Immune System Diseases: Types, Causes, and Key Symptoms

5.20.2025 0 comments

Author: Trisha Houghton, CNS, ASIST

The immune system is one of our body’s most important, and most powerful, defense against infectious diseases and illness.

The immune system defends the body against internal threats and external pathogens. It also blocks toxins and microbes before they cause serious harm or spread.

Thanks to both adaptive and innate immunity, we are protected from many infections and diseases.

Unfortunately, like all of our internal systems, the immune system is prone to the occasional malfunction or may wind up failing as we age. When this happens, we may suffer from any number of autoimmune or immune system diseases.

In this post, we will take a closer look first at what the immune system does and how it protects us, then how it might malfunction or fail. We will look at the types of immune system diseases, what factors play a role in these conditions, and how to recognize them for what they are.

Keep reading to the end, as we will also share key prevention and management strategies to help keep your immune system running at its best.

Introduction to Your Immune System 

Before we dive into the sorts of medical conditions and illnesses that can impact your immune system, let’s first take a closer look at what your immune system is.

The human immune system can be broken down into two components:

• The innate immune system consists of physical barriers like your skin, saliva, tears, mucus, digestive juices and enzymes, your inflammatory response, and immune cells (like neutrophils and macrophages). These act as a broad defense, protecting you from most pathogens and toxins you encounter or that enter your body each day.
• The adaptive immune system consists of T cells, B cells, and antibodies produced by B cells. They adjust their response based on the type of threat. For example, they deploy T cells to fight a viral infection or produce B memory cells to recognize and respond faster to future infections.

Both parts of the immune system work together to protect your body from harm. The innate immune system is capable of protecting you against most threats, but for more specific and harder-to-eradicate problems, your adaptive immune system is there. The adaptive immune system targets specific pathogens. This takes time, but is precise.

The immune system’s main role is to defend the body against pathogens. This supports the body’s overall goal of maintaining normal internal function, known as homeostasis, which is a stable internal environment regardless of external changes.

When the immune system malfunctions, fails, or when tissues and organs involved in protection lose function, the risk of immune system diseases or disorders increases.

Types of Immune Diseases

Immune diseases occur when the immune system malfunctions, either by overreacting, underreacting, or attacking the body’s own tissues.

These conditions are typically categorized into autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency disorders, and hypersensitivity reactions.

Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune conditions are conditions in which your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells. 

Several factors contribute to this, with genetics playing the most prominent role, followed by environmental influences. The result is the same: the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue and triggers an inflammatory response, causing inflammation and tissue damage.

Some of the most common autoimmune diseases include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis;
• Type 1 diabetes;
• Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus);
• Multiple sclerosis;
• Myasthenia gravis;
• Graves disease (which attacks the thyroid gland).

Autoimmune conditions often come with symptoms such as inflammation, fatigue, joint pain, and organ-specific issues.

For example, multiple sclerosis involves neurological problems caused by the immune system attacking healthy nervous system tissue.

Immunodeficiency Disorders

Immunodeficiency disorders are any condition in which a weak immune system is unable to effectively fight off infections.

Primary Immunodeficiency (PID) is often a genetic condition, mostly occurring since or close to birth, but can also occur later in life. There are more than 400 known types, including Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), Bruton disease, and Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID).

Secondary immunodeficiency, also known as acquired immunodeficiency, develops later in life rather than at birth. It can result from infections or medical conditions such as HIV/AIDS, cancer treatments, malnutrition, certain medications, or biological aging.

In both cases, your immune system is impaired, and thus cannot protect you from external and internal threats. You tend to be far more susceptible to infection and disease and are often sick.

Other side effects often include chronic fatigue and inflammation, and even delayed growth in children who inherit PID.

Hypersensitivity Disorders

Hypersensitivity disorders are conditions in which your body’s immune system responds excessively to substances that should be (and are) otherwise harmless. For example, it may react to pollen, a certain nutrient, or bee venom.

This heightened response triggers the release of histamines and other chemicals, which can cause severe swelling. In some cases, the reaction becomes dangerous or even life-threatening, as seen in anaphylaxis.

Chronic or unbalanced immune activity can lead to autoimmunity, where the body produces antibodies that target its own cells and tissues. This causes internal damage and disrupts normal function.

While not universal, certain auto-immune diseases may cause rashes and other skin symptoms, including itching and hives. However, strong reactions to medications are more often tied to hypersensitivity.

Inflammatory Diseases

Inflammatory diseases are conditions in which your body’s impaired or exaggerated reaction to certain substances, pathogens, or healthy tissue triggers an excessive inflammatory response.

Examples of inflammatory diseases include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These are forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affect the intestines. Another example is vasculitis, which targets the blood vessels.

Symptoms often include pain in the affected area, such as the abdomen or limbs, along with fever, fatigue, and visible swelling.

Get FREE Access!

We are on a mission to change your life by providing you with curated science-backed health tips, nutrition advice and mouth-watering recipes. Sign up to receive your 3 starter gifts and get exclusive access to new weekly content for FREE:

Free eBook

to boost metabolism

4 Shopping Guides

for every diet

22 Free Recipes

to beat sugar addiction

Subscribe now

subscribe

Causes of Immune System Diseases

What might be behind these common autoimmune disorders? What could cause one of your body’s most important internal systems to malfunction or misfire to such an extreme?

