So You Have an Autoimmune Disease. Now What?

It is estimated that 1 in 5 people in the United States are living with an autoimmune disease and 75% of those affected are women. Autoimmune disease is a broad category of conditions all linked by their underlying cause: Instead of fighting external bacteria or viruses, for example, your immune system mistakes your own healthy cells as invaders and repeatedly attacks them. Many common conditions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Grave’s disease, ulcerative colitis and rohn’s, celiac disease, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis and more are all examples of autoimmune diseases. Interestingly, autoimmune disorders occur almost exclusively in developed countries leading to the theory that perhaps we live in “too clean” of an environment and that, from a young age, perhaps our immune systems aren’t well trained to determine what is foreign and what is you.

WHAT CAUSES AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE?

The cause of autoimmune disease is a topic that is still under a great deal of research. While genetics certainly play a role (you are more likely to have an autoimmune disease if a family member has one as well), it is also thought that an external insult must take place, for example, becoming sick with a bacteria or virus, being exposed to environmental or chemical irritants, or taking a prescription drug you did not respond well to. Furthermore, systemic inflammation and stress can add to the mix, causing a full blown autoimmune flare.

HOW SHOULD I TREAT MY AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE?

While in some cases taking prescription medications are necessary to get someone out of an autoimmune flare or to prevent permanent damage to vital organs, these medications do not treat the cause of autoimmune conditions. Anyone who would like to get to the root cause of their autoimmune disease should consider the following questions:

• Do I Have Leaky Gut?: Your gut houses 80% of your immune system and therefore you can’t have a healthy immune system without a healthy gut. Leaky gut occurs when the tight junctions that typically hold your intestinal lining together become loose, allowing undigested food particles, microbes and toxins to pass through your gut and enter your blood stream putting your immune system on high alert and causing a surge in inflammation. Repairing your intestinal lining and eliminating food allergens using Alcat (not IgG!) food testing is essential for reducing inflammation and bringing the immune system back into balance.                                                                                                                                                    
• Are Things in My Environment Contributing to My Condition?: Heavy metal exposure and toxic molds can put patients at greater risk for autoimmune disease and can also exacerbate existing conditions. Identifying whether you have been exposed to these toxins and eliminating them is key to healing autoimmune conditions.                                                
• Do I Suffer from Widespread Inflammation?: Inflammation is caused by a multitude of factors but one thing is clear: You can’t heal if you are inflamed. Because science shows us that inflammation in turn causes more inflammation, eliminating the cause of inflammation is essential, but using natural treatments to squelch the inflammatory process can be useful as well.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
• Do I Have Hidden Infections?: Difficult-to-detect infections such as yeast, viruses, bacteria, Lyme and parasites can be part of the cause of autoimmune diseases as well as worsen autoimmune conditions. Work with a functional medicine doctor who can help identify hidden infections and treat them using the most effective methods.                                                  
• Am I Chronically Stressed?: Stress is widespread in our society and that’s not good news for our health. In the case of autoimmune diseases, stress disrupts immune function and contributes to chronic inflammation. Stress reduction techniques are essential for stopping the autoimmune response and brining balance to the body.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE?

It can be difficult to know if you have an autoimmune disease as autoimmune diseases can attack a variety of different organs or tissues. Depending on whether your immune system is attacking your thyroid or your small intestine, your symptoms will be very different. One of the best ways to determine with certainty whether or not you have an autoimmune disease is to see a functional medicine practitioner with experience diagnosing and treating autoimmune conditions. Dr. Winter sees patients with autoimmune diseases on a daily basis in her practice and works with them to create an individualized treatment plan that gets to the root cause of their condition and symptoms.