Kym Stacee – Artificial Immune Systems

The Body’s Immune System – Understanding Immunocompromised and Autoimmune Conditions

By Kym Stacee | June 21, 2022

Our body’s immune system fends off diseases by signaling some type of white blood cells to send antibodies that destroy harmful antigens or foreign bodies. However, there are instances when the immunity system of a body is impaired, either in a weakened state or in an overly active state. Any of those two conditions are harmful and can lead to the deterioration of our health.

What Causes the Immune System to Weaken

A weakened immune system makes your body “immunocompromised.” While some individuals were born with weak immune systems, certain viruses like the COVID-19 strain or some types of medications can impair the body’s ability to fight disease-causing antigens.

While an overly active immune system is known as an autoimmune disease that requires the taking of immunosuppressants. Yet certain medical conditions such as recuperating from an organ transplant, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis also call for the taking of immunosuppressants as treatment.

Lupus, by the way, is a medical condition in which antibodies attack and destroy the host’s own tissues and cells making up the important organs of the body.

While medications known as immunosuppressants intentionally weaken the immune system as treatment, a weakened immune system can also be the resulting side effect of certain medications. Know this to be one of the reasons why it’s important to consult with a physician first, before taking non-prescription medicines or supplements, whether branded or generic

Types of Medicines that Can Weaken a Body’s Immune System

Numerous medications can lead to a side effect of weakening the immune system. The most common of these medications are those formulated as immunosuppressants that are either biologic or biosimilar. The use of these medications as treatment depends on the kind and severity of the autoimmune disease.

Biologics refer to treatments using living cells of microorganisms, animals, or humans. Biosimilar medicines, on the other hand, are likened to generic medications since they contain an exact copy of the formulation of active ingredients used by a branded medication. These medications work as immunosuppressants by blocking certain kinds of protein that would normally activate our immune system. If not administered properly, immunosuppressants can cause not only a weakening but also impairment of our immune system.

Are Generic Medicines Unsafe?

This discussion though does not suggest that all generic medicines cause autoimmune conditions. In India, generic or biosimilar medications are common forms of medications, as a way to keep pharmaceutical products affordable to millions of Indians. While the national government runs its own pharmaceutical company, manufacturers also sell their products through a system known as PCD Pharma Franchise.

PCD stands for Propaganda Cum Distribution, a system of pharmaceutical trading that empowers anyone to invest and engage in a pharma distribution business of selling generic medications in specific areas across India. However, those interested in setting up a PCD Pharma Business have to work with companies whose core business is to broker distribution deals with pharmaceutical companies involved in the manufacture of generic medicines.

Continuing Increase in Obesity Rate : Questions Raised on the Efficiency of Weight Loss Supplements

By Kym Stacee | May 22, 2022

The latest industry report from IBIS World shows that US obesity growth rate from 2017 to 2022 stands at 33%, or an annualized increase of 1.8% during the period. Apparently, while there are natural weight loss supplements that lay claims to having the most effective formulation for addressing weight loss problems, many of these claims have been debunked by peer reviews as having insignificant or no impact at all.

In the meantime, Americans continue to consume and accumulate more fat instead of observing caloric restrictions. Rather than burn excess calories via physical exercises to prevent obesity and its corollary diseases, most adult Americans prefer to live a sedentary lifestyle.

Today, obesity accounts as one of the country’s biggest economic health burdens. Current data shows that about $150 billion in medical costs are spent annually in the treatment of obesity related diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, stroke and cancer.

The Correlation between Obesity and Immunology

Obesity is a condition that can adversely affect the body’s immune system. Scientists have always taken keen interests in studying the mechanisms behind the human body’s immune system. It became clear to the medical world that a greater understanding of immunology holds the key to understanding diseases.

One of the diseases that is largely being investigated in the immunology sector today is obesity, being a complex health condition that can have an intense effect on the immune system of obese persons. However, studies show that immune systems and inclination toward obesity are influenced by several factors.

Although obesity is partially preventable by way of healthy eating behavior, physical exercises and other helpful lifestyle changes, it has unfortunately become an epidemic especially in the US, despite the widespread campaigns and proliferation of weight loss supplements.

