Autoimmune Disease is simply a set of symptoms resulting from a dysregulated immune system. When you have an Autoimmune Disease the body’s immune cells attack healthy tissue resulting in pain, damage and dysfunction. The immune system mistakes the body as something dangerous and attacks itself. This attack causes inflammation, which can lead to redness, swelling, pain and over time deteriorates organs, muscles, bones, and nerve cells. Rheumatoid Arthritis is an attack on your joints, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an attack on the Thyroid, Ulcerative Colitis attacks the Colon, Crohn’s and Celiac attack the Intestines, Lupus attacks the Kidneys, Psoriatic Arthritis attacks your skin, Multiple Sclerosis attacks the brain and spinal cord….Many of these disease names end in -itis which is a medical suffix meaning inflammation. When you identify the main factor of autoimmune disease as inflammation you now have a place to start in addressing your symptoms.
Our traditional medical system does not have an explanation for what causes Autoimmune Disease, why women are affected more than men, or how to address the root of the problem. Many times the only options they provide are medications that suppress the immune system. This is like taking the batteries out of the fire alarm to stop the noise, but not doing anything to put out the fire.
Knowledge is power. I encourage you to start doing your own research on your specific Autoimmune Disease to learn about what is causing the fire inside of you. Look up what areas of the body are affected by your condition, what does dysfunction in that area result in, what can you do to support those structures and functions while it is struggling, and what are some tests/measures to pay attention to to track progress of your efforts. You can explore my website under Education or additional reputable sites for more research like The Cleveland Clinic or the National Institute of Health. Keep in mind much of the research out there is based on medication intervention, but do not let this discourage your efforts. There is so much more that you can do to take control of your health.
I hope this blog helped you understand what Autoimmune Disease is and inspired you to dig further into educating yourself. If you would like to learn more about holistic approaches to support your health, check out this page. You will be shocked by the drastic results you can achieve with simple changes to what you eat, how you move, and how you rest. Our goal here is to empower and support all those suffering from chronic illness so feel free to reach out for more information and guidance as you work toward wellness.