The Lymphatic system: How your body flushes out junk and protects you from foreign invaders
THREAD
THREAD
Your lymphatic system is vital to your health
It helps you absorb nutrients/gases (oxygen)
And runs background checks on whatever flows through your circulation
It helps you absorb nutrients/gases (oxygen)
And runs background checks on whatever flows through your circulation
Your lymphatic system is made up of 3 parts:
Lymph
Lymphatic vessels
Lymph nodes
Lymph
Lymphatic vessels
Lymph nodes
Lymph is a watery fluid derived from your blood
It plays a supporting role in both your cardiovascular and immune system
And allow for exchange of gases (oxygen) & nutrients to help keep you alive
It plays a supporting role in both your cardiovascular and immune system
And allow for exchange of gases (oxygen) & nutrients to help keep you alive
Lymphatic vessels are what interact with your arteries and veins
And are essentially the pipes through which your lymph travels through
Should there be a blockage
Edema (swelling) can happen which can be very serious and even lethal in some cases
And are essentially the pipes through which your lymph travels through
Should there be a blockage
Edema (swelling) can happen which can be very serious and even lethal in some cases
Lymph nodes are extremely important
You can imagine them as checkpoints filled with immune cells
That monitor and filter whatever doesn’t belong there (bacteria etc)
You have around 600-700 of them in your body
You can imagine them as checkpoints filled with immune cells
That monitor and filter whatever doesn’t belong there (bacteria etc)
You have around 600-700 of them in your body
Your lymphatic system is also made up of 4 organs:
Spleen
Thymus
Adenoids
Tonsils
The thymus and spleen act like nurseries to your maturing immune cells (lymphocytes) which help you fight off cancer/viruses
Spleen
Thymus
Adenoids
Tonsils
The thymus and spleen act like nurseries to your maturing immune cells (lymphocytes) which help you fight off cancer/viruses
Large amount of fluid exchanges happen inside your body daily (~5 gallons)
Around 4 gallons are taken up by your veins
Without around 1 gallon being used for lymph production
Around 4 gallons are taken up by your veins
Without around 1 gallon being used for lymph production
Your lymph moves passively across your lymphatic system
And flushes out whatever junk that shouldn't be there
Similar to a sewage line
A series of valves prevent any backflow
And flushes out whatever junk that shouldn't be there
Similar to a sewage line
A series of valves prevent any backflow
Smooth muscles in the walls of these vessels squeeze to help with drainage
Everything gets drained into 2 major ducts:
Right lymphatic duct
Thoracic Duct
Which connects to major veins in your body and ends the cycle
Everything gets drained into 2 major ducts:
Right lymphatic duct
Thoracic Duct
Which connects to major veins in your body and ends the cycle
So you might be wondering:
“Why is the lymphatic system so important then?”
Without it, you wouldn’t recuperate the fluid needed for blood production
Which would mean a serious drop in blood pressure and most likely Death
“Why is the lymphatic system so important then?”
Without it, you wouldn’t recuperate the fluid needed for blood production
Which would mean a serious drop in blood pressure and most likely Death
When it comes to your immune system
Lymph plays a major role as well
As I mentioned earlier, lymph nodes stop foreign invaders
While lymphocytes activate different parts of your immune system to protect you
Lymph plays a major role as well
As I mentioned earlier, lymph nodes stop foreign invaders
While lymphocytes activate different parts of your immune system to protect you
Your body also has specialized tissue known as MALTS
Mucosa Associated Lymphoid tissue
You can find it in your tonsils (air filters)
Peyer’s patches (gut health)
And even your appendix (destroys bacteria before it reaches gut)
Mucosa Associated Lymphoid tissue
You can find it in your tonsils (air filters)
Peyer’s patches (gut health)
And even your appendix (destroys bacteria before it reaches gut)
Your brain also has its own branch of the lymphatic system
Known as your glymphatic system
Since your brain is a highly metabolic organ
Lots of waste products accumulate that need to be cleaned out
Known as your glymphatic system
Since your brain is a highly metabolic organ
Lots of waste products accumulate that need to be cleaned out
The glymphatic system is there to do just that
Cerebrospinal fluid uses it to come in and flush out junk into your veins
It is your brain’s sewage line
See exactly how here:
youtube.com
Cerebrospinal fluid uses it to come in and flush out junk into your veins
It is your brain’s sewage line
See exactly how here:
youtube.com
Research shows that this uncleaned junk plays a huge role in neurological diseases like Alzheimer's
This is believed to happen due to beta-amyloid plaques accumulating and damaging your brain
A dysfunctional glymphatic is a major concern for your health
This is believed to happen due to beta-amyloid plaques accumulating and damaging your brain
A dysfunctional glymphatic is a major concern for your health
Now
You might be wondering:
“What the hell can I do to keep my lymphatic/glymphatic system healthy?”
Here are a few of the best practices
You might be wondering:
“What the hell can I do to keep my lymphatic/glymphatic system healthy?”
Here are a few of the best practices
1)Sauna
Heat increases intracranial pressure
Research shows that sauna time increased pressure by 18%
Which meant better glymphatic system function
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Heat increases intracranial pressure
Research shows that sauna time increased pressure by 18%
Which meant better glymphatic system function
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2)Sleep
How you sleep also affects how well your glymphatic system works
The quality of your sleep and how you lay down while you’re resting all play major roles in this
Best way to sleep is on your right side
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
How you sleep also affects how well your glymphatic system works
The quality of your sleep and how you lay down while you’re resting all play major roles in this
Best way to sleep is on your right side
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
3)Exercise
Movement is vital for the health of your lymphatic system
It keeps the pipes working
More research needs to confirm exactly which type of exercise needs to be done
But in the meantime, get moving
dergipark.org.tr
Movement is vital for the health of your lymphatic system
It keeps the pipes working
More research needs to confirm exactly which type of exercise needs to be done
But in the meantime, get moving
dergipark.org.tr
4)Massage
Specialized massages like lymphatic drainage massage
Or craniosacral therapy can help push lymph through your lymphatic vessels
And are definitely worth a shot
Specialized massages like lymphatic drainage massage
Or craniosacral therapy can help push lymph through your lymphatic vessels
And are definitely worth a shot
5)Hydration
This should be pretty self-explanatory
If you’re dehydrated all the time
You won’t be able to effectively produce lymph
This means less drainage and more junk accumulating in your body
Drink more water
This should be pretty self-explanatory
If you’re dehydrated all the time
You won’t be able to effectively produce lymph
This means less drainage and more junk accumulating in your body
Drink more water
6)Deep breathing
There is some evidence that deep diaphragmatic breathing can stimulate lymphatic drainage
The best way to do this is to close your mouth
And focus on taking deep breaths from your nose
There is some evidence that deep diaphragmatic breathing can stimulate lymphatic drainage
The best way to do this is to close your mouth
And focus on taking deep breaths from your nose
7) Reduce alcohol consumption
Alcohol lowers the activity of your glymphatic system
But the danger is in the dose
Low alcohol consumption actually improves glymphatic clearance
But anything more shuts it off
Bad news for your brain’s performance
bmjopenrespres.bmj.com
Alcohol lowers the activity of your glymphatic system
But the danger is in the dose
Low alcohol consumption actually improves glymphatic clearance
But anything more shuts it off
Bad news for your brain’s performance
bmjopenrespres.bmj.com
Thanks for reading!
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