- Your immune system plays an important role in protecting your body from harmful germs, substances, and cell changes that can make you sick.
- Certain everyday habits such as chronic stress, eating a poor diet, not getting any exercise, and lack of sleep may be suppressing your immune system.
- The best way to support your immune system is to live a healthy lifestyle. This includes staying active, eating a healthy diet, managing your stress, and adopting other healthy habits.
Your immune system is extremely important and plays a vital role in protecting your body from harmful germs, substances, and cell changes that can make you sick, says the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Most of the time you don’t even notice your immune system is there, especially when it’s running smoothly. That said, once your immunity is weakened, or stops working properly, you’ll get ill.
Since the immune system is so important, we must take care of it. It turns out, certain daily habits that you might be doing right now may negatively impact your immune system. In an effort to support your immune system let’s get informed and take a look at which everyday habits suppress your immune system.
Too Much Stress
Everyone deals with stress occasionally from busy work schedules, financial stress, busy schedules at home, and more. But the reality is, stress can take a serious toll on our health, including our immune system.
Individuals who experience chronic stress may be more susceptible to viral illnesses, such as the common cold or the flu. Healthline explains, “over time, stress hormones will weaken your immune system and reduce your body’s response to foreign invaders.”
The good news is there are simple ways to manage daily stress such as following a regular sleep routine, meditating, and engaging in regular exercise. If you need professional help, lean on your friends and family for support and reach out to your doctor.