Since I was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease in January 2017, I’ve been on a journey to not only get my disease under control, but hopefully to get it in remission. There is no cure for Graves’ Disease, but fortunately my symptoms can be managed with medication. I continue to improve but the only way to get it in remission is to manage the underlying problem: chronic inflammation. Since remission is my goal, I’ve started following an Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle.  Here’s what I’ve learned that is important to understand, whether you have a chronic inflammation or autoimmune condition problem or not. If you are over 50, following an anti-inflammatory lifestyle can be like the “Fountain of Youth”. It’s the right choice for long term health.

Chronic Inflammation is Poison

Our bodies are constantly bombarded by toxins, poison and dangerous triggers in the environment. These include by bacteria, viruses, chemicals, toxins, and a variety of other harmful catalysts. The body protects itself from these harmful substances through our immune response. Our immune system acts like the security system and triggers a healthy inflammation. Anytime there is a potential threat, our inflammatory response is triggered which involves a variety of biochemical reactions that help fight off infections and remove toxins, and increase blood flow to wounds or tissues that need healing, and also generate pain to signal that something is wrong in the body.

Types of Inflammatory Responses

There are two types of inflammatory responses to protect the body:

Acute inflammation- is an immediate response to some type of physical trauma, be it an injury, infection or disease. Acute inflammation aids in the body’s healing and recovery.

Chronic inflammation- occurs when the body is continuously protecting itself by secreting pro-inflammatory chemicals. With too much of the pro-inflammatory chemicals circulating in the blood, chronic inflammation becomes a poison. Rather than protect the body, chronic inflammation can turn into a disease that attacks and destroys the healthy cells in arteries, joints, organs, or many other areas of the body.

Chronic Inflammation Symptoms

Chronic inflammation can generate a variety of symptoms that may not immediately be obvious but can worsen over time. Common symptoms of chronic inflammation include:

• Chronic stiffness
• Recurrent body aches and pains
• Persistent swelling
• Loss of joint function
• Recurrent diarrhea
• Persistent indigestion
• Persistent upper respiratory congestion
• Sporadic infections
• Major skin outbreaks

Chronic Inflammation Associated with Chronic Disease

Chronic inflammation can become a slow and potentially fatal toxin in the body if not properly managed. It has been studied extensively and is associated with a wide range of autoimmune diseases (including autoimmune diseases) such as:

•  Allergies
• Asthma
• Chronic obstructive lung diseases
• Congestive heart failure and other heart diseases
• Anemia
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Cancer
• Obesity
• Diabetes mellitus
• Crohn’s disease and other inflammatory bowel diseases
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic kidney disease and kidney failure
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosis
• Psoriasis
• Chronic pain syndromes
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s and Graves’).

Associated Risk Factors

Age, diet, lifestyle, and disturbed sleep are the primary drivers associated with the disorder. Age correlates directly with elevated levels of the inflammatory molecules. The older we get, the more pro-inflammatory substances increase in the body. Diets rich in fats and refined sugars increase the risk of inflammation. Similarly, those who are obese have a higher risk of chronic inflammation. Smoking and stress lower our anti-inflammatory molecule production, thus increasing the chances of chronic inflammation.

Traditional Treatments

There are several types of treatments available including:

• Prescription medication

For many years, physicians prescribed corticosteroids which suppress the immune response, thus suppressing inflammation. While this is still an effective option, these medications come with serious side effects. It is important to carefully consult with your doctor before using any prescription medication to treat inflammation.

• Non-Prescription medication

There are over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications that alleviate pain. These include Aspirin, Ibuprofen, and Naproxen. However, it is not advisable to take these medications long-term, and in high doses, due to the associated side-effects (particularly kidney damage and GI bleeding).

• Supplements

Turmeric and herbs found in the ginger family hold strong anti-inflammatory properties.

Lead an Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle to Manage Chronic Inflammation

If you lead an anti-inflammatory lifestyle to manage chronic inflammation , it can help control autoimmune disease or promote its remission. However, it is essential to keep inflammatory triggers under control over the long term to ensure optimal health and chronic disease management.

