“Autoimmunity by definition is when self attacks self. While this is typically viewed as a physical response by the immune system, I have seen it also manifest when a person loses sight of who they are.”
~ Dr. Paul Despres at Aspen
Learn how to control your autoimmune disease and enjoy life.
Healing Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune disease can affect anyone at any age. The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) estimates that autoimmune disease is affecting over 50 million Americans and appears on the rise. Many patients suffer from years of autoimmune symptoms, like fatigue, joint pain, constipation, diarrhea, and cognitive decline, without proper diagnosis or treatment. Our skilled physicians at Aspen Integrative Medical Center in Flagstaff, Arizona, specialize in the diagnosis and treatment to drive your autoimmune disease into remission. Our treatments improve your health and well-being without putting you at risk of serious side effects. To get evaluated for autoimmune disease, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.
What is autoimmune disease?
Autoimmune disease typically begins when your immune system starts identifying your own bodily tissues as a threat and forming antibodies to them. The immune system normally protects you by attacking and eliminating bacteria, viruses, and other foreign objects that cause sickness and disease. But with autoimmune disease it starts attacking your own tissues causing inflammation and tissue destruction.
What can cause an autoimmune disease?
A key step in recovery from an autoimmune disease is to identify triggering events and aggravating factors, so your doctors can prescribe the right treatment plan and stop the progression of the disease. Our naturopathic physicians specialize in looking at the whole person and identifying potential causes of your autoimmune disease, so you can get your life back. Anything that is an insult to your immune or nervous system can be a cause especially if you are susceptible genetically. Some of the causes include:
- Acute and chronic infections
- Persistent inflammation
- Genetics and epigenetic changes
- Environmental toxins – heavy metals, pesticides, insecticides, plastics
- Trauma, PTSD
- Stressful life events
- Diet and lifestyle
- Vaccines & pharmaceuticals
What are the most common autoimmune diseases?
More than 80 autoimmune diseases have been identified and if you have one autoimmune disorder, you’re more likely to develop a second one. A list of the most common autoimmune diseases includes:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Irritable bowel disease (IBD) – Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis, Celiac Disease
- Autoimmune thyroiditis – Hashimoto’s, Graves
- Multiple sclerosis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Reactive arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Addison disease
- Scleroderma
- Sjögren’s syndrome
- Type 1 diabetes
- Addison’s disease
- Pernicious anemia
Remember, if you have one autoimmune disease, you’re more likely to develop a second one, so it is important to do regular screenings for the development of other autoimmunity.
What symptoms indicate you might have an autoimmune disease?
Autoimmune disease symptoms can vary, based on the type of antibodies produced and the location of the abnormal immune response. Symptoms frequently occur due chronic inflammation and tissue destruction, which can present as:
- Fatigue
- Skin rashes
- Dry mouth and eyes
- Inflammation and swelling
- Recurrent fevers
- Muscle aches
- Joint pain and stiffness
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Difficulty concentrating
Your symptoms may flare up, go into remission, and keep repeating that cycle. If not properly treated you can have constant symptoms and progressive tissue damage.
How are autoimmune diseases treated?
Our naturopathic physicians at Aspen Integrative Medical Center perform in-depth physical and laboratory assessments to determine the:
- Current state of your autoimmune disease – immune system cellular testing, antibody levels, gut permeability markers, tissue breakdown markers, etc.
- Causes of your autoimmune disease – environmental chemicals (heavy metals, glyphosate, VOCs), infections (Lyme, mold, EBV, HHV-6, CV19), food reactivities, lifestyle habits, trauma
Once your condition is better understood including the causes, a personalized treatment plan can be prescribed. While our naturopathic doctors at Aspen Integrative Medical Center can prescribe medication if needed, we often begin your treatment with natural therapies that treat your autoimmune disease without causing side effects.
The goal of treatment isn’t suppress your immune system, but re-educate your immune system to be less reactive.
A few examples of naturopathic treatments for autoimmune disorders include:
- Anti-inflammatory diet
- Compounded medications – Low Dose Naltrexone
- Nutritional supplements
- Homeopathic medicine
- Botanical medicine
- Detoxification
- Physical activity
- Intravenous (IV) therapy
- Infrared sauna
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
- Stress reduction
- Mindfulness meditation
How can autoimmune disease be prevented?
Conventional medicine is often “reactive medicine” meaning they don’t address your condition until symptoms are present and you are suffering. As the graphic below shows, a person can be on the path to autoimmune disease before they start having symptoms of fatigue, pain, bowel changes, dry skin, etc. Here at Aspen we do things differently by screening at-risk individuals and anyone with early signs of autoimmune disease to prevent the condition from progressing. On average, it takes ~8 years for an autoimmune disease to go from onset of immune changes to symptoms. Why not get ahead of the curve and stop autoimmune disease in its tracks? That is the Aspen Difference.
If you need help finding the cause of your symptoms or getting safe, effective treatment for an existing autoimmune disease, call Aspen Integrative Medical Center or schedule an appointment online today.