Having a strong immune system is going to help protect you from things like illness and sickness, so you need to try to make sure your immune system is on point. Imunity problems can cause at least 80 different illnesses, and here are some signs you might have a weak immune system.
1. Cold hands
Inflamed blood vessels make it tough for your extremities to stay warm, and the skin in these areas might turn white or blue when exposed to cold. Cold hands might not always be caused by a weak immune system, but they can be symptomatic of one.
2. Bathroom problems
Diarrhea and constipation can occur for a number of reasons, but they can be a sign that your immune system is harming your insides, and causing difficulties. If you find this is lasting more than a couple of weeks, you need to consult a doctor to find out what is causing the issue.
3. Dry eyes
Dry eyes can be caused by an autoimmune disorder, which is when your immune system attacks your body instead of defending it. If you feel like you have something in your eye, or you notice something like blurred vision, these could be signs of dry eyes caused by a weak immune system.
4. Fatigue
Extreme tiredness is not unusual now and again, but if you are feeling exhausted constantly, this could be a sign that all is not well with your immune system. Sleep tends not to help with this, and fatigue is something that you might need to consult a medical expert about.
5. Mild fever
A mild fever can be a result of a number of different things, but it is most likely to have been caused by your immune system having to work overtime. This could be a result of an early onset infection, and being able to treat this ahead of time is essential in order to prevent long-term illness.
6. Headaches
In some cases, headaches can be caused by an inflammation of the blood vessels, known as vasculitis. This can often be the result of an infection or autoimmune issue, and it is important to try to get rest and take painkillers to knock back your headaches as quickly as possible.
7. Rash
The skin is the body’s first line of defense, and this is a very good gauge of how your immune system is performing. In some cases, a rash can be a sign of inflammation, particularly if it doesn’t clear up, and this is one of the clearest signs that you might have immune system issues.
8. Joints ache
Aching joints happen as a result of inflammation, which is typically caused by a weak immune system. So, if you find your joints are feeling sore or tender to the touch particularly in the mornings, this could be one of the biggest indicators that all is not well with your body.
9. Patchy hair loss
In some cases, as strange as it sounds, the immune system can actually even attack the follicles in your hair. Losing hair on the scalp, face, or other parts of the body can be a sign of a weak immune system, as well as a condition known as alopecia areata.
10. Repeated infections
Getting ill now and again is all part of being a human but, if you continue to get repeated infections, this can be a problem. One of the issues here is that if you have had to take antibiotics multiple times over a year, it can prevent your body from being able to fight infections on its own.
11. Sensitive to the sun
An allergic reaction to the ultraviolet rays of the sun is known as photodermatitis, and this is something that tends to impact people with an autoimmune disorder. There can be a lot of symptoms linked to this, such as nausea, chills, blisters, a rash, or a headache.
12. Tingling or numbness in your hands and feet
Experiencing tingling or numbness in your extremities can be nothing, and often will be nothing. However, it is important to understand that this can also mean your body is attacking the nerves that send signals to your muscles, and this can cause conditions such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and CIDP.
13. Trouble swallowing
If you find you are struggling with things like swallowing, it could be to do with the fact that your esophagus might be swollen. If you experience the feeling of gagging, or having food stuck in your throat, this could be a sign that you have an issue with your immune system.
14. Unexplained weight change
Weight fluctuation is something that can happen for a lot of different reasons, but having a weak immune system is one of the more sinister reasons. Whether you are unexpectedly gaining or losing weight, you might find that you have an issue with your thyroid, and this is something to deal with as early as you can.
15. White patches
White patches unexpectedly appearing on your skin can be alarming, and this is also a symptom of a weak immune system. What happens here is that your body starts fighting melanocytes (the cells that create skin-pigments), and the white patches are a reaction to this.
16. Yellowing of your skin or eyes
Yellowing of the skin or eyes is a condition known as jaundice, and this can happen because of your immune system attacking healthy liver cells. A consequence of this is that it can lead to a condition known as autoimmune hepatitis, and this needs to be treated sooner rather than later.
17. Getting ill more easily
Getting ill more easily, and picking up coughs and colds on a frequent basis is one of the clearest signs that your immune system is weak. You can remedy this by taking vitamins, getting plenty of rest, and making sure you look after yourself better in day to day life.
18. You’re more stressed
Stress is one of the most common causes of illness and health problems, and it is also very closely linked with your immune system. Stress negatively impacts lymphocytes, which protect the body from infection, and this results in a compromised immune system.
19. Poor wound healing
Wounds are part of life, and they can happen for any range of different reasons. But, one of the biggest signs that you have a weak immune system is when your wounds don’t heal effectively, as the healing time tends to reflect how well your body is able to fight against injuries.
20. Constantly on medication
A sure-fire way to tell that you have a weak immune system is that you are constantly on medication for some kind of illness. If everything is working as it should be, your body should be in a position to be able to fight illness and infection, and deal with the issue organically. Reliance on medication suggests a deeper lying problem.
