Autoimmune disease

Autoimmune diseases have tripled in prevalence over the last 50 years and are still on the rise, with incidences increasing at ranges between 3% and 9% year on year.

What is an autoimmune disease?

Autoimmune disease happens when our immune system (which is supposed to protect us from microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria and parasites) turns against us and attacks us by mistake. It can attack different cells, tissues and organs in the body. There are over 80 autoimmune diseases that have been identified so far, with some of the more commonly known conditions including:

• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis – the thyroid gland is attacked by the immune system, leading to an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism)
• Rheumatoid arthritis – cells that line your joints are targeted by the autoimmune reaction, causing joints and surrounding tissues to become swollen, stiff and painful
• Type 1 diabetes – immune system destroys cells within the pancreas that produce the blood sugar-regulating hormone insulin
• Crohn’s disease – segments of the gastrointestinal tract are affected causing abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fever, abdominal distension, fatigue and weight loss
• Multiple sclerosis – myelin sheaths which protect the nerve fibres carrying messages to and from the brain are targeted by the immune system, causing scarring (known as sclerosis)
• Lupus – immune system targets healthy tissue, causing inflammation of the skin and joints, and can affect internal organs

Signs and symptoms of an autoimmune disease

With unusual autoimmune diseases, patients may suffer years before getting a proper diagnosis because the symptoms may not be specific and can look like other health problems. But even with more common diseases, initial symptoms are often intermittent and unspecific until the disease becomes acute. Some of the signs and symptoms may include:

• Feeling tired, weight gain, hair loss
• Feeling cold when others aren’t, cold hands and feet
• Numbness or tingling sensation in your hands/feet
• Dry skin, mouth and eyes
• Loss of skin pigmentation
• Unexplained weight loss, rapid heartbeat, feeling “wired”, difficulty sleeping, feeling hot
• Joint and muscle pain, muscle weakness or tremors
• Poor memory, “brain fog”, inability to focus or concentrate
• Multiple miscarriages
• Blood or mucus in the stool, abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhoea
• A butterfly shaped rash on the face, hives, or unexplained rashes

How common are autoimmune diseases?

Autoimmune diseases affect around 4-6% of people and this percentage is continuing to rise. Many autoimmune conditions are becoming more common, with some such as Coeliac increasing in incidence by as much as 9% each year.
Collectively, autoimmune diseases affect more than 24 million people in the United States and about 4 million people in the UK. It’s estimated that up to a third of the four million people affected in the UK live with more than one autoimmune condition, so having one autoimmune disease increases the risk of developing additional ones.

What causes autoimmunity?

Although the causes of many autoimmune diseases remain unknown, a person’s genes in combination with infections and other environmental exposures are likely to play a significant role in disease development.
It’s understood that at least two factors are required for autoimmunity to develop:

1. Genetic predisposition
2. Environmental factors which are the triggering events (e.g. bacterial or viral infections, food intolerances, toxins)
3. Intestinal permeability (may or may not be present)

Is an autoimmune disease treatable?

Although medications are available for many autoimmune diseases, autoimmunity is not curable. The medications are used to suppress the symptoms of the overactive immune system. Sometimes surgery may be recommended to remove badly damaged tissue.

A complementary approach, which can be done alongside medications and other medical treatments, is to support the immune system and calm down the inflammation with dietary and lifestyle changes. This can result in an improvement in symptoms and a better quality of life.

My approach to autoimmune disease

Even though autoimmunity is not curable, there are things you can do to regain a better quality of life. Autoimmunity is an immune system problem, hence by addressing the underlying immune system imbalances it may be possible to improve the symptoms.  As a nutritionist specialising in autoimmunity, I can help you on your journey to improved wellness.

There are multiple variables that we may investigate and adjust to try and get back to a more normal function of the immune system:

• Chronic stress
• Sleep issues
• Food intolerances and sensitivities, reactive foods
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Intestinal permeability and gut health
• Viral, bacterial, yeast and parasitic infections
• Toxins, pollutants, heavy metals, moulds
• Hormonal imbalances

Where to start?

If you’d like to find out more or have any questions, please book a free 20-min inquiry call. I’ll help you make sense of your condition and honestly advise you about changes that you can make to improve your quality of life. As a nutritionist specialising in autoimmune conditions and an AIP (Autoimmune Protocol) coach, I can help you improve your diet and modify your lifestyle so that you have the best chance of living as comfortably as you possibly can.