What are common diseases of the Immune System?

Do you know that the Immune System is responsible for fighting disease in our body? Many types of diseases can happen to our immune system, and the organs it affects. Find out about common diseases of the Immune System in this blog.

If you think that the immune system is just there to help you when you get sick, think again! It’s much more complex than that and helps to fight off diseases throughout your body. So what are common diseases of the immune system?

Introduction

The disease is something that you experience when your immune system is not functioning the way it should. It could be a decrease in effectiveness or an overreaction by the body’s immune system. There are many different types of diseases and infections that can happen to your body and its tissues. Each of these conditions is caused by bacteria, fungus, viruses, parasites, or allergies.

The immune system serves to identify and eliminate invading microorganisms and control the development of that which is considered acceptable. Several diseases are linked to the immune system, which can be categorized into primary and secondary disorders.

The Immune System

The immune system is divided into two parts: innate and adaptive immunity. Innate immunity is the first line of defence against infections. It includes physical barriers (skin), inflammatory responses (redness, heat), phagocytic cells (neutrophils) and natural killer cells (NK). Adaptive or acquired immunity involves the formation of antibodies specific to foreign invaders.

Your immune system is a complicated network of organs, tissues, and cells. It works day in, and day out to protect you against disease and infection. But when that network fails to work effectively your immune system can become compromised. Although they are not always successful, the immune system helps protect a person against illnesses and infections.

Common Immune System Diseases

When something goes wrong with your immune system, you may develop an illness or get sick more often than other people. There are many different kinds of immune disorders caused by problems with how your immune system works. Some are life-threatening emergencies while others are chronic conditions that affect people for decades or even their entire lives.

There are many different types of infections that can lead to an altered or weakened immune system. Some common diseases that affect your immune system include:

-Autoimmune disorders(like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis)

These are diseases where your immune system attacks your own body’s tissues. For example, lupus is an autoimmune disease where your body attacks its kidneys.

-Allergies and hypersensitivities (like asthma)

Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to something that would otherwise be harmless. For example, if you’re allergic to peanuts, eating a peanut will send your immune system into overdrive and cause symptoms like hives and itching.

-Cancerous tumours (like lymphoma)

Cancer occurs when cells in the body grow out of control and multiply uncontrollably. The most common type of cancer affecting the immune system is lymphoma (cancer that starts in white blood cells).

-Mastocytosis

This is a condition where mast cells release abnormal amounts of histamine which causes allergic reactions in some people.

-Sjogren’s Syndrome

This is an autoimmune disorder that causes dry eyes and dry mouth as well as other symptoms depending on where the inflammation occurs in your body.

-Psoriasis

This is an autoimmune disease that affects skin cells causing red patches on your skin that may also itch or burn at times.

How do prevent common diseases of the Immune System?

Immunization is a way to trigger your immune system and help protect you from certain diseases. Vaccines contain equivalent germs that cause illness. But they’ve either been weakened or killed.

When you get vaccinated, your body makes antibodies to the germs in the vaccine. If the germ is introduced into your body at a later time, your immune system will recognize it and know how to fight it off so you don’t get sick.

Also known as “shots” or “immunizations,” vaccines can protect you against:

• Hepatitis A and B
• HPV
• Influenza (the flu)
• Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
• Meningitis
• Polio
• Pneumonia
• Rotavirus

To prevent these diseases you should:

-Eat a healthy diet.

-Exercise regularly.

-Get enough sleep.

– Limiting alcohol intake.

– Not smoking.

-Wash your hands frequently.

A Diet of high Anti-inflammatory foods will help you prevent and fight infections, and keep your immune system as active and healthy as possible, reducing your risk of illness. A good diet filled with these anti-inflammatory foods can also help reduce your overall risk of developing a chronic disease like cancer or heart disease.