The Concept of Health and Immunity

1. Nutrition: Balanced diet provides all the food substances needed by the body for health growth and development.
2. Exercise: Exercises help to keep the body healthy and fit. Vigorous exercises strengthen muscles and improve the function of the circulatory and respiratory system. Physical fitness benefits both physical and mental health and helps the body to withstand stress.
3. Rest and sleep: Help to overcome fatigue and restore energy to the body. Everyone needs rest and sleep.
4. Cleanliness: Cleanliness prevents the growth of bacteria and other germs that can cause diseases. A regular bath or shower keeps the body free from dirt and odor. It also helps to prevent skin infections.
5. Medical and dental care: Regular checkups by dentist and physician play an important role in safeguarding health. Doctors recommend that people seek medical care at first sign of illness.
6. Avoiding risk behaviors: Risk behaviors that need to be avoided include:
   • Smoking: cigarette smoking increases respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and increases risk of death from lung cancer and heart attack

Mental health is as important as physical health and to a great extent depends on it.

Emotional development: Experiences during childhood strongly influence a person's mental health throughout life. Children remain dependent for many years. At this period they learn certain guidelines for relating to other people.

Handling stress: Stress handling is essential for avoiding both mental and physical illness. Feelings of stress are the body's response to any threatening or unfamiliar situation.

Causes of stresses include the following:

1. Most severe stress may result from divorce or loss of job.
2. Stress can also occur even in pleasant situations such as: Watching a football game, Waiting for a lovely one to return from a trip, etc.

If not handled properly stress can lead to

1. Physical or emotional illness
2. High blood pressure
3. Stomach ulcers

Things that can be done to lessen it include:

1. Regular exercises and sufficient sleep strengthens the body resistance to stress
2. Relax by resting
3. Taking a walk
4. Meditating
5. Working with hobby

1. Enables people to enjoy life and have opportunity to achieve their goals.
2. Sets someone free from attack by diseases.
3. Enables people to work effectively and efficiently.
4. Good health helps people to participate in social issues.
5. Enables mothers to deliver healthy babies.
6. Raises the family economy, which in turn ensures peace and security within the family and the surrounding community.

Immunity is the ability of the body to resist certain diseases and poisons.

Immune system

The immune system comprises of a group of cells, molecules and tissues that help defend against disease and other harmful invaders.

There are two types of immunity

1. Natural immunity
2. Artificial immunity

a. Natural immunity

Natural immunity is that which an individual is born with. Natural immunity can be divided into categories, namely:

1. Natural active immunity
2. Natural passive immunity

Natural active immunity: This immunity develops in a body after a natural infection. After infection, antibodies are produced in the body. The antibodies normally reside in the blood or in other parts of the body.

Natural passive immunity: This type of immunity is achieved during development of the fetus where antibodies pass from the mother to the fetus through placenta or through the mother's milk after the baby is born. The antibodies disappear from the infant a few months after birth.

Breastfeeding a baby

b. Artificial immunity

Artificial immunity is that which an individual acquires during his/her lifetime.

There are two types of artificial immunity

1. Artificial active immunity
2. Artificial passive immunity

Artificial active immunity: This is immunity introduced in the body by immunization. Immunization is the process of introducing a vaccine into the body of an animal in order to increase its ability to produce antibodies. These antibodies protect the person if he/she is exposed to the actual disease.

1. Most vaccines contain disease-causing bacteria or viruses that have been killed.
2. Others consist of the live germs but in a weakened form or attenuated.
3. Toxoid vaccines are made from poisons produced by disease-causing organisms.
4. These poisons are chemically treated so that they provide immunity without causing disease.
5. Some vaccines are made from parts of disease-causing organisms.

Vaccination by injection

Artificial passive immunity: This type of immunity involves the injection of serum into the body of an organism. It provides immediate protection from infection and lasts for weeks or months and after that period there are no antibodies left in the body and therefore no immunity.

Immunity can be influenced by various factors, including:

1. Poor Nutrition Inadequate nutrition negatively affects the immune system. People who do not consume a balanced diet are more vulnerable to diseases. A healthy diet should include sufficient amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and mineral salts to help strengthen the immune system.
2. Lack of Vaccination Unvaccinated individuals are more likely to get infections. For instance, a child who has not been vaccinated against measles can easily be infected during an outbreak. Vaccination must occur before exposure to the disease; otherwise, the individual will require medical treatment instead.
3. Genetic Disorders Certain hereditary conditions can affect immunity. For example:
   • People with the sickle cell trait are less likely to suffer from malaria.
   • Children with Down's syndrome are more susceptible to respiratory tract infections.
4. Incomplete Treatment Failing to complete a prescribed dose of medication can compromise immunity. In such cases, the disease-causing organisms may not be completely destroyed and can reactivate, causing the illness to return.
5. Attack by Pathogens Pathogens are microorganisms that cause diseases. Some, such as the HIV virus, specifically target and destroy white blood cells, which play a key role in the immune system. This weakens the body's ability to fight infections.
6. Extreme Stress Stress occurs when a person struggles to cope with emotional or physical challenges, such as:
   • Contracting a disease
   • Experiencing the death of a loved one
   • Suffering from accidents or loss of body parts These stressors can lower the body's immunity.
7. Damage to the Skin The skin acts as a physical barrier that prevents the entry of harmful organisms. When the skin is damaged (e.g., due to cuts or burns), this barrier is compromised, making it easier for pathogens to enter the body.
8. Age Both young children (under five years) and elderly people (over sixty years) generally have weaker immune systems, making them more vulnerable to diseases such as malaria and the flu.