We all have an immune system; it forms an integral part of how the human body functions.
You may not have thought too much about it because it’s something you can’t see. But it’s responsible for a lot and is constantly working away within our bodies to protect us from getting ill.
Our immune system isn’t just one thing, e.g. one organ or a muscle within our bodies. It represents a collective group of organs, cells and chemicals that are responsible for enabling us to fight off germs, infection and disease.
These organs, cells and chemicals are our white blood cells, antibodies, the complement system (which is made up of proteins), lymphatic system, spleen, thymus and bone marrow.
And as if the immune system wasn’t enough to protect us against nasty microbes, we also have our skin, lungs, digestive tract and bodily fluids, such as our saliva and tears, all working away to defend us too.1 While the vast majority of us are born with an immune system, it is possible for babies to be born without one, making them extremely vulnerable to infection. This rare disease is estimated to occur in over 1 in 100,000 births. In families where parents are genetically related, this rate can increase to 1 in 5,000 births.2Immune deficiency diseases can lead to our immune systems not working properly. You can be born with them (primary immunodeficiency disease) or you have secondary immunodeficiency disorders. People with a family history of primary immunodeficiency disorders are at higher risk of developing them.
Essentially, anything that weakens the immune system can lead to a secondary immunodeficiency disorder.3 Other examples include:There are certain tell-tale signs that can indicate if you have a weak immune system. We’ve listed five of them below:
Having the old cold every now and then is normal, but if you’ve permanently got one, then your body could be telling you that your immune system’s really suffering.
Permanent colds are an indicator that your body isn’t equipped to fight off germs. Catching two to three colds during the winter, that linger for a while, is a sure sign your immune system isn’t quite right.5If you experience diarrhoea for two to four weeks, then your immune system may not be functioning properly and may actually be harming the lining of your small intestine or digestive tract.
Constipation is also an alarm bell too. If your bowel movements are hard to pass or look like small pellets, your immune system may be forcing your intestine to slow down. This may also be being caused by bacteria, viruses and other health conditions too.9If you look after your immune system, then hopefully it’ll be better able to look after you. Here are some ways you can look out for it:
Stress has been linked to causing immune system disruption, so where possible, try to reduce your stress levels.
You can do this by:10Ideally, you want to be getting your ‘five a day’, as recommended by the NHS. You may also want to go one step further by making sure your diet incorporates some, or all, of the vitamin and minerals, that are associated with good immune system health.
They include:11Hopefully, your body will show/tell you if your immune system isn’t as strong as it should be by demonstrating symptoms like those listed above.
It’s also possible to take a blood test to determine if your body has the correct level of infection-fighting proteins (immunoglobulin) in your blood. The test can also measure blood cell and immune system cell levels. Abnormal numbers of certain cells can indicate an immune system defect. For more advice on this, speak to a medical professional.
Shop Cold & Immune SupportLast updated: 8 September 2020