There are many disorders that could possibly weaken the immune system and cause you to become immunocompromised. There are signs and symptoms of a weak immune system that you can overcome to stay healthy.

What are the signs and symptoms of a weak immune system?

Susceptibility to infections is one of the primary symptoms of a weakened immune system.

People with weakened immune systems are likely to get infected often and treating those illnesses can be hard, depending on their severity.

There are also possibilities of them experiencing –

• autoimmune disorders
• inflammation of the internal organs
• blood disorders or abnormalities
• loss of appetite, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping
• growth and developmental delays, in infants and children

Ways to overcome a weakened immune system

You may ask yourself questions such as — Is it possible to intervene in this process and boost our immune system? What if we improve our diet? Can we take certain vitamins or herbal preparations? Or make other lifestyle changes?

Here are a few tips to focus on improving and strengthening your immune system:

• Get enough sleep.

Inadequate and poor sleep cycles can cause higher susceptibility to sickness. In these cases, you might want to limit screen time before bedtime, sleep in a completely dark room or use a sleep mask, and exercise regularly.

• Eat more fruits and veggies.

Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and other greens are rich in nutrients and antioxidants, helping your body make more white blood cells to help you fight off infections. Plant-based foods also fill your body with fibers that help in reducing the fat percentage, to strengthen your immune response.

• Limit refined carbs and added sugar.

Being overweight or obese can increase the risk of illness. Reducing your sugar intake can decrease inflammation and help with weight loss, which ultimately reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. 

• Exercise in moderation.

You can give your immune system a boost with some moderate exercise. On the other hand, prolonged exercise can sometimes suppress your immune system. Regular and moderate exercise may reduce inflammation and stimulates your cells to regenerate regularly.

• Hydrate your body.

Staying hydrated doesn't help you improve your immune system directly but helps maintain your overall health. Dehydration can hinder your physical performance and bodily functions which, in turn, increases your susceptibility to illnesses.

• Maintain personal hygiene.

Hygienic behavior can help you and also everyone around you from getting or spreading germs and infectious diseases. Personal hygiene is important in our everyday life since germs and other bacterias are all around us and may cause illness. Practicing good hygiene can help in reducing the spread of diseases. 

Our immune system is a complex system that protects the body from harmful germs that could cause illness, so if you are a person who becomes sick easily or often, take some steps to maximize your immune function and make healthy lifestyle changes.