Having a properly functioning immune system is vital for overall health. The immune system acts as your first line of defense against various issues. From acute colds to more serious conditions such as cancer, your immune system is constantly working to keep you as healthy as possible for as long as possible – when it’s in good working order, that is.

When you have a weakened immune system, your cells are not able to respond appropriately to any pathogens that make their way into your body. There are various aspects of the immune system that can go awry, causing it to become less than adequate at defending you against disease. But what are the early warning signs of weak immunity, and how can you prevent the problem from becoming worse? Read on for all you need to know.

What causes a weak immune system?

The immune system relies heavily on the way you take care of your body. Because it can weaken quite easily, there are many different things you may be doing that are actually causing harm to your immune function, even if you may not realize you’re doing them.

Poor nutrition is one of the biggest factors when it comes to a weakened immune system. This is because the nutrients your body needs are used by immune cells to help them get their jobs done. If you fail to feed your body with the proper vitamins and minerals, those cells become less able to do what they need to do to protect you against infection.

Other unhealthy habits, such as smoking tobacco or drinking alcohol excessively, can also hinder the immune system. Smoking can throw the system off balance and has also been shown to suppress the action of your immune system so it can’t work as hard. Alcohol also has the ability to weaken immune cells’ ability to fight off pathogens, therefore weakening its overall effectiveness against illness.

Image by Anh Nguyen on Unsplash: How do you know if you have a weak immune system?

What are the signs you have a weakened immune system?

One of the most prominent signs that your immune system isn’t functioning as it should is frequent infections. If you’re the type of person who catches every cold or flu that’s going around and finds yourself sick more than few times per year, there’s a good chance that your immune system might be weaker than it should be.

The duration of these infections or illnesses can also be a warning sign that you have a weakened immune function. Most people take anywhere from seven to 10 days to recover from a common illness. If your immune system isn’t functioning as it should, that period of illness will be much longer.

Another sign that you might be experiencing a weakened immune system is wounds that are slow to heal. If you cut your finger while chopping up vegetables, for example, the wound should heal within a short period of time if it’s just a minor cut. However, if it seems to stick around for a lot longer than it should, your immune system isn’t doing its job properly.

What are the symptoms of a weakened immune system?

There are various physical symptoms that you may notice if you are suffering from a weakened immune system. They can include:

• Digestive issues: When your digestive system is on the fritz, it can indicate that your immune system is also dysfunctional. Medical researchers believe that signs and symptoms of digestive distress may be tied to weakened immunity, including frequent bouts of either diarrhea or constipation, chronic bloating, or nausea that sticks around. You gut bacteria also play a role in how well your immune system will function, and if it’s off balance, you will experience digestive issues.
• Chronic fatigue: Feeling tired at the end of the day can be normal, but if you often experience fatigue without doing anything or it doesn’t go away even with rest, you are likely dealing with immune system issues.
• Skin problems: The skin barrier is the part of the immune system designed to keep pathogens out. It is the first contact for bacteria or other germs, and when it’s functioning as it should, it can typically keep them at bay. However, when the immune system is weak, the skin barrier can become damaged, giving pathogens the opportunity to infiltrate your body and make you sick. If your skin barrier is damaged, you will likely experience rashes, inflammation, or excessively dry skin.

Image by Twofiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash: What are the symptoms of a weak immune system?

How do you fix a weak immune system?

Having a weak immune system is not good for your overall health, but the good news is that there are things you can do to boost the function of your immune system and restore your defenses. Those things include:

• Eating a diet rich in vitamins and minerals: Wholefood diets that are highly plant-based have been shown to be effective at boosting immune function.
• Getting enough sleep: Sleep is vital to immunity because your body needs the time during sleep to restore and regulate immune function. Getting good-quality sleep for the optimal amount of time each day will benefit the immune system greatly.
• Exercising: Exercising regularly will help keep your immune system cells healthy, as well as the rest of your body.
• Avoid stress whenever you can: Stress can put a huge spanner in the works of your immunity. When you’re constantly stressed, hormones that drive inflammation are released. This inflammation can cause dysregulation within the immune system. Because of this, keeping stress at bay is one of the best ways to avoid a dysregulated immune system.

A weak immune system will make you sick, quite literally. That is why it’s important to watch out for the signs and strengthen a weak immune system as quickly as possible!

Featured image by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash