How our bodies fight against viruses
The immune system protects our bodies from the many foreign viruses and bacteria that exist outside of our bodies.
The cells that protect us from viruses and bacteria are called white blood cells. White blood cells drift around in our circulatory system and ready to attack if necessary. White blood cells come from our bone marrow (bone marrows are long bones such as collar bone, pelvis, or the spine).
When the common cold enters our bodies, the body goes into immediate action. For example, rhinovirus usually enters through our nose which causes our bodies to take action. The body releases histamine in order to ‘clean out’ the virus by an over production of mucus.
However, by the time the body recognizes the virus, it has usually reproduced and started effecting the nasal passage ways.
The body responds swiftly and alerts the other white blood cells. Similar to the different sections of an army, there are a variety of white blood cells divisions and antibodies that fight for our bodies.
Neutrophils – Neutrophils protect the body against viruses by absorbing and trapping the virus (or ‘eating’ the virus) in its membrane. Afterwards, the neutrophils releases acids and enzymes to destroy the amount of viruses it absorbs.
Monocytes – The white blood cell monocyte evolves into a macrophage during the ‘peak’ of a cold (the height of all the symptoms). When it evolves into a macrophage it increases the amount of white blood cells in an attempt to outnumber the number of viruses.
Why does it take so long for a cold to go away?
The monocytes, neutrophils, and other blood cells must fight the rhinovirus for a certain amount of time before it starts obtaining the upper hand. The white blood cells must go throughout the infected sites of the body to destroy all copies of the rhinovirus. As the number of copies lower in number, a person will slowly feel better.
