| This is an interesting question and we really need the expertise of an epidemiologist or immunologist - or someone who has extensively worked HIV + patients. I'm no expert. I am an acupuncturist - that's all.
I wonder, scientifically/biologically, how an intact immune system could be a causative factor in regards to mortality during the flu pandemic? I think a really virulent influenza virus could do even the healthiest person in. (As an aside - I never felt worse than when I had the flu about 5 years ago. Friggin' miserable).
The immune system is super complex and pliable. It has an amazing memory. I know within the HIV+ community in SF, people would manipulate their viral load (the amount of HIV virus that shows up on a lab test) and their immune system (in the form of killer-T cells that shows up on a lab test) by drinking, smoking pot, partying and staying up late/not getting enough sleep. That combination is a receipe for lower T-cells and, inversely, a higher viral load. When is viral load and the t-cells get to a certain ratio, the person officially has an AIDS diagnosis and can receive disability. Pretty good scam, huh?
Then, smart people would lay off the partying and not run themselves into the ground and their health would recover back to HIV, not technically AIDS. Of course, once you get an AIDS diagnosis, it sticks with you can you keep receiving state aid because who's going to make you retake an AIDs test a month later?
An overstimulated immune system is referred to as an auto-immune disease, like Lupus or MS. Allergies are a small scale example of this. I can't see how we can overstimulate our immune system with supplements but I think we can with excess beer and pizza and inadequate sleep. However, I could be wrong about the supplement part.
I always take vitamins, herbs and supplements but I don't freak out if I forget a day or two. I figure it's my subconscious making sure I don't overdo it. |