The truth is that in many cases, there are no known or identified causes of these conditions.

The etiology of many autoimmune conditions isn’t fully understood, and medical professionals and researchers have not yet been able to fully identify what might trigger autoimmune diseases.

However, there are a few potential causes that may play a role in or contribute to your risk of immune system health problems.

Genetic Factors

If a family member has an immune system condition, the genetic factors linked to their disease or immunodeficiency may be passed down to you.

They may even be passed down through multiple generations or skip generations entirely. However, if it’s in your DNA, it’s a cause you need to be aware of.

Environmental Factors and Triggers

Environmental factors, such as exposure to certain chemicals and pollutants, can contribute to autoimmune disorders. This risk is higher in individuals with a genetic predisposition to autoimmunity.

These exposures can seriously impair and impact the immune system, causing a malfunction where it was once healthy.

It may require strong chemicals or high levels of exposure to trigger a response, but people who work near environmental hazards face a higher risk. This is especially true if their immune system is already weakened.

Excessive exposure to UV radiation, whether from prolonged sunlight or UV-emitting machinery, can also weaken the immune function. In autoimmune conditions like lupus, it may worsen symptoms and trigger disease flare-ups.

Lifestyle and Dietary Factors

Poor eating habits can cause malnutrition or a deficiency of certain vitamins and minerals that your immune system needs to function. Without them, your immune system is weakened and more likely to experience dysfunction.

Chronic stress can also weaken the immune system and make the body more vulnerable to pathogens and toxins. People under constant stress may get sick more often and face a higher risk of long-term health issues, including autoimmune diseases, hypersensitivity, and inflammatory disorders.

Smoking, on the other hand.is effectively infusing your body directly with toxins that can damage healthy tissues, impact blood flow, and trigger inflammation. It’s one of the worst things for your health, and is one of the known risk factors in auto immune disorders.

Medications

Certain medications may impact or impair your immune system and raise the probability of your developing some immune system problem.

Corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, chemotherapy drugs, and other treatments to eradicate cancer cells are all known to weaken your immune system.

Hormonal and Biological Influences

A number of autoimmune conditions more commonly affect women’s health due to a combination of hormonal, genetic, and immune system differences [1].

Female bodies also tend to produce more antibodies than male bodies, which can lead to a higher probability of autoimmune disease.

Additional Causes

Other causes that may result in a compromised immune system include:

• Imbalances in your gut microbiome, due to poor diet or the use of certain medications;
• Chronic inflammation, triggered by some underlying medical condition or exposure to toxins;
• Viral infections, such as COVID-19.

This being said, autoimmune diseases diagnosed today often trace back to multiple overlapping causes. These factors disrupt organ function and trigger immune reactions, causing symptoms that can range from mild to severe.

Key Symptoms of Immune System Diseases

When the immune system loses balance, it can attack the body’s own cells instead of protecting them. This misdirected activity leads to inflammation and tissue damage, causing symptoms of autoimmune and other immune-related conditions.

The type of disease your immune system develops will determine which organs or systems are affected – and what signs appear first.

General Symptoms Across Immune Diseases

There are a few indicators that are common to most immune system disorders, including:

• Fatigue;
• Inflammation;
• Recurring infections;
• Longer bouts of illness, more severe symptoms, and slower recovery times;
• Tissue-specific symptoms (such as intestinal discomfort or deterioration of brain tissue).

These common symptoms are all good indications that something is wrong, even if they don’t tell you exactly what.

Symptoms Specific to Each Disease Type

Many autoimmune conditions will have their own specific symptoms affecting your health that make it clear what’s wrong and can help to more easily identify the underlying problem.

These symptoms vary widely: 

• Autoimmune disorders are often characterized by swelling, chronic pain, muscle aches, muscle weakness, and organ-specific symptoms. Examples include neurological symptoms for multiple sclerosis, or skin issues for lupus.
• Immunodeficiency disorders are often marked by frequent infections, poor growth or development in children (known as failure to thrive), and recurring respiratory problems.
• Hypersensitivity disorders are typically marked by rashes, itching, swelling, and intense reactions to harmless substances, such as pollen, hay, or insect venom. In severe cases, they can trigger life-threatening responses like anaphylaxis.
• Inflammatory diseases are typically characterized by abdominal pain, fever, joint pain, and fatigue.

The good news is that with all of these symptoms to watch out for, you can often identify what’s going wrong before it causes more serious damage or dysfunction in your body.

Although many immune conditions share similar symptoms, recognizing the warning signs early can help you address the problem before it leads to complications. This is especially important for chronic or progressive immune disorders.

Prevention and Management Strategies

Preventing and managing immune system disorders often involves a combination of lifestyle changes, medical treatments, and ongoing monitoring. While some conditions are linked to certain genes, others can be influenced by external factors.

In more severe cases, interventions like bone marrow transplants may be considered. Supportive care, including physical therapy, can also play a key role in maintaining function and improving quality of life.

