Your immune system is supposed to fight diseases and help your body heal. However, in some cases, it might be weak, less active than necessary, excessively active, or might mistakenly attack your own body. Immune system issues can lead to various symptoms, allergic reactions, or chronic ongoing illnesses.
1- Dryness or a sandy feeling in the eyes
Severe eye dryness can be a sign of immune system issues. In Sjogren's syndrome, the immune system attacks the glands that secrete tears to keep the eyes moist. This leaves the eyes dry and red, and you might feel as if there's sand or granules inside them. This condition can progress to blurred vision or even corneal damage, according to "webmd".
2- Depression
Depression can be one of the indicators of an immune system disorder. An unhealthy immune system might send inflammatory cells known as cytokines to the brain, leading to lower levels of chemicals like serotonin, which are responsible for mood enhancement. The good news is that exercising can help raise serotonin levels, reducing inflammation and alleviating symptoms of depression.
3- Rash
The itchy rash in eczema is an allergic reaction indicating an overactive immune system. Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are linked to an immune system malfunction, where the immune system attacks healthy skin cells, causing inflammation that results in red, scaly, painful patches known as plaques.
4- Stomach or intestinal problems
Gastrointestinal symptoms could be an indicator of an immune disorder. Diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, and weight loss could be signs of conditions like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or celiac disease, where the immune system plays a central role.
5- Coldness in hands and feet
Do your hands and feet turn white or blue when exposed to cold? In Raynaud's disease, blood flow to the hands and feet slows down in cold weather, causing the skin to become cold and change color. This condition is one of the autoimmune diseases. Cold extremities might also indicate an underactive thyroid due to immune system impacts.
6- Hair loss
The immune system might attack hair roots and cause damage, leading to Alopecia Areata or hair loss. Hair might fall out in small patches on the scalp or elsewhere on the body. Other immune issues, like plaque psoriasis on the scalp, might also intermittently lead to hair loss.
7- Sensitivity to sunlight
Immune system issues might make a person extremely sensitive to sunlight. If you have lupus, your skin may burn easily even with short sun exposure. Sunlight can trigger a flare of disease activity and exacerbate all symptoms of lupus, thus wearing hats, sunglasses, protective clothing, and using high SPF sunscreen is advised.
8- Joint pain
Sudden joint pain accompanied by swelling and stiffness can be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis. In this case, the immune system causes inflammation in the tissues lining the joints, leading to severe joint pain.
9- Slow wound healing
If your immune system is slow, simple wounds such as cuts, burns, or scratches may take a longer time to heal. A healthy immune system quickly responds to injury and sends the necessary nutrients to facilitate healing. Delayed healing can indicate reduced activity of the immune system.
10- Frequent illness
Frequent infections, such as colds or flu, can be a sign of a weak immune system. If you suffer from four or more ear infections annually, chronic sinus infections, pneumonia twice in a year, or frequently need antibiotics, you may have an immunodeficiency.
11- Fatigue
It’s normal to feel tired after significant effort, but if you continually feel exhausted even after adequate rest, your immune system might be slow. Fatigue here is defined as severe tiredness to the point that you cannot even cross the room. Additionally, hyperactivity of the immune system can also cause inflammations leading to this type of severe fatigue.
