Dr. Curtis McElroy

Category: Health Conditions

  • The Affects Of Sleep On The Immune System

    How Sleep Affects The Immune System

    Sleep is a vital part of our lives. We need our sleep in order to recharge our energy, set down our memory, and increase the function of the immune system. Inadequate sleep can lead to sleep deprivation which can increase your risk of infection.

    While some believe that not getting enough sleep and getting sick is just an old wives’ tale and yet there have been research studies showing that this is the case. Up to 70 million US adults don’t get enough sleep and it can affect the ability of the immune system to be ready to attack pathogens.

    Understanding the Connection

    A lack of sleep has been linked by research to numerous physical and mental health conditions, including those related to a poor immune system. Lacking sleep affects the ability of the immune system to protect people from getting flu, colds, and other infectious diseases.

    The immune system is a complicated assortment of different kinds of cells and proteins that have as their goal the elimination of foreign substances, such as cold viruses and flu viruses. There have been many research studies indicating that the T cells of the immune system are reduced when we don’t get enough sleep. There is also a risk of increasing the inflammatory cytokines in our system, which results in an increased risk of getting an infectious disease.

    This means that not getting enough sleep can suppress the immune function. You become more susceptible to all kinds of bacterial and viral infections.

    Sleep Deprivation and Fever

    It turns out that a lack of sleep affects more than just our ability to fight off colds and the flu. It also influences the way the body responds to these illnesses once we get them. Normally, when we get an infectious disease, we develop a fever, which is helpful in killing off the pathogens. When we get plenty of sleep, our fever response is better. Fevers tend to be worse at night but if we don’t sleep, we can’t mount the kind of fever necessary to fight off infections and the infections can be more serious.

    Vaccines and Sleep Deprivation

    There have been research studies indicating that we don’t respond the way we are supposed to when we get a vaccine against the influenza virus. We develop fewer antibodies when we get a vaccine if we don’t get enough sleep. It also takes longer for the body to react to the immunizations we are given. This leads to an increase in susceptibility to getting the flu, even if we have been properly vaccinated.

    Is Sleep Deprivation a Life or Death Problem?

    It appears that a lack of sleep influences the way we fight off many different kinds of health problems.

    There is research to suggest that those who are sleep deprived have an increased risk of death due to heart disease. The less we sleep, the higher are the levels of C reactive protein in the body. C reactive protein is one of the body’s markers for inflammation and inflammation can lead to getting a heart attack, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease.

    Research also tells us that people who do not sleep have a greater risk of death from all different types of disease. Those who get at least seven hours of sleep per night have the greatest chance for survival while those who get six hours or less of sleep per night suffer from increased mortality.

    How much sleep is necessary?

    Some people function okay if they don’t get enough sleep while others need a full seven to nine hours of sleep at night to have an adequate immune system. If you are prone to getting infections, look into the quality and quantity of sleep you are getting, as it may be a major factor into why you are getting sick all the time.

    Getting enough sleep

    The following are some good sleep hygiene tips you should consider adopting:

    • Not exercising right before sleep
    • Going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day
    • Not eating a big meal before sleeping
    • Avoiding alcohol before sleeping
    • Keeping the room quiet and dark
    • Avoiding stimulants before bed

    The more you can do to get a good night’s sleep, the better your immune system will function, and the less likely you will be to come down with an infectious disease.

  • Rheumatoid Arthritis

    Rheumatoid Arthritis

    When the synovial membrane that lies within the capsule of a joint is the target of a misdirected immune system, it causes inflammation to the joints. This membrane produces the gel-like synovial fluid which is responsible for lubricating the joints. Without this fluid, smooth joint movement would be impossible.

    Inflammation is the body’s natural reaction to arthritic diseases, causing pain, swelling and heat. People with this progressive disease go through periods of increased activity called flares, followed by periods of relative remission, when the swelling and pain fade or disappear.

    This disease can strike at any age. The onset is most common between ages of 25 and 55, and around 57% of sufferers are women.

    Symptoms Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

    The most common symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is tender, swollen joints. It is usual for both sides of the body to be affected with the disease.

    Rheumatoid arthritis usually starts in the joints of the fingers, toes and feet. As the disease progresses the pain and swelling often spreads to the wrists, ankles, knees, elbows, hips, and shoulders.

    When the lining of the membranes have been damaged the inflammation thickens the synovial membrane. This can eventually destroy the cartilage and the bone within the joint.

    Sometimes when the tendons and ligaments stretch and weaken the joint gradually loses its shape and alignment.

    Sleeping difficulties, because of pain, increases the persistent fatigue which is a common condition of this disease.

    Around 40% of people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis additionally have symptoms that do not involve the joints. A wide variety of body systems including the lungs, heart, blood vessels, skin and eyes, can be affected.

