| Immune System
What is Low Immune Function?
Low immune function refers to an underactive and poor performing immune system. The immune system’s prime function is to protect the body against infection and the development of cancer. Support and enhancement of the immune system is perhaps the most important step in achieving resistance to disease and reducing susceptibility to colds, influenza viruses and cancer. Supporting the immune system involves a health-promoting lifestyle, stress management, exercise, diet, and the appropriate use of nutritional supplements and herbal medicines.
If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, it is a sign that your immune system needs support:
- Do you catch colds easily?
- Do you get more than two colds a year?
- Are you suffering chronic infection?
- Do you get frequent cold sores or have genital herpes?
- Are your lymph glands sore and swollen at times?
- Do you have now or have you ever had cancer?
Recurrent or chronic infections—even very mild colds—only occur when the immune system is weakened. Under such circumstances, there is a repetitive cycle that makes it difficult to overcome the tendency toward infection: a weakened immune system leads to infection, infection causes damage to the immune system, which further weakens resistance. Enhancing the immune system can break this cycle.
What Causes Low Immune Function?
The health of the immune system is greatly influenced by a person’s emotional state, level of stress, lifestyle, dietary habits and nutritional status. Nutrient deficiency is the most frequent cause of a depressed immune system. An overwhelming number of clinical and experimental studies indicate that any single nutrient deficiency can profoundly impair the immune system.
What is the Common Cold?
The common cold is an upper respiratory tract infection that is caused by a virus. Typically, the individual with a cold will experience general malaise, fever, headache and upper respiratory tract congestion. Initially, there is usually a watery nasal discharge and sneezing, followed by thicker secretions containing mucus, white blood cells and dead organisms. The throat may be red, sore and quite dry.
What causes the Common Cold?
The common cold can be caused by a wide variety of viruses that are capable of infecting the upper respiratory tract (the nasal passages, sinuses, and throat).
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