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How can we figure out which factors may be a trigger for autoimmunity in a certain individual? It varies depending on the situation, but is usually best to start with any triggers in the digestive system... fix the gut first. Testing for reactions to foods is fundamental - either through testing or with an elimination diet. It is known, for example, that people with autoimmune thyroid disease (which is most people with thyroid disease) have a high rate of milk protein sensitivity. A true allergy is a fast IGE reaction, but the delayed IGG reaction does stress the immune system and can act as a trigger. It is very common that these delayed food sensitivities trigger colitis, make "hay fever" worse, and cause more pain and inflammation in arthritis. Wheat, cow dairy and eggs are the most common allergens, but also could be yeast in foods, yeast in the gut, citrus, shellfish, soy, other beans, bananas, etc.
The next most common trigger is stress. This is a major suspect in lupus, colitis, thyroid disease, and many more. This is a whole subject in itself! We have a self test on the IHC site - DASS - it helps to sort out stress and depression and anxiety. We do training with the Heartmath monitor in the office, sometimes teach mindfulness or use Alpha-Stim. Spiritual support can be vital. Dr. Price is very successful treating stress and autoimmunity also with his Acu-Hyp therapy combining Acupuncuture and Hypnosis. Other triggers are also important. Adjusting the diet not only to avoid allergens but also inflammatory foods. Yes, these are saturated fats, commercial meats (because of the grain diet the animals are fed) too much starch and sugar. Exposure to pesticides and other toxins (eat organic as much as possible). Many people have chronic infections such as the yeast that was mentioned or another bad bacteria in the gut, or Lyme disease, etc and need to treat this. Lower hormones with aging encourage more inflammation. Adding bioidentical hormones and helping some natural restoration with stress and adrenal treatment will often reduce some of the pain, stiffness, and flair ups. Lastly lack of some nutrients can increase inflammation. If the diet is pretty good, there may still be malabsorption. We often use the FIA test from Spectracell to look for this, or the Metabolic Analysis or Nutra-Eval from Genova. Other strategies include various means for detoxification (a subject for another day) use of supplements for immune balance and support and we at IHC often use the Pleo Sanum isopathic remedies for balance of the body's bacteria and yeast. It is worth some work to reduce or stop autoimmune disease! These conditions not only cause a wide range of damage, pain, and disability but also tend to cause increased risk of heart disease and cancer! This is a complex system and it is a miracle that it usually works so well. However it can go wrong when the immune response identifies its own cells as the enemy and starts attacking them. Once this starts, it often persists. There is often a genetic tendency toward this autoimmunity and also one or more triggers that initiate the reaction. I think of it as a bit like a harried mother who has many children acting out and finally one spilled milk sends her over the edge shouting and spanking everyone! These autoimmune reactions cause inflammation which increases risk of heart disease and all kinds of tissue degeneration - and especially destroys the tissues it is reacting against. The immune cells use inflammation as part of their defense system but this increases free radicals and depletes the body’s antioxidants.
The result of the immune imbalance are many: Chronic Immune & Inflammatory Disorders: “itis” • Atopic syndrome/eczema • Rheumatologic: autoimmune disorders • Gastroenterologic: IBD, gluten intolerance • Cardiovascular disease: atherosclerosis • Neurodegenerative disease: PD, AD, MS, ALS • Cancer • Endocrinologic: diabetes, thyroiditis • Periodontal disease • Psychiatric disorders: ADHD, autism, schizophrenia, dysthymia So can an autoimmune disease be improved or stopped? Yes, absolutely. We have seen this in many patients! If you can identify and remove the triggers, the immune system may calm down. The triggers are usually one or more of the following list. We can’t always find these triggers, some may be viruses or organisms we can’t identify, but reducing these factors will usually help a lot.
Let's start to understand this with a very brief review of normal immune function.