    Complications Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

    Medication for rheumatoid arthritis and the disease itself can further impair the immune system, leading to an increased risk of infection. Medication and the disease itself can also pose a greater risk of osteoporosis occurring.

    There is an increased risk of experiencing Sjogren’s Syndrome, a disorder that decreases the moisture in the eyes and mouth. There is also a greater risk of inflammation and scarring of lung tissue which can lead to progressive shortening of the breath.

    If rheumatoid arthritis has affected the wrists, it can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. This syndrome causes the inflammation to compress the nerves that serve most of the hand and fingers. In some cases the heart is affected, increasing the risk of hardened and blocked arteries and inflammation of the sac that encloses the heart.

    Management Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

    A physiotherapist can provide an activity moderation plan to help manage pain, and prescribe an exercise program to help keep joints mobile and strong.

    Exercise will build up stamina and help to maintain muscle strength and joint flexibility, which all help with pain management. Complementary therapies such as massage and acupuncture may also provide relief from pain.

    Rest can help manage fatigue and this is particularly important at the times when flares occur, and the joints are red, sore and swollen. If the joint is very painful or if there is a risk of losing overall function, surgery may become necessary.

    Causes Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

    Genes do not actually cause rheumatoid arthritis. However scientists believe that some people are more susceptible than others to environmental factors. Infection, viruses and bacteria are thought to be some of the factors that can trigger the onset.

    It is thought that smoking increases the risk for people who have a genetic predisposition for developing the disease, with symptoms appearing more severe.

     

  • Multiple Sclerosis

    Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

    MS occurs when the immune system attacks the central nervous system, affecting the brain and spinal cord. The medical profession find MS an astounding disease because of the severity, and variety of ways that it affects people.

    People with MS commonly experience an unpredictable fluctuation of relapses and remissions. Attacks can last a few weeks and then disappear. However relapses can get progressively worse, more unpredictable and come with different symptoms.

    MS is in itself not fatal, but some people with the disease are more susceptible to contracting other illnesses. Severe cases may involve paralysis or vision loss.

    Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects more than 2 million worldwide. Three times as many women as men suffer from the disease. The onset of the disease usually occurs between the ages of 20 and 40.

    Causes Of Multiple Sclerosis

    Autoimmune disease means that for unknown reasons our immune system mistakenly attacks our own healthy cells. The nerve fibers that comprise the central nervous system are encased in a protective case known as myelin sheath.

    When immune cells attack the myelin sheath in the central nervous system, parts of the sheath surrounding the brain and spinal cord become inflamed, and eventually degenerate. The damage results in the disruption of nerve signals. This causes the onset of MS disease.

    Although researchers are aware that the myelin sheath has been directly affected, they do not know what triggers the immune system to attack.

    It is believed that genetics play a role, if one parent has MS there is a 2 to 5% of risk of their children getting the disease. Scientists believe that MS victims are born with a susceptibility to adversely react to certain unknown environmental triggers.

    There has been a noticeable pattern of increased cases of MS sufferers in countries farthest from the equator, who as a consequence are exposed to less sunlight. Epidemiologists theorize that there may be a correlation between a lack of Vitamin D and proper function of the immune system.

    Viruses are known to cause inflammation, and to break down myelin. Researchers therefore consider it is possible that a virus could trigger MS. Investigations have begun into several bacteria and viruses to discover if they have any involvement in the development of MS. The focus is on the measles virus, human herpes virus-6 and Epstein-Barr virus(EBV).

    Symptoms Of MS

    Nerve fibers carry messages to and from the brain. The damaged parts of the myelin sheath leave scar tissue, or sclerosis. It depends on where sclerosis occur within the nervous system as to how and where the symptoms will manifest in the body.

    Chronic fatigue is one of the most debilitating symptoms of this disease. MS related fatigue occurs daily, worsens as day goes on and is more severe than normal fatigue. It may be the most conspicuous symptom in a person who otherwise has minimal symptoms.

    Lack of co-ordination of muscle movement (ataxia), balance and functioning of the arms and legs are affected. Chronic back and muscle pain can result from simply walking. Sudden involuntary movements in all parts of the body is also common.

    Cognitive dysfunction is more common among long term sufferers of MS. However, around half of the people with this disease display a decreased ability to concentrate, process information and remember things.

    Major depression is also an understandable condition of the disease. The stress of MS can also cause irritability, mood swings and sometimes bouts of uncontrollable crying and laughing.

    Altered sensory sensations to the skin like numbness, pins and needles, tingling and tightness, and sharp stabbing pain are also present in some cases of MS.

    Eyes are sometimes affected by the disease. When the optic nerve has become inflamed there is a potential for blurred vision, double vision and uncontrolled eye movement. Blindness has also been known to occur in progressive cases of MS.

    Continence problems, involving bladder incontinence, diarrhea and constipation, are an embarrassing issue associated with this condition.

     

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