Understanding Autoimmunity
What are autoimmune diseases? Why are they so common?
Simply put, autoimmune diseases arise when your immune system attacks its own healthy cells, due to a dysfunction of the system. The immune system protects your body from bacteria, viruses, any kind of “foreign invaders.” In a healthy immune system, your body can easily differentiate between your own cells and the foreign cells, but in a compromised immune system it makes people extremely susceptible to infections and illness. These misfires, the attacks on your own body, are what lead to inflammation in the body.
There isn’t a clear explanation for why the immune system misfires and where exactly these diseases come from, but there is a lot of research supporting the fact that environmental toxins, emotional triggers, and a western diet are major contributing factors. Common symptoms that can help you detect autoimmune diseases are body aches, brain fog, unexplained rashes– all of which are results of inflammation in the body. Additionally, women are much more likely than men to get these conditions.
According to Dr. Robin Berzin of Parsley Health, there are more than 80 different types of autoimmune diseases. Some autoimmune diseases attack just one organ, for example, type 1 diabetes attacks just the pancreas. Other common autoimmune diseases include Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Celiac disease, Hashimoto’s disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, Polymyalgia Rheumatica, and Multiple sclerosis.
What’s even more confusing and more difficult to understand about autoimmune conditions is that there is no one-size-fits-all cure, there’s no “magic pill.” If you are experiencing body aches, unexplained rashes, fatigue and brain fog, stomach pain, unexplained weight gain, or even hair loss, it will be important for you to get very comprehensive blood work done. Here is a guide written by Functional Medicine MD, Dr. Will Cole on “The 6 most important labs to get if you are feeling off.” Start here, do some research, and be your own advocate when requesting these labs.
Different treatments are necessary for different conditions, but in general, lifestyle and nutritional changes will help to mitigate symptoms and may even put you into remission. Looking at your nutrition is a great place to start when seeking symptom management. Many patients are able to better manage symptoms or go into remission when introducing the Autoimmune Protocol Diet. Through food and supplementation, you can effectively heal your gut lining, which in turn will support your immune system. This is why you hear the term “gut health” so frequently these days, and why it’s important to maintain a healthy gut. When your gut health is out of whack, this means that the walls of your intestines are permeable. Food, toxins, bacteria, and other potentially harmful substances will enter your bloodstream, creating a “leaky gut,” which leads to an autoimmune response. This chronic inflammation from leaky gut is where autoimmune conditions stem from. See the vicious cycle?
Other lifestyle factors, of course, are at play when considering treatment and management of autoimmune diseases. Sleep hygiene, stress management, and exercise are some of the most important factors in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and preventing illness. New studies have demonstrated the link between stress to the onset of an autoimmune disease. Stress, in smaller amounts, is a good and healthy bodily response, it keeps us alert and helps us stay productive; however, too much of anything is not good. If you suffer from a chronic disease, take a look at other areas of your life, and see what is out of balance for you. Every piece of the puzzle is important.
https://www.parsleyhealth.com/blog/signs-autoimmune-disease
https://www.parsleyhealth.com/blog/autoimmune-paleo-diet-aip-heals-immune-system
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/autoimmune-disease-and-stress-is-there-a-link-2018071114230
