As a child I recall many of my friends disappearing from school for a week, and when they returned, they had stories to tell about the adventure. They told of a hospital procedure in which, afterwards, they were fed all of the ice cream that they wanted.
The procedure I refer to is a tonsillectomy (surgical removal of the tonsils). This surgery was often combined with an adenoidectomy (surgical removal of the adenoid glands). There are a variety of reasons why surgery is recommended and doctors and parents must work together to make an informed decision in times of trouble. Meanwhile, I expect few people know why we have tonsils in the first place. Thus, I offer the following explanation:
A SECOND LINE OF DEFENSE
Tonsils and adenoid glands are immune tissues. They function to aid in destroying any invading organisms (bacteria, viruses, molds, and yeasts).
In order to understand the role of these glandular structures, it will be extremely important for us to understand the immune process, so let’s take a look at what happens when an invader enters your body.
Most viral and bacterial invaders enter our body through our nose or mouth. Once this happens the immune response begins. The epithelial cells lining the mouth and nose immediately react by entering into, in the case of a viral infection, the antiviral state. However, if the “bug” slips past the this first defensive net, the tonsils will come into action.
WALDEYER’S RING
The tonsils are actually lymphatic tissue. Typically, when the tonsils are enlarged, it is not because there is something wrong with them; it is because they are doing their job. The main job of the tonsils is to filter out viruses and other germs from the food that we consume and the air that we breath. So, as you can see the tonsils serve to filter all invaders, and yes, even the COVID-19 virus.
They are actually made up of four parts: the two palatine tonsils, the adenoid, the two tubal tonsils, and the lingual tonsils. Together these four parts of the immune system make up what is called Waldeyer’s Ring.
The palatine tonsils have spaces in them which actually increase their surface area and significantly increase their ability to filter invaders entering the body.
The adenoid is also referred to as the pharyngeal tonsil. It is made up of a large quantity of lymphatic tissue much like the structure of the palatine tonsils. It is located in the upper part of the nasal cavity.
The adenoids wither away as a child matures, and by the teenage years, they often have totally disappeared. Interestingly, this usually coincides with the time in life when hygiene and cleanliness techniques are practiced by individuals that usually were not as common in young children. I always have told my patients that the thymus gland (another gland that functions in the immune response) and the adenoids wither as a child matures because they have learned not to eat dirt.
SIGNALS
A study published in the March 8, 2023 edition of the journal Nature indicates that the nerves associated with the tonsils actually sends signals to the brain to inform the body to begin the behaviors that we normally associate with the flu in order to increase rest and to decrease the intake of food.
So, you see that that sore throat that you may experience from time to time may actually be the tonsils way of preparing you for the battle that will soon begin.
If the tonsils become overwhelmed and cannot keep up with the demands placed upon them, they will signal other immune structures. Some of these other immune barriers will either be able to kill the invader directly, and others will produce antibodies.
An antibody is just a specific protein designed to bind with the invader and neutralize it. The tonsils actually contain cells that can produce various antibodies. These antibodies are all related but vary in the types of invaders that they target.
When tonsils become enlarged, they are actually demonstrating that they are doing what they are designed to do. The swelling of the tonsils is actually due to a buildup of lymphatic fluid, viruses, bacteria, and immune cells. The red color is actually due to increased blood flow to the tonsils.
Generally speaking, 50-80 percent of the tonsillitis cases that are reported are due to one form or another of viral infection. 5-36% of the remaining tonsillitis cases are due to bacterial infections.
The majority of tonsillitis cases occur when we are young and developing. As we age, the immune system and the tonsils specifically mature and can combat invading organisms much more readily.
As you know the use of antibiotics for these types of infections when “tonsillitis” is the diagnosis is not usually prescribed unless a bacterial infection is suspected. As you can see, statistically the vast majority of tonsillitis cases are viral and not bacterial. In these cases, antibiotics would be ineffective, and of little value in fighting off the infection.
IMMUNE SUPPORT
As I always say, the best way to fight off some of these types of infections, whether one has had a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy or not, is to ensure that you have an immune system that is functioning at its best. As I say over and over again, the best way to assure this is to Eat Right, Think Right, Move Right, and Sleep Right.
Some other thoughts are to ensure that you have your vitamin D levels tested at least once a year. If your levels are not in the 60-80 ng/dl range, then you should be supplemented with a high-quality vitamin D3 supplement that contains K2 as well. This will also ensure that the calcium that the D3 causes you to absorb more readily will be deposited in your bones and not in your blood vessels. Other supplement considerations to enhance immune function would be vitamin C and zinc.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about this integral component of your immune system. If you need to learn more about how you can support your overall immune function, please feel free to call the Center for Nutrition and Wellness at 215:679-WELL (9355), or you can visit our website at centerfornutritionandwellness.com.