Compromised Immune System

The importance of the immune system in the body is not known properly to many of us, and we have a tendency to take it for granted. The immune system fights infections that enter our body, and are our line of defense against various ailments and diseases. A compromised immune system is unable to combat these illnesses with the same efficiency, and as a result a person suffering from this condition falls sick very often and is susceptible to a wide variety of illnesses.

Immunodeficiency can be acquired from many different sources. Its weakness is a major crippling factor to our lives, and people suffering from this condition have to suffer a lot of difficulties in their life. Being constantly sick and unwell can only be a bad thing, and the body starts to slowly lose its strength and vitality as well. This is not a rare condition, and many people are found to be affected by it.

Symptoms

There are many instantly recognizable symptoms that highlight this illness. It is a wide misconception that only someone who is HIV positive suffers from this condition, but this is not true as anyone who has a weak immune system in the body will display similar symptoms. Fortunately there are also foods that boost immune system.

The symptoms are quite vast, and the frequency of contracting these illnesses is what points out its presence. If a person falls sick at an alarming regularity, it is very likely that his immune system has been compromised. Getting affected by viruses and flu are a sure way of detecting the presence of this condition in an individual. Here are the most commonly found symptoms.

• Frequent and unending bouts of illness.
• Unable to make successful recovery from any illness.
• Feeling of excessive tiredness that does not go away in spite of getting sufficient amounts of rest.
• Constant headaches and dizziness, coupled with watery eyes and running nose.
• Continuous pains and aches in the muscles and the joints.
• Falling ill in a fixed pattern, and displaying the same characteristics each and every time.

The symptoms are relatively easy to decipher and spot, as the frequency and regularity of the illness is what highlights the presence of this particular condition.

Causes

There are a variety of causes that lead to the occurrence of this condition. Sometimes these causes are acquired and start surfacing at a very young age. If a child falls sick very often, it could be because he/she has contracted this condition. Immediate remedial steps must then be taken. The following are the commonly found causes.

• Deficiencies of important vitamins and minerals in the body.
• Inadequate rest and sleep for the body, leaving no time for recuperation.
• Excessive cigarette smoking. Excessive abuse of alcohol and other drugs also has a similar effect of immunodeficiency.
• Leading a highly stressful and exhausting lifestyle.
• Certain types of therapies for cancer, like chemotherapy and other radiation techniques.
• Side effects of certain types of drugs, medications, steroids or antibiotics.

If a person has an acquired immunodeficiency condition since birth due to a deformity in some cells of the body, it is known as primary immune deficiency.

HIV/AIDS or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is the most widely heard of compromised immune system disorder. There is no known cure for AIDS, and the body gets affected by niggling illnesses and diseases so often, that a person gets almost entirely debilitated. The mortality rate of AIDS is the highest amongst all possible diseases and disorders. The causes of AIDS are very different from the causes that have been listed here, as it is caused by contracting of HIV.

Treatment

The treatment will greatly depend on the cause of the condition. If a person is HIV positive there are not many treatments that will be helpful. But if the condition is caused by other factors, corrective steps can be taken. If the primary cause is an improper and imbalanced diet, then this is easy to fix. Visiting a nutritionist will help, as he will analyze the diet and point out which essential items are missing. Generally, it is the inherent lack of vitamin C and vitamin A in the diet that causes this condition

Lack of rest, stressful lifestyle habits and alcohol or cigarette abuse are also conditions that can be treated by controlling these habits. It takes more than just willpower to do so, but positive results are guaranteed if the individual adopts remedial steps. If a person suffers from the side effects of some medication, alternative medicines should be opted for. Visiting a doctor will help you solve this problem.

Ultimately, a person suffering from a compromised immune system due to external factors can solve the problem. But people who are born with this condition or are HIV positive, do not have this luxury. Taking general good care of our health should be our concern and responsibility.