Autoimmune Disease: Signs, Symptoms, Conditions & Treatments

The Autoimmune Epidemic

Over 50 million North Americans suffer from Autoimmune Diseases, and almost 75% are women.  An Autoimmune Disease is an abnormal response to normal immune function. The incidence of Celiac Disease is skyrocketing. Of the three million North Americans suffering from the symptoms of Celiac Disease, approximately 83% are undiagnosed, as the symptoms are diverse, common & systemic.

Autoimmunity Prevails in a Weakened, Stressed & Toxic Society

Immunity can be Healthy or Haywire

Normally, the immune system attacks foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and cancer cells that can harm the body. A healthy immune system innately knows not to attack the body’s own tissues. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system goes haywire, confusing the tissues of the body as foreign, and attacks them.

Autoimmune is When the Immunity Turns Against the Body

Autoimmune: The Immune Giant is Awake & Crazy

Autoimmune Disease is like a crazy, sleeping giant, lying dormant in the genes. This giant is powerful and when the body is healthy, he protects it. In those with Autoimmune genetics, the powerful giant wakes up, goes crazy, and starts attacking the body, working against it.

The Immune Giant Can Be Healthy Or Crazy

Autoimmune Disease: Why Some and Not Others?

What triggers an autoimmune disease is not completely understood conventionally. It has been extrapolated that certain individuals that have a genetic predisposition to this abnormal immunity, can trigger this cascade of damage.

Autoimmunity: It’s In The Genes!

Autoimmune: What Wakes Up The Crazy Giant?

Autoimmune Disease means the body has been stressed enough to trigger the negative expression of one’s own genetics. These stressors may come in the form of mental, emotional and physical forms. Physical stressors may include food allergies, toxins, drugs, bacteria or viruses. These stressors can lead to Dysbiosis, causing a cascade of inflammatory damage leading to Leaky Gut Syndrome, which initiates or aggravates Autoimmune Diseases.

Food Allergies Cause Autoimmunity

Autoimmune & Inflammation: The Cause & Effect

The pathway of damage of Autoimmune Disease is inflammation, which results in the destruction of various body tissues, abnormal growth of the organ and/or changes to its function.

The symptoms of Autoimmune Diseases depend on where the inflammatory damage occurs, and in which tissues. General symptoms reflect the immune response, and may be temporary or long term.

Autoimmune Causes Inflammation, Inflammation Destroys the Tissues

Autoimmune Diseases: How & Where?

There are many types of autoimmune diseases, divided into whether it affects a specific organ or whether it causes symptoms throughout the body.

Affects a Specific Organ:

• Adrenal Glands:  Addison’s Disease
• Bladder:  Interstitial Cystitis
• Intestines:  Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis
• Esophagus:  Eosinophilic Esophagitis
• Eyes: Iritis related to Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Kidneys:  IgA Nephropathy
• Liver:  Autoimmune Hepatitis
• Muscles:  Myasthenia Gravis
• Nervous System:  Multiple Sclerosis
• Pancreas:  Diabetes Type I
• Salivary Glands: Sjogren’s Syndrome
• Skin:  Lichen Planus
• Skin:  Vitiligo
• Spine:  Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Stomach:  Pernicious Anemia
• Thyroid:  Hashimoto’s / Graves Disease

Affects the Whole Body:

• Alopecia Areata:  Hair Loss in Scalp, Face, Body
• Celiac Disease:  Small Intestine Damage from eating Gluten, causing malabsorption, nutrient deficiencies, malnutrition, weight loss
• Dermatomyositis:  Inflammation of Muscles, Skin Rash
• Lupus / SLE:  Rash, Fatigue
• Psoriasis & Psoriatic Arthritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis:  Joint Pain
• Sarcoidosis:  Lungs, Skin, Lymph nodes
• Scleroderma:  Hardens Skin & Connective Tissue

Autoimmune Disease & Leaky Gut Syndrome

Naturopathic Physicians have been diagnosing Leaky Gut Syndrome for decades, in their quest for treating the cause(s) in patients suffering from Indigestion, Allergies, Hormonal Imbalance, Brain, Skin & Autoimmune Diseases. Only recently has Leaky Gut Syndrome become more mainstream as scientists are investigating the profound link between Leaky Gut and various chronic diseases including Autoimmune Diseases. Physically this is because 70% of your immunity lies in your gut’s lymph system, GALT meaning gut-associated lymphoid tissue.

Leaky Gut is Chronic Inflammation Linked to Many Health Conditions

Leaky What Now?

Much of our North American population unknowingly struggles with Leaky Gut given our society’s poor diet, toxic exposures and chronic stress. Although a century of documentation exists, Medical Doctors are finally acknowledging the validity of this affliction.

Leaky Gut is Caused by Diet, Stress & Toxicity

Autoimmune & Leaky Gut

You would think that Leaky Gut Syndrome would target digestive function only. In fact, Leaky Gut Syndrome is the cause for many severe & chronic health conditions, as bowel health determines overall health.

“All Disease Begins In The Gut” ~ Hippocrates

Autoimmune & Dysbiosis

Dysbiosis is an unhealthy bowel environment which occurs with an imbalance of bad guys versus good guys (Probiotics) in the bowel. This war within the gut determines health, as declining levels of “good” bacteria allow overgrowth of harmful bacteria (C.difficile, Salmonella, E.coli), yeast (Candidiasis) & parasites to damage the gut (Leaky Gut Syndrome) & health overall including causing Autoimmune Disease.