Using the ancient Ayurvedic medicine approach, which focuses on a healthy mind, body, heart, and spirit, you can quickly and easily start leading an anti-inflammatory lifestyle. The following is a list of the most effective anti-inflammatory lifestyle choices I’ve started following:

Implement an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Start by increasing the intake of the following anti-inflammatory foods:

• Brightly colored and fibrous vegetables and fruits
• Dark green vegetables
• Fatty fish and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids
• Natural, non-processed foods
• Whole grains and fibrous vegetables

Start by decreasing the intake of the following pro-inflammatory foods and ingredients:

• Simple sugars
• Refined carbohydrates
• High glycemic foods
• Foods with transfers and hydrogenated oils
• Foods with artificial colors and flavors
• Artificial sweeteners

Exercise Regularly

In addition to the other benefits of regular exercise, it will help you maintain an optimal weight and reduce adipose tissue which in excess is a risk factor for inflammation in the body.

Decrease Stress

Although it is easier said than done, focus on lowering psychological and physiological stress to decrease inflammation. Stress is one of the primary triggers of inflammation in the body and is critical to manage.

Don’t Touch Cigarettes

Smoking cigarettes induces inflammation in the body and can cause so very many serious life-threatening health problems.

Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle Frees You from Debilitating Inflammation

Maintaining a normal level of inflammation response in your body comes down to common sense: eat healthily, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, and try to keep your stress levels to a minimum. Always make anti-inflammatory lifestyle choices to prevent a small inflammation fire from getting out of control! An active lifestyle fueled by fresh, anti-inflammatory foods can set you up for freedom from debilitating inflammation. And what is most important is that you feel happy and empowered and motivated to keep it up so you can stay healthy and live well with zest!

Try some or many of these anti-inflammatory lifestyle tips and see what works best for you! You may feel like you’ve discovered “The Fountain of Youth”!

Cheers and Live Well with Zest!

Bev

xo

Written by Bev Hope

Reviewed by Board Certified MD

The post Why I Switched to an Anti-Inflammatory Lifestyle appeared first on Well with Zest.

Autoimmune is a word I rarely used or heard of 10 years ago. But now I find that many of my friends have at least heard of the word “autoimmune”, or know someone who has an autoimmune problem, or who has actually been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease themselves. What has changed in the last decade? What is really going on with the apparent increase of autoimmune diseases? Why are there so many different autoimmune diseases? Why are women predominantly impacted by autoimmune diseases more than men.

Since I was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease in January 2017, I’ve been on a journey to get more educated so I can understand what this is, what caused it, and what I can do to help myself and to help others who are on a similar challenging journey. Here’s what I’ve learned that is important to understand, whether you have an autoimmune condition or not. We are facing a crisis-level epidemic and we have to pull together collectively to stop it!

Immunity is Our Body’s Defense System

Starting with the basics, we need immunity to survive. The immune system is our body’s auto-responder self-protector defense system. It is like a police force that constantly patrols every organ and tissue in our body to keep invaders away. Our immune system is always on alert ready to attack and fight off any invading microorganisms or toxins that could harm or kill us, such as viruses, bacteria, or parasites. It’s a smart, highly tuned, targeted defense system that knows what to attack and what not to attack: it can distinguish “self” from “non-self”. What is so amazing is how smart it is, knowing what to precisely attack with the endless invaders it has to deal with every day, around the clock.

How Our Immune System Works

The number of potential invaders in our body system continues to grow all the time, given more and more toxins in the environment. So, we need a healthy immune system to live.There are two main parts of the immune system: innate and adaptive immune systems. They complement each other and work together to defend against the constant onslaught of pathogens or harmful substances our bodies continually face. The innate immune system works mostly at the level of immune cells called “scavenger cells” or “killer cells.” These immune cells mostly fight against bacterial infections.The adaptive immune system develops antibodies or an immune response to antigens of invader microorganisms. It is a smart, highly tuned, immune response that our bodies remember. It is constantly adapting, learning over time, and getting smarter so our bodies can fight off bacteria or viruses that are always changing and continually invading.

Our Immune System is Activated by Invading Antigens

For our immune system to work properly, the immune system must recognize the difference between our own healthy “self” cells and harmful, invading “non-self” cells. Our immune system is activated by many “non-self” substances called antigens. For example, protein cells on the surfaces of bacteria, fungi and viruses are all antigens. The immune system recognizes antigens and produces antibodies that destroy the substances containing antigens.  When the immune system recognizes an antigen, a complex, highly regulated physiological immune response system of different groups of cells work together to form alliances and fight off the pathogen. Then our immune system stores “memories” so it will be ready to rapidly defend against those pathogen germs in the future.

As long as our body’s defense system is running smoothly, we do not notice our powerful and smart immune system working 24 hours a day. But if our immune system is compromised, or the invading microorganism is especially aggressive, then illness can occur.