Healthy Lifestyle and Diet

The way you live can have a significant impact on how your body responds to disease or invaders.

Eating a healthy, balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and lean proteins ensures your immune system has all the vitamins and minerals it needs to function.

Exercise, on the other hand, suppresses your inflammatory response and reduces the likelihood of your immune system overreacting to threats. However, excessive exercise can temporarily suppress immune function.

Regular exercise, performed 3 to 5 days per week, can strengthen your immune system and improve how efficiently it responds to threats.

Getting more sleep is also important for a healthy immune system. While you sleep, your body works hard to repair the internal damage accrued during the day and restore homeostasis. Sleep deprivation can slow your immune system and make your body more likely to overreact to triggers, raising your risk of autoimmune disorders.

Avoiding Known Triggers

Environmental triggers like cigarette smoke, car exhaust, and toxins and chemicals at your workplace can all contribute to a higher autoimmune disease risk. Reduce your exposure as much as possible.

If you live in a highly polluted area, use an air purifier indoors and limit outdoor exposure on days with poor air quality. Wearing a mask can also help reduce the strain on your immune system. If it is feasible, weigh the option to move to the suburbs or to a rural environment where you’ll be less exposed to pollution and your immune system less likely to be overtaxed.

If you know certain foods trigger your immune response, such as gluten in celiac disease or tree nuts in nut allergies, take steps to remove those triggers from your environment as much as possible. This helps prevent flare-ups and lowers the risk of severe reactions.

Regular Medical Check-ups and Screenings

If you notice any signs of immune system disorders (the symptoms we shared above), it’s absolutely a good idea to visit your healthcare provider and get checked out.

A medical screening, such as blood tests or an antinuclear antibody test, may help identify the cause of fatigue, joint pain, swelling, or other symptoms. However, confirming an autoimmune disease usually requires a more detailed evaluation.

Even if you’re not in immediate discomfort, it’s still worth asking your doctor about it every time you go for a check-up. Regular (every 1-3 years) check-ups are crucial for those with a family history of immune conditions.

Early detection and intervention can drastically reduce the severity of immune system disorders and make living with these conditions much more manageable.

Pain Management

The pain of autoimmune conditions can be debilitating, or at the very least, incredibly inconvenient and an impediment to your activities of daily life.

If you are experiencing pain or discomfort from swelling, talk to your doctor about treatment options. Medications such as pain relievers, NSAIDs, or corticosteroids may help, especially if the pain is severe.

Stress Management and Mindfulness

Stress is linked to immune system dysfunction. It dampens your immune system but can also exaggerate immune response, making you more at risk to experience autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.

Managing your stress through meditation, mindfulness practice, Yoga, and spending time outdoors and in green spaces can be a highly effective solution for reducing your risk of developing or the severity of existing immune system health issues.

Wrapping Up

When it comes to immune system disease, an ounce of prevention is worth many pounds of cure.

Follow the advice we shared above to prevent and manage immune system problems and be vigilant for any signs that could indicate your immune system is malfunctioning.

Small steps taken today can save you from years of discomfort and dysfunction down the road. You can curb inflammation, reduce overreaction to minor infections or harmless substances, and increase your body’s ability to protect you from disease.

If you want to live a long, happy life, that’s free of painful diseases, you need to keep your body in “cell repair mode” for as long as possible. Our Restore Life formula supports boosting your longevity and restoring your youthful glow, both inside and out. It is the only product in the world that is specifically designed to “switch off your aging button.”

Click here to learn more about Restore Life and its 7 multi-purpose ingredients that have antioxidant properties, boost your collagen production, make your skin look more youthful and wrinkle-free, and help reduce the biological age of your cells.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the signs of an overactive immune system?

Signs of an overactive immune system include fatigue, unexplained weight loss, unexplained fever, itchy skin, focus and concentration difficulties, night sweats, aching and sore muscles, tingling or numb fingers or toes, hair loss, swelling in your lymph nodes, rashes on your body, and inflammation.

What is the average life expectancy with autoimmune disease?

Many people can lead a full, long life with autoimmune disease. While there are a few that can be life-threatening (such as autoimmune vasculitis or severe anaphylaxis) or life-shortening (such as lupus, Type 1 Diabetes, or multiple sclerosis), there are autoimmune diseases can be managed well so that they don’t drastically impact your life or shorten longevity.

What are the worst foods for autoimmune disease?

Dairy products (such as milk, cheese, and yogurt), alcohol, gluten-containing grains, artificial sweeteners, refined sugar, fast food, and highly processed and artificial foods are considered the “most triggering” for those with autoimmune disease. In some cases, nightshade vegetables like eggplants, peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes may contribute to inflammation and joint pain.

Resources

Diseases of the Immune System

Disorders of the Immune System

Autoimmune Diseases

Immune System Disorders

Autoimmune Diseases

Inflammatory Disorders

We created ZONIA because we believe that everyone deserves to be empowered with the education and tools to be healthy and happy. Zonia's original videos and personalized transformation programs by our health & wellness experts will help you achieve this mission. Click on the button below to get started today:

start my 7 day free membership