results in organ damage and function.

There are multiple rare genetically inherited disease processes of the immune system that are classified as primary immune deficiency disorders. These disorders affect about fifty thousand people within the United States, alone.

A person with a healthy immune system has the physiological ability to identify invading viruses, bacteria or any element that is not a typical part of the body's function and destroys them.

In cases of immune system diseases where there exists a debilitation in the response, frequent infections occur within the victim. The most Common disease that occurs in people as a result of a lower functioning immune system is AIDS.

AIDS is not inherited or caused at birth. It is caused by becoming infected with the HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus) by way of blood transfusion, sexual intercourse and IV drug usage.

The HIV virus invades the T-helper cells in the body that are responsible for destroying invaders by creating anti-bodies, but when this system is compromised by HIV, the process ultimately destroys the bodies immune system causing numerous infections, including cancer and pneumonia- and without drug treatment- even death.

Currently there are over 955,000 people with AIDS in the United States. This disease is acquired, which means that people who have become infected had normal, healthy immune systems to start with.

Other immune system diseases include allergies, Addison's disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Psoriasis and Multiple Sclerosis.

Immune disorders like Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis are believed to be caused by an over-reactive immune system.

Much research has been done on the study of immune system diseases, treatments, prevention and cures.

As of today, many alternative health care industries who promote dietary supplements and herbs have concluded that maintaining a healthy immunes system is possible by boosting the body's ability to fight off infection by a healthy diet, exercise, and taking these nutrients on a daily basis.

There are also a number of research scientists currently doing studies on drugs that can be used to treat these immune system diseases, particularly with the epidemic of AIDS that has infected almost a million Americans to date.