Immune System Breakdown and Link to Autoimmune Disease

How does our immune system break down? It starts at the cellular level. The cells of the immune system include the white blood cells, including lymphocytes (T-cells, B-cells and NK cells), neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages, and also proteins. The major proteins of the immune system are primarily signaling proteins (cytokines) and antibodies. The immune system joins forces with the circulatory system for transportation of cells and with the lymphatic system for production of white blood cells.

The big problem that ignites a series of events starts when our immune system loses its ability to recognize the difference between healthy “self” sells and invading “non-self” cells. The adaptive immune cells go “haywire” and start attacking healthy “self” cells. This maladaptive process is called “cross-reactivity”. Self-tolerance is broken when adaptive immune cells recognize host cells as alien “non-self” cell and initiate an attack on our own host cells. B-cells produce antibodies targeting host cells and activated T cells recognize self as antigen. Our immune system gets mixed up, sends the wrong signals and starts attacking the organs it is meant to protect. That’s when an autoimmune disease occurs.

There Are Over 80 Autoimmune Diseases

There are over 80 autoimmune diseases that all start with the same event.  Harmless immunity in the body turns to pathogenic autoimmune disease when self-recognition and self-tolerance breaks down. Often a seemingly harmless viral infection (including a “bad cold”) can trigger autoimmunity.

Autoimmune diseases can affect almost any part of the body including the brain, nerves, muscles, skin, eyes, joints, heart, lungs, kidneys, the digestive tract, blood vessels, and endocrine (hormone) glands. The classic sign of an autoimmune disease is inflammation, featuring redness, low grade fever, pain and swelling. Other symptoms include fatigue, trouble concentrating, numbness, hair loss, skin problems, and stomach problems.  How autoimmune disease causes symptoms and is diagnosed depends on what part of the body is targeted. Since autoimmune diseases can strike virtually any part of the body, and the symptoms vary widely, they often go undetected. Proper diagnosis and treatment can often be long and difficult.

Organ Specific vs. Non-Organ Specific Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune diseases are usually classified into organ-specific disorders or non-organ specific or systemic disorders. The organs and tissues most commonly affected include the endocrine glands, such as thyroid, islet (insulin-producing) cells of the pancreas, and adrenal glands; components of the blood such as red blood cells, and connective tissues such as skin, muscles and joints.

In organ specific disorders, the autoimmune disease is directed mostly against one organ such as the thyroid, with Hashimoto’s Disease (hypothyroidism) and Graves’ Disease (hyperthyroidism). But patients can have several organ-specific diseases at the same time. In non-organ specific or systemic disorders, autoimmune activity is widely spread throughout the body. This includes Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, along with other conditions.

Common Types of Autoimmune Diseases

Organ Specific Types of Autoimmune Disorders:

• Addison’s disease (adrenal)
• Autoimmune hepatitis (liver)
• Celiac disease (GI tract)
• Crohn’s disease (GI tract)
• Graves’ disease (overactive thyroid)
• Glomerulonephritis (kidneys)
• Guillain-Barré syndrome (central nervous system)
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (lowered thyroid function)
• Multiple sclerosis (brain and spinal cord)
• Pernicious anemia (GI tract—malabsorption of Vitamin B12 needed for red blood cell production)
• Psoriasis/Psoriatic arthritis (skin/joints)
• Raynaud’s phenomenon (fingers, toes, nose, ears)
• Type 1 Diabetes mellitus (pancreas islet cells)
• Ulcerative colitis (GI tract)
• Vitiligo (skin, also eyes, mouth and nose)

Systemic Types of Autoimmune Diseases:

• Lupus [Systemic Lupus Erythematosus] (skin, joints, kidneys, heart, brain, red blood cells, other)
• Polymyalgia Rheumatica (large muscle groups)
• Rheumatoid arthritis (joints, less commonly lung, skin)
• Scleroderma (skin, intestine, less commonly lung)
• Sjogren’s syndrome (salivary glands, tear glands and joints)

Autoimmune Diseases with Highest Incidence and Medical Burden

The major autoimmune diseases with the highest incidence or highest medical burden include:

Graves’ Disease

Graves’ Disease- An autoimmune thyroid disease which causes the thyroid gland to overproduce thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism).

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis- A chronic inflammatory disorder affecting many joints, including those in the hands and feet.

Hashimotos’s Thyroiditis

Hashimotos’s Thyroiditis- An autoimmune thyroid disease which causes the thyroid gland to reduce its production of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism).

