Understanding Autoimmune Disease 

Your immune system helps defend your body against disease and infection. When it malfunctions, it may mistakenly attack healthy cells and tissues. These attacks can affect many parts of the body. 

Table of Contents

1. What is an Autoimmune Disease?

2. How Does it Work in the Body?

3. Can it be reversed?

4. Autoimmune Disease: 5 Top Myths

Let's understand some facts and break down some myths surrounding autoimmune disease!

What is an Autoimmune Disease?

An autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own healthy cells and tissues. 

How Does it Work in the Body?

The immune system normally protects the body from harmful invaders. Autoimmune disease can develop when the immune response becomes dysregulated and begins attacking healthy tissues, often due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. 

Can it be Reversed?

Many autoimmune diseases do not currently have a known cure. However, symptoms can often be managed through medical treatment, lifestyle changes, and ongoing care. 

According to the NIH "the causes of many autoimmune diseases remain unknown, a person’s genes in combination with infections and other environmental exposures are likely to play a significant role in disease development. Treatments are available for many autoimmune diseases, but cures have yet to be discovered."

Autoimmune Disease: 5 Common Myths 

Here are the top 5 myths surrounding autoimmune disease I hear as a Functional Medicine Practitioner.

Myth 1: The body is weak and vulnerable, and autoimmune disease can develop at any moment without warning.  

Myth 2: The immune system attacks the body for no reason. Autoimmune disease develops because the immune system gets confused and starts attacking the body.

Myth 3.  Autoimmune diseases are isolated to one body part. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the brain; Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a disease of the joints; Psoriasis is a disease of the skin.

Myth 4. Immunosuppressive drugs reverse autoimmune conditions. 

Myth 5. Immunosuppressive drugs should not be used. 

Many autoimmune diseases disproportionately affect women, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Watch the full episode to hear Melissa discuss autoimmune disease, share her personal experience, and explain how she supports clients using a functional medicine approach.