What increased risk do people face when their immune system is suppressed?

When a person's immune system is suppressed, their body becomes less capable of defending itself against pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi. This decreased immune response greatly increases the risk of infectious diseases, as the body is not able to efficiently identify and eliminate these threats. The immune system plays a crucial role in recognizing foreign invaders and mounting a response to eliminate them. A suppressed immune system might result from various factors, including medical treatments (like chemotherapy), certain diseases (like HIV/AIDS), or the use of immunosuppressive medications aimed at preventing organ rejection or treating autoimmune conditions.

While cardiovascular disease, chronic illness, and allergic reactions can also be influenced by immune system function, they are not primarily direct consequences of immune suppression in the same way that susceptibility to infections is. Therefore, the primary risk associated with a suppressed immune system is indeed the increased likelihood of infectious diseases.