This document discusses the relationship between the immune system and wellness. It describes how vaccines improve immune function to maintain wellness by exposing the immune system to dead antigens, which allows it to develop antibodies to respond if it encounters the same antigens in the future. However, an overactive immune response can also negatively impact wellness, as seen in asthma. The document then asks the reader to choose an immune system response, find a related disease or wellness aspect, and propose a cognitive/behavioral, complementary/alternative, or lifestyle intervention that could influence the immune response to improve immune function and wellness.

1. Healthcare: Immune Function and Wellness
Healthcare: Immune Function and Wellness ON Healthcare: Immune Function and
WellnessUnlike medicine which restores wellness, vaccines are used to improve immune
function to maintain wellness. On the surface, vaccines might seem counterproductive with
their contents consisting of antigens from the disease being prevented. However, most
vaccines use dead antigens to activate the humoral immune response. This response
releases antibodies to respond to specific antigens. This exposure prepares the immune
system to respond should it encounter the same antigens in nature. Yet, the immune
response also can detract from wellness as in the case of the overactive immune functioning
of asthma. As a health psychology professional, understanding immune functioning can help
you to suggest interventions that work with the body’s responses.For this Assignment,
select one of the following immune system responses: humoral response, antigen response,
or cell-mediated immunity. Next, search the Walden Library for articles that discuss a
disease or aspect of wellness associated with that response. Then, consider a
cognitive/behavioral intervention, a complementary/alternative modality, or a lifestyle
change that might influence the immune response to improve immune function and
wellness. Healthcare: Immune Function and WellnessThe Assignment (3–5 pages):Submit
an APA-formatted essay that includes the following:A description of the immune system
response you selected and an aspect of wellness or disease associated with that immune
system responseAn explanation of the relationship between the immune system response
you selected and its associated aspect of wellness or diseaseAn explanation of a
cognitive/behavioral intervention that might influence that immune response to improve
immune function and wellnessAn explanation of a complementary/alternative modality or
lifestyle change that might work to improve immune function and wellness or reduce
disease your Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation.
You are to provide a reference list for all resources, including those in the Learning
Resources for this course.READINGSAbbas, A. K., Lichtman, A. H. & Pillai, S. (2016). Basic
immunology: Functions and disorders of the immune system (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO:
Elsevier.Chapter 5, “T-Cell-Mediated Immunity” (pp. 103-126)Chapter 6, “Effector
Mechanisms of T-Cell-Mediated Immunity” (pp. 129-146)Chapter 7, “Humoral Immune
Responses” (pp. 147-167)Kendall-Tackett, K. (Ed.). (2010). The psychoneuroimmunology of
chronic disease: Exploring the links between inflammation, stress, and illness. Washington,
DC: American Psychological Association.Chapter 2, “Inflammation, Fatty Acid Oxidation, and
Neurodegenerative Disease” (pp. 23–52)Chapter 4, Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids,

2. Inflammation, and Inflammatory Diseases” (pp. 77–110)Haroon, E., Raison, C. L., & Miller, A.
H. (2012). Psychoneuroimmunology meets neuropsychopharmacology: Translational
implications of the impact of inflammation on behavior. Neuropsychopharmocology
Reviews, 37(1), 137–162.Copyright 2012 by NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP (PERMISSIONS).
Reprinted by permission of NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP (PERMISSIONS) via the Copyright
Clearance Center.O’Malley, D., Quigley, E. M. M., Dinan, T. G., & Cryan, J. F. (2011). Do
interactions between stress and immune responses lead to symptom exacerbations in
irritable bowel syndrome? Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 25(7), 1333–1341.Retrieved
from the Walden Library databases.Wilson, D. R., & Warise, L. (2008). Cytokines and their
role in depression. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 44(4), 285–289.Retrieved from the
Walden Library databases.American Heart Association. (2012). Inflammation and heart
disease. Retrieved
from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/MyHeartandStrokeNews/Infla
mmation-and-Heart-Disease_UCM_432150_Article.jspNational Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute. (2012). What is asthma? Retrieved
from: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma/Optional
ResourcesRance, K., & O’Laughlen, M. (2011). Obesity and asthma: A dangerous link in
children: An integrative review of the literature. Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 7(4), 287–
292.Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.Agricultural Research Service. (2009).
Inflammation and you: How foods from plants protect us from disease. Retrieved
from http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/ar/archive/apr09/plants0409.htmNational Cancer
Institute. (2012). Acupuncture (PDQ®): Questions and answers about acupuncture.
Retrieved
from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/acupuncture/patient/page2National
Institutes of Health. (2007). Tai Chi boosts immunity to shingles virus in older adults, NIH-
sponsored study reports. Retrieved from http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/apr2007/nia-
06.htmPace, T. W. W., Negi, L. T., Adame, D. D., Cole, S. P., Sivilli, T. I., Brown, T. D., Raison, C.
L. (2009). Effect of compassion meditation on neuroendocrine, innate immune, and
behavioral responses to psychosocial stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 34(1), 87–98.
Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2695992/Healthcare:
Immune Function and Wellness