Danish scientists analyzed the medical data of more than 100 thousand of their fellow citizens in order to understand what reasons can provoke an early death. Rambler publishes the results of a study to judge the risk of premature death.
According to data obtained in a study by Danish scientists, which was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, a decrease in the number of lymphocytes in the blood, which are responsible for protecting our body from various diseases, speaks of the risk of premature death.
The main cells of our immune system play an extremely important role in the body: in addition to their protective function, they help us recover from infections. There are three types of lymphocytes: NK-lymphocytes, which are responsible for cleansing the body of infected and cancerous cells; T-lymphocytes, eliminating various abnormalities at the cellular level and participating together with B-lymphocytes in the transmission of signaling proteins. A decrease in the number of any of the three types of cells can negatively affect the immune system, leaving viruses and bacteria free.
Usually, the importance of monitoring the level of lymphocytes in the blood is underestimated, but lymphopenia or lymphocytopenia (a lack of white cells in the blood and lymphatic fluid) indicates a disease in the human body.
During the experiment, scientists analyzed the level of lymphocytes in the blood of 108,135 Danes over the age of 20 years. During the long-term study, about 10,372 people died, which allowed doctors to establish a relationship between a lack of lymphocytes with a 2, 8 times increased risk of death from chronic and respiratory diseases, cancer and heart problems. In general, the lowered lymphocyte count showed a 1.6-fold increase in mortality from any cause.
The researchers themselves explain the data obtained by the fact that a decrease in the level of lymphocytes is directly related to the inability of the body to fight for its survival in full force.