Wondering how cerebral palsy affects the immune system?
While cerebral palsy will not directly weaken your child’s immune system, it may be the underlying cause of various problems that affect the immune system.
This article will explain the effects of cerebral palsy that may indirectly affect one’s immune system as well as daily actions that can help strengthen the immune system.
How Cerebral Palsy Affects the Immune System
Let’s go over 3 major outcomes of cerebral palsy that can weaken the immune system:
Reduced Physical Activity
Your physical activity levels may impact on your body’s ability to function.
Lack of mobility slows down the body’s metabolic rate and circulation, which reduces the efficiency of major body functions.
Blood needs to effectively circulate throughout the entire body to fuel cellular activity.
Without sufficient blood flow, your body may not be getting the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function properly. This may weaken the immune system and increase the risk of infections.
Additionally, individuals with motor impairments are less likely to move around and be exposed to their environment, which makes them less likely to develop immunity.
Cerebral palsy can affect the muscles around the mouth, making it difficult for individuals to chew and swallow their food.
Feeding difficulties commonly result in malnutrition, which represses the immune system.
Anxiety and Stress
Individuals with cerebral palsy are more likely to experience heightened levels of anxiety and stress due to their motor impairments.
This causes the brain to activate our body’s stress response and release hormones (primarily cortisol) that suppress immune cell function.
Stress reduces the number of lymphocytes in the body, which are essential for fighting off infection.
Actions You Can Take to Support Your Immune System:
Here are some steps individuals with cerebral palsy can take to help support their immune system:
1. Use a Blender
It is best to get essential nutrients from food. However, it can be difficult for indivi