AUTOIMMUNITY Autoimmune diseases have become increasingly more common. Medical doctors are taught that our health is the result of our genes, and that health is preprogrammed and predetermined. This view rejects the possibility that health reflects an accumulation of choices that we make and the environmental impact around us. The reality is our health and well-being are the result of how our environment interacts with our genes. There are different autoimmune diseases within all specialties, and all of these are looked at individually, yet they all share common triggers. Therefore, in knowing what causes the immune system to attack itself and knowing some of the triggers for what causes a malfunction in the immune system (which we do) we can achieve greater success in helping patients with these conditions. Autoimmunity occurs a few different ways. With the first way, there can be a mistaken identity and the body attacks itself. This can occur with a virus where there is tissue destruction with the virus appearing to be foreign to the body. In addition, this can happen with heavy metal toxicities such as mercury. The second way autoimmunity occurs is through molecular mimicry which happens when the body makes an antibody (a protein that attacks objects in the body that appear to be foreign) to a specific antigen. These antigens can resemble certain proteins in the body and the antibodies attack our body’s own tissues. The third way is the development of T cells (of the immune system). This occurrence can be affected by genetics, stress, and environmental triggers. Environmental triggers are what integrative doctors mainly work with in functional medicine. These can be food triggers such as gluten or other food sensitivities that can trigger inflammation, as well as anything coming in with the food such as toxins or molds. Other factors include a person’s nutrient status and their gut health, which includes conditions such as “leaky gut” and dysbiosis. Finally, there are toxins that can affect the status of the immune system such as heavy metals and xenobiotics, as well as the total toxic burden in the body.
Posted on: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 05:58:27 +0000
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