Auto-Immune Diseases

About Autoimmune Disease

Autoimmune diseases are complex conditions in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells, tissues and organs. These conditions can affect virtually any part of the body and have varying degrees of severity.

The immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from harmful substances, such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins. In a healthy immune system, this defense mechanism targets foreign invaders and removes them from the body while preserving the body’s own cells and tissues.

However, in the case of an autoimmune condition, the immune system malfunctions and loses its ability to distinguish between foreign invaders and the body’s own cells. As a result, the immune system launches an attack on healthy tissues, leading to inflammation, tissue damage, and a range of symptoms specific to each autoimmune disorder.

Autoimmune diseases are a significant health concern worldwide, affecting millions of individuals, predominantly women, and can lead to chronic and debilitating conditions with inflammation, tissue damage, and a range of symptoms affecting different organs and systems of the body if left untreated.

Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial to managing autoimmune diseases and improving the quality of life for affected individuals. Collaborating with healthcare professionals and adopting a comprehensive treatment plan can help individuals with autoimmune diseases live healthier and more fulfilling lives.

Common Autoimmune Diseases

There are more than 80 known autoimmune diseases, and some of the most common
ones include:

Rheumatoid Arthritis: This chronic inflammatory disorder primarily affects the joints, leading to pain, stiffness, and swelling.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): SLE is a complex autoimmune disease that can affect various organs and tissues, including the skin, joints, kidneys, and heart.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS): MS is a neurodegenerative autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, causing issues with mobility, balance, and coordination.
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: This autoimmune disorder targets the thyroid gland, leading to hypothyroidism and related symptoms such as fatigue and weight gain.
Type 1 Diabetes: In type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to elevated blood sugar levels.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): This includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which cause inflammation in the digestive tract, leading to gastrointestinal symptoms.
Celiac Disease: an autoimmune condition that damages the lining of the small intestine. This damage comes from a reaction to eating gluten which can be found in food like wheat, rye, and barley.

Causes of Autoimmune Diseases

The exact cause of some autoimmune diseases can be unclear and several factors may contribute to their development. Genetics can play a significant role, as individuals with a family history of autoimmune diseases are at a higher risk of developing them. However, environmental triggers such mold exposure, past infections, exposure to certain toxins, diet, stress, lifestyle, and hormonal imbalances can also be contributing factors.

Moreover, some autoimmune diseases are associated with specific risk factors. For example, it is known that women are more susceptible to developing autoimmune diseases than men, and certain ethnic groups may have a higher predisposition to certain conditions.

Symptoms of Autoimmune Diseases

The symptoms of autoimmune diseases vary depending on the specific disorder and the
affected organs or tissues. However, some common symptoms include:

Diagnosis of Autoimmune Diseases

Diagnosing autoimmune diseases can be challenging, as symptoms may overlap with other conditions. At Maven Wellness, our doctors start with gathering an extensive, in-depth medical history. This intake provides invaluable insight to potential triggers that could have caused or contributed to the immune system to go awry. Once the intake is completed, various diagnostic tests, such as blood, stool or saliva tests ir imaging studies can be ordered to determine the presence of autoimmune antibodies and assess organ or body damage.

Treatment Options for Autoimmune Diseases

While it may be said that autoimmune diseases cannot be cured, working to get to the root cause and re-balancing the immune system can improve the quality of life for affected individuals. Each treatment plan is tailored to the specific autoimmune disease and its severity. Examples of common treatment options from a conventional and integrative medicine approach can include but are not limited to:

Diet Modifications: Integrative and Naturopathic Medicine practitioners often see food as medicine. Consuming a diet rich in organic, non-processed high quality foods can help to lower systemic inflammation.
Immunosuppressant Medications: Often considered part of treatment in more severe cases, these drugs help dampen the immune response and reduce inflammation, which can alleviate symptoms and slow disease progression.
Ozone Therapy: Known to be an immune system enhancer and modulator, ozone therapy is a viable option in chronic conditions as anti-oxidant and mitochondrial support.
Anti-Inflammatory Medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly suggested as a treatment to help reduce pain and inflammation in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Nutraceutical Supplementation: Specific vitamin and herbal supplementation can help reduce inflammation and modulate the immune system. With autoimmune conditions, treatment should be guided by a well-informed and experienced medical practitioner.
Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs): In conventional medicine, these medications target the underlying immune response and are used to manage rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.
Peptide Therapy: Peptides are signals that are naturally occurring in the body. In automimmune conditions, sometimes signals can start to misfire due to chronic inflammation
Corticosteroids: These anti-inflammatory drugs can provide rapid relief from symptoms during disease flares, but long-term use may have side effects.
Lifestyle Changes: Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management, and adequate sleep, can support the immune system and improve overall well-being.
Biologic Therapies: Biologics are genetically engineered drugs that target specific components of the immune system involved in autoimmune diseases.
Alternative Therapies: Often underestimated, alternative therapies such as acupuncture, yoga, and herbal supplements can play a signficant role as supportive therapies to realigning the body.

Autoimmune diseases are complex conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues. These disorders can lead to chronic inflammation, tissue damage, and a range of symptoms affecting different organs and systems of the body. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial to managing autoimmune diseases and improving the quality of life for affected individuals. Collaborating with healthcare professionals and adopting a comprehensive treatment plan can help individuals with autoimmune diseases live healthier and more fulfilling lives.