Your Intelligent Immune System

by Jessica Madge

Overview

When my son received life-saving treatment for lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system, my interest was ignited. What do scientists mean when they talk about the immune system? How does it work? How does it protect us and why does it sometimes fail? Which diseases directly reduce its powers? And why does it sometimes cause tissue rejection, allergies and autoimmune diseases? These questions took me back to the biological sciences, the subject that fascinated me at university. I found that knowledge of the immune system had transformed since my student days. I discovered that it is indeed an "intelligent" system that strives to maintain a harmonious balance in the face of a daily onslaught from microbes and other molecules that can cause harm.
Many products and services claim to "boost the immune system". But do any of them have proven benefits and what can science tell us about how to stay healthy or recover from illness? This book looks at the way the immune system works and the evidence underlying all those claims. It also explains the part the immune system plays in diseases as diverse as diabetes, heart disease and cancer and the role it will play in the future of medicine. It will also provide a useful introduction to the subject for students of biology and medical sciences.
This book contains no recipes and not a single inspirational story.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940045121125
Publisher:	Jessica Madge
Publication date:	11/30/2012
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	eBook
File size:	299 KB

About the Author

I enjoy writing about how the body works. My aim is to make the science behind health and illness accessible to the general reader. I like to shed light, bust myths and raise questions.
My first book, Your Intelligent Immune System, explains how the immune system works in sickness and health and how to get the best out of it.
My second is Reflux and Heartburn, The New Self Help. This is a fresh look at a common health problem. Traditional and new-age remedies for reflux and heartburn either involve consuming acid- neutralizing remedies or making unwelcome changes to your diet. However the key cause of reflux is a mechanical failure at the top of the stomach, not a chemical imbalance. My book explains the problem and suggests a range of physical, rather than chemical solutions.
I have B.Sc and M.Phil. degrees from the University of Wales and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of Southampton. I have worked as a science teacher in secondary schools and as a staff trainer in both the National Health Service and the water industry. I have also been an antenatal teacher, a mother, a school governor and teacher of yoga.