There are more than 80 different autoimmune conditions, with over 50 million cases in the US alone. Don’t wait for autoimmunity to destroy your tissue before receiving the correct diagnosis and treatment.
The number of autoimmune cases in the United States has been increasing rapidly. Statistics from the National Institute of Health (NIH) show 50 million autoimmune cases in the USA and the prevalence is rising. One out of every 9 women and one out of every 12 men has an autoimmune disease in the United States today.
Compared to 9 million cancer cases and 22 million cases of heart disease, the numbers are shocking. In other words, more people have autoimmune disease than cancer and heart disease combined! Keep in mind, that is just the diagnosed autoimmune cases. Many people are feeling terrible and have no idea that they are suffering from an underlying, undiagnosed autoimmune reactivity that is wreaking havoc on their bodies.
There are huge dietary and environmental factors that are driving this dramatic increase.
If you have an autoimmune disease or you have been tested negative for autoimmune diseases through blood work but still feel lousy, it is important to understand that prior to having a full-blown autoimmune disease most people have what is called silent autoimmunity. This can go on for many years before getting a positive blood test such as ANA or Rheumatoid factor.
Silent autoimmunity is the first stage of autoimmunity in which the immune system is attacking body tissue, but does not show symptoms or result in significant loss of self tissue. People with silent autoimmunity will eventually develop autoimmune reactivity (symptoms without positive autoimmune lab panels) and then full-blown autoimmune disease.
The standard health care model today waits for the autoimmunity to significantly destroy the tissue (full-blown autoimmune disease) before making a diagnosis and beginning treatment. The first line of therapy for autoimmunity is typically heavy corticosteroids and immune-suppressive drugs. These medications, although necessary in many full-blown cases, carry heavy side effects.
Many patients searching for a functional medicine doctor for autoimmune disease in Hinsdale, holistic medicine for autoimmune conditions near Clarendon Hills, or natural medicine solutions in Oak Brook are looking for answers beyond symptom management alone. While autoimmune diseases can affect different organs and systems throughout the body, functional medicine practitioners focus on identifying factors that may contribute to immune system dysfunction and chronic inflammation.
At Clarendon Chiropractic, our functional medicine approach evaluates factors such as gut health, food sensitivities, nutritional deficiencies, environmental exposures, chronic stress, and lifestyle habits that may influence immune system health. By taking a comprehensive view of the body, patients can gain a better understanding of the potential root causes contributing to autoimmune reactivity and ongoing symptoms.
Many individuals living with autoimmune conditions experience symptoms that affect their daily quality of life long before receiving a diagnosis. Fatigue, brain fog, digestive concerns, joint discomfort, skin issues, and chronic inflammation are often signs that the body may be under significant stress.
Patients throughout Downers Grove, Darien, Western Springs, and Woodridge often seek a holistic doctor, integrative medicine provider, or functional medicine practitioner because they want a more personalized approach to health. Rather than focusing solely on symptom management, holistic health strategies seek to better understand how nutrition, immune function, digestive health, and environmental factors may be affecting overall wellness.
As providers of functional medicine, integrative medicine, and holistic health services in Westmont, we help patients take a proactive approach to understanding their health. Many people searching for functional medicine doctors near La Grange, alternative medicine in Oak Brook, or naturopathic medicine options near Hinsdale are interested in exploring a more comprehensive evaluation of their symptoms and health history.
By combining advanced functional medicine testing, personalized wellness recommendations, and a root-cause approach to health, patients can gain valuable insight into factors that may be influencing immune system function. Our goal is to help individuals make informed decisions that support long-term wellness, healthy immune function, and improved quality of life.
It is important to understand that there are supportive, drug-free nutritional protocols and breakthrough autoimmune testing, such as that of Cyrex Laboratories, that can dramatically help reduce your autoimmunity by determining what is causing your immune system to become hyperactive in the first place.
If these tests are completed and nutritional therapies begin before a person develops full-blown autoimmunity, the disease may never fully express itself. These protocols are also highly successful in helping people who already have an autoimmune disease. They can provide the support an autoimmune sufferer needs to dramatically improve their quality of life.
If this approach of treating the cause not just the symptoms makes sense to you, call or contact us for an autoimmune disease treatment. We are here to help our neighbors in DuPage County and the surrounding areas of Illinois!
