Understanding Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune disease is one of the most common chronic conditions affecting Americans and the incidence is rising. According to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, about 20 percent of the population, or 50 million Americans, have an autoimmune condition. This is a condition where the defense system of your body—the immune system–loses the ability to recognize what is self and starts attacking self as it would a bacterial or virus invader. Examples of autoimmune diseases include Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, lupus, Sjogren’sdisease, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. But there are over 80 different types of autoimmune diseases, as the immune system can attack any system or organ in the body and treatment options are quite limited as steroids, immune system-suppressing drugs, and pain medications all have devastating side effects.
Lifestyle for Autoimmune Disease
Dr. Joyce Choe shares some tips on the best lifestyle to combat Autoimmune Disease.
Mercy Ballard— Is the founder and Director of Years Restored Lifestyle & Learning. In 2006, she was diagnosed with celiac and rheumatoid disease. Prior to her diagnosis she had been having rapidly failing health. By God’s grace she was able to recover and her condition is in remission. In 2013, the Years Restored Lifestyle Center was founded. Its aim is to help restore people physically, spiritually and emotionally. Years Restored is located in the mountains of Northern California, where she lives with her husband Anthony.
