Autoimmune ConditionsAutoimmunity is a condition in which the body’s natural defense system, the immune system, reacts with components of its own cells. In other words, the immune system attacks healthy cells that are needed for the human body to function properly. When this happens, widespread inflammation ensues and can lead to lack of energy, pain, brain fog, and chronic disease.
Autoimmune disorders, once a rare occurrence, now affect 1 in 10 people in America. Even more concerning is the increasing rate of autoimmunity in our adolescent population ages 12-19. Since 1988, the incidence of autoimmunity in this age group has increased three-fold. |
Why the rise in autoimmunity disorders?Several hypotheses exist as to why we are seeing such a rise in the rate of autoimmunity. First, a direct link between our gut health and immune health has been established. This comes as no surprise as the majority of our immune system’s cells reside in the lining of our gastrointestinal tract. With the introduction of highly processed foods and inflammatory oils, GI disruption and inflammation has skyrocketed.
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Immune systems are under attack!Second, our immune systems have been under significant attack due to increasing levels of environmental toxins and exposures in our air, water, food, and products. As these levels of toxin exposure increase, our detoxification systems must be able to keep up. If any parts of the detoxification pathways break down or become clogged, toxin levels build up in the body causing chaos and overstimulation of our immune system. This can lead to the immune system misfiring and attacking healthy cells.
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Increased Vaccination DosesFinally, since 1962 there has been more than a 14-fold increase in vaccines given to our children. In 1962, the vaccine schedule consisted of 5 total doses. In 2018 the recommended childhood immunization schedule consisted of 72 doses of vaccines. Vaccines are made to directly stimulate the immune system. Such high levels of immune stimulation at such a young age have been hypothesized to be one of the contributors to the spike in autoimmunity, especially in our adolescent population.
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Source https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/autoimmunity-may-be-rising-united-states
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Uses for Low Dose Naltrexone:
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Symptoms of Autoimmune DiseaseSymptoms of autoimmune disease can vary among individuals.
Here are some of the most common indicators:
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Autoimmune DiseasesThere are currently over 100 autoimmune diseases in existence today, according to the American Autoimmune Diseases Association, including:
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