The doctor spoke about the effects of immune amnesia on human health

The immune system is the body's defense system, which consists of many cells capable of recognizing and destroying viruses, bacteria, and other threats. When a person is exposed to an infectious agent for the first time, memory cells are formed in the immune system. They also form after vaccination. Svetlana Nemova, a general practitioner at the Sberbank Health medical company, told Izvestia about this on August 29.

"With the help of memory cells, the immune system remembers and stores information about the pathogen, which helps to react quickly if it enters the body again. It is thanks to these cells that you can remain protected from certain diseases for years or even your whole life after vaccination or infection," says the doctor.

If the body loses the ability to "remember" previously encountered pathogens and respond effectively to them, then this is immune amnesia. This condition develops due to the loss or significant decrease in the number of memory cells of the immune system. Immune amnesia can be congenital or acquired.

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"Thus, innate immune amnesia occurs in the presence of primary immunodeficiency, a group of congenital diseases in which the development or function of components of the immune system is disrupted. If such diseases are suspected in children, early diagnosis is necessary, which is carried out by a doctor in the presence of "red flags," Nemova said.

Four or more severe infections per year should be of concern, for example, pneumonia; candidiasis of the oral cavity or skin that cannot be treated; prolonged diarrhea combined with weight loss. Primary immunodeficiency therapy may include bone marrow transplantation or gene therapy.

Acquired immune amnesia occurs for a number of reasons, including certain infectious diseases, age, and undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. Viruses such as measles and HIV directly affect components of the immune system, including memory cells, and some flu strains can cause their temporary decline. Also, in autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, there is sometimes a malfunction of memory cells. As a result of a decrease in the number of these cells, the body "forgets" the infections it encountered before, and becomes vulnerable even to those diseases from which it was protected.

"Partial" immune amnesia in the absence of prolonged contact with pathogens is possible, but it depends on the type of pathogen. For example, for the measles virus, immune memory can persist for decades, while for other pathogens, such as seasonal infections, it can weaken faster. Therefore, it is important to adhere to the vaccination schedule and repeat vaccinations on time, according to the doctor's prescriptions.

"In order to maintain the normal functioning of the immune system, it is important to follow simple rules: get vaccinated according to the national calendar of preventive vaccinations; eat a balanced and varied diet; follow a work and rest regime; maintain physical activity — perform aerobic exercises for at least 30 minutes five times a week," the doctor clarified.

At the same time, it is necessary to sleep at least seven to eight hours a day, conduct annual health checks, be monitored by a doctor in the presence of chronic diseases and follow his recommendations.

On March 20, endocrinologist, nutritionist at the SM Clinic, PhD Oksana Mikhaleva told Izvestia about products that cause insomnia. So, this is a caffeinated food, which can include chocolate. That's why she recommended eliminating this product in the evening.

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