Dying to live : how our bodies fight disease

The human body is a remarkable machine that goes through extraordinary measures to fight disease. However, it has always been a challenge for the curious general reader to find a concise and entertaining explanation of the biological processes that combat illness. Dying to Live addresses this need. Written in a clear and accessible style, this book gives an up-to-date account of the inner workings of our immune systems. Aimed at the lay reader, it examines important areas of medical science such as fever, AIDS and cancer. The book highlights the role of the mother in protecting the developing child during and after pregnancy and draws our attention to the changes in our immune system throughout life. The author looks at vaccinations and how pathogens evade their effects and considers the impact of lifestyle, stress, exercise, dietary, and hereditary factors on our ability to fight disease. The theme central to the book, from which the title derives, is the idea that in the war against disease our bodies sacrifice millions of cells--antibodies and other specialized elements of the immune system. Only by pitting these immune cells against infectious agents can we continue to survive. This current and enlightening book will interest anyone who has ever wondered what is happening in our bodies when we get ill and how we recover. An expert on immunology in general and the thymus gland in particular, Marion Kendall has edited several books and published over 100 articles on these subjects. Dr. Kendall has lectured extensively in Europe, Canada, and the United States. This book gives an up-to-date account of the inner workings of our immune system. Aimed at the general reader, it looks at areas of science including fever, AIDS and cancer. Central to the book, from which the title derives, is the idea that in the war against disease our bodies sacrifice millions of cells - some are lost in choosing which cells fight diseases most effectively, others die in these efforts, and yet others die in the recovery and repair processes. The result is a finely tuned and well directed attack against invaders of the body which is aimed at the restoration of good health. Only by pitting all manner of complex immune cells against such infectious agents can we continue to survive in the world How do our bodies fight disease? Written in clear accessible style this book gives an account of the inner workings of our immune systems. Aimed at the general reader it looks at fascinating areas of science including fever, AIDS and cancer. Central to the book, from which the title derives, is the idea that in the war against disease our bodies sacrifice millions of cells - antibodies and other specialized elements of the immune system. Only by pitting all manner of complex immune cells against such infectious agents can we continue to survive in the world. Of interest to anyone who has wondered what is really happening when we get ill and recover Rejecting transplants The techniques involved with modern transplantation surgery are very good today, allowing a wide range of organs to be successfully replaced.