Autoimmune Disorders

Your immune system is supposed to protect you, but what do you do when it does the opposite? Discover and treat the root cause of your autoimmune disorder by visiting Mechelle Kennedy, NP-C, at Adaptations Wellness, a functional medicine clinic in Spring Branch, Texas. You can’t cure an autoimmune disease, but with the right action plan, you can still enjoy a full life. To learn more, book an appointment with Mechelle online or over the phone today.

What are autoimmune disorders?

The immune system consists of a vast network of white blood cells, organs, chemicals, and antibodies designed to ward off and destroy germs and other foreign invaders. When it functions as it should, the immune system has no trouble telling the difference between your cells and substances that shouldn’t be there.

Autoimmune disorders occur when, for whatever reason, the immune system confuses your own harmless cells for invaders and attacks them.

Common autoimmune diseases include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis 
• Type 1 diabetes
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Multiple-sclerosis
• Lupus
• Hashimoto’s disease
• Irritable bowel disease
  
  

There are over 80 known autoimmune disorders that can affect any part of your body.

What are the symptoms of autoimmune disorders?

Autoimmune disorders can trigger a wide range of symptoms in different parts of your body, such as:

Joints and muscles:

• Muscle aches, pains, and weakness
• Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling
• Inflammation

Digestive tract:

• Bloating
• Constipation
• Abdominal pain
• Acid reflux
• Nausea
• Food sensitivities
• Bloody or mucus-filled stool

Skin:

• Alopecia (hair loss)
• Rashes
• Itching
• Dry eye
• Dry mouth
• Dry skin
• Inflammation

Nervous system:

• Dizziness
• Headaches and migraines
• Anxiety and depression.
• Confusion and trouble thinking
• Blurred vision
• Insomnia
• Memory issues
• Lightheadedness
• Numbness and tingling

Other common autoimmune disease symptoms include fatigue, fever, widespread pain, chest pain, rapid or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, swollen glands, temperature sensitivity, and weight loss or weight gain.

Can you cure autoimmune disorders?

Unfortunately, there are no known cures for autoimmune disorders. However, with the proper support, you can manage your symptoms. Mechelle offers patients a holistic approach to treating their autoimmune disorders through the lens of functional medicine.

Functional medicine doesn’t focus on symptom suppression but instead on finding and addressing the root cause of your illness with tools, including labs, so that your provider can teach you how to stop its progression and potentially reverse its effects.

To help you treat your symptoms and their root cause, providers like Mechelle work with you to develop a plan that includes a mixture of: 

• Lifestyle changes, like quitting smoking
• Dietary changes, like eliminating dairy 
• Adding supplements, including those with specific vitamins or herbs

Autoimmune disorders don’t have to run your life. If you’re ready to do more than just get by, reach out to Mechelle at Adaptations Wellness for a consultation online or over the phone today.