The immune system is complex with many aspects. It is spread through the body but less active in some areas (inside joints, the brain and spinal cord) and concentrated in others (the intestines, neck, lungs and underarms). There are 2 main parts to immunity - the "Innate" and the "Humoral" systems. The innate immunity includes the white blood cells (phagocytes) you are probably familiar with, which can go to a site of invasion within a few hours and engulf and destroy invaders or toxins. It also includes some physical barriers like mucus and some chemical cytokines. The "humoral" or "adaptive" immunity is the more specific system that takes 4-5 days to react, and includes T-cells and B cells that produce specific antigens to a bacteria or sometimes a body tissue. This is the type of immunity that comes from getting an immunization or exposure to a virus or bacteria and usually lasts for years. It is also the type of immune reaction involved in allergies. The innate immune response is called to the site of possible invasion by "chemotaxis" or chemical signals. It uses controlled inflammation as one of the tools to destroy invaders. They include some "antigen presenting cells" that prime the adaptive immune response. Next time we will talk more about how this process can go wrong. It seems autoimmune problems are on the increase. They are caused by the "humoral immunity" part of the immune system attacking it's own body cells. Autoimmune problems include the majority of thyroid disease, colitis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory arthritis such as rheumantoid or lupus, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and many other problems. Low or dysfunctional immunity also leads to chronic infections since we contact many pathogens in everyday life, but are usually able to eliminate them. This includes (in my opinion) Lyme disease, and certainly chronic yeast infection, parasites, and many antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In addition, in recent years most chronic disease such as heart disease, has been found to stem from chronic inflammation. Most inflammation in the body is generated by the immune system.
Many new drugs have come out in the last few years to treat various autoimmune problems. They all suppress the immune system and differ from the old standby cortisone in that they are more specific in the way they suppress it. This is why they all have cancer as a possible side effect - since cancer cells occur in all of us and we depend on our immune system to find and kill abnormal cells. Is there a natural way to help your immune system regain balance and effectiveness? Yes! The functional medicine approach can often improve these conditions, sometimes dramatically. Next time I will cover the basics of normal immune function so that you can evaluate how your system is working for yourself. In the following post, I will explain how the functional medicine approach works. In my fourth post, which will probably be the last in this immune system series, I will talk about a few cases where I have applied that approach and talk about the results my patients and I have achieved. Until next time! A Free Class offered by Integrative Healthcare
Elizabeth Markovich will discuss how chronic stress affects the body and causes diabetes, weight gain, high blood pressure, and many other problems. We will have information on use of herbs, lifestyle changes and some simple safe devices to help stress. Dr. Eric Garland will teach about use of mindfulness breathing and meditation for stress. February 6th Wednesday evening - 6-7:15 at the IHC office 2016 Delta Blvd. Suite 100 - (this is off John Knox Road). RSVP to [email protected] or call us at 850-878-4434 Elizabeth attended the Institute for Functional Medicine Symposium “Year of the Heart” in late May and early June. This is the “cutting edge” information on all aspects of heart and vascular disease. IFM’s president is Dr. Mark Hyman author of “The Blood Sugar Solution” and Dr.Mark Houston author of “What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Heart Disease” spoke on the connection between heart disease and metabolic syndrome and the surprising real underlying causes.
IHC is providing advanced testing and holistic treatment with this functional medicine approach to finding and treating the causes of metabolic syndrome. A key component of changing lifestyle and treating metabolic syndrome is working with a supportive community of others. Please let us know if you are interested in helping to form and join and heatlhy living group at IHC. Do you wonder why you seem to need that Prilosec? Or whether you must live with "Irritable Bowel Syndrome"? These are "Functional Syndromes" that can be caused by various imbalances in the gastrointestinal tract. Digestive function is so important that problems there can cause chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia pain, restless legs, even mood problems, peripheral neuropathy, allergies, arthritis and immune suppression. The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) investigates the biochemistry of our bodies. They are one of the most important scientific groups in the country, and Elizabeth is working on her certification as a Functional Medicine Practitioner and attended the Functional Medicine Gastrointestinal Module in Austin, Texas for advanced training in February.
How can digestive problems cause chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia pain, mood difficulties and many other conditions? We have an astonishing 100 trillion bacteria in our intestines, or 10 bacteria for every cell in our body. These bacteria "talk" to our immune system. 70% of our immune system is associated with the digestive system, 95% of autoimmune disease is triggered by "leaky gut" or increased intestinal permeability, as the immune system senses toxins leaking into the blood. At IHC we have been working for years with special testing, supplements, and lifestyle changes and sometimes medications to help find and treat these root causes. We have found many people with hidden allergies, lack of stomach acid, parasites, yeast overgrowth, bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine and other problems. Come in and let us help you with digestive problems!! |
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