What are the Signs of a Weak Immune System?

As we go about our daily lives, we can often not realize or understand our immune system and how it works. In some cases, we expect that we might get common illnesses from time to time, but our immune system is an element of our bodies and there can be a lot of factors that affect it. There are common signs that we can all feel when we are about to become ill, more specifically with cold and flu symptoms that affect our ears, throats and noses. However, do you have a weak immune system? Are you not feeling yourself often? It is worth looking out for the signs of a weak immune system so that you can help yourself. Now, more than ever, we need to take good care of our immune systems.

Your stress levels are high

There is a pattern when it comes to stress and being ill. Think back to a situation where you have been worried, or worked hard. Did you happen to get ill straight afterwards? According to studies long term stress can cause a weakened immune system. That’s because stress decreases the body’s lymphocytes, which are the white blood cells that help fight off infection. The lower your lymphocyte levels, the more likely you will get ill. The most common thing to get is a cold or a sickness bug but the link is there. If you are always stressed, then you are likely to always get periods of illness.

You always have a cold

One of the most common issues we can all face is the cold, and so it may be that you are always in the situation where you have cold symptoms. This could be a sore throat, a stuffy nose, or feeling very foggy in your head. If you do find that you are struggling with these things regularly, then you may want to speak with an ENT doctor to check it out if there are any underlying issues. However, as a cold is quite common, we can often put it down to being one of those things, but it is also a sign that you have a weak immune system. Just don’t ignore the warning signs.

You have recurring stomach issues

Many people struggle with stomach trouble every now and again, but if you find that you frequently have things like diarrhea, gas or constipation it could be a sign of a weak immune system. Research has shown that 70% of your immune system is evident in your digestive system. There is bacteria and microorganisms that help to defend your gut, so if there are issues in this area then it may mean you need to look at your immune system and try and make some positive changes.

It takes a while for wounds to heal

Does it take a while for wounds to heal? When your body has a wound on the skin, the skin cells go into damage control and try to heal the area as quickly as possible. Your body sends nutrient-rich blood to the area to try and help resolve the issue. But if you find that your wounds are not healing quickly then there may be a case to suggest that the blood isn’t as enriched with white blood cells as it could be. If your immune system is a little weak then your skin cannot regenerate.

You feel tired all the time

We all know that if we do too much, work too hard, get little sleep and burn the candle at both ends that we are going to feel sluggish and low on energy. However, we know that this is our own doing, and it can be something you rectify quite quickly. However, if you are feeling tired, out of energy and sluggish and there is no rhyme or reason as to why, then this could be a sign that you have a weak immune system. Your body is trying to conserve energy for your immune system, and so you will start to feel the effects of that.

Frequent infections

Finally, do you find that you get infections quite often? There are some common infections that many of us can get. One is an ear infection that can reoccur. Another sign that you could be struggling with frequent infections is if you must be prescribed antibiotics more than twice in a year. If you find that you have been getting infections, then it could be a sign your immune system is weakened. A lot of the time, big indicators of a weakened immune system involve your ears, nose and throat because of underlying conditions. If you want to learn more about Vero ENT Associates to have this investigated further, then get in touch with us today at (772) 408-9556