Sukunath B A

PGDYT 2017-18 (Evening)

 the organs and processes of the body that
provide resistance to infection and toxins
 2 categories
◦ Non-specific Defence Mechanism
◦ Specific Defence Mechanism
 First line of general defence
 Prevent entry & minimise further passage of
microbes & other foreign material
 5 main non-specific defence mechanisms
1. Defence at body surface
 Healthy, intact skin; sebum & sweat contain
antibacterial and antifungal substances
 Epithelial membrane lining body cavities & passages
- produce antibacterial secretions, often acidic,
containing antibodies and enzymes + sticky mucus
for trapping microbes
  Hairs in nose act as a coarse filter
 Sweeping action of cilia in respiratory tract moves
mucus and inhaled foreign substance towards throat
 One way flow of urine- minimizes the risk of infection
 In females, acidity of vaginal tract
2. Phagocytosis (cell eating)
 Macrophages and neutrophils
 Engulf their targets digest and destroy them,
antegenic material, and damaged body cells.
3. Natural Antimicrobial Substances
 HCl- gastric juice
 Lysozyme- granulocytes, tears. Destroys bacterial
cell wall, not affect viruses
 Saliva- contians antibodies, lysozyme. Neutrilize
bacterial acids that promote dental decay
 Interferons- produced by T lymphocytes,
macrophages and body cells that have been invaded
by viruses. Prevent viral replication within infected
cells, and spread of viruses to healthy cells.
4. Inflammatory Response
 Physiological response to tissue damage and
accompanied by characterised local changes
 Purpose- protective- isolate, inactivate and remove
both causative agent and damaged tissue so that
healing can take place
 Cardinal signs- redness, heat, swelling, pain
5. Immunological Surveillance
 Natural Killer (NK) cells, a population of lymphocytes,
constaltly patrol the body searching for abnormal
cells
 If 1st line of defence is overwhelmed,
activation of the powerful immune system
follows.
 3 key attributes of Immunity (not seen in
non-specific defence)-
1. Specificity- an immune response is directed against
one antigen, no others
2. Memory- an immune response against a particular
antigen usually generate immunological memory of
that antigen- so subsequent exposure to the same
antigen is generally faster and more powerful
3. Tolerance- control of the activity of these potentially
extremely destructive cells of immune system

Immune cells roams the body and check for marker

proteins on cell membranes. Healthy cells display the
expected ‘self’ markers and are ignored.

Non-self cells (Cancer cells, foreigh or transplated

cells, pathogens) possess different markers which
are destroyed.
 Lymphocytes
 20-30% of circulating WBCs
 but at any time most of them are found in
lymphatic and other tissues rather than in blood
stream
 Natural Killer (NK) cells- immunological surveillance
  T cells (cell mediated) Specific defence
 B cells (anti-body mediated)
produced in bone marrow & some lymphatic tissue
T cells migrate to thymus for final maturation

