Autoimmune Diseases Specialist
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Remedi Health
Bioidentical Hormone Specialist & Functional Medicine located in Golden, CO
On average, patients see five different doctors and spend nearly five years in their quest to find an accurate diagnosis of their autoimmune disease. You won’t have that problem when you consult Shasta Van Sickle, PA-C at Remedi Health. With her extensive experience in autoimmune disease and specialized biochemical analyses such as testing for intracellular micronutrient levels, you can count on getting answers and the customized treatment you need. To schedule an appointment, call our office in Golden, Colorado. 720-557-9363
Autoimmune Diseases Q & A
What is an autoimmune disease?
Your immune system is responsible for protecting you from germs, viruses, and other foreign invaders. To do its job, it identifies and labels dangerous substances so that antibodies can recognize harmful invaders and destroy them before they make you sick.
When you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system mistakenly identifies a part of your own body as harmful. As a result, the immune system attacks healthy tissues, causing damage rather than preventing it.
What are the most common autoimmune diseases?
Autoimmune diseases are a very large group of diverse diseases. More than 100 have been identified, most of which disproportionately affect women. In fact, estimates say that 75% of all those with an autoimmune disease are women.
You may be surprised to learn that well-known conditions like Type I diabetes are autoimmune diseases. Here are a few examples of the most common autoimmune conditions:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Type 1 diabetes
- Graves’ disease (hyperthyroidism)
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Sjӧgren syndrome
- Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)
- Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis)
Autoimmune diseases tend to run in families, yet a specific disease doesn’t get passed along. Instead, multiple family members may inherit an autoimmune disease, but each one can have a different condition.
What symptoms might I develop due to an autoimmune disease?
As a group, autoimmune diseases cause inflammation and body-wide symptoms. However, some conditions have unique symptoms. As one example, the primary symptoms of Sjӧgren’s syndrome are dry eyes and a dry mouth.
A few examples of symptoms shared by multiple autoimmune disorders include:
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Fever
- Itchy skin or a rash
- Joint pain
- Abdominal pain
- Insomnia
These generic symptoms, combined with the fact that patients often have more than one autoimmune disease, make it hard to get a diagnosis.
How are autoimmune diseases treated?
Paul takes a whole-person approach and develops a customized treatment that helps each patient reach and maintain their optimal health. Depending on the type of autoimmune disease, you may receive medication, dietary guidance, a stress-relief plan, and recommendations for activities you can enjoy that are safe for your disease.
After evaluating your intracellular micronutrient and antioxidant levels, Paul may also prescribe vitamins and supplements to restore deficiencies.
When you feel fatigued, achy, or you have unexplainable skin problems, call Remedi Health to schedule an appointment.
