The outbreak of Covid-19 has made more people conscious about washing their hands, masking up and social distancing to keep the virus from entering the body. But you can only do so much to keep germs out if your immune system is not strong enough.
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Signs of a weak immune system
Your immune is a complex network of organs, white blood cells, antibodies and chemicals that work together to protect the body from pathogens that cause infection, illness and disease, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, there are times the system fails to operate at its optimum level, making you more prone to infections. Here are some signs of a weak immune system:
Frequent illnesses, longer healing period
An adult with a strong immune system may catch a cold twice or three times a year, with most recovering between few days and a week. Dr Nadia Hasan, a physician at Delancey Internal Medicine said:
During that time, it takes the immune system three to four days to develop antibodies and fight off pesky germs
But if it becomes more frequent than that, and recovery takes longer, your immune system may be telling you something.
Chronic stress
Ever wondered why you sometimes fall sick after a long project or exams that’s been stressing you? Well, that’s because chronic stress tends to negatively impact how your immune system responds to germs. Dr Hasan explains:
That’s because stress decreases the body’s lymphocytes, the white blood cells that help fight off infection. The lower your lymphocyte levels, the more you’re at risk for viruses like the common cold.
Frequent cold sores
Cold sore is caused by a virus that comes from the herpes family. Once contracted, the herpes virus becomes dormant in the body only to manifest by way of cold sores when you are under stress or your immunity is performing below capacity.
Constant tiredness
Your energy levels are influenced to a large extent by the state of your immune system. So, if you feel constantly exhausted even after long hours of sleep, your immune system may need boosting. Dr Hasan explains:
That's because your body is trying to conserve energy to fuel your immune system so it can fight off germs.
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