Ageing & the Immune Changes
Research and recognition of the ageing changes to the immune system in older people, has increased dramatically over the last 10 years. This research had a major boost due to Covid-19 as many older people died quickly when infected with Covid-19 and the response to the vaccination was different in older people.
The terms ‘immunosenescence’ and ‘inflammaging’ have now become common in the healthy terminology for older people, especially after the age of 75. (While 65 year of age - YoA - 75 years of age is the new 65).
Respiratory tract especially URTI, become more common in older people during winter. There is a loss of production of the protective mucus that lines the respiratory tract. Also many older peopl are in closed environments with air conditioning that dries out the lining of the respiratory tract, and concentrated and circulating pathogens.
The Innate immune system - the system that responds immediately to any pathogen, becomes slower to respond and has fewer effective cells being produced. This is then carried forward to the Adaptive Immune system. The immune cells that should identify the pathogen as foreign, are slower to react and form antibodies at a slower rate. This all allows any pathogen to become a serious infection quickly.
YOGA: Daily Full body movements are essential. Ensure all joints are activated. A round of sun salutations twice daily can meet this need.
Deep breathing practice . This is very important first thing in the morning. As we age, our breathing becomes shallow during the night, giving a build up of stale air in the lungs and a build up of stale lymphatic fluid and capillary blood in the lung tissues. This needs to be moved out especailly before starting the day.
Humming: (Bhramari Pranayama): This practice is wonderful for stimulating the production of healthy mucus in the URT. It alos stimulates the movement of lymph fluid in the neck region. This is an area of the body that has a lot of lymphatic ducts.
Head down asanas: Down dog, forward fold, are easy doable daily poses that aid drainage on the sinuses.
Movement of the lymphatic fluid is essential for a healthy immune system.
Bridge Pose ( Setu Bandhasana) This pose is a daily MUST. It moves the lymphatic fluid throughout the body, moving it up to the drainage back into the blood circulaion. The movement of the diaphragm is especially important in aiding drainage of the aabdominal and pelvic areas, and moving tthe lymph through the diaphragm at the aortic hiatus. The breathing when rinsing and lowering the body aids with keeping the interstitial fluid moving and cleaned out in the upper chest and the neck areas.
