"Immunity" is a defense response that the body is born with. Furthermore, as we grow older, we acquire new immunity by being exposed to various pathogens and viruses, making it an essential system for humans to live a healthy life
However, this system that is naturally built into humans can sometimes stop functioning properly for various reasons. In other words, when our defense capabilities are weakened, we are exposed to various risks
This time, we will be discussing the weakening of the immune system, which is important for the human body, along with how to self-check
table of contents
What is immunity in the first place?
Immunity can be divided into innate immunity and acquired immunity
natural immunity
It is a system that immediately detects and eliminates pathogens that have invaded from the outside or abnormal cells in the body
Acquired immunity (adaptive immunity)
As the name suggests, this is the immunity acquired by remembering pathogens that have previously invaded the body so that the next time they invade, they can attack them efficiently
When we catch a cold or something similar, pathogens enter our body. The adaptive immune system memorizes information about the invaders and has a mechanism for quickly eliminating them, allowing the human body to become resistant to various pathogens
Vaccines use this mechanism to create immunity by intentionally introducing very small amounts of viruses or bacteria into the body so that symptoms are less likely to occur
What happens when your immune system weakens?
Immunity is the body's ability to fight against pathogens so that it does not endanger itself, so if immunity weakens, the body naturally loses its ability to fight back, making it more susceptible to all kinds of pathogens
Symptoms of a weakened immune system
in particular,
- More skin problems
- Wounds become more susceptible to infection
- You may become more susceptible to fever (or, conversely, you may become less susceptible to fever)
- More frequent occurrence of colds, flu, and other flu-like symptoms
- Easily develop inflammation, such as stomatitis or conjunctivitis, which is difficult to cure or recurs repeatedly
- Reduced production of tears and saliva
Such risks include:
A weakened immune system not only makes you more susceptible to catching a cold, but also weakens the skin's barrier function
Tears, runny nose, and saliva also play a role in protecting mucous membranes and eliminating foreign substances that have entered the body. Normally, the body can resist bacteria that enter through a wound, but if the immune system weakens significantly and the body is no longer able to suppress the activity of pathogens, it is not uncommon for serious symptoms such as sepsis (various organs are affected and damaged by pathogens) to occur
Even minor wounds such as "getting a thorn stuck in your foot" or "scratching an itch and getting a cut" can cause infection, and symptoms can easily worsen even with physical stress that would not normally be a problem, such as developing esophagitis after an endoscopic examination, so you need to be careful
In addition, there are cases where people become more susceptible to infection and often develop fevers, but as people get older, their immune system becomes less able to respond to pathogens when they invade, and they may only develop a slight fever
Fever is essentially a mechanism for the body to expel invaders, so if the fever does not rise sufficiently, the pathogens cannot be eliminated and the condition can become more serious
Opportunistic infection
When your immune system is significantly weakened, you become infected with pathogens and viruses that you would not normally be infected with. This is called an opportunistic infection
Causes of weakened immunity
There are many factors that can weaken the immune system,
- Autonomic nervous system dysfunction
- Chronic stress
- Irregular lifestyle habits (diet and sleep)
- Aging
- Body chills
- Recreational items such as alcohol and smoking
- Arteriosclerosis
- pregnancy
- Certain diseases such as cancer and AIDS
Let's take a closer look at some of the more common causes
Autonomic nervous system disorders
Basically, constant stress and disrupted daily rhythms lead to autonomic nervous system dysfunction, which in turn directly leads to a deterioration in immune function
The autonomic nervous system is divided into the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. When the sympathetic nervous system is dominant, the number of granulocytes, which have a bactericidal effect, increases, while when the parasympathetic nervous system is dominant, the number of lymphocytes, which attack pathogens, increases
In other words, when the sympathetic nervous system is dominant, such as when you feel "hypersensitive, irritable, unable to sleep, and constantly tense," the number of lymphocytes decreases. Conversely, when the parasympathetic nervous system is dominant, such as when you feel "unmotivated, sleepy, and reluctant to stay awake," the function of granulocytes is suppressed
If both are functioning in a balanced manner, the body's immune cells can function without any problems, but it is important to remember that if both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are sluggish, your overall immune strength will be weakened
Moderate exercise is also good for boosting the immune system, but if the sympathetic nervous system becomes overactive through intense exercise, it can weaken the immune system for the same reasons as mentioned above
Luxury goods
Alcohol is also believed to weaken the immune system by slowing down the function of macrophages, which are immune cells that eat pathogens
In addition, the harmful substances contained in tobacco not only reduce the function of immune cells, but it has also been reported that even if you quit smoking, the negative effects on your immune system will remain for several years (the secretion of proteins called cytokines, which regulate immune responses, will remain reduced)
Even if you try to correct your lifestyle by being careful for a day or two, you will not see any improvement that will affect your immune system, so it is important to remember that it is important to review your lifestyle over the long term
Body chills
It is said that a drop in body temperature of 1°C reduces immunity by 30%. However, unless you consciously consume foods and drinks that warm the body, it is rare for people to feel warm. Many people are aware that they are prone to feeling cold
pregnancy
Your immune system weakens during pregnancy because it has a mechanism to stop attacking the fetus, viewing it as a foreign body
Other: The relationship between the intestines and the immune system
It is said that approximately 60% of immune cells reside in the intestines. If your lifestyle is not in order, your intestinal environment will not be in order, and if you overeat or have an unbalanced diet, you will put a chronic burden on your body, which will ultimately weaken your immune system
Self-check your immunity
With the above in mind, let's do a self-check of your immune system
| ☐ | Tend to have an unbalanced diet |
| ☐ | Sometimes skips meals |
| ☐ | You may have trouble sleeping at night or feel extremely sleepy during the day |
| ☐ | I don't have the habit of warming my body |
| ☐ | Often engages in strenuous exercise such as sports |
| ☐ | I don't have the habit of exercising |
| ☐ | Stress builds up on a daily basis |
| ☐ | Dry mouth and eyes easily |
| ☐ | I often catch colds |
| ☐ | I often get a swollen throat, stomatitis, and conjunctivitis |
| ☐ | Drink alcohol frequently |
| ☐ | Smoking a cigarette |
| ☐ | Are pregnant |
The more items that apply to you, the more likely your immune system is weakened
Naturally, there are some habits that can be changed by being mindful, but there are also some that are quite difficult. Lifestyle habits are not easy to change, and trying to force them to change can be stressful in itself
Rather than thinking that you must boost your immunity at all costs, you will find it easier to stay motivated if you have the mindset to make small steps to change things that you think you can improve
summary
We have explained the risks of a weakened immune system and some easy self-checks you can do. Although the term "immunity" is used broadly, there are many intertwined factors that affect its function. If many of the items in your self-check apply to you, it's time to reassess your daily life to reduce the strain on your body as much as possible
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