How to tell if you have a weak or strong immune system
New blood tests can reveal whether your immune system is fighting fit by looking at the balance of different immune cells, but there may be a simpler way of gauging your immune health
Health
31 January 2023
Keep track of how many illnesses you have each year to get to grips with your immune health Vicki Turner
WHEN you are under the covers, sniffling from your third cold of the year, you might wonder whether your immune system is pulling its weight. It is a question we would all love to answer: is our immune system healthy or not? Now, a burgeoning field of immunology is attempting to do just that with tests that “grade” your immune system, the idea being that it could help people preempt problems and motivate them to make lifestyle changes to avoid ill health.
To understand how healthy your immune system really is, let alone improve it, first it is helpful to get to grips with what it actually does. Consider it your internal army, with different units coordinating to eliminate enemy invaders, all while avoiding collateral damage to your own tissues and constantly adapting to new challenges.
Like a real army, your immune system can also fall into disarray, with some units underperforming while others go rogue. This can cause major illnesses.