Skip to main content
Home
  • Immunity Score
  • Products
    Menu Redoxon
    • For Adults
      • Redoxon® Triple Action
      • Redoxon® Double Action
      • Redoxon® Double Action Adult Chewable
      • Redoxon® C + Calcium + D + B6
      • Redoxon® Vita Guard ACE+
    • For Kids
      • Redoxon® Double Action Kids Chewable
  • Redoxon® science
    submenu-image
    • Who we are
    • FAQ
    • Bayer Nutritional Trust Mark
  • Support for good health
    • 6 signs of weak immunity and how to recognize them
    • How vitamins and minerals support your health
    • How age affects your immune system
    • What is immunity?
    • Antioxidants for Healthy Skin
    • Want to Boost Your Immune System? Try Vitamin D
  • Healthy Everyday
    • Boost your immune system with healthy habits
    • Habits for preventing infections and maintaining good health
    • Which foods and nutrients that can help boost your immunity
    • Exercise for your immunity!
    • Reducing the negative impact of lifestyle choices on immune health
    • Beat the Common Cold with Vitamin C + Zinc
  • Where to buy
Bayer Cross Logo
  1. Home
  2. Support for good health
  3. 6 signs of weakened immunity and how to recognize them

Share on :

The immune system checklist

Your immune system is the body’s first line of defence against harmful bacteria and virus. Now more than ever, it is important to have a strong immune system, especially when it comes to fighting off potential infections. Having a robust immune system is dependent upon the practice of good habits, such as the consumption of a healthy, balanced diet, and regular exercise, and is weakened by negative lifestyle practices, such as stress. Have a look at the checklist below and ask yourself:

  • Do you frequently go through bouts of cold and/or flu?
  • Do you suffer from a disease, such as diabetes?
  • Do you struggle with maintaining a healthy weight?
  • Do you undergo a lot of stress?
  • Do you experience irregular sleep patterns?
  • Do you smoke?
  • Do you consume alcohol excessively?

 


If you answered yes to one (or several) of these questions, chances are that your immune health may be somewhat subpar. In that regard, let’s take a look at the 6 potential signs of a weak immunity and the steps you can take to boost your immune system against potential infections.

  • Stress: You may notice that you can sometimes become unwell after you have completed a big project or undergone a strong emotional experience. This happens because your body secretes cortisol (a stress hormone) which affects the skin’s ability to keep out certain bacteria, a virus or fungi. Prolonged stress can also affect the development of immune cells in your body, and inhibit their ability to fight off infections1.
  • Frequent infections: Experiencing frequent and multiple bouts of a cold or flu annually can be a sign of weak immunity. When you get the flu, your immune system kicks into overdrive, causing heatiness and a fever when fighting off an infection. At the same time, your throat can hurt as a result of the cells that line the airway causing inflammation because it is trying to stop the virus from spreading. If you do go through multiple infections in a year, it will cause your immune system to put a great strain on your body, as it needs to produce antibodies at an accelerated rate on a frequent basis
  • Tiredness and fatigue: If you are feeling tired - irrespective of how many hours of sleep you get every night- it could be a sign of a weak immunity2. Poor sleep affects the skin's regenerative abilities, which might make the healing of wounds, or the fighting of infections, more difficult.
  • Drastic changes in bodyweight: If your weight is not proportionate to your height (i.e. you are overweight/obese or underweight), it could indicate a weak immunity. When you are overweight3, the higher amount of fat cells can cause an increased secretion of certain chemicals by immune cells, resulting in chronic inflammation that can affect the body’s ability to absorb key nutrients. Alternatively, if you are underweight and suffer a nutritional deficiency, your immune system is almost certainly weakened, your bones may be more fragile, and you may feel tired all the time4. And neither of these extremes are good for your immune health.
  • Wounds take longer to heal5: Minor injuries that seem to be taking longer than usual to heal could indicate a weak immunity. The reason for this prolonged healing process could be attributed to chronic inflammation (or even age) as our immune system weakens when we grow older.
  • Tummy problems: If the balance between good and bad bacteria in your stomach becomes lopsided , it can cause your immune system to go into overdrive. This in turn can lead to diarrhoea, constipation and gas. Often, this is caused by low levels of the “good” bacteria found in our digestive systems.

