Exercise in the Immune System - Essay Sample

Introduction

The immune system refers to the body's defense system comprising numerous coordinated structures and processes that work together to protect the body against diseases and other potentially damaging foreign cells. Exercise boosts the function of the immune system and helps the processes and structures work efficiently and effectively. The paper explores how the human immune system responds to high-intensity, moderately regulated, and low-intensity physical activities.

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There are two main categories of the immune system namely; innate immunity and adaptive immunity. Innate immunity is the immune system that people are born with (Zoladz, 2018). They include stomach acid, cough reflex, enzymes, skin, and mucus. Some chemicals substances also form part of innate immunity such as interleukin-1 and interferon. The general characteristic of innate immunity is that it is non-specific, meaning it does not give protection against a specific threat.

On the other hand, adaptive immunity which is also known as acquired immunity targets and protects the body against specific threats. According to Ulrich (2013), it is more complex as compared with innate immunity. In adaptive immunity, the body processes and recognizes the threat against which it produces threat-specific antibodies that destroy the threat and remembers it for future responses.

Physical exercises boost the function and effectiveness of the immune system. According to studies, the human immune system adapts to an intense bout of physical activities leading to increased production of neutrophils and the consequent decrease of eosinophils due to changes in the volume of plasma in the body. The mechanism is also associated with cell migration from the endothelial tissues alongside inflammatory and phagocytic responses to tissue damages during an intense exercise.

Nevertheless, the differential migration of leucocytes into various tissues after the intense exercise depends on some factors such as the intensity of the physical activity as well as the duration the exercise lasts. After an acute exercise, studies reveal that there is a suppression of the respiratory burst and the phagocytic capacity from neutrophils (Zoladz, 2018). After a period of intense physical exercise, the body becomes highly susceptible to infection due to suppression of the functions of natural killer cells due to cytotoxicity and proliferation of T-lymphocytes. However, the immune cell counts produce inconsistent results from various studies.

Chronic and acute intense physical exercise impairs cell-mediated immunity by reducing the expression of receptors and increasing the production of IL-6 and cortisol thereby leading to inflammation because the production of T-helper cell alongside the decreased macrophage. Moreover, intense physical exercise enhances the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNFa, and IL-1b followed by the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1ra, and IL-10 thereby resulting in imbalanced immunity response. In addition to that, it suppresses the immunity of cells leading to high susceptibility to infections (Zoladz, 2018).

Changes in the immune response to physical exercise depend on some factors such as the intensity of the exercise, duration, age, and sex. However, further studies should be carried out to verify various moderating factors including nutritional status and training to gain a better understanding of the mechanism.

Several studies report that moderate physical exercise on a regular basis boosts immune response unlike the high-intensity physical exercises, which cause adverse injuries to cells and tissues besides worse immune response (McArdle, 2010; Shephard, 2011; Ulrich, 2013). Moderate training exercise imposes beneficial effects in T-Lymphocyte proliferation as well as natural cytotoxicity thereby, reducing stress, which would lead to the formation of antibodies. In addition to that, it enhances normal counts of B-cells, T-cells, and Ig. Therefore, regular moderate physical exercise improves cell-mediated adaptive immunity.

Exercise-training is crucial at regulating Th-cell-mediated immune functions. Therefore, it is beneficial at reducing autoimmune diseases infection risks in older adults. In addition to that, regular moderate regulated physical exercise boosts lymphocyte proliferation and production of IL-2 and T-cell subsets in the adult's population.

Generally, physical exercise causes a short-term inflammatory response with increased release of acute phase reactants. Nevertheless, this only happens for a short while. Moderate exercise, in the long run, produces an anti-inflammatory effect with the enhanced immune response. In addition to that, it reduces risks of contracting metabolic and cardiovascular diseases that are common with the elevated levels of cytokines. The moderate physical exercise is, therefore, essential in enhancing better immune response in both younger and older populations.

Low-intensity exercises have little influence on the immune system response. Hence, the functions of the immune system do not significantly improve under low-intensity exercises. Therefore, such kinds of exercises are not encouraged for managing risks of disease infection either among the older adults or in, the younger populations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the immune system responds differently to different kinds of physical exercise. According to the studies, high-intensity physical exercise causes adverse injuries to the cells thereby leading to inflammatory effects on cells and reduced immune response. Moderately regulated physical exercise on a daily basis has been found to have beneficial effects on immune response. According to research, daily moderate training exercise enhances cell-mediated immunity in the human body leading to balanced immunity as well as reduced risk of disease infections. Finally, a low-intensity physical exercise has little influence on immune response.

References

McArdle, W. D., McArdle, W. D., Katch, F. I., & Katch, V. L. (2010). Exercise Physiology: Nutrition, energy and human performance. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Shephard, R. J. (2011). Year Book of Sports Medicine 2011 - E-Book.

Ulrich, C. M., Steindorf, K., & Berger, N. A. (2013). Exercise, energy balance, and cancer. New York: Springer.

ZOLADZ, J. E. R. Z. Y. A. N. D. R. Z. E. J. (2018). MUSCLE AND EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY. S.l.: ELSEVIER ACADEMIC PRESS.