Immune System

Recently Answered

• QWhat healthy habits can help strengthen my immune system?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  Practicing these good health habits will help keep your immune system strong throughout the year:

  • Prepare low-fat, balanced meals packed with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein like fish, soy and beans.
  • Choose natural, unprocessed foods whenever possible.
  • Don't smoke.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Get active as a family and plan fun activities.
  • Manage stress.
• QIs my baby’s immune system less developed than an adult’s?

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  A Dr. Alan Greene, MD , Pediatrics, answered

  

  New research shows that the immune system of an infant is actually as developed as an adult's - but there is an interesting twist to this discovery! Watch as I discuss this exciting development in children's health.

  

  Find out more about this DVD:

  Is My Baby’s Immune System Less Developed Than an Adult’s?
  Buy DVD
• QHow is outpatient bone marrow transplantation done?

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  A Dr. John P. Chute, MD , Hematology & Oncology, answered on behalf of UCLA Health

  Bone marrow transplantation, or hematopoietic cell transplantation, has traditionally been done as an inpatient service. That means, you would stay in the hospital for up to 60 days to safely undergo the transplant and to recover. But the field has evolved so that some people can now safely receive the transplant in an outpatient center.
  
  Outpatient bone marrow transplantation involves:

  • collecting blood or bone marrow stem cells from the person (autologous) or from a healthy donor (allogeneic)
  • giving immunosuppressive chemotherapy to the recipient
  • infusing the donor cells into the recipient.

  This content originally appeared online at UCLA Health.
• QCan allogeneic bone marrow transplant be done for outpatients?

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  A Dr. John P. Chute, MD , Hematology & Oncology, answered on behalf of UCLA Health

  Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, or allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, involves taking cells from a healthy donor and infusing them into a recipient. This has traditionally been done in the hospital. But we can now perform some of these transplants in the outpatient setting.
  
  Before, patients—typically young people with acute leukemia—would be admitted to the hospital to receive high-dose chemotherapy or radiation, or both, to wipe out the immune system and the cancer at once. It’s extremely toxic. Such people needed to be in the hospital in a protected environment.
  
  But we’ve learned we can safely perform allogeneic bone marrow transplantation without high-dose radiation or high-dose chemotherapy. We’ve developed immunosuppressive antibodies and medications that allow rapid transplantation of donor stem cells in a recipient in the outpatient setting. Only select centers can do this in the outpatient setting.
  
  This content originally appeared online at UCLA Health.
• QWhat is an impaired immune system?

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  A Dr. John C. Lipman, MD , Vascular & Interventional Radiology, answered

  The immune system is the body’s tool to fight infections and other foreign material that gets into our body. The skin, liver, spleen, kidneys, bloodstream and lymphatic system (a network of thin tubes that travel with blood vessels and contain white blood cells that attack bacteria, viruses and other foreign invaders like cancer cells) are most important in protecting our immunity to these foreign agents. Impairment of any of these organs (for example, liver failure, poor skin quality and predisposition to wounds/sores) will result in an impaired or weaker immune system. Poor nutrition and poor overall health status are significant contributors to a weakened immune system.
  
  An impaired immune system may be present at birth (primary immunodeficiency) or acquired through disease (AIDS) or medication (steroids, chemotherapy or transplant medication to prevent rejection). The immune system can also turn against us (auto-immune diseases) and cause illnesses, such as rheumatoid arthritis, type I diabetes or lupus.
• QWhat are the benefits of outpatient bone marrow transplantation?

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  A Dr. John P. Chute, MD , Hematology & Oncology, answered on behalf of UCLA Health

  There are three key benefits to outpatient bone marrow, or hematopoietic cell, transplantation.
  
  1. People who have this procedure are less likely to get infections out in the world compared to when they are in the hospital.
  2. It has psychological and emotional benefits. The patient and their caregivers appreciate not being in a hospital for 1 to 2 months. Being in a hospital for that long can be a depressing experience.
  3. The cost is significantly less—thousands of dollars less per day—than for inpatient care.
  
  This content originally appeared online at UCLA Health.
• QHow can I build up my immune system if I am at school?

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  A The Medical Center of Aurora answered

  Having a strong immune system will help your body fight off infections more effectively. Getting enough sleep every night, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly and minimizing stress are the best ways to keep your immune system running its best.
  
  Sleep is incredibly important, especially the night before a test. Forming a study schedule that allows you to keep up with your classes and get an adequate amount of sleep each night will serve much better than any cram session. Forming these good study habits early will set you up for success later, as well.
• QHow can natural killer (NK) cells reduce my risk of illness?

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  A Multiple Sclerosis Foundation answered

  Natural killer (NK) cells are designed to find your cells that are no longer working effectively and "put them to sleep." This ranges from cells that have been infected with viruses to full-blown cancer. Lots of NK activity is perceived to be a good thing that reduces the chance of acute as well as chronic illness.
• QWhat is an autoimmune process?

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  A Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine answered

  An autoimmune process is a process in which your immune system, which would usually fight bacteria and viruses that are trying to infect your body, instead makes antibodies that attack your own normal cells. The immune system makes in error in which it sees your body or a part of your body as a foreign invader trying to cause you harm or illness.

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• QHow can I prevent lymphedema from breast cancer treatment when traveling?

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  A Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine answered

  In breast cancer, especially when lymph nodes have been removed and are no longer functioning to bring lymphatic fluid back to the torso, patients may suffer from increased swelling in the arm of the affected breast (lymphedema). Using a compression stocking on the arm, gentle massage and raising the arm above the level of the heart may help with decreasing swelling. Additionally, it is important to monitor for signs of redness or infection and seek medical care if you have any concerns about uncontrolled swelling.

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