Dysbiosis: Losing the War Within

Certain factors cause this negative microbiome Dysbiosis, as increased yeast, bad bacteria & parasites overpower the good bacteria. The toxins produced from Dysbiosis triggers inflammation which leads to changes in intestinal permeability (Leaky Gut Syndrome) & Autoimmune Diseases in those genetically predisposed.

Dysbiosis – Leaky Gut – Autoimmune Connection

Conventional Treatments for Autoimmune Diseases

Conventional Medicine (MDs):

The goal of treatment is to:

• Suppress Symptoms
• Suppress the Immunity with Steroids such as Prednisone, Biologics

Naturopathic Medicine (Dr. Jiwani, Licensed Naturopathic Physician):

The goal of treatment is to:

• Reduce Symptoms by Treating the Causes
• Normalize & Support the Immunity
• Address Underlying Deficiencies resulting from the Autoimmune Disease Process i.e. hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies etc
• Create an Individualized Treatment Plan Specific for the Patient through addressing Food Allergies, Dysbiosis, Leaky Gut, Improving Digestion, Absorption & Nutrient Status, and Balancing Hormones, whether Stress Hormones, Sexual Hormones, Thyroid Hormones or Insulin Hormone Regulation

Treat the Causes to Resolve the Symptoms

How to Normalize Immunity and Calm the Autoimmune Giant

The key to health when you suffer from Autoimmune Disease(s) is a multi-pronged approach.

Supplement with Human Strain Probiotics: 

Not all probiotics are the same, and unfortunately vegetarian & dairy forms through food & supplements are rejected within 48 hours as the body knows plant or animal (cow) sources are foreign. Human strains allow long term implantation of bacteria for long lasting effectiveness. This improves Dysbiosis. Otherwise, it is like trying to fill up a bucket with a hole in it.

      Probiotics may be indicated for those with:

• • ADHD & Autism
  • Autoimmune Disease
  • Allergic Sinusitis
  • Candidiasis, Yeast Infections, Fungal Infections
  • Celiac Disease
  • Diarrhea, Constipation
  • Food Allergies
  • Gastrointestinal Infection (Gastroenteritis)
  • Heavy Metal Toxicity
  • Intestinal Dysbiosis
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Lactose Intolerance
  • Leaky Gut or Compromised Intestinal Permeability
  • Malabsorption (Nutritional Deficiencies: Iron, B12, Vitamin D)

Eat Prebiotics:

One of the best ways to support optimal growth of your gut bacteria is to eat foods that contain prebiotics, such as garlic, onions, leeks, apples, konjac root (shirataki noodles), cacao (chocolate), flaxseeds, jicama root & seaweed.

Minimize Carbs & Sugars:

Excess carbohydrates in any form, whether from fruit, grains, starchy vegetables, juices & soda pop, feed the bad bacteria, yeast & parasites, promoting Dysbiosis. A recent study exemplifies this with a microbiome restoration diet which improves digestion, cognition, physical and emotional wellbeing (Lawrence & Hyde 2017)

Identify & Avoid Food Allergies:

Consuming food allergies promotes inflammation, Dysbiosis and causes Leaky Gut Syndrome. Inflammation at the gut level causes bacterial imbalance, poor digestion & malabsorption which promotes intestinal permeability or leaky gut. Once dysbiosis persists, opportunistic bacteria, yeast & parasites can overgrow, harming health such as causing Autoimmune Diseases, perpetuating cravings, mood changes & weight gain.

Avoid Alcohol Consumption:

Alcohol is a form of yeast, which should be avoided in those allergic to yeast and/or suffering from Candidiasis (systemic yeast infection in the blood). Additionally, alcohol will trigger inflammatory & toxic pathways by altering gut bacteria balance (Dysbiosis), increasing inflammatory toxin release from bacteria, while disrupting your intestinal barrier (Leaky Gut Syndrome) allowing more inflammatory toxins into the bloodstream, worsening Autoimmune conditions.

Discourage Bad Guys:

Nutrition, immunity, lack of toxicity and overall health depends upon the health of the gastrointestinal tract. Poor gut health is called Leaky Gut Syndrome. The key to optimal gut health is to increase the amount of the “good guys” (probiotics) in the bowel and to kill the “bad guys” (Yeast, Fungus, Viruses, Bad Bacteria & Parasites) thereby promoting a healthy microbiome.

When the “bad guys” take over, they wreak havoc in the body, ravaging tissues with the harmful toxins they release.  This unfavourable environment in the gut is called Intestinal Dysbiosis which leads to Leaky Gut Syndrome, and vice versa.

The formulation Yeast-X attacks the “bad guys”, prevents their growth and promotes a healthy gastrointestinal tract through good bacteria balance or a healthy microbiome. Yeast-X is indicated for those with unhealthy diets, history of chronic antibiotic use and/or recurrent infections, or overgrowth of disease-causing microbes such as Clostridium difficile, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) or Candida albicans. Yeast-X provides the potent anti-fungal effect of Undecylenic Acid for systemic yeast infections (Candidiasis), and is two thousand times (2000%) stronger than common anti-fungal agents (Caprylic Acid) and Oregano Oil.

Taking Yeast-X facilitates a successful biochemical shift from intestinal dysbiosis (a diseased environment) to eubiosis (a healthy environment), through inhibition of the pathogenic fungal, viral and bacterial culprits which can aggravate your Autoimmune Disease.

My Autoimmune Health Story… 

Read about what Dr. Jiwani has been through and how her personal experience with several, serious Autoimmune Diseases can help you.

Related    Food Allergies: When Friend Becomes Foe

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Get Naturopathic with Dr. Jiwani:  Call 604.679.9988

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