A healthy immune system is a critical component to the health of every individual. Designed to act as an armed soldier ready for battle, it protects the body against viruses, bacteria, and foreign organisms. Equipped with white blood cells, such as monocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils, the immune system hunts and destroys harmful invaders that pose a threat to our bodies. When these white blood cells are healthy and strong, they can even eliminate cancerous cells in a toxic environment.
However, when an immune system becomes compromised, it will begin attacking normal, healthy cells and tissues throughout our body, working against us. In this situation, our armed soldiers not only attack the bad guys they’re intended to, but the cells we need to keep us healthy and enable our organs to function properly. This abnormal event is exactly what occurs with an autoimmune disease.
Types of Autoimmune Conditions
Over 200 diseases fall into the category of an autoimmune condition, including but not limited to:
- Addison’s Disease
- Celiac Disease
- Dermatomyositis
- Graves Disease
- Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Myasthenia Gravis
- Pernicious Anemia
- Psoriasis
- Reactive Arthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Sjogren’s Syndrome
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Type 1 Diabetes
- Vasculitis
What Causes an Autoimmune Condition?
While there are varying factors that come into play, autoimmune diseases don’t happen over night, but can result from numerous physical, emotional, and chemical triggers. Common physical and emotional stressors include auto accidents, traumas, pregnancy, and even aging.
Many chemical stressors are present in foods and the environment, mimicking the natural hormones produced by our bodies. When this occurs, it can confuse the messaging system our body uses to make the hormones and antioxidants that enable our immune system to fight off everything from the common cold to cancer. In turn, our bodies become more susceptible to all sorts of diseases and premature aging.
Symptoms of Autoimmune Conditions
Although the symptoms of autoimmune conditions are just as diverse as the conditions themselves, a majority of these conditions cause fatigue, fever, and general malaise. Other common symptoms may include:
- Digestive issues
- Inability to handle stress
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Neurological symptoms
Since an autoimmune condition can attack any organ and cell, it’s imperative to find the source of the attack in order to properly treat the condition and restore one’s health, and a visit with autoimmune doctor in Orlando, Dr. Faria, can help.
Please contact functional medicine in Orlando doctor, Dr. Faria, at (407) 862-2287 today if you’d like to schedule a consultation with about how to better handle your autoimmune disease. It is time to get on the path to healing.