Is Autoimmune the New Cancer?
How bout getting off the 40ml of prednisone
How bout sleeping when I feel tired
How bout holding my hand when I feel dizzy
How bout letting these emotions fly free
Thank you patience
Thank you gracefulness
Thank you tolerance
Thank you beauty
Thank you elegance – elegance
— inspired by Alanis Morissette, Thank You Silence
Is there anyone say, over 35 that has not experienced prednisone? Yes of course there is, but I wonder if the percentage of those that have had the steroid experience is larger than those that have not and I am guessing probably. Prednisone, the generic life-saving, blanket drug that halts the body from drifting into dangerous territory, most notably by quelling rampant inflammation is no doubt the 21st century’s wonder, go-to drug. It certainly seems to be the case for those who have been diagnosed with an autoimmune syndrome. Most autoimmune syndromes are characterized by a reactive and over stimulated immune system that produce antibodies that in turn confuse, disturb, and inflame the body’s cells. By the time an autoimmune disorder is diagnosed the immune system is no longer able to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy cells. Inflammatory (key word) blood vessels create chronic conditions that the medical world labels autoimmune disorders. The causes of autoimmune disorders have yet TBD, but I’d say the body attacking itself is one of the greatest health paradoxes of our time. It seems this 21st century inflammatory enigma is worthy of not only research dollars that will explore the physicality of these disorders, but time and energy devoted to the potential socio, psycho-emotional, and environmental basis for autoimmune.
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The NIH estimates nearly 24 million Americans are derailed by an autoimmune diagnosis, as opposed to the 9 million affected by cancer and 22 million with heart disease. Organizations dedicated to the education and awareness of autoimmune disorders have identified 80 different types of autoimmune disorders and claim the NIH accounts for less than half of the known autoimmune disorders and therefore, should double their estimate to 50 million Americans. Fifty million Americans! In the last 40-50 years autoimmune disorders have risen by leaps and bounds, with little or no research to support this increase. Women are nearly three times as likely to be diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder than men and one in ten will die before the age of 65 with an autoimmune diagnosis.
The NIH agrees all autoimmune disorders have rapidly increased in the past 20 years, but again there is little research dollars to get an actual percentage basis. Most significant increases are with lupus, type 1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. Celiac (the gluten-intolerance & the reason why no one eats bread/pasta anymore J) is soaring and now more common in all age groups than it was 50 years ago. (hybridization of wheat and the GMO foods?)
One of the largest issues facing autoimmune sufferers is the difficulty in diagnosis, which can take years, not to mention doctor after doctor looking at their patients as if they are crazed hypochondriacs. Combined with little research, the vastness of overlapping symptoms and doctors who are not versed in autoimmune diseases makes a final diagnosis harsh. And this is not simply an American phenomena, autoimmune disease is increasing worldwide as well. Perhaps the most disheartening aforementioned stat is that most autoimmune disorders are treated with corticosteroids or immunosuppressants (most notably prednisone). Steroids act as kind of a time-out, blanket treatment to get the cells gone wild to not only calm down, but to stop over-producing, over-working, and over-stressing. Make no mistake steroids save lives, lots and lots of lives, but here’s the deal they stop the havoc that created the cells gone wild imbalance to begin with and, in turn, create another issue which is an impaired, dysfunctional immune system. Ahemm, dysfunction? Impairment? 21st century health symptoms? Need I say more about autoimmune diseases being a reflection of a stress-filled lifestyle or could autoimmune disorders be some sort of evolutionary process in consciousness that goes along with living in the 21st century (where are you on this one Oliver Sacks?)
Challenges abound can feel insurmountable, as the task of bringing the body and I would venture to say to those diagnosed with autoimmune back into balance. The journey can be long and arduous as they untangle the stresses, the diets, and the medicines that may have created this bewildering situation. With so many enigmatic patients isn’t autoimmune where cancer was 50 years ago? Is autoimmune the quiet new cancer that is creeping into all of our lives? I am certain that everyone reading this knows someone with an autoimmune disorder and I would venture to say knows someone with even a rare autoimmune disorder. What is it going to take to draw attention to the alarming rates of the body’s immune system over reaching and attacking itself? The more obvious and pertinent question is: What is the increasing the cause of autoimmune?
Recently I was listing the life challenges a friend of mine was experiencing to another friend who has been diagnosed with Sjogren’s autoimmune disorder. After I finished outlining each challenge she looked me straight in the eye and commented, “that’s enough to give anyone an autoimmune disease.”
Stay true,
M