subject: Immune System Disorders, A World-Wide Epidemic [print this page] Immune System Disorders, A World-Wide Epidemic
IMMUNE SYSTEM ERA
This is the era of the immune system, when researching and devising treatment modalities for repairing, strengthening, nourishing, enhancing and supporting the immune system are moving forward at a fevered pitch. During the last decade of the 20th century and the first decade of this century, scholars in the biological, chemical, physiological, and health sciences have been focusing their research on uncovering the mysteries behind the mechanics of the immune system. Meanwhile, the healing arts and sciences, both allopathic and naturopathic, are following up by determining what the research findings mean in terms of developing new medicine and treatment paradigms.
EPIDEMIC OF IMMUNE SYSTEM DISORDERS
Our current engrossment with the immune system is a natural response to the ever growing percentage of the world's population suffering from the debilitating effects of immune-based degenerative diseases and disorders. In fact, research bears out that the more "modernized" the world is becoming, the greater the percentage of the population suffering from these diseases and disorders. One source lists 63 diseases and disorders stemming from a dysfunctional immune system, including these all-too-well-known ailments:
Not surprisingly, cutting-edge research is beginning to reveal links between dysfunctions of the immune system and other common diseases such as cancer and types I and II diabetes. Even problems as seemingly unrelated as chronic fetal miscarriages are now being linked to immune system dysfunctions.
FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROBLEM
Volumes have been written by health and medical researchers and practitioners over the last two decades regarding factors influencing this escalation. Everything from the unrelenting stress of our modern life style to lack of exercise, chronic sleep deprivation, environmental pollution, depersonalization and social alienation, self-indulging entertainment, immoral and lascivious life styles, over-crowdedness, and the over-processing and devitalization of our food supplies have been argued as contributing factors to this modern epidemic.
A growing number of health researchers and practitioners world-wide agree that there is a significant correlation between poor nutrition and the current epidemic of immune system disorders and diseases. In my next article, I will be exploring how it is that our modernized world is experiencing poorer nutrition than before, leading to an increase in immune system and degenerative disorders.
