Compromised immune systems invite these diseases

As complicated as your immune system is, its task is simple – to keep you healthy. It’s your body’s line of defence against invading germs and harmful viruses. Low immunity can make you susceptible towards infections and other ailments as well.

How can your immune system go wrong?

When your immune system doesn’t work the way it should, it can cause an immune disorder. You may:

• Be born with a weak immune system which is known as primary immune deficiency.
• Get a disease that weakens your immune system which is called acquired immune deficiency.
• Deal with an immune system which attacks its own cells, also known as auto-immune disease.

Ailments your low immune system can invite:

• Type 1 Diabetes:

  India sees a rise of 3-5% of type 1 diabetes cases annually. (Source: NCBI) Being one of the most common auto-immune diseases, type 1 diabetes is a disorder in your metabolism. It hinders your body’s ability to produce insulin. Your immune system attacks insulin production and the pancreatic cells which produce it

   

• Rheumatoid arthritis:

  Around 1% population of India suffers from this disease. (Source: NCBI) Causing inflammation in the joints, rheumatoid arthritis is connected to various immune cells. Each one contributes to the condition differently. It’s an auto-immune disease where your immune system attacks its own cells causing inflammation in your joints. (Source: American College of Rheumatology)

   

• Asthma:

  Being a chronic inflammatory disorder, asthma affects at least 15-20 million people in India. (Source: WHO) This inflammation takes place in the airways. It’s marked by coughing, shortness of breath and chest congestion. Although there are many factors responsible for causing asthma, your immune system is known to regulate asthma and its inflammation. Read More: https://www.drbatras.com/what-to-expect-when-you-suffer-from-asthma

   

• Malnutrition:

  Damage to your nutrition levels cause this severe health problem experienced by 46.6 million people in India. (Source: IntechOpen) Your weakened immune system is both the cause and the result of malnutrition.

   

• Upper Respiratory Tract Infection:

  Direct attack of bacteria and viruses in your airways causes Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTIs).Your immune system is a central part of defending you against these infections. Ideally, the viruses and bacteria first encounter your cellular immunity and if this system doesn’t work properly, it can further enter your body thus infecting you.

   

• Severe Combined Immunodeficiency:

  Being extremely rare, Severe Combined Immunodeficiency or SCID is a group of disorders caused by little or no immune response. Commonly known as Bubble Boy, this disease is a defect in your white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting off bacteria entering your body. With a dysfunctional immune system, SCID patients are likely to catch infections like pneumonia.