 For each of millions of possible antigens that

might be encountered in life, there is a
corresponding T and B cell programmed to
respond to it. So, there are vast numbers of
different T and B cells in the body, each
capable of responding to one specific
antigen.
 Hypersensitivity (Allergy)
◦ An inappropriate, powerful immune response to an
antigen (allergen) which is usually harmless
◦ Happens repeatedly
◦ E.g. House dust, animal dander, grass pollen
◦ Causes damage to body, not the allergen
◦ Sometimes annoying- running nose, streaming eyes
of hay fever
◦ Sometimes extreme, even leading to death-
 Autoimmune Disease
◦ Body fails to recognise its own tissue and attacks
itself
Condition Autoantibodies made
against:
1. Rheumatoid Arthritis 1. Synovial membrane of
joints
2. Hashimoto’s disease 2. Thyroglobulin
3. Grave’s Disease 3. TSH receptors on
thyroid cells
4. Myasthenia Gravis 4. Acetylcholine
receptors of skeletal
muscles
5. Type 1 Diabetes Beta cells of pancreas
 Immune Deficiency
◦ Ability of immune system to fight infections and
cancer is compromised or entirely absent.
◦ Types:
 Primary- usually occur in infancy and genetically
mediated
 Secondary- acquired as a result of various
immunosupprasents viz., malnutrition, aging, certain
medications (chemotherapy, immunosuppressive
drugs etc), infections, following splenectomy etc
 Lack of Sleep- people
who lack adequate
sleep (<6 hrs) or shift
workers are far more
prone to the common
cold and flu.
◦ reduced natural killer cell
activity, suppressed
interleukin-2 production
and increased levels of
circulating pro-
inflammatory cytokines
 Sugar- bad bacteria, yeast and fungi thrive on
sugars
 when white blood cells are exposed to high
levels of sugar, their ability to fight bacteria
decreases significantly
 sugar causes nutrient depletions of B-
vitamins, vitamin C.
 DRINKING ALCOHOL EXCESSIVELY OR BINGE
DRINKING
◦ reduce function of T and B lymphocytes, natural
killer cells and monocytes and macrophages,
decreasing the inflammatory response and altering
cytokine production
 Over Exercise- increases adrenaline and
cortisol
 STRESS
 psychological stress has been shown to
increase susceptibility to viral infection
 leads to the release of histamines, which can
trigger severe bronchial constriction in
asthmatic.
 Stress can affect your immune system in two
ways:
1. Immune System Suppression- in stress more cortisol
and other stress hormones are produced, which
suppress the immune system
2. Chronic Inflammation- Cortisol is necessary to reduce
inflammation in the body, but for short period. Over
long periods of time, the body’s efforts to reduce
inflammation end up suppressing the immune system.
Chronic stress causes cortisol levels to keep rising, but
over time it becomes much less effective in managing
inflammation. Immune cells become insensitive to
cortisol, allowing the immune system to become
dysregulated and enabling runaway inflammation.
 How Yoga Fits In
◦ Healthy Eating:
 Excessive consumption of red meat, sugar, soda, fried
foods, processed foods etc tampers the immune
system
 Yoga teaches to avoid those food which are harmful
 Yoga advocates right diet- Satvic Diet.
◦ Moderation in sleep and activity- another yogic
recommendation
 Irregular/too little sleep and stressful activity increases
risks of diseases
◦ Understanding the real purpose of living
 Giving much importance to one’s own life creates
stress.
 But, yogis say that the truth is different, “life has no
meaning... Being aware of its meaninglessness is its
meaning... That awareness itself is the real
unchangeable nature... Ever new joy”
 Hence one has nothing to gain and loss in the world;
so why we compete one another!
 Cultivating such an insight through contemplation and
meditation, relieves one from stress of living.
◦ Kriyas
 Jala Neti, Sutra Neti helps alleviate allergic responses
 Jala Neti with saline increase resistance of sinuses
 Vamana Dhauti-
 Kapalbhati- expels excess CO2, expulsion of feelings,
increase resistance of respiratory tract
 Trataka- relieves stress, soothes mind
◦ Loosening Exercises
 Practiced for general well being
 Increased blood flow to all parts
 Use of leg muscle ‘pumps’ up the lymph back to chest
◦ Asanas-
 Corrects problems related to other systems, which in
turn boost immune system
 Maintains health of Lymphatic System-
 1. Dynamic practice increases lymph drainage helping
to bring most of it to heart.
 2. Soak and squeeze- Twists causes soaking and
squeezing action around internal organs in the
abdomen which improves lymph drainage.
 3. using power of gravity by applying inversions to
drain out lymph back to heart.
 Improves expulsion of toxins through sweat, and urine
 Increases blood flow to all organs
 Kurmasana supports thymus.
 Inversions (adhomukha svanasana etc) encourages
blood flow to sinuses
 Ushtrasana, Gomukhasana, Balasana with arms
extedned in front- good to relieve bronchial
congestion
 Chest opening- e.g. bhujangasana- prevents
pneumonia
 Asanas can provide a reparative effect. E.g. The
peculiar soothing feeling one experiences in the back
bone, especially during twists is perceived in brain a
relaxation
 List of Asanas that positively influence Immune System-
Tadasana, Vrkshasana, Padahastasana, Trikonasana,
Adhomukha Svanasana, Kurmasana, Ushtrasana,
Gomukhasana, Balasana, Vakrasana,
ArdhaMatsyendrasana, Sarvangasana, Halasana,
Vipareetakarni, Shirsanasa, Bhujangasana, Dhanurasana,
Salabhasana, savasana etc.
 Role of Pranayama
◦ cold and flu infections, allergies, asthma, and other
chronic respiratory conditions are directly linked to
a weakened immune response due to disturbed,
irregular habits of breathing
◦ Sectional breathing and rapid abdominal breathing
(Kapalabhati) increase the resistance of your
respiratory tract
◦ nasal wash and alternate-nostril breathing increase
the resistance of sinuses
(study conducted by Penn State Uty)
 Pranayama balances SNS and PNS
◦ Nadi Suddhi, Anuloma Viloma
◦ Helps bringing stress levels down
◦ Stress hormones levels are lowered
◦ Normal functioning is reestablished
 Improves one’s ability to cope up with stressful
situation
 Increases the amount of subtle vital energy in the
body.
 Corrects abnormal prana vibrations, bring them
back to normal
 Sectional Br, Nadi Suddhi, Anuloam Viloma,
Cooling Pranayama, Ujjayi, Bhastrika etc.
 Meditation
◦ Meditation means “rest”. It is “awareful sleeping”
◦ During rest, body regains it vitality, restores (tries
to restore) every disturbed process to normal
◦ Destresses the body by reducing cortisols and
increasing endorphins
◦ Foster positive state of mind to promote positive
health.
◦ OM meditation, Nadanusandhana etc