The Autoimmune Epidemic

Autoimmune disease affects more people in the United States than cancer or heart disease and appears to be on the rise.

So what is autoimmune disease? Autoimmune disease is when the immune system cannot tell the difference between healthy tissue and foreign invaders. Once this occurs the immune system begins to attack healthy tissue leading to conditions, such as, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Crohns, Hypothyroidism, Lupus, Dermatitis, Sjogren Syndrome, Ulcerative Colitis and the list goes on and on. A lot of these conditions can actually be secondary (usually genetic) to a primary cause and often many people may suffer from more than one condition.

According to the National Institute of Health, 1 in 12 individuals (1 in 9 women) suffer from an autoimmune disorder. Compared to cancer with 1 in 14 affected and 1 in 20 for coronary heart disease, autoimmune disease is not only more common but also appears to be on the rise. These mysterious set of disorders have in the past masked themselves as distinctly different diseases, but in fact they may all have common etiology.

Many experts will tell you there is no hope for autoimmune disorder and doctors will prescribe patients the standard protocol of immunosuppressants. This protocol decreases symptoms but by manipulating the immune system we create a whole set of new health challenges. Our real challenge is to find out which type of immune cells are being activated by the autoimmune response. There are two types of immune cells activated in our bodies during autoimmune. T-Helper 1 (TH1) cells and T-Helper 2 (TH2) cells. By figuring out which cells are activated, we can control the autoimmune response.

So people with autoimmune issues may ask themselves how did I get in this position? How can I correct it so I can live a full, productive, pain free and hopeful life? These are the questions asked at of my team of physicians and health specialists every day where our primary goal is to dramatically reduce or reverse these debilitating disorders. Each day we are empowered by the positive response we see and are more encouraged to apply our natural approach to healing your whole body following the Natural Medicine Health Triangle, Mentally, Chemically, and Structurally.

Research shows that autoimmune disorders are primarily linked and triggered by toxins found in increasing numbers in the environment. Therefore diet and lifestyle changes along with supplementation are necessary to not only cleanse the body of these toxins, but to eliminate those foods that exacerbate the symptoms of autoimmune disorder. An anti-inflammatory diet and supplementation are the most important components of your wellness plan and the greatest responsibility of our patients. We will take care of the rest but we can only be successful if patients are committed to “following the rules”.

It’s our greatest joy and reward when a patient that had given up, finds that inner strength in themselves again to keep going. To pursue new dreams and goals and go out in the world each day with a renewed mind, body, and spirit. It’s why we do what we do. It’s why we are here. We are here for you.

Ready to get on your path toward Extraordinary Health?