Can IBS make you more susceptible to colds and flu?
First of all, if you suffer from IBS or just poor digestion generally, you may be at risk of becoming deficient in nutrients which are vital for your immune system to function properly. For instance, your body may struggle to absorb adequate levels of vitamins and minerals if regular diarrhoea is one of your symptoms.
Vitamin C is possibly the most well-known vitamin when it comes to your immune system, and for good reason. Phagocytes and T-cells (immune cells which play a role in destroying invading viruses and bacteria) require vitamin C in order to function efficiently. Plus, vitamin C is a potent antioxidant and plays a protective role within the respiratory system.
Zinc and vitamin D are other nutrients whose role in keeping the immune system in tip top condition is perhaps less well known. So, if your digestion is poor and your body struggles to absorb these nutrients from food, you may be more at risk of weak immune function and, in turn, be more prone to colds and flu.
Does stress affect your immune system?
Stress and IBS are intricately linked. While stress can be a cause of IBS symptoms and nasty flare-ups, worries about staying close to a loo or experiencing embarrassing symptoms in public can cause a great deal of stress too.
At the same time, stress can have a negative effect on your immune system. In periods of stress, our fight-or-flight response is activated, sending stress hormones all around the body. As a result, immune function takes a back seat.
What's more, new research has found that, when stressed, there are fewer white blood cells circulating the body. (1) These white blood cells (monocytes and lymphocytes) play a key role in destroying pathogens which could allow infections like colds and flu to take hold.
So, a combination of stress and IBS can also leave you more at risk of suffering from colds or flu since your immune system may not be working at full capacity.
Can probiotics help to boost my immune system?
Friendly bacteria within the gut are important for maintaining pH balance, digesting food and keeping pathogens at bay. If there is an imbalance in levels of good and bad gut bacteria, nasty symptoms such as constipation and bloating can arise, symptoms you may be familiar with if you have IBS.
What's more, did you know that 70-80% of immune cells are found in the gut? If your gut is unhappy (which is likely, if you suffer from IBS!) then your immune function may be lacking.
So, giving your friendly bacteria a helping hand can improve your digestion and, in turn, help you to absorb the vital nutrients for your immune function. Plus, upping your numbers of friendly bacteria can help to protect against other, more harmful bacteria that could cause trouble and promote an inflammatory gut condition.
Could IBS also make my immune system over-react?
So, while IBS and associated symptoms can cause your immune system to weaken, troubled digestion can contribute to an overactive immune system.
Inflammation, such as that present in the gut with IBS, can influence the immune system and cause the it to over-react. Poor digestion can also cause harmless foods to trigger an immune response, with the subsequent production of histamine causing symptoms reminiscent of hayfever or allergic rhinitis, like wheezing, watery eyes and a runny nose.
Some of your IBS symptoms may also be made worse by this excess histamine circulating in the body, as a build-up can cause diarrhoea, stomach pain and nausea.
Ironically, if this happens repeatedly and the immune system is activated time and time again, it can become unresponsive. In this case, infections can take hold more easily and you may become even more prone to infections like colds and flu.
