What Causes a Suppressed Immune System?

How often do you catch an infectious illness? Research from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that the average adult catches about two to three colds per year. Flu infections, of course, are less common. Nonetheless, if you find yourself constantly getting sick with the cold, flu or any other infectious illness, you may be suffering from a suppressed immune system. Several things can cause a suppressed immune system, including the following.

Lack of Sleep

Failure to get enough sleep at night can cause a suppressed immune system. More than one-third of adults get less than seven hours of sleep per night. If you're among this group, you may suffer from a suppressed immune system. Lack of sleep will slow your metabolism while subsequently suppressing your immune system.

Excessive Exercise

You might be surprised to learn that excessive exercise can cause a suppressed immune system. You should still exercise. Exercise is arguably one of the most effective ways to ward off chronic disease and, ultimately, improve your health. With that said, performing strenuous exercise for a prolonged period without resting could result in a suppressed immune system.

Stress

Another common cause of a suppressed immune system is stress. Stress is the result of stress hormones, such as cortisol, in the body. There's no way to avoid stress all the time. Rather, it's something that everyone will experience. Allowing stress to go unchecked, however, may take a toll on your immune system. Stress hormones can inhibit your immune system's ability to neutralize antigens, thus leaving you susceptible to infectious illness.

Too Much Time Indoors

Spending too much time indoors can lead to a suppressed immune system. When you are indoors, you won't be exposed to sunlight. As a result, you won't receive vitamin D. Sunlight is a catalyst for vitamin D production. Exposure to sunlight will cause your body to produce vitamin D. This is important because vitamin D assists the immune system. If you believe that your immune system is suppressed, try to spend less time indoors and more time outdoors.

Disorders

There are also disorders that can suppress your immune system. Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is one such disorder. While rare, thousands of people have been born with SCID. It manifests in the form of a severely suppressed immune system that leaves individuals susceptible to infectious illness.