#23 - The Immune System

How do you know if you have an under reactive immune system? Did you know Dr G is an allergist-immunologist. This episode explores the function of an immunologist, what they treat patients for and how they go about it. But to fully understand immunology, we first have to know more about the immune system and what can go wrong with it.  What we cover in this episode:   A brief overview of the immune system   What can go wrong with the immune system: Overreacting - allergies & autoimmune disease, Under reacting - immunodeficiency disorders What causes an immunodeficiency? The basics of how to recognize an immunodeficiency and diagnose it How immunodeficiencies are treated Types of immunodeficiencies   Difference between allergy, autoimmune disease and immunodeficiency Listener question: How can someone have both an under reactive and overreactive immune system?   Resources: https://primaryimmune.org/ https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/primary-immunodeficiency-disease Episodes on allergies:  Ep.1: What is an allergist & when should you see one? Ep. 2: The science behind an allergic reaction & why are allergies on the rise? Ep. 3: Managing food allergies as an adult & tips on dining out and traveling with allergies Ep. 5: The types of food allergy testing & why they can be so hard to interpret Ep. 18: The questions that arise after a food allergy diagnosis: Part 1 - the medical questions Ep. 19: The questions that arise after a food allergy diagnosis: Part 2 - Lifestyle changes