Why are some people so susceptible to disease, while others fight off the pathogen completely or get a version of the infection free of symptoms? The body's immune system is a highly complex network interacting with a wide variety of organs, cell types and biochemical substances. It can neutralize pathogens, toxins and cancer cells and heal injuries using the body's own resources. Exogenous microbes play an important role in the digestive system in particular. An unbalanced diet, excessive hygiene and a low-germ environment can lead to an imbalance in the microbial composition in the gut, which can in turn lead to an overreaction of the immune system and allergies. Psychological factors also influence the immune system. Well-being and stress affect our resistance to disease, positively and negatively respectively.
Important new findings have been made in several different subdisciplines in recent years, but these are only gradually coming together to form an overall picture.
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