What is Autoimmune Disease?

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Even though it seems to come up in more circles of conversation, I still hear the question “What is autoimmune disease”?

I can see why since autoimmunity can be a bit of a puzzle with someone experiencing any number and combination of seemingly unrelated symptoms including:

itching
headaches
digestion issues
breakouts and other skin problems
fatigue
constipation or diarrhea
anxiety and depression
pain
forgetfulness
hair loss
bloating
PMS

It’s actually a common and growing problem for millions around the world, but many don’t know:

What is autoimmune disease
How do you get it
What diseases are linked to it
Are there tips for wellness

One of many studies headed by gastroenterologist and researcher Dr. Alessio Fasano stated “Autoimmune diseases are characterized by tissue damage and loss of function due to an immune response that is directed at specific organs”.

Simply put, autoimmunity is the creation of an army of antibodies (soldiers) by your body to specifically recognize and attack particular organs, as if they are threats.

You can see an example of this potentially represented in thyroid peroxidase antibodies and thyroglobulin antibodies. When shown in a blood test, if elevated, it can signal the possibility of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, and an autoimmune attack might be going on against the thyroid.

If nothing changes and the attack continues, the thyroid continues to be damaged. The person can start or continue experiencing any number of symptoms. In this scenario, health will worsen. A few noticeable symptoms can include:

hair loss
weight gain or loss
commonly feeling cold
anxiety
skin problems
brain fog (why did I come in here???)
pain
low energy

But if work begins to seek out the root cause of the problem and changes begin? Improvements can be enjoyed, and healing happens.

How Do You Get an Autoimmune Disease?

You might notice these as symptoms that you or others around you commonly experience. Maybe some of these are excused as signs of “getting older”, “overdoing it”, stress, not enough sleep, not exercising enough, “just normally cold”, working out too much, crazy family schedules, etc.

These are actually often signals that your body is communicating that something is wrong. These are not normal and can often get progressively worse as time goes on when changes don’t occur.

When these are tied to autoimmunity, it’s in relation to what many call an autoimmune spectrum.

In the beginning there is a combination of states or settings in three areas. Depending upon changes in the states or settings of those three areas, clouds can start rolling in and the person can be thrown into the autoimmune spectrum. Dr. Alessio Fasano determined that those three areas are:

DNA – genetic predisposition made up of “snips” that when turned on or off can cause things to happen or not happen
Stressors – trauma, infections, toxins (from food, air, lotions, cleaners, fillings, molds, etc.), stress, nutrient deficiency, emotions, hormone imbalances, exercise or lack of, etc.
Intestinal permeability – also called “leaky gut” meaning basically there are holes in the digestion tube where stuff is escaping and going places it shouldn’t, and therefore, activating the immune system

As time passes, if nothing is done to calm the storm, autoimmunity continues along the spectrum and worsens until at some point symptoms are noticeable and that person might be diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.

What Diseases are Linked to Autoimmunity?

You’ll find women more frequently diagnosed with autoimmune disease. Also Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is reportedly the most commonly diagnosed autoimmune disease.

There’s actually over a hundred diseases connected to autoimmunity and tracked by the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association including:

Lupus
Graves Disease
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Parkinson’s Disease
Eczema
Endometriosis
MS
Restless Leg Syndrome
Ulcerative Colitis
Psoriasis
PCOS
Type 1 Diabetes

Tips for Wellness

This just touches the surface regarding autoimmunity. I hope, though, you take away from this that there’s much you can do.

Here are just a few suggestions that can support your health:

Limiting your toxic load and pumping up on health from foods
- choose organic and non-gmo when and where you can
- read labels and avoid options with ingredients your great-grandma didn’t include in her recipes
- start cutting back on processed foods (chips, crackers, cereals, canned soups, pasta, store-bought desserts, etc.)
- start backing away from sodas and candy
Drinking 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water
Evaluating your schedule and stress-load and optimizing for balanced, overall health
Repairing and nurturing healthy relationships
Getting enough healthful sleep
Checking your emotions and personal thoughts and optimizing for truth, forgiveness, joy, gratitude
Checking labels and choosing cleaner cleaners, make-up, lotions, soaps, detergents

Also pay attention to what your body is telling you. If you’re experiencing a problem/symptom regularly, ask why.

Above all, YOU are your best detective. You are having the experience. Look for connections, make changes, and test.

Finally, be sure to check these posts for additional information:

Stress: Causes, Effects and Stress Management Strategies (+ free trackers)
Elimination Diet (with trackers)
Use These Sleep Strategies for Better Sleep (+ free 2-week sleep journal)
Staying Hydrated (with a challenge)