The immune system is a complex system of organs, white blood cells, chemicals and proteins which combine to protect the body from harm. The purpose of this system is to fight off and protect against bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi which may enter the body in a variety of different ways. A healthy immune system is key to human survival and can literally mean the difference between life and death against many illnesses. (ref.)
According to the Cleveland Clinic the main components of the Immune System are as follows:
- White Blood Cells
- Lymph Nodes
- Spleen
- Tonsils and Adenoids
- Thymus
- Bone Marrow
- Skin, Mucous Membranes
- Stomach and Bowel
A fully functioning immune system can detect foreign invaders in the body and rapidly mount an attack response to kill the contaminant.
14 Factors That Harm Immunity
If the immune system is not working well, however, it may fail to successfully fight off the invading cells or even attack healthy body cells mistaking them for illness. Let’s review the fourteen factors that harm immunity.
1| Autoimmune Disorders
According to WebMD autoimmune disorders are a large group of conditions that can either suppress or over excite the immune system. When a condition causes an overactive immune system the defense mechanisms attack healthy cells causing damage.
This often requires a deliberate suppression of the immune system to correct. When a condition causes suppression to the immune system it means that the body is left undefended against harmful attackers.
Common autoimmune diseases include:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Lupus
- Diabetes
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Guillian-Barre Syndrome
- Psoriasis
2| Infections
There are several infections which specifically suppress the immune system for example HIV and Mononucleosis. In the initial phase of an HIV infection, according to the Mayo Clinic, those affected may notice flu-like symptoms which quickly subside.
Once the virus has taken hold, though, it begins to destroy the protective cells in the immune system gradually weakening the sufferer leaving them more prone to illness and infection. (ref.)
3| Cancer and Cancer Treatments
All types of cancer have some effect on the immune system but most especially lymphomas and leukemias. Because cancer cells form from our own cells, they go unnoticed largely by the immune system until it is too late and some actually deactivate immune response.
The treatment of many cancers can actually do damage to the immune system as well. Chemotherapy according to breastcancer.org actually weakens the immune system as does certain types of radiation therapy. (ref.)
4| Organ Transplants
A life saving organ transplant does not always have the desired effect because as Medlineplus.org points out the body will often attack the foreign cells of a new organ. Patients will often have to take immunosuppressant medicines to allow the new organ to take hold. (ref.)
5| Stress
In a ten year study between 1982 and 1992 psychologist Janice Kiecolt-Glazer PhD and Ronald Glazer PhD, an immunologist, concluded that stress can decrease the immune system’s strength. The Ohio State University College of Medicine study found a decrease in students’ immunity levels during a three-day exam period every year.
According to simplypschology.org the science behind this connection centers around hormones that are released in the body under stress. Corticosteroids which are released when someone is feeling stressed or under pressure actually suppresses the effectiveness of the immune system by decreasing the number of lymphocytes. These lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell which usually helps to fight infections. ( ref.)
6| Depression and Loneliness
Negative emotions such as depression and loneliness can have a noticeable impact on a person’s immune system. According to WebMD these emotions cause the release of cortisol and adrenaline both of which are hormones that will suppress lymphocytes. (ref.)
7| Sedentary Lifestyle
There are a number of health risk factors associated with living a sedentary lifestyle. A lack of exercise, motivation, and the temptation to overeat can all combine to cause serious medical issues.
These issues may include.
- Obesity
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Risk of Cancer
- Cardiovascular Disease
Not getting enough exercise can literally lead to medical conditions including diabetes, cancer, and heart disease all of which are associated with weakening of the immune system. Surprisingly, even at work some people still have a physically sedentary lifestyle especially those sitting in an office all day. Medical News Today suggests that people should try and stand at work as much as possible or perhaps try to walk or cycle to work (ref.).
8| Diet
The building blocks of our cells come from the food we eat on a daily basis; this is why WebMD says that nutrition plays a key part in the creation of our immune cells.
Without a constant supply of new cells for the immune system the body starts to lose its ability to fight off bacteria, viruses, and chronic disease. A bad diet will leave the body lacking the important building blocks needed for new healthy cell creation (ref.).
Foods To Eat In Moderation Or Eliminate
Foods to be avoided or eaten in moderation include.
- White Bread
- Sugary Candy
- Honey
- Unripe Bananas
- Fast Food
- Soda
- Potato Chips
A healthy diet should be balanced and include all the nutrients required for building healthy new cells.
