You may be aware that infections rise when bacteria, viruses, fungus, and other invaders find their way into your body and begin damaging your tissues.
Wait a minute… doesn’t your body have a defense system to prevent attackers from infiltrating your cells? So how do they still get through?
Whether or not the bug is successful, and how successful it is, depends on the strength of your body’s immune system and related organs. If your immune system is working in tip-top shape, you’ll handle the infection quickly.
If your immune system and health is weak… you might have a more difficult situation to deal with.
How do you know if your immune system is weak?
If you feel like you get sick all the time, that’s a great first place to look. Cold season is probably your worst enemy – you know that once it arrives, you’re bound to catch whatever is going around.
Another sign of a weak immune system involves developing rare infections that you don’t see very often, including strep, pneumonia, and many more. This may happen after surgery, periods of significant stress, spending prolonged periods in subpar conditions, and more. Another sign involves slowed wound healing, which can play into this issue.
There are other, more common, symptoms that point toward a weak immune system.
If you feel tired all the time, even when you’re sleeping enough, it might be a sign your immune system is struggling.
Skin issues, like rashes, itchiness, and inflammation are another common sign of immune struggle and autoimmune disease.
Many people also suffer from digestive issues like cramping, nausea, and loss of appetite when their immune system isn’t working right.
There are many other signs of a sluggish immune system, so make sure to ask next time you come in for an appointment if there are any indications that your immune system needs some help.
What weakens your immune system?
When people develop autoimmune disease, they think it occurred out of thin air. It’s more likely that one of these factors weakened your immune system, causing it to react inappropriately and create uncomfortable or painful symptoms.
One of the major causes of immune system weakness includes lack of sleep. Your body produces the most white blood cells, a crucial component to your immune system, while you sleep. If you don’t sleep enough, you won’t have enough high-quality immune cells to properly fight disease. Make sure you get at least 7 hours of sleep a night!
Diet is another major contributor to immune system decline. Foods with high-sugar, or those that undergo extensive amounts of processing, suppress your immune system and contribute to the frequency you get sick. Make sure to eat a balanced diet packed with nutrients to combat a weakened immune system. Ask about our functional medicine programs next time you come in to build a diet fit to strengthen your immune system.
Alcohol is your immune system’s worst nightmare. It impacts your liver, which is crucial for regulating your immune system. A little here and there might be okay… but be careful when it comes to heavy consumption.
Smoking is another factor that damages your immune system. Not only does it lead to chronic inflammation, but it reduces the health of your lungs, further increasing your chances of respiratory infections.
People don’t give stress enough credit for its ability to wreak havoc on your body. Not only can stress weaken your immune system, but it can trigger autoimmune disease as well. There are a lot of ways to help maintain your stress levels, so make sure to work them into your routine.
This is by no means a comprehensive list of every stressor that can compromise your immune system. If you’re struggling with a weak immune system, consider coming in for an appointment so we can determine what is affecting your immune system the most.
How do you rebuild your immune system?
There are multiple ways to rebuild your health and immune system, and you mix and match the strategies that work best for you.
Functional medicine is a great place to start because it addresses everything that goes into your body – food, supplements, medicine, water intake, and more. If your diet, smoking habits, or medications are affecting your immune system, it can be addressed with a functional medicine practitioner.
Acupuncture is another great approach for boosting your immune system. This form of medicine addresses imbalances in your body that lead to a weakened immune system. Not only will it help your immune cells respond better, but it can reduce stress and improve sleep.
Herbal medicine also has a range of natural prescriptions that can bolster your immune system. The naturally occurring regulators in these herbs influence your immune cells to produce in the correct quantities and function normally.
Good Needles Acupuncture can help you with a plan that involves some or all these techniques to help rebuild your immune system. If you struggle with frequent infections, it may be time to schedule an appointment and tackle your health problems. Not only do continuous infections decrease your quality of life, but it can also be dangerous to allow infection to run rampant for too long. Let us help, we can get you on the path toward good health.
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