Autoimmune Diseases

The classic definition of autoimmune disease states that it is a disease in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy cells. It happens when your natural defense system can’t tell the difference between your cells and foreign cells.

For thousands of years, our bodies have reacted to foreign substances and learned to better deal with future infections. This has been documented for years, from the time of the Athens plague to 1650. Many of these diseases were caused by viruses or bacterial infections.

Two discoveries had been made in the last part of the 19th century. First are the phagocytic cells, which engulf and eat invading pathogens. The second was antibodies that neutralize microbial antigens (which neutralize the particles so they are no longer infectious and cannot cause disease).

It was reported that Paul R. Ehrlich was the first to define autoimmune disease as an immune system reaction aimed at the “self,” but according to Wikipedia, he specifically rejected the possibility that an organism’s immune system could attack the organism’s tissue, calling it “horror autotoxicus.” It was Ehrlich’s student, Ernest Witebsky, who demonstrated that autoimmunity could cause disease in humans.

The science continues with multiple theories regarding antigens and antibodies, all of which are interesting and perhaps another read at some point. However, it was not until scientists saw syphilis patients that they made the connection with autoantibodies. This is when they first realized that the immune system could recognize “foreign” antigens.

The immune system uses lymphocytes (white blood cells) and antibodies to identify and respond to foreign invaders. In the 1950s, we came to understand that the immune system could fight foreign and self-antigens. This is a relatively new science, and at the same time, it is now nearly a century old.

When the immune system’s balance breaks down, it can result in the immune system becoming overactive, accidentally attacking and damaging your body’s tissues.

In November 2004, the CDC noted that autoimmune disease affects 8% of the population, and 78% (6.7 million) of those are women. They believe it could be linked to prior infections or that sex hormones may increase the hyperimmune response to infection in people predisposed to developing autoimmune diseases. The bottom line is that they still do not completely have all the answers.

We have identified over 100 different autoimmune diseases. The Global Autoimmune Institute has an extensive searchable list with links to other sources that they believe are accurate and informative.

Autoimmune Disease List | Global Autoimmune Institute

Because this topic is broad, I will need to speak about autoimmune disease in general terms.

Probably the most important thing to know about autoimmune disease is that experts don’t know completely why your immune system turns on itself. There are some theories regarding why the body no longer differentiates between an invader and a healthy cell, but experts aren’t completely sure.

We do know.

• Some autoimmune diseases run in families (genetics).
• It is not contagious.
• It is one of the top 10 causes of death in women in all age groups (up to age 64).
• Some autoimmune diseases can affect your ability to get pregnant. Some can affect pregnancy, with an increased risk for stillborn or preterm births in women with Lupus.
• Some medications, such as blood pressure medications, statins (for high blood fat), and the use of antibiotics, can potentially initiate an autoimmune reaction as a side effect.
• Smoking
• Already having one autoimmune disease increases your risk for another.
• Exposure to toxins.
• Being female.
• Obesity.
• Infections such as the EBV (Epstein-Barr virus) have been reported in 90% of people with autoimmune disease. Wikipedia states: The Epstein-Barr virus, formally called Human Gammaherpesvirus 4, is one of the nine known human herpesvirus types in the herpes family and is one of the most common viruses in humans. Epstein-Barr virus is the first identified oncogenic virus that establishes permanent infection in humans. EBV causes infectious mononucleosis and is also tightly linked to many malignant diseases. Various vaccine formulations underwent testing in different animals or humans. However, none of them was able to prevent EBV infection, and no vaccine has been approved to date.
• Stress: At least 50% of autoimmune disorders have been attributed to “unknown trigger factors.” Both physical and psychological stress have been implicated in the development of autoimmune disease.

The symptoms of autoimmune disease depend on the part of the body that’s affected. Since there are so many forms of autoimmune disease, it is possible to see things such as redness, swelling, heat, and pain, which are signs and symptoms of inflammation. Other disease states can also cause this, which makes it more complicated.

The symptoms of autoimmune diseases can come and go. For a while, your symptoms may be worse during a “flare-up” and then have a period of remission, which means that your symptoms get better or disappear, but the disease is sitting there dormant and making it difficult for doctors to diagnose.

You can help your doctor by providing the following information:

• Obtain information about your family history regarding different diseases or health issues.
• Keep track of your symptoms, including how long they last and what makes your symptoms worse or better.
• See a specialist who deals with issues that bother you. Your primary care doctor will be a great resource in helping you choose the right specialty area for follow-up.

Treatments for autoimmune diseases will depend on the type of disease you have and the severity of the symptoms. The goal is to suppress (slow down) your immune system, which should ease your symptoms. Sometimes it is through a prescription (steroids or immunosuppressive drugs), and sometimes it is over-the-counter (nonprescription creams).

