Autoimmune Disease

Autoimmunity is a condition in which the body has an aberrant immune reaction to its own cells, resulting in the destruction of tissues. Nearly any body part or system of the body can be involved.

The current statistic is that 7% of people in the U.S. have an autoimmune disease. As testing improves and doctors become more aware of the often subtle presentations of autoimmune conditions, it is likely that this number is actually much higher than is currently reported.

Some of the known causes of autoimmunity include genetic predisposition, pathogenic infection (viral, bacterial, fungus, mold), and toxic exposure. Components such as stress, diet, and poor sleep are likely co-factors.

The only lab-test indication for autoimmunity may be abnormal values or ratios (to the trained eye) in the blood-cell count. Virtually any symptom may be connected to autoimmunity, with unexplained fatigue being one of the most prominent. If you have been experiencing symptoms that are persistent and unresponsive to treatment, it may warrant further exploration into the possibility of underlying autoimmunity.