Any chronic disease has a huge impact on your life, but having autoimmune disorders has its own unique challenges. An autoimmune disease happens when your body’s immune system can’t tell the difference between your cells and foreign cells. When this happens your body starts attacking itself instead of invading foreign cells.
There are over 80 known autoimmune disorders. The 10 most common autoimmune diseases are Type 1 diabetes, Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, multiple sclerosis (MS), Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Addison’s disease, Graves’ disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Since 1939 autoimmune disorders have increased dramatically worldwide and affect approximately 24 million Americans (10% of the US population). Autoimmune diseases are one of the most common diseases and affect women and certain ethnic groups more prevalently.
In our previous two blogs in this series, What is Chronic Disease and How Can a Functional Medicine Doctor Help and Is Your Chronic Digestive Disease Disrupting Your Life, we talked about the long-term impact chronic diseases has on your life. Along with managing your stress, lifestyle choices, and nutrition related to chronic diseases. Our Functional Medicine Doctor also went into great detail talking about the 5 ways to improve your health and chronic digestive diseases.
Chronic Inflammation & Autoimmune Disorders
Chronic inflammation directly affects the lining of the gut, especially how permeable (or “leaky”) it is for invading viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens to cross over into the blood.
When this happens your immune system is activated to eliminate the foreign microbes and other inflammatory particles that should not be circulating in your body. This can cause a wide variety of symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, rashes, fatigue, nausea, and more.
Did you know that recent research has found several specific bacteria that have been linked to different autoimmune disorders? There are two specific bacteria that have been found in the joints of Rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Sleep and Autoimmune Disorders
Sleep is essential to our immune system and how it repairs itself every night. When your sleep is poor inflammation will actually increase in your body. This can also cause you to have increased pain. Additionally, poor sleep affects your immune system and its ability to defend you from getting sick.
It is important for you to have a healthy bedtime routine. Having a cool dark place to sleep and limiting your stimulation (t.v. and other electronic devices) before bed can reduce your alertness and allow you to fall asleep faster. During the daytime, get as much natural light as possible helps to balance your wake and sleep times.
Lifestyle Changes That Are Safe and Can Finally Help You Feel Better
Eating The Right Foods For Your Body
Eating foods that are anti-inflammatory can help with many of your symptoms. Just lowering the inflammation in your body from the foods you eat can help with your symptoms along with the progression of your autoimmune disorders.
Increasing Physical Activity
Physical activity is safe and beneficial for most autoimmune disorders. Physical activity can help with joint mobility, improve cardiovascular conditions, decrease pain, improve mood and decrease fatigue.
Acupuncture & Chiropractic Care
Acupuncture and chiropractic treatments are also great ways to get help for chronic pain conditions including autoimmune conditions.
Mindfulness & Meditation
Mindful meditation is a wonderful daily practice for you to play with to decrease pain anytime and anywhere. Mindful meditation can quiet the worries, fears and overwhelm in your mind and the world around you. And it only takes a few minutes.
At Anchored in Health we usually suggest that you find a quiet place that you can close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing. When you focus on your breathing your mind slows and your focus on pain and the world around you softens. There are many apps and playlists that can help you start your mindful meditation journey. Find one that works for you.
What’s Next?
In our next article on Chronic Diseases, we will be talking about Type 2 Diabetes and how you can feel better and thrive with the help of holistic and functional medicine.
Start Functional Medicine for Autoimmune Disorders in Orland Park
Are you struggling with one of the many autoimmune disorders? Do you feel like you are just stuck and there aren’t any options to help you feel better? At Anchored in Health we know that with functional medicine, acupuncture, and chiropractic treatment there are ways to feel better. Our Chiropractor and Functional Medicine Doctor can help you get to the root of your condition. As well as help you implement changes that lead to a healthier and less painful lifestyle. In order to start a wellness journey focused on you and your specific needs follow these steps.
- Reach out to our Orland, IL-based office
- Book your appointment with our acupuncturist, chiropractor, or holistic doctor
- Start healing and living a more active life
Other Holistic Health & Wellness Services We Offer in Orland Park, IL
At Anchored in Health we are dedicated to providing holistic care for your health and well-being. As a part of our holistic medicine, we offer thermograms and genetic health testing. As well as massage therapy and the Shape ReClaimed Program. We look forward to hearing from you.