Talk about overreacting!

Autoimmune disorder put simply, is the body overreacting to an infiltrator such as a microbe, allergen or toxin. ( Sometimes this “infiltrator” can be even one’s own cells or cellular proteins.) In a review in the New England Journal of Medicine, it was acknowledged that “even in a genetically predisposed person, some trigger, an environmental exposure, or change in the internal environment — is usually required for [autoimmunity].” Our body reacts to the offending source then overreacts and attacks its own healthy cells. In turn our society overreacts in attempts to manage the disease. Additionally, we make an effort to produce healthier food but we overreact with this too and pour pesticides on our healthy foods hoping to increase production. We over-vaccinate, over-medicate, over-stimulate and over-indulge on a daily basis then wonder why the numbers of those diagnosed with autoimmune diseases is rising. We accept or desire a quick fix rather than adjusting to a preventative lifestyle.

Hippocrates, deemed the father of modern medicine, gave us a blueprint for whole body healing yet somewhere along the way we lost sight of his vision. In his time disease was considered, by many, a punishment inflicted by the gods. Hippocrates separated the discipline of medicine from religion, believing and arguing that disease was the product of poor environmental factors, diet, and living habits. His medical approach was based on “the healing power of nature”. Daily, we ignore his strongest declaration; “let food by thy medicine: medicine be thy food”. Over time we become chronically ill or develop chronic and in some cases life threatening allergies, then turn to our physicians to help us with our existing ailments; these are the very physicians who take an oath based on Hippocrates teachings, in part stating; “I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure”.

So how do we prevent disease in a world bombarding our bodies with toxins in everything we consume, inhale, wear, or apply? First off, it’s time we started putting together pieces of the puzzle. We need to pay attention to the statistics over the last ten to twenty years of the incidences of cancer and autoimmune disease. Are we getting better or are we getting worse? This is a simple quandary to work through: if we are getting worse with all of our technological advancements in healthcare and food production, then we need to rethink the standard approach and to start looking for solutions that will not contribute to an assault on our already overloaded immune systems.
There are a multitude of precursors to autoimmune disease and the combining factors are different for each individual, but the aggregates are hauntingly familiar to those of heart disease and cancer. They are: Family history, Gender, race and aging, bacterial or viral infections, toxic metal exposure/vaccinations/immunizations, toxic chemical exposure/pesticide contamination, stress and smoking. 
 
Family History

Most people do not know what qualifies as an autoimmune disease so how would they even know if they have a family history of this disorder. Even more puzzling is vulnerability to the disease can be from a familial link, yet the manifestation can be of a totally different form. For example; a parent may have had lupus, but you may develop rheumatoid arthritis in your lifetime simply because your family has a multitude of gene mutations that make you susceptible. However, this does not mean that you will certainly develop an autoimmune disorder— but, if someone in your family has one, you should keep this in mind and make record of it in your family medical history.

Gender, Race and Aging

Autoimmune disease is marked as one of the leading causes of death in women and they are three times more susceptible to the disease than men. Hormones are thought to be a contributing factor to the increased exposure to the disorder. African American, American Indian or Latinos are at higher risk for certain autoimmune disorders such a lupus, and Caucasians show a predisposition to thyroid disease. Age is also a contributing factor where young to middle age seems to show greater numbers of those affected by these diseases; however, risk of rheumatoid arthritis increases with age.

Bacterial or Viral Infections

Chronic bacterial or viral infections are a predominant factor of autoimmune disorders. Unfortunately they do not always provide a definite link, and as a result, often times remain undiagnosed until more symptoms arise. During this time the affected patient can be at risk of overmedication in an attempt to control chronic infections.

Toxic Metal Exposure/Vaccinations and Immunizations

“Aluminum, formaldehyde, and mercury, all of which have a part to play in autoimmune disorders, are all found in the various vaccines we are given from infancy on. Some are found in our water, food containers, food products, cosmetics and dental work. Learning more about the formulations of vaccines and immunizations given to us, plus knowing the ingredients and byproducts of all that we consume, is a great start to healthier living.

Toxic Chemical Exposure/Pesticide Contamination

Our conventional produce is [absolutely] covered with pesticide residue and this fact is irrefutable. Based on information put out by the USDA, our produce is allowed to contain pesticide residue as long as it does not exceed a certain “tolerance” level. So the bottom line is that we are consuming pesticides by the multitudes on the various forms of produce we purchase. This means that if you already suffer from an autoimmune disorder you will quite possibly be worsening your condition by eating certain types of fresh produce. I do not recommend you avoid these particular items altogether; just try to buy them organically grown as (this way) you can cut down on the amount of contamination you take in. Avoidance of chemical overexposure must also be avoided in our environment. Kitchen, bathroom, laundry and personal items are all made in environmentally friendly versions so there is no reason for exposure to unnecessary contaminants. If you are already affected by autoimmune disease then switching to these products is crucial.

Stress and Smoking

These two factors are deadly enough on their own, but in combination with one another, health risks are multiplied tremendously! There is presently a multitude of information available which proves that nothing beneficial can be gained from smoking, so cutting it out, although difficult for some, is absolutely the healthiest choice. Stress is not as easily avoided, but working a stress management exercise into your everyday routine is your best bet to combating the negative effects of this overly prevalent irritant.

Action vs. Overreaction

“Approximately 50 million Americans, (i.e., 20 percent of the population or one in five people), suffer from autoimmune diseases. http://www.aarda.org/q_and_a.php .  These diseases target the very young and the old, but few are spared from the potential to exposure. There are many theories about the cause and treatment of autoimmune disease; none are conclusive and there is no cure to date. However, this does not mean you can’t decrease your chances of getting one, or manage the disease if you have one. While there are several healthy options available to assist with this effort, there are still not enough. We are slowly starting to get the message that we need to take action to make necessary changes in our food and healthcare system as it exists. For dietary changes alone, we should convince our insurance companies to pay for a once a year visit to a Certified/Licensed Nutritionist and to make certain our diets are monitored. Voting for representatives with an environmental protection/sustainability plan in their policy is crucial to the effort; also–supporting local organizations tackling these issues is important as well. 

Much of the work is already being done for us by those working in the field, and by those doing their homework, so at the very least we can assist with the outcome by our buying choices alone. Purchasing healthy versions of all that goes in on or around our bodies will make our concerns clear to those that market to the general public. In addition, we can sign our names to a multitude of petitions circulating online. These petitions are written to fight for our rights to protect our environment and our health. This minor task will be worth the effort; after all, this is the only life we are given and someone we know and love may also be affected by one of these terrible diseases– so prevention and protection is key. Our bodies are “talking” to us through their oversensitivity and overreaction to the various poisons in our environment; the problem is, we just haven’t been listening. The time has come to pay attention, stop all the “talk”, and start to take action! It is the only life we are given – did I say that already?