Autoimmune diseases are one of the most common illnesses today – and you might not even know you have one!
Autoimmunity is when your immune system starts attacking your own tissue, and it can happen anywhere in the body. Typically, it comes along with symptoms like inflammation, but sometimes it can be “silent” and not have any outward symptoms at all. Autoimmune disease is more common than cancer and heart disease combined, and that’s just the diagnosed cases. Many, if not most, cases of autoimmunity are happening without a diagnosis. This is because conventional medicine often does not screen for autoimmunity until symptoms are advanced and severe.
People can also have symptoms that suggest many types of autoimmunity. Although symptoms vary depending on which tissue is being attacked, many autoimmune sufferers experience:
- chronic fatigue
- chronic pain
- declining brain function
- gastrointestinal issues
- hair loss
- weight gain or weight loss
- brain fog
- and more!
Fortunately, functional medicine offers lab testing that can screen for autoimmunity against a number of different tissues. We also use strategies such as an anti-inflammatory diet, blood sugar stabilizing, gut healing, addressing toxins, and lifestyle habits that minimize stress and inflammation.
Ask our office if autoimmunity may be causing your strange and chronic symptoms – we can help!
