Immune System Disorders: The Immune & Lymphatic Systems Introduction

Definition

Immune system disorders refer to abnormally low activity or overactivity of the immune system.

  1. Immune Deficiency — Decreases the body’s ability to fight invaders, causing vulnerability to infections.
  2. Immune Overactivity —Refers to the body attacking and damaging its own tissues. Known as autoimmune disease.

Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases include:

  1. Diabetes Type 1 — The immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
  2. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) — The immune system attacks (eats away) at the myelin sheath, which protects the nerves in the brain. Learn more: Yoga & Multiple Sclerosis
  3. Rheumatoid Arthritis — The immune system attacks itself. RA is a chronic inflammation affecting joints, hands and feet. Learn more: Yoga & Arthritis
  4. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s Syndrome, Celiac Disease — Parts of the digestive system become inflamed. Learn more: Yoga & Digestion
  5. Guillain-Barre Syndrome — Rare neurological disorder where the immune system attacks the nerves in the body.