16 Signs That Your Immune System Is Not Alright

The immune system is a collection of organs, tissues and cells that protects us from external influences that threaten our health. Thanks to her, we have immunity, explains Lifehacker.

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Every day, it saves our lives: it reflects the attacks of viruses and bacteria, fights internal inflammations, helps to destroy the reborn cells of the body and prevent the development of tumors.

But all this goes to us only if the immune system works correctly. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

What is the danger of malfunctioning of the immune system

Sometimes the immune system becomes too “lazy", inhibited and does not have time to respond to the invasion of infections. In this case, it is easy for us to pick up any viral or bacterial infection - from SARS to pneumonia, and we will be sick longer.

And sometimes, on the contrary, it begins to become too active, aggressively attacking not only viruses and foreign cells, but also the native organism. This leads to the development of autoimmune diseases:

• rheumatoid arthritis;
• multiple sclerosis;
• celiac disease (gluten intolerance);
• diabetes;
• lupus;
• irritable bowel syndrome;
• thyroid disease (for example, autoimmune thyroiditis);
• chronic fatigue syndrome.

This is not a complete list of violations caused by raging immunity.

Scientists still do not know exactly what exactly causes the malfunctioning of our defense system. But they learned at an early stage to recognize the symptoms that warn: something is wrong with the immune system.

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Important: these symptoms are ambiguous and may be due to other causes than immune ones.

However, paying attention to them is still worth it.

What are the signs that the immune system is failing you

Experts at the medical publication WebMD have listed important points that can talk about the imbalance of the immune system.

1. Constantly cold hands

A feeling of coldness in the limbs may appear for various reasons. For example, due to smoking, which causes a spasm of peripheral blood vessels. But a connection with the state of immunity, direct or indirect, is also likely.

2. Constipation or diarrhea that lasts more than two weeks

The intestine is closely connected with the immune system: in fact, it is an important part of it. Therefore, prolonged diarrhea or constipation should alert. So, diarrhea can warn that immunity attacks the mucous membrane of the small intestine or digestive tract. Constipation hints that the intestines were lazy for some reason, and it is possible that this inaction extends to the entire immune system as a whole.

3. dry eyes

Burning sensation, sand sensation, redness, pain in the eyes - such symptoms often accompany various autoimmune diseases.

4. Constant weakness and fatigue

If you regularly feel overwhelmed even in the morning, having a good night's sleep, this may be a sign that your immune system is in constant tension. It is she who pulls the energy you need.

5. Slightly elevated temperature

If you constantly have a temperature of about 37 ° C, it is possible that some kind of autoimmune disease develops in the body.

6. Persistent headaches

Like most of the symptoms on this list, a split head can have dozens of reasons. However, if the pain becomes permanent, it may be an autoimmune attack. For example, in some immune-related diseases, blood vessels in the brain are affected, which causes discomfort.

7. Rash

Skin is an important element of the body's defense system: it is it that is the first barrier against microbes. The way the skin looks and feels can reflect the quality of the immune system as a whole. Itching, rash, and persistent inflammation require attention.

8. Joint pain

Another early sign of overly aggressive immunity, which aimed at the cells of their own organs. Joints are one of the first to be attacked.

9. hair loss

The raging immune system can also damage the hair follicles, causing hair to become thinner.

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10. Recurring colds with complications

If you have to take antibiotics more than twice a year (four times for children), your immunity may be weakened. Other warning signs: chronic sinus infections (sinusitis, frontitis, ethmoiditis, sphenoiditis), otitis media more than four times a year, pneumonia more than once.

11. Hypersensitivity to ultraviolet

If you always sunbathe normally, and now you suddenly notice that you are constantly getting sunburn, we can talk not about aggressive sun, but about hostile immunity.

12. Numbness or tingling in arms and legs

Perhaps you just served your leg or your arm became numb due to the fact that you were in an uncomfortable position for a long time. If your limbs are numb only from time to time, most likely you are all right. But if numbness and tingling are regular, this may be a sign of immune malfunction associated with damage to nerves or blood vessels.

13. Problems with swallowing

There are many reasons why food or water becomes lumpy in the throat. And one of them is autoimmune disease.

14. Unexplained weight gain or loss

If your eating habits and approach to physical activity have not changed, and the weight has begun to rise or fall, this is an alarming symptom. The cause may be autoimmune damage to the thyroid gland, developing diabetes, or a growing tumor that your body’s defenses cannot cope with.

15. White spots on the skin

Sometimes the immune system begins to fight with pigmented skin cells - melanocytes. Because of this, white spots appear on the skin.

16. Yellowing of the skin or eyes

Jaundice can occur when immunity attacks and destroys healthy liver cells. This condition is called autoimmune hepatitis.

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What to do if you have symptoms of a malfunctioning immune system

Be sure to consult a therapist. Describe in detail all the symptoms that seem dangerous to you. The doctor will examine your medical record, ask questions about lifestyle, the health of relatives (in order to exclude or confirm hereditary diseases), and suggest passing a series of tests.

Your symptoms may not be related to immune malfunction. But only a qualified doctor will install it.

Based on the results of the examination, the therapist can send you to specialized specialists: an immunologist, endocrinologist, dermatologist, rheumatologist, hepatologist. Failures in the immune system are often individual, therefore, the treatment of each case requires its own professional approach.

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