Immune Boosting Foods
According to Medical News Today immune boosting foods to add to a diet may include.
- Blueberries
- Dark Chocolate
- Turmeric
- Oily Fish
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Ginger
- Green Tea
- Kefir
- Citrus Fruits
The key to immune health is to eat a healthy balanced diet limiting junk food and foods high in trans fats. Natural unprocessed foods are great for overall body health which in turn ensures the immune system is strong and prepared to protect against infections.
9| Alcohol
Alcohol abuse is known to do chronic, often long lasting damage to a number of the body’s vital functions. According to the American Addiction Centers chronic alcoholism can cause damage to white blood cells and can contribute to dietary deficiency which in turn can weaken the immune system (ref.).
As alcohol impairs normal digestion it essentially wastes important nutrition that should be gained through eating. Damage caused to the liver also inhibits the retention of vitamins which help to build and maintain a healthy immune system.
The Center for Disease Control has warned that drinking alcohol will not be beneficial in fighting illnesses such as Covid-19. In fact, the CDC says that drinking excessively will weaken the immune system and slow the body’s ability to recover from potential infections.
10| Smoking
There is no question that there are inherent risks to smoking, cigarette boxes even legally have to carry health warnings. What many people do not realize, though, is that a daily smoking habit not only increases the risk for a number of diseases but also decreases the effectiveness of the immune system.
According to the CDC smoking can weaken the immune system and potentially cause conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune disease.
The thousands of chemicals which are used to make cigarettes are the main problem as many of them have adverse effects on the immune system. As a result of inhaling these chemicals into the lungs the respiratory system is often more prone to bacterial infections and viruses.
11| UltraViolet Radiation
The vitamin D benefit of sunlight is known as are the dangers of overexposure to the ultraviolet radiation the sun emits. Skin cancer is a well-known danger to those who obsessively tan and according to the Environmental Protection Agency this is because the radiation weakens the immune system.
As a result of the weakened immunity contaminants that would normally be repelled away from the skin cells are able to get in and cause damage. (ref.)
12| Exhaustion And Lack Of Sleep
A rested healthy body will always be better prepared to fight off illnesses such as colds and flu. According to SleepFoundation.org when we sleep our bodies make Cytokines, a useful component of the immune system. Those who miss out on sleep will tend to have fewer of these infection fighting cells and may be more prone to becoming sick. (ref.)
Physical exhaustion is believed to also play a factor in weakened immunity with a condition known as Overtraining Disorder standing as proof. Individuals who obsessively exercise to the extreme have shown indications of weakening to the immune system although the exact reason is still unclear.
A study (Overtraining, Excessive Exercise, and Altered Immunity: Is This a T Helper-1 Versus T Helper-2 Lymphocyte Response?, Smith) theorizes that the damage to muscle tissue and the release of stress hormones may be the reason behind the immunosuppression.
13| Environmental Factors
According to the National Institutes of Health a 2015 study by Dr Mark M. Davis at Stanford University indicated that the immune system can be very dependent on environmental factors.
The study tested 78 pairs of identical twins and 27 pairs of fraternal twins, measuring over 200 different immunity factors. The results indicated that non-heritable immune traits had the greater impact on the individual immune systems than heritable ones. (ref.)
This study indicates that the day-to-day things in life have a unique impact on immune systems so where people live and what they are exposed to unconsciously can affect the immune system.
14| Age And Immunity
According to Medical News Today as people age their immune system, like all other bodily aspects, start to deteriorate. The immune response for younger individuals will tend to include inflammatory response which will switch to a less aggressive attack as the infection subsides.
In older individuals the inflammatory response tends to last longer which is one of the reasons people become more sore in later life. Prolonged inflammatory response will eventually start to do damage to healthy cells as well as invading cells. (ref.)
Another aspect that affects immunity as the body ages is the natural deterioration in the creation of new cells. As the body ages new cells are created more slowly and this includes the immunity cells need to fight disease. This then is why illnesses become more common as people age, their immune system is simply weaker than it used to be.
Summary
The immune system is very important to sustaining a healthy life and can be impacted by a number of things. Controlling what is taken into the body is a vital step to protect against bacterial, viral, and poisonous attacks.
Living a healthy life will go a long way toward helping the body remain strong enough to defend itself and understanding what can hurt the body is also very important.
