Holistic Health Immune confusion (1)

The media often portrays autoimmune diseases as being a life sentence of degenerating health. Accompanying autoimmunity is usually serious inflammation, connected to known chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, autism, dementia and even depression, according to health author Dr Mark Hyman.

Inflammatory diseases such as allergies, asthma and arthritis are increasing at dramatic rates. Physicians are trained to shut off inflammation with aspirin, anti-inflammatory medication, steroids, and ever more powerful immune-suppressing medication with serious side effects, while the underlying causes of inflammation in chronic diseases are not addressed. These include hidden allergens, infections, environmental toxins, an inflammatory diet and stress.

Autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, thyroid disease, psoriasis, coeliac disease and inflammatory bowel disease. These have a central biochemical process in common: a runaway immune response, where the body attacks its own tissues. Autoimmunity occurs when the immune system gets confused and its own tissues get caught in the crossfire, Hyman writes. The body is always fighting something, be it an infection, a toxin, an allergen, a food or a response to stress, and redirects its attack on the joints, brain, thyroid, gut or skin.

Next week: Treating the autoimmune response.