1. Home
2. Blog
3. what-causes-a-weak-immune-system

<< Go back to blog

What Causes a Weak Immune System

Your immune system is always colorfully portrayed as the body’s defensive system battling nasty viruses and diseases. What those fail to mention is that your immune system is constantly being bombarded by everyday things in life. Here are a few tips on how you help avoid weakening your immune system and find out what causes a weak immune system.

What controls your Immune System?

The immune system is made of multiple layers of defense called the lymphatic system. Each of these layers controls a part of your immune system. The major parts of your lymphatic system are your lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, thymus, lymphocytes, and leukocytes. All of which help regulate the amount of blood and white blood cells in your body to help fight infections and diseases. What cause a weak immune system are changes in these organs and other contributing factors.

Signs of a low immune system

There are tell-tale signs of when your immune system is low. These signs are similar to when you are developing a cold or starting to feel run-down:

• Swollen lymph nodes: inflamed lymph glands located near the bottom of your throat.
• A dry nose: Mucus is a great way to defend because it traps and clears viruses, a dry nose prevents this.
• Constantly catching a cold: Most people get seasonal colds that only last a few days, anymore means your immune system is probably low.

Noticing these signs can help answer the question of what causes a weak immune system.

What decreases immune function?

It’s hard to not be exposed to harmful viruses or diseases but you would be surprised to know that the stresses of daily life play a huge factor in our immune system.

What decreases immune funciton?

• Always stressed: long-term stress takes a toll and could compromise immune system.
• Dehydration: Not having enough water puts added stress on your body and doesn’t flush out your body regularly.
• Too little/too much Exercise: Being a couch potato can impair your immune system. Ironically, constantly working out to the point of throwing up is also bad. The best way is to get a moderate amount of exercise that doesn’t strain your body out too much.
• Smoking and Alcohol: Nicotine and alcohol inhibit your body from producing white blood cells and reduces the amount of virus-fighting bacteria.
• Poor Diet: We all know about the importance of eating healthy, but, did you know that too much sugar and fats can hinder white blood cells from destroying viruses and bacteria.

What foods impact your immune system?

Based on a study conducted in 2014, there were a few food types that impacted people’s immune system.

Foods that are high in sugar, saturated fat, and salt highly impact your immune system. These foods decrease the number of white blood cells and increase inflammation in the body.

Other foods like omega 3, 6, and gluten were also tested and were inconclusive on whether or not it contributed to harming or benefiting the immune system.

Ways to Counter a Low Immune System

In general, living a healthy lifestyle where you are getting enough exercise, not drinking or smoking too much will improve your immune system. But for those unavoidable situations like high-stress levels, being in contact with sick people or overexertion can be managed to some degree. Ideally, strengthening your immune system will help you have a better chance of not getting sick when facing the unavoidable situations.

If a medical solution is needed then it would be a good idea to talk to your doctor to see if there any prescription drugs that can aid you. Crohn’s disease or other immunodeficiency disease medication like entocort can be an option for overall counter measures.

By following some of these tips you can improve your chances of being healthier for longer and answer the question of what causes a weak immune system.

<< Go back to blog