I imagine you know someone with an autoimmune disease. It is estimated that about 1 in twelve Americans have a diagnosis of an autoimmune disease; and they occur in twice as many women as men. It is also notable that the incidence seems to be increasing. The most common Autoimmune diagnoses in the US are rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
It is thought that autoimmune diseases develop from a combination of genetics and other factors, including environmental exposures, hormonal influences, infections, stress and other lifestyle factors. Exposure to viruses, bacteria, chemicals, or toxins can trigger an autoimmune response in individuals with genetic susceptibility. People tend to be more prone to developing an autoimmune disease at times of hormonal change, especially during puberty, pregnancy and menopause.
It is believed that it is usually a combination of factors that triggers the development of the disease in someone with a genetic predisposition. As I was taught, “The genetics load the gun, the environment pulls the trigger”. I don’t love the analogy, but it makes the point. Its not just one thing.
The good news about this is that it provides us with a multitude of factors to address in treating someone who has developed an autoimmune disease.
Being a Functional Medicine Physician, a large number of my patients are dealing with an autoimmune process. Meaning that perhaps they indeed have a diagnosis, but are earlier in the process and have signs of what we call autoimmune activation, and haven’t yet gotten to the point of having a named disease.
In an autoimmune process the body, through what can be thought of as an over-reactive immune system, makes antibodies against its own tissue. Those antibodies then cause damage to that tissue, and often make it dysfunctional. An example of this process is Hashimoto’s disease, where the body makes antibodies against the thyroid, eventually causing damage to the gland.
From a Functional Medicine perspective, the period of time between the start of the process and the development of a named disease can be golden. It gives an opportunity to assess the multiple possible contributing factors and to make changes that can help slow the process, protecting the at risk tissue. And even once a diagnosis is established, working to modify those factors and supporting the immune system through understanding the biology can yield so much benefit. Autoimmune diseases can not be cured; once your body has made antibodies against itself, it can do so again. But the autoimmune process can be slowed and quieted to the point of remission and symptom resolution.
Are you interested in taking a deep look at whether an autoimmune process is a part of your symptoms or condition? Do you want to look at what you might be able to change to quiet that process down? Reach out through our patient scheduler or by calling 703-669-3770.
I am happy to work with you. It is what I do, and what I love to do.
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