Overview
Our immune system is a system of biological structures and processes that protect us against disease. It is the natural defense system of your body. It targets bacteria, viruses, parasites, and even a fungus that all have the potential to make us sick. When your immune system is functioning at an optimal level, it can help to keep you from health problems ranging from cancer to the common cold.
Sometimes the immune system identifies a substance as being harmful when it is not, e.g. pet dander, and thus creates an allergic reaction. At the same time, your immune system cannot fight off every invader of your body, and will break down from time to time.
Symptoms
When someone has a compromised immune system, it can be categorised into three broad categories: immunodeficiencies, autoimmunity, and hypersensitivities. Obvious symptoms of a weakened immune system include catching regular colds, and disease. Below is a brief explanation of the three main categories:
– Immunodeficiencies: when the immune system is less active than normal; resulting in recurring and life-threatening infections. Caused from genetic disease, produced by pharmaceuticals or infection e.g. AIDS.
– Autoimmunity: resulting from hyperactive immune system attacking normal tissues as if they were foreign organisms. e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and lupus.
– Hypersensitivities: an immune response that damages the tissues of the body; divided into four classes from Type I – IV; ranging from anaphylactic reaction to other reactions involved in many autoimmune and infectious diseases.
Causes
A weakened immune system is a major contributing factor to why people get sick. Some of the causes of a compromised immune system include:
– Toxins: whether created by the body or put into the body (e.g. alcohol and drug abuse, smoking), an excess amount of toxins in the body can start trouble for the immune system
– Nutritional deficiencies: our bodies cannot produce the nutrients needed for optimal health and must be provided with them
– Lack of health supplements: much of the nutrition we need is not provided by food alone and must be supplemented; lack of the proper nutrients can suppress the immune system
– Dehydration: when the cells do not have enough fluid, problems can occur including pain, arthritis, lack of energy and sleep, inability to flush toxins from the body
– Inactivity: lack of regular, moderate exercise has been shown to play a role in slowing down the cleansing process of the body to rid itself of toxins and waste products
– Stress: unmanaged stress can suppress the immune system
– Inadequate personal hygiene: increased and prolonged exposure to germs can negatively affect the immune system over time
Solutions
If you are unsure if you have a severely compromised immune system, the best person to consult would be your family doctor. However, there are natural ways that we can attempt to strengthen our immune system, some of which include:
– Get plenty of rest
– Properly manage and eliminate stress
– Eat well-balanced, regular meals
– Take quality nutritional supplements with a high-absorption rate
– Have a regular exercise routine
– Drink a lot of water
– Eat antioxidant-rich foods, e.g. dark greens, whole grains