Once you know what type of autoimmune disease you have and your provider agrees it is not something else, you could try several things that are more natural, starting with your diet.

I listed the causes, or “triggers,” with one being toxins. When we say toxin, you might think of household or environmental chemicals. However, food can be the trigger (food allergies) for your autoimmune disease. An allergy to foods such as wheat, eggs, or nuts, for example.

Personally, while following the keto diet with my sister, I found my autoimmune disease dramatically improved. I am not certain. Is it coincidental (remission) or related to the diet? Eating keto and restricted carbohydrates significantly limits your amount of wheat (as it is mostly low-carbohydrate fresh vegetables, meat, and healthy fats).

There is a diet plan called the “Autoimmune Protocol Diet,” or AIP.

This plan removes the most common autoimmune “triggers” from your diet. Then gradually reintroduce them until you eat something and a response or flare-up occurs. I have been considering it as a scientific way to go about finding out what is causing my disease. This diet is surprisingly similar to the keto diet, except it also excludes all alcohol, nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, chili, and eggplant), all forms of dairy, all sweeteners (natural and artificial), all food additives (emulsifiers or thickeners), and NSAIDs (Ibuprofen and aspirin).

The plan suggests only eating what is on the list for 30 days and then, one by one, once per week, reintroducing a food group to your diet and watching for a reaction to that particular food.

Unfortunately, like with cancer, immunology and rheumatology don’t have many studies, and there is not enough research to say if addressing diet will work. At the same time, it is not proven not to work.

Numerous studies have shown the link between autoimmune disease and gut health.

The gut has a community of microbes that affect many aspects of our health. Known as the “gut microbiota,” these bacteria help with metabolism and maintaining a healthy immune system.

The lining of the intestine forms a barrier that is crucial to containing gut microbes. If bacteria break through the lining and a gut microbe escapes into the bloodstream and nearby organs, it can cause disease.

Studies done with mice treated with antibiotics did not show signs of infection; however, those not treated with antibiotics had infections in the lymph nodes and also in the liver, which appeared to trigger the autoimmune disease. This would lead you to believe that antibiotics play a role in autoimmune diseases.

I do believe that the health of your gut will directly impact your overall health and inflammatory processes or diseases. Gut health is directly related to your diet, which supplies the necessary ingredients so that your flora thrives.

Here is a link to a .pdf file regarding environmental toxins and their implications.

hormones_and_edcs_what_you_need_to_know.pdf (endocrine.org)

Dr. Willam Li is a Harvard-trained, internationally renowned physician, scientist, and author. His groundbreaking research has led to the development of more than 30 new medical treatments that impact care for more than 70 diseases, including diabetes, blindness, heart disease, and obesity. He is President and Medical Director of the Angiogenesis Foundation, and he is leading global initiatives on food as medicine.

I would recommend listening to his POD casts on YouTube, especially if you follow a plant-based diet.

After taking a close look at your diet, I would suggest removing as many plastic bottles and chemicals from your home.

The incidence of autoimmunity is multiplying worldwide. It is suspected that environmental factors, such as toxic chemicals (organic pollutants, toxic metals, solvents, and endocrine disruptors), are a key factor in the rapid progression of autoimmune disease. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are natural or human-made chemicals that may mimic, block, or interfere with the body’s hormones, which are part of the endocrine system. The known causes of diseases such as:

• Alterations in sperm quality and fertility
• Abnormalities in sex organs
• Endometriosis
• Early puberty
• Altered nervous system function
• Immune function
• Certain cancers
• Heart disease
• Polycystic ovary
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Thyroid
• Addison disease, Cushing’s syndrome
• Osteoporosis

Following is a more detailed list of the causes and effects of endocrine disruptors.

According to Medical News Today, one group of chemicals often found in plastics is phthalates. These increase the flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity of plastics. Phthalates are commonly used in food packaging, medications, toys, and medical devices. Over recent years, there have been discussions around the safety of phthalates, and, as a result, they are gradually being replaced in many products in Canada, Europe, and the United States. However, there is no definitive evidence that they cause serious illness, and millions of tons of phthalates are still used globally each year.

According to Phys.org, microplastics are found in the most remote places on land, in the ocean, and in our food. Now, several studies around the world have confirmed they are also present in the air we breathe.

My feeling is that until we are certain, caution should always prevail.

Again, treating autoimmune disease comes down to three basic things we have seen throughout my blogs: inflammation, diet, and exercise.

Here are a great youtube videos from Dr. Berg on autoimmune disease conditions.

Here are a great youtube videos from Dr. Berg on how to put your Autoimmune Disease in remission.