How healthy are you?
Take our quick quiz to discover just how healthy your immune system is, as well as some useful information about your general health and wellbeing!
Check nowFirst of all, a pathogen (for instance a virus or unfriendly bacteria) must get past the body's physical barriers (such as skin, mucous membranes, or nasal hairs) and its chemical barriers (such as stomach acid) to start attacking cells.
The cells under attack then release chemicals that attract immune cells called macrophages which start to deal with the pathogen. If the pathogen resists this, macrophages can call on T cells. T cells will secrete chemicals to help overcome the pathogen. They can also activate B cells that lock onto the pathogen. Once the pathogen is killed, those B cells will remember how to kill it. This is why adults often get fewer colds and flu than children – the have been exposed to more pathogens (viruses).
Do you have questions? Please feel free to ask.
Take our quick quiz to discover just how healthy your immune system is, as well as some useful information about your general health and wellbeing!
Check nowStay up to date with the latest pollen information by finding your local pollen forecast from over 30,000 locations across the UK.
Get your local pollen count nowWhat you drink can have a big impact on the extent of your allergic rhinitis symptoms. From herbal teas to fruit juices find out which could help you most.
8 tasty drinks that could help allergic rhinitisDiscover the story of Alfred VogelNature is just about the best thing we’ve got!