The World Health Organization (WHO) points to the “western diet” as one of the contributing factors, as it consists of high fat, high cholesterol ingredients, comprising largely of processed food involving the use of large quantities of salt and sugar. Nowadays, the “western diet” is present not only in the US but in nearly all countries across the globe.

Geographic locations, environmental conditions and social elements such as culture, class, roles and institutions are also determinants of a person’s or a group of person’s genetic predisposition to develop obesity. Such complexity has made obesity one of the most difficult public health crises faced by many governments worldwide.

Can Weight Loss Supplements Really Help in Preventing Fat Absorption and in Strengthening Immune Systems?

While weight loss supplements offer help in reducing calories by way of plant-based ingredients, formulated in ways that can influence fat absorption, their efficiency also depends on dietary intakes, engagement in exercises and healthy lifestyle.

Using the Modera Trim weight supplement as an example, most modere trim customer reviews have given positive feedback about improvements on age-related skin conditions like reductions in fine lines and wrinkles. Yet as far as weight loss is concerned, its active ingredient Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), users say it has very minimal or no effect at all as a weight reduction solution.

Actually, Modere’s claim that CLA, a plant-based fat usually derived from safflower oil, has been debunked by many reviews as not effective in reducing human body fat deposits and improving immune systems. Although there have been studies that CLA can contribute in achieving modest weight loss, peer reviews pertaining to the data supporting such findings have been described as inconclusive.

Obese Adults Have Impaired Immunity Systems that Can Affect Defences vs Infectious Diseases

By Kym Stacee | March 12, 2022

Obese adults are among the group of people, whom the CDC and WHO meantioned as at greater risks of hospitalizztion for COVID-19 infection. People with excessive weight have high levels of adiposity, which when explained in layman’s terms means a condition of having too much fatty tissues that tend to lower an obese person’s immunity level.

Studies have shown evidence that excessive adiposity can adversely affect the body’s natural immunity and defences against major diseases, such as heart attacks, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and even cancer

What Exactly does Obesity Denote?

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in the U.S defines obesity as a body condition marked by the accumulation of excessive body fat in quantities that are beyond standatd or normal. A person is obese if his body mass index measures between 26 to 30 kg

An obese condition is often characterized as one that manifests chronic inflammation, as well as having disrupted levels of metabolism hormones and circulating proteins. However, important insights into how abnormal metabolism linked to how excessive weight adversely affect immunity, are based on studies using lab rats as models.

Nevertheless, epidemiological data gathered from diagnoses of obese individuals indicate they are at greater risk of contracting hospital-originating infections usually following surgical treatments. Moreover, following the tremd of increased morbidity and mortality among obese insividual with significant altered immunity, the data were taken as indications that obesity is an independent risk factor for patients who were hospitalized due to the 2020 COVID 19 infectious disease.

Such findings highlighted the need to conduct extended research that will give more light in understanding specific aspects of immunity impairment as a result of obesity. Impaired immunity among the obese population have been contributing factors in reducing their immunocompetence or their ability to respond normally to antibiotics and vaccination. Inasmuch as a there are millions worldwide diagnosed as obese, a broader understanding of how obesity affects the immune system is a serious public health matter.

Urgency of Improving Immunity Systems Amidst an Ongoing Health Crisis

In the meantime, it is of utmost importance for people with excessive BMI and suffering from obesity, to have an understanding of what causes their excessive weight gain. The reasons can be diverse, from poor nutrition, to living a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy habits like smoking and excessive drinking. Some scientific researches have also discovered that genetics and environmental factors, as well as geographical locations are possible factors that promote obesity.

The complexities that obese people face with impaired immunity makes it urgent to address obesity as a health issue. Thankfully, many have taken interest in reducing their caloric intakes by improving their diets and increasing their engagement in physical exercise. Some have raised awareness about the need to strengthen their immunity and natural defences against infectious dieases in light of the emerging coronavirus variants.

The need to do so is urgent but must be through safe and reliable methods. That is why many are looking into consumer websites that conduct reviews about the legitimacy and efficiency of popular weight loss products. The Geeks Health website for one carries a comprehensive review of PhenQ, one of the popular fat burner supplements available in the market today.

Author: Kym Stacee