Autoimmune Diseases
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Comprehensive Center for Women's Medicine
Integrative and Holistic Women's Health Practice located in Gold Coast, Chicago, IL
As many as 50 million Americans suffer some type of autoimmune disease. The incidence of these disorders have skyrocketed in the last few decades. At the Comprehensive Center for Women’s Medicine in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, the doctors offer an integrative approach to treating autoimmune issues. They help find the root cause and use functional medicine techniques to help women achieve optimal health. Call the office today or schedule online for assistance in managing and overcoming your autoimmune disease.
Autoimmune Q&A
What are autoimmune diseases?
Autoimmune diseases occur when your immune system mistakenly attacks your body. The immune system usually guards against foreign invaders, such as bacteria and viruses and scavenges abnormal, mutated cells that could potentially turn into cancer. When you have an autoimmune disease, your body sees parts of yourself – such as your joints or skin – as foreign and attacks healthy cells.
It is believed that environmental toxicity plays a major role in the increased incidence of autoimmune diseases. Women of childbearing age are most often affected.
What are the symptoms of autoimmune diseases?
Dozens of autoimmune diseases exist, and they affect different organ systems. Your initial symptoms may be nonspecific and include:
- Fatigue
- Achy muscles
- Swollen joints
- Rashes
- Hair loss
- Low-grade fever
- Brain fog or trouble concentrating
The vagueness of these symptoms makes diagnosis difficult. At Comprehensive Center for Women’s Medicine, the team takes these symptoms seriously and uses a holistic, integrative approach to identify their root cause.
What are some examples of autoimmune diseases?
Autoimmune disorders can affect many different body systems. Some common autoimmune diseases include:
- Thyroid disease (including Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s)
- Celiac disease
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Psoriasis
How does an integrative medical approach help you heal from an autoimmune disease?
The doctors at the Comprehensive Center for Women’s Medicine approach autoimmune disease in an integrative, holistic fashion, identifying and treating possible root causes of those conditions.
Integrative, functional treatments are evidence-based and make use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches. The doctors use tried-and-true methods to help you heal naturally, while they are also trained and proficient in using the latest mainstream medical research and strategies as part of your management when indicated.
What is Hashimoto's disease?
Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease of the thyroid. Your body produces antibodies that cause a decreased production of thyroid hormones or make the tissues less responsive to the effects of circulating thyroid hormones. It is the most common autoimmune disease in women. Symptoms include:
- Extreme fatigue
- Brain fog
- Constipation
- Weight gain
- Fluid retention
- Brittle nails
- Dry skin and hair loss
- Muscle aches and stiffness
The doctors evaluate your toxic burden and examine the health of your gut. These factors are often the culprit for many of the autoimmune diseases, including Hashimoto’s. The doctors then recommend natural ways to detoxify the body and treat leaky gut syndrome. The medical weight loss program offered at the Comprehensive Center for Women’s Medicine also helps you detoxify and get a handle on your health. The goal is to use functional medicine to help you heal.
Hashimoto’s can be treated with lifestyle changes as well as with replacement thyroid hormones.
If you have symptoms that suggest an autoimmune condition, seek support from the Comprehensive Center for Women’s Medicine. Call today for an appointment or use the online booking tool to schedule.