What you can do to combat a weak immunity

Even if you’ve noticed any of the above signs of weak immunity, it’s not all doom and gloom. If you are looking for ways to boost your immunity, you would be happy to know that there are simple steps you can take to help your weak immunity6. Start forming good immune health habits now by following a few of the simple rules below!

  • To avoid infections, wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water, or using an alcohol-based gel. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Eat a healthy, balanced diet containing lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. This will help to provide your body with an intake of the essential vitamins and minerals needed for healthy immune function. You can also take a vitamin and mineral supplement like Redoxon® that can help you restore the levels of healthy micronutrients in your body7.
  • Exercise regularly to reduce stress and improve circulation, which are both important factors for healthy immune function.
  • Get quality sleep. Give yourself 8 hours of sleep every night and watch your body recover faster.
  • Reduce stress. If you find that regular exercise and good sleep hygiene aren’t enough to reduce your stress levels, you can try to incorporate relaxation practices such as meditation or yoga.

References:

  1.   Morey JN, Boggero IA, Scott AB, Segerstrom SC, Current Directions in stress and Human Immune Function, Curr Opin Psychol. 2015 Oct 1; 5: 13–17.
  2. Natelson BH, Haghighi MH, Ponzio NM, Evidence for the Presence of Immune Dysfunction in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 2002 Jul; 9(4): 747–752.
  3. Andersen CJ, Murphy KE, Fernandez ML, Impact of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome on Immunity, Advances in Nutrition, Volume 7, Issue 1, January 2016, Pages 66–75, https://doi.org/10.3945/an.115.010207
  4. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/advice-for-underweight-adults/
  5. Ellis S, Lin EJ, Tartar D, Immunology of Wound Healing, Current Dermatology Reports 7(6), September 2018
  6. How to prevent infections. Harvard Medical School, 2016. (Accessed 10/02/2020, at https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-prevent-infections.)
  7. Gombart AF, Pierre A, Maggini S. A Review of Micronutrients and the Immune System-Working in Harmony to Reduce the Risk of Infection. Nutrients 2020;12.

 


How Vitamin and Minerals
Help to Support
Your Immunity

 

 

Living in a fast-paced world that includes on-the-go fast food and pre-cooked meals, it can sometimes be challenging to consume an adequate amount of fruits and vegetables daily to provide our body with the essential vitamins and minerals it needs to fully support the body functions. What’s worse, an inadequate intake of vitamins and minerals can instead negatively affect your overall health. That’s where Redoxon® comes in. Our range of vitamin and mineral products are designed to help support your good health.

Learn more

 

Redoxon® for a Healthy Body

You need to look after your body health. Even though it may not feel like it, your body works 24 hours a day to ensure optimal health. Just as a plant needs water and sunlight, your body needs regular nourishment to support overall well-being.

Combined with a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical exercise and a healthy diet, supplements like Redoxon® provide the foundation
for good health.

 

 

 

 

 

In 1934, we pioneered the world’s first vitamin C supplement, and we’ve been helping people all over the world to support their health. Today, our range of innovative supplements helps to support your health and overall well-being every day.

 

Build Your Immunity

Looking for ways to support your immunity?
Check out some of our articles on how to support your healthy immune system effectively.

Mother and daughter laughing and spending time on the beach

How vitamins and minerals support your immunity

Learn about vitamins and minerals that are essential for your body’s healthy immune system.

LEARN MORE
Young blonde smiling woman giving her daughter a piggy ride

Everything you need to know about cold and flu

Learn more about cold and flu, and discover ways to support your immune system and how avoid flu virus infections.

LEARN MORE
Smiling and laughing family enjoying their time in a park

A guide of lifestyle habits to keep yourself safe and healthy

Learn the simple healthy habits which includes proper hand-washing and food hygiene.

LEARN MORE

WHERE TO BUY

Footer Bayer Logo
  • Products®
    • Redoxon® science
  • Support for good health
    • Healthy everyday

Copyright © 2021 Bayer. All rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. All trademarks are owned by Bayer, and its affiliates, or licensed for its use.

USE AS DIRECTED

  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Statement
  • Condition of Use
  • Imprint
  • Bayer Global

CH-20220121-34

2630/2021 Expiry Date: 31 Dec 2023
This is a supplement product advertisement