If you have an increased number of colds, are frequently ill and often need an antibiotic or an anti-viral medication, you have a problem with your immunity. There may be an obvious cause like a recent accident, surgery,taking chemotherapy, or perhaps dealing with a chronic debilitating illness. In any case, please read through the following list to find out if there are any things you are now doing to make the situation worse.
Factors
Which Compromise Immunity
1.Decreased
Intestinal
a) Concentrated chlorine kills
all bacteria. Chlorine
in drinking water has been shown
to have a killing effect and decreases beneficial bacteria
in the intestine. These friendly bacteria are helpful because
they provide a physical barrier against infection and have
immune stimulating properties.
b) antibiotics:Studies have shown that a course of antibiotics leaves the intestine virtually bare of beneficial bacteria. Antibiotics are also found in some samples of cows milk, beef, pork, poultry and farmed fish. Frequent antibiotic use promotes the growth of bacteria of greater virulence and which are resistant to antibiotics. Further, some patients treated with antibiotics may develop a potentially life-threatening diarrhoea related to the growth of an organism, Clostridium dificile.
Using
antibiotics frequently likely means immunity is compromised
but this can be helped greatly by taking probiotics during
and after an antibiotic.
c) excess
simple sugars and alcohol in the diet encourage
yeast, i.e. Candida growth. Candida albicans produces
chemical factors which are antibacterial, reducing friendly
bacteria, resulting in diminished immunity. Symptoms of intestinal Candidiasis include,
gas, bloating, cramping, alternating diarrhoea and constipation
and excess fatigue. Candida overgrowth frequently
follows antibiotic use. It is also frequently found in diabetics,
women on the "pill", those using prednisone and
immune suppressed patients.
2.Thinning
of the Intestinal Mucus Layer
If the intestinal mucus layer is thinned, you will have an
increased risk of acquiring infections. Thinning may take place from the
following causes:
a) NSAIDs (acetaminophen,
ibubrufen, aspirin, naproxen)-medications commonly used to
reduce fever, inflammation and pain have a dramatic effect
turning off or markedly reducing the ability of the mucus
cells in the intestine to produce effective mucus. With a
thinner mucus layer, the intestine is vulnerable to damage
(gastric and duodenal ulcers) and cannot support an effective
probiotic layer. Immunity is reduced.
b) illness like
gastroenteritis or food poisoning may decrease the mucus
layer.
c) alcohol and coffee may play a part for some people.
Emotional Issues
Any upset has been demonstrated to have a negative impact on immunity. This includes when people have a negative emotion about us. Anger and guilt are particularly harmful. Conversely, happy, joyful people get ill less frequently.
Exercise
Little exercise creates problems because without it, we tend to build up toxic metabolites and colonic fecal material . We need to discharge these toxins. Exercise also lifts the spirits and has been shown to be as good a an antidepressant for some people.
Nutrition
Poor nutrition can have a marked effect, diminishing our immunity. Obviously, those children in starvation areas like the Sudan, have severe problems. It is however less understood that many in the "first world" with food readily available and who look well nourished or possibly even obese, have nutritional deficiencies. These deficits are in vitamins, certain minerals, micronutrients i.e. zinc. Often these choices are driven by poverty but increasingly, young people, influenced by advertising or peer pressure make choices which are very bad. The result is frequent illness and , or, behavioral problems.
