Autoimmune diseases are conditions that occur when your immune system attacks healthy parts of your body. The symptoms of autoimmune disease can limit your performance at home, work, or school. At Healing Duo Integrative Family Medical Practice in Norwalk, Connecticut, Giovanni A. Nelson, ND, and Pamela Santapaola, ND provide effective, holistic treatment for a wide range of autoimmune diseases. To speak with the team of holistic-centered practitioners about your condition, call the office or book an appointment online today.
Normally, the immune system only responds when it finds foreign substances in the body. With autoimmune diseases, however, the immune system identifies a part of the body as foreign and sends antibodies to destroy healthy cells. Although the exact cause of autoimmune diseases is unknown, experts believe genetics, diet, and environmental factors play a role.
Although there are many different types of autoimmune diseases, the symptoms are often very similar. The symptoms include:
Some autoimmune diseases cause flare-ups, which means symptoms can come and go over time. Certain autoimmune diseases, like type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease, can cause additional symptoms like sudden weight loss, belly pain, and bloating.
There are dozens of different types of autoimmune diseases. The most common include:
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to attack your tissues and organs. Lupus can affect your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs. Most people with lupus experience flare-ups of symptoms like facial rashes, joint pain, and fatigue.
Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system attacks your joints. This condition results in inflammation, stiffness, and soreness in the joints and can drastically limit your mobility.
Crohn's disease is a condition that causes your immune system to attack healthy cells in your digestive tract. This results in severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and malnutrition. Crohn’s disease causes inflammation in your digestive tract and can become life-threatening if left untreated.
Other common autoimmune diseases include thyroid diseases like Graves’ and Hashimoto’s, Type 1 diabetes, Psoriasis, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and Celiac disease.
Conventional treatment for autoimmune diseases includes immune-suppressing drugs and anti-inflammatory medications. At Healing Duo Integrative Family Medical Practice, the team provides drug-free naturopathic treatment for reducing inflammation in the body and relieving symptoms of autoimmune disease. Treatments include:
During your visit, the team works with you to determine the underlying cause of your symptoms and the best naturopathic treatment options. Your doctor performs various labs, including blood work, to evaluate the overall status of your health and the severity of your condition.
To learn more about how comprehensive naturopathic medicine can help treat your autoimmune disease, book an appointment by phone or online today at Healing Duo Integrative Family Medical Practice.
