COVID-19 : Thymus gland and Alkaline water – basically shares insights on immunity build up and thymus gland playing major role in it and how to strengthen immune system of the body.
The unprecedented COVID 19 pandemic situation created a havoc among homo sapiens. The virus already kills thousands of people and millions are affected. Globally, it has created an atmosphere of panic and fear impacting the physical and mental well-being. It is important to highlight how the world can address itself with this fatal outbreak of Corona virus disease. Individuals simply can’t fight this battle and protect themselves through sprinkling chlorine and alcohol-based sanitizers across the bodies, says WHO (World Health Organisation).
Humans require more than that to sustain in this time of uncertainty. Currently, scientists, researchers, doctors etc. working day and night to find vaccines and antiviral drugs against this virus, but no significant result till date. Meanwhile, by building the strong defence mechanism of body that is, by boosting the immunity one can make the bodies to fight against this virus.
Thymus gland responsible for providing immunity:
So, to boost the self-protective mechanism of the body, we need to be more vigilant and informed about how this defence mechanism of our body works. First, let’s discuss about the most important thymus gland of our body which is responsible for providing immunity, but this gland appears to be undervalued, rarely mentioned.
Thymus is a tiny pyramid shaped gland situated behind the sternum (chest bone), active until puberty. When ageing continues it typically atrophies and replaced by fat,but its function remains lifelong. This gland is central to the development and maturation of the lymphocytes or T-cells, a specific form of white blood cells which provides immunity to fight against foreign bodies (bacteria, viruses, etc.). Certain types of precursor cells originate in the bone marrow of bones from the stem cells which travel through the blood stream to the thymus gland where they develop and are conditioned to fulfil their unique defensive functions.
Thymus secrets the thymosin hormone, which stimulates the T cell development and production. These produced cells go through specific training and selection process, some of them that is 1-2% get selected, matured and released in the lymphatic system to perform their function of defence against foreign bodies. Rest of them die inside the thymus. Further, these released cells in the lymphatic system categorised as T-cells (Thymus cells) and B-cells (Bone marrow cells). T-cells mainly fight against foreign pathogens and further categorised into Natural killer T-cells, Helper T-cells and regulatory T-cells.
Natural killer T-cells release certain chemicals such as cytokines which helps to fight and kill viruses or other foreign bodies. Helper T-cells as the name indicates help natural killer T-cells to kill the pathogens by identifying them as harmful. And regulatory T-cells basically plays the role of homeostasis, so that T-cells kills only harmful foreign pathogens and leaves body’s own cells. Coming on to the B-cells whose central role is to produce antibodies. The job of antibodies is to identify the harmful pathogens and tag them so that natural killer can kill them.
From this we can conclude that our body’s natural defence mechanism system is so well organised with the Thymus gland playing the central role. But with ageing, thymus gland atrophied, and reduced as a fat tissue. So, gradually the release of matured T and B cells also slows down which ultimately weakens the immune system and body becomes more susceptible to disease and infections. Through this understanding of the physiology and degeneration of thymus gland we can establish a plausible correlation in the low infection rate by corona virus in children compare to adults.
How we can strengthen the defence system of the body?
Now after discussing about the role of thymus second talk is about how we can strengthen the defence system of the body. According to various studies, acidic medium is the favourable environment for the survival of pathogens. So, if the body medium is acidic, that means body is more susceptible for infections. Here, I propose a novel therapeutic approach to boost the immunity by transforming the body’s environment from acidic to alkaline.
Alkaline environment is not the feasible one for viruses to thrive, so it will curb down the infection rate and its severity. We are now aware of the vicious virus, Covid-19 (Corona virus). It affects those that have compromised immune systems and if not prepared, may potentially devastate the body. Unfortunately, immune-compromised individuals are often more vulnerable. That’s why it is important to learn how to integrate and regulate immune system. Drinking nutrient-rich water is one of the important techniques of all as seventy percent of the body constituent is water. So, alkaline water has potential to strengthen the immune system significantly.
Dr Kritika Jain
Master of Public Health, International Laureate University, Sydney
Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
SALSA (Student As a Life Style Activist) Program Educator, Primary Health Care Education and Research Unit (PERU) – a collaboration between Western Sydney Local Health District and the University of Sydney.
Mob: | +61 481 764 865
Email: drkritikajain6@gmail.com
