The Root Cause of Autoimmunity
Autoimmune disease is reaching epidemic levels, with some studies estimating an increase of 3-12% annually (in the US population) and other studies showing that 1 in 10 people are now affected by an autoimmune condition in the UK. Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system, which is designed to protect the body from foreign invaders like viruses and bacteria, mistakenly targets and attacks the body's own tissues and organs. Scientists know about more than 80 autoimmune diseases. Some are well known, such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis, while others are rare and difficult to diagnose.
Whilst there are many different types of autoimmunity, the underlying drivers can be the same across the board. You may have been told that autoimmunity is largely genetic, but this couldn’t be any further than the truth - autoimmunity is actually two-thirds environmental and only one third genetic.
This means that how you eat, your lifestyle, toxin exposures, stress and past infections are all much bigger culprits than the genes you’re born with.
Autoimmunity can take years to develop and can silently be lurking in the background until you get a diagnosis. The frustrating part is that during those ‘silent’ years, where you may be suffering with seemingly mild symptoms like joint pain, digestive disorders, brain fog etc, could be signs to dig deeper - and this is when you have a chance to stop autoimmunity in its tracks and prevent stage three of autoimmunity!
The most frustrating part is that traditional medicine has no way of identifying the prelude to full blown autoimmunity.
Don’t brush aside niggling symptoms. This is your body crying out for attention. Remember that your health is your most valuable asset.
Functional medicine has tools to identify issues a long time before they turn into an actual diagnosis. Here are some of the factors that are believed to contribute to the development of autoimmunity:
Genetics: There is a genetic component to autoimmune diseases. Certain genes are associated with an increased risk of developing autoimmune conditions. However, genetics alone are not sufficient to cause autoimmunity; environmental factors play a more significant role.
Environmental Triggers: Various environmental factors can trigger or exacerbate autoimmune responses in individuals with a genetic predisposition. These triggers may include infections (e.g., viral or bacterial infections), exposure to toxins (e.g., smoking or environmental pollutants), and even certain medications.
Hormones: Hormonal changes, particularly in women, can influence the development or exacerbation of autoimmune diseases. Many autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, are more common in women than in men and tend to flare during pregnancy or menopause.
Gut Health: There is growing evidence to suggest that the health of the gut and the gut microbiome (the community of microorganisms in the digestive tract) may play a role in autoimmunity. Conditions like leaky gut syndrome, where the intestinal barrier becomes more permeable, may allow the passage of harmful substances into the bloodstream, potentially triggering immune reactions.
Stress: Chronic stress can negatively impact the immune system and may contribute to the development or exacerbation of autoimmune diseases. Stress can lead to inflammation and hormonal changes that affect immune function.
Diet and Lifestyle: Diet and lifestyle factors can also influence the risk and severity of autoimmune diseases. Poor dietary choices, lack of physical activity, and smoking, for example, can contribute to inflammation and overall immune dysregulation.
Epigenetics: Epigenetic changes refer to modifications to gene expression that occur without changes to the underlying DNA sequence. These changes can be influenced by environmental factors and may play a role in the development of autoimmune diseases.
It's important to note that the specific combination of genetic and environmental factors that lead to autoimmunity can vary widely among individuals and among different autoimmune diseases. Research in this field is ongoing, and our understanding of the exact mechanisms behind autoimmunity continues to evolve.
While the root causes of autoimmunity are not fully elucidated, healthcare providers and researchers continue to explore these factors to better understand and manage autoimmune diseases. In Functional Medicine, treatment is typically multifactorial, aiming to address all possible contributing factors, whether that’s prescribing therapeutic diets to reduce inflammation and reprogram the immune system, treating the microbiome and gut barrier dysfunction, addressing lifestyle habits and poorly managed stress or improving detoxification pathways to take the burden off of the body.