21. Pneumonia
Sometimes you can experience extreme reactions to having a poor immune system, with one of the most serious signs and symptoms being bouts of pneumonia. This can be a very serious and debilitating condition, and it is important to make sure you see a medical professional as soon as you can.
22. Blood disorders
Blood disorders such as anemia, or low platelet counts, can be caused by a number of conditions, and they are a big sign of a weak immune system. If you’re suffering from a blood condition, you might find your immune system is compromised, and this can lead to all manner of health concerns.
23. Delayed development
Delayed development can have wide-reaching consequences, and might stunt emotional and physical growth long-term, over a number of years, which could lead to things like cognitive impairment. This is something that can occur in children, and is one of the signs of a weak immune system.
24. Feeling depressed
Depression can come about for all manner of different reasons, and it can impact people in a lot of different ways. Depression increases the body’s levels of stress hormones, which make it harder for your immune system to fight infection, and can lead to a number of different health problems.
25. Constant sniffles
Sniffles are not always a sign that something is amiss but, if you have constant sniffles, this could point to a weak immune system. This one is more subtle, because there might not necessarily be anything overtly the matter with you, you’re just not quite 100%.
26. Boils
Boils can occur in the event of a weak immune system, and this is because of the fact that when your immune system is working hard, the lipids (fat compounds in our skin tissue) in your body are unable to function effectively. This leaves the skin open to the risk of unwanted bacteria entering, causing boils to form.
27. Stomach aches
Stomach aches can come about for all sorts of different reasons, but they can also be linked to an immune system deficiency. Indeed, 70% of our immune systems are found in the digestive tract, and if you have a stomach ache, be it the aforementioned diarrhea or constipation, gas, or anything else, this could be a sign of a weak immune system.
28. Cold sores
Cold sores around the lips tend to form when you are run down and becoming unwell, and this is a sign that you have a weak immune system. In regular circumstances, skin wounds take 3-5 days to heal, but if this is taking longer it could be a sign that you have a poor immune system.
29. Sore throat
A sore throat is also something that can occur for any manner of reasons, but it can be one of the signs of a weak immune system. Sometimes this can be treated normally, such as with rest, medication, and fluids, but if it’s a consistent problem then it may be an indicator that you have an immunity issue.
30. Slow recovery from exercise
When you have been exercising and working, your body needs recovery time to get back up to speed; this is perfectly normal. However, if your body is taking a long time to recover, and the process feels slow, this could be one of the indicators that you are dealing with a weak immune system.
31. UTIs
A urinary tract infection is an infection of the bladder, kidneys, or tubes connected to them, that can cause you to become ill. UTIs can be caused by a range of different things, and they are a sign of a weak immune system, so it is important to get them professionally treated to prevent spread to the kidneys, and further complications.
32. Swollen lymph nodes
Swollen lymph nodes can happen when you are particularly run down, and they can be pretty alarming to experience. Of course, your mind is going to be going a million miles per hour with all the things it could be, but this is most likely a sign of having a weakened and poor immune system.
33. Repeated cases of shingles
If you find you are experiencing repeated cases of shingles, this could well be to do with the fact that you have a weak immune system. Speak to a doctor or healthcare professional, and make sure you discuss your concerns with them so that you know how best to proceed.
34. Increased risk of certain cancers
There are many different types of cancer out there, and it’s still not hugely clear how many are caused by environmental or genetic factors. But having a weak immune system is something that puts you at increased risk of certain types of cancers. You can work on remedying this early on by changing your diet, exercising more, and getting plenty of rest.
35. Increased susceptibility to environmental toxins
If you find you are seemingly more susceptible to environmental toxins than you have been in the past, this is likely to be a sign or symptom that you have a weak immune system. Some of thebest ways of reducing exposure to environmental toxins, and boosting your immune system, include ventilating your home better and keeping your hands washed and clean.
36. Recurring bacterial infections
There are a lot of issues that can be caused by a weak immune system, and one of the key ones is that you are more likely to experience recurring bacterial infections. This can include infections such as streptococci, sinusitis, oral infections, sepsis, meningitis, and more.
37. Difficulty controlling chronic infections
Chronic infections such as tuberculosis can really impact your physical health in ways you may not have expected, and this is one of the signs you have a weak immune system. Not being able to control or deal with this sort of an infection, it can be a sign that all is not well with your body.
38. Feeling unwell very often
If you find yourself getting poorly very often, particularly in the winter time, this is likely to be an indicator of a poor immune system. Catching things like bugs or the flu can happen because you are run down, and this happens because your immune system isn’t functioning at the optimal level.
39. Multiple food sensitivities
There are a lot of different food sensitivities that people often experience and one of the signs of a weakened immune system is sensitivity to multiple types of food. This is something that you need to be aware of, and if your dietary changes seem to have come out of nowhere, this could be why.
40. Thrush
Thrush is one of the most uncomfortable and unpleasant conditions you can experience, and repeated instances of thrush could be a sign that you have a weak immune system. Avoiding wearing tight or restrictive clothing and using emollient instead of soap are great ways of reducing the risk of thrush.