Immune System Deficiencies

Autoimmune Disorders

An autoimmune disorder occurs when the immune system turns against you, attacking and destroying healthy body tissue. Autoimmune diseases can cause tissue damage, organ damage and changes in organ function.^[1] The most commonly affected organs and tissues are the red blood cells, blood vessels, connective tissues, endocrine glands, muscles, joints and skin.^[2] While pain and inflammation in the affected area are the most common symptoms, fever, muscle aches, dizziness, and fatigue are also common.^[3]

Autoimmune diseases are classified into two categories: systemic autoimmune disease and localized autoimmune disease.  Systemic autoimmune diseases can affect several organ systems in the body. For example, while many people believe that Rheumatoid Arthritis only permanently destroys joints, it actually also affects the skin, the blood, the lungs, the eyes, the kidneys, and the heart.^[5] Lupus is a disease that mimics many other illnesses, affecting different tissues and organs such as the kidneys, heart, lungs, and joints, thus making diagnosis difficult.^[6]

As the name suggests, localized autoimmune diseases specifically affect one organ or a localized site in the body. One such disease is Multiple Sclerosis, where the protectant myelin sheath surrounding the nerve cells get damaged. This causes problems in the conduction of nerve impulses in central nervous system, leading to potential mobility issues, vision loss, numbness, and other neurological symptoms.^[7]  One other example of a localized autoimmune disease that affects large numbers of people is Type 1 Diabetes. This autoimmune disease destroys the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas, causing the person to have to take insulin for the rest of their lives, in addition to all of the microvascular and macrovascular complications that come with high blood sugars.^[8]

It’s unknown why the immune system goes into overdrive and starts attacking healthy tissues; however, it is thought to be a combination of a person’s genetics and something in the environment that triggers those genes, such as bacteria, stress, diet, hormonal influences, chemical toxicity and drugs.^[9] In fact, the onset of an autoimmune disorder is frequently preceded by a bacterial or viral infection, most notably the Epstein Barr Virus.^[10] Sometimes an antigen will have a similarity to healthy tissue and the immune system confuses the two, or white blood cells malfunction.^[11]

Immunodeficiency Disorders

Immunodeficiency disorders can be likened to an underactive immune system and consist of a wide range of health issues that cause the immune system to not work effectively, leading to increased susceptibility to infections. There are 2 classifications of immunodeficiencies: primary and secondary.

Primary immunodeficiency disorders are conditions that are inherited and are also called congenital immunodeficiencies. Complications can range from very mild to severe, leading to chronic illness, permanent organ damage or even death.^[12] Children typically get sick faster and longer from the usual childhood infections, and are also susceptible to infection from normally harmless organisms (opportunistic infections).^[13] Often a simple cold will lead to repeated severe bacterial infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis and ear infections.^[14] Although these genetic disorders are present at birth, sometimes the symptoms may not begin until the teenage years or adulthood.^[15] Primary immunodeficiencies are not curable, but can be managed with prevention and treatments.

Secondary immunodeficiencies are more common than primary immunodeficiencies. They are acquired as the result of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, or environmental factors that weaken the immune system such as malnutrition or pharmaceutical drugs or their side effects (such as chemotherapy).^[16]  Basically anything that weakens your immune system can lead to a secondary immunodeficiency disorder. Management of the underlying condition can ameliorate or minimize immunodeficiency.  Decreasing stress, eating healthy and sleeping well are all imperative to keep a healthy immune system. ^[17] These strategies and more are discussed in depth in the Resiliency and Self-Care section, but read on for specific tips on Rebooting your Immune System.