Our immune system protects us from viruses and bacteria that cause infections and diseases. However, it may happen that it does not distinguish between foreign cells and its cells, and begins to release antibodies to fight them all equally. That’s when we talk about autoimmune diseases. We tell you about them.
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Autoimmune diseases
Are a group of diseases that occur when the immune system, after being subjected to a stressor for a long time, attacks and destroys its tissues. In the light of conventional medicine, the causes of these dysfunctions are idiopathic, that is, their causes are not known, and in some cases, there is some genetic component involved.
When someone receives a diagnosis of autoimmunity, that is, that they have an autoimmune disease, they may feel as if they are receiving a death sentence since it is assumed that in this medical condition, the process cannot be stopped or reversed. There is some truth to this since once the autoimmunity switch has been turned on in our body, there is no chance of it being completely turned off later. However, from the perspective of functional medicine, there are three major differences with conventional medicine regarding the subject:
Functional medicine and treatment of autoimmune diseases.
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- Genetics should not always be our destiny (Read our article about it here), so having an inheritance of a gene involved in an autoimmune disease does not mean that you will inevitably suffer from it.
- For functional medicine, idiopathic diseases or diseases of unknown cause do not exist. Emerging evidence from current studies has uncovered several factors involved in the onset of these diseases that go beyond genetics and include stress, diet, microbiome, and gut health.
- In this medical approach, autoimmune diseases have evolutionary processes that are dynamic over time and bidirectional. This means that, just as the disease can progress toward worsening, it can also be controlled.
How do autoimmune diseases originate?
Although genetic load is one of the causes involved in the development of an autoimmune disease, it is only expressed in our body when the intestine has been seriously compromised for a long period. The importance of this organ in the development of these alterations lies in the fact that:
- It is a mechanical protection and defense mechanism.
- It acts as a filter that protects our body from the invasion of “foreigners”, preventing their passage into the blood. Thus, viruses and bacteria do not reach our organs and cannot cause harm.
- Thanks to the presence of immune tissue within it, and through an ecosystem of microorganisms known as the intestinal microbiome, it defends us from all harmful agents. In addition, they prevent the transport of harmful substances from the intestine into the bloodstream. Autoimmune diseases occur, then, when the mechanical barrier and immunological protection function begin to fail, allowing the passage of harmful microorganisms and toxic substances. Initially, our immune system attempts to neutralize or destroy them; But when the stimulus persists, the body begins to attack its tissues, generating short-term damage.
How do I know if I have an autoimmune disease?
The diagnosis of this type of disease requires confirmation of several criteria: symptoms, signs, laboratory tests, etc. Among the most common conditions, we have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, multiple sclerosis (MS), dermatomyositis, vasculitis, polymyositis, Sjogren’s syndrome, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, among other. If at any time your doctor has given you one of these diagnoses, it is very likely that you already know that you have an autoimmune disease because you have already suffered from various symptoms for some time.
However, in functional medicine, we talk about a window called the autoimmune spectrum, which refers to the time that passes from the optimal state of health to the confirmed diagnosis of autoimmunity. During this period, other symptoms may occur, which are generally accompanied by nonspecific laboratory results of inflammation. Dr. Amy
Myers, in his book The Autoimmune Solution, states that these are some of them
- Dermatological and ophthalmological problems
- Neurological and psychiatric problems
- Musculoskeletal and structural problems
- Hormonal and reproductive organ problems
- Obesity or overweight, especially in the central area of the body
- Digestive problems
- Gallstones
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Cardiovascular disease or alteration in blood coagulation
- Allergies and asthma
If you have already been diagnosed or suspect that any of your symptoms are associated with an autoimmune disease, at the EOS Center we have alternatives and specialists who can assist you in controlling its progression. In addition, we help you prevent other physiological dysfunctions that can negatively impact your quality of life. Visit us so that together we can find the best options for your health!
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EOS Center – Medellin