Vitiligo

Vitiligo- A chronic condition that causes white patches on your skin and can also affect your eyes, mouth, and nose.

Type 1 Diabetes mellitus

Type 1 Diabetes mellitus- A chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin.

Pernicious Anemia

Pernicious Anemia- Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells that occurs when the intestines cannot properly absorb Vitamin B12.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis- A disease in which the immune system eats away at the protective covering of nerves—the myelin sheath that also helps greatly speed up the conduction of nerve impulses and information flow in the brain.

Glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis- A chronic condition with inflammation of the membrane tissue in the kidney that serves as a filter, extracting wastes and excessive water from blood.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)- An autoimmune disease that can affect almost any organ or system in the body, including blood vessels, muscles, joints, digestive tract, lungs, kidneys, heart and the central nervous system.

Sjogren Syndrome

Sjogren Syndrome- An immune system disorder characterized by dry eyes and dry mouth.

Celiac Disease

Celiac Disease- An immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. People with Celiac disease can’t eat gluten because it will damage their small intestine.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis- An autoimmune disease that causes itchy, sore patches of think red skin with silvery scales.

Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic Arthritis- Approximately one third of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis which causes pain, stiffness and swelling of the joints.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory Bowel Disease- A group of chronic disorders characterized by swollen and damaged tissues in the digestive tract.

Addison’s Disease

Addison’s Disease- An autoimmune disease characterized by chronic and insufficient functioning of the outer layer of the adrenal gland, with reduced production of cortisol and often also aldosterone.

Autoimmune Diseases- A Growing Epidemic

Autoimmune diseases are a major threat to the health of all Americans. Collectively, autoimmune diseases are among the most prevalent diseases in the U.S. affecting over 23 million Americans. According to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), 50 million people are dealing with a chronic condition caused by autoimmunity. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are more than 80 autoimmune diseases that have been identified and more than 100 serious, chronic illnesses are caused by autoimmune disease.  They are a special threat to women. According to the AARDA, about 75 percent of all autoimmune cases occur in women, particularly in those who have had children. Autoimmune diseases are among the top 10 leading causes of death in women in all age groups up to age 65.

What Is Causing the Autoimmune Epidemic?

There are three major factors or triggers that lead to the manifestation of autoimmune disease: Genetic Predisposition, Endocrine Effect, Environmental/Lifestyle Factors.

Genetic Predisposition

Autoimmune diseases have a strong genetic component and tend to run in families. There is also a clustering effect. If you have one disease, you are at greater risk for developing a second or a third autoimmune disease. With advances in gene sequencing tools, researchers have a better understanding of what genes may contribute to specific diseases. Thanks to the human genome project, scientists now know a great deal about the genes that make people more susceptible to develop an autoimmune disease. One risk factor gene is a predominant type of gene that is important in preventing the successful transplantation of tissues like skin or organs from one person to another. The other risk factor genes are immunoregulatory genes that are involved in the process of regulating the immune response system.

Endocrine Effect

The predominance of females impacted by autoimmune disease points to an endocrine effect. Women undergo three major endocrinological transition periods: puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. The endocrine transitions have a major impact on the innate and adaptive immune systems due to the interaction between the hormonal changes, innate and adaptive immune system as well as pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines and antibodies. Changes in women’s hormone milieu impacts the delicate balance of their innate and adaptive immune system, putting them at greater risk. Research focused on endocrine transitions and their role in autoimmune diseases is getting more attention.

Environmental/Lifestyle Factors

Currently, studies have shown that genetic predisposition accounts for approximately 30 percent of all autoimmune diseases. The rest, 70 percent, are due to environmental factors, including smoking, exposure to toxic chemicals, an unhealthy diet, disturbances of gut microbiota, and changes to gut lining and permeability (commonly known as leaky gut). Infectionis well known to be a factor that can trigger autoimmune disease. Smoking is a well-known risk factor for Rheumatoid arthritis. Gluten is known to promote Celiac disease. But there is much more interdisciplinary research needed to understand the impact of the environment and lifestyle choices on triggering autoimmune disease.

Burden of Autoimmune Diseases is at a Crisis Point

Autoimmune disease is a major and increasing public health crisis.

Autoimmune disease is a large and growing problem in the United States and worldwide. As a total  category, autoimmune disease affects 50 million Americans. It is one of the top ten causes of death in women under age 65 and is the second highest cause of chronic illness and is the top cause of morbidity in women in the United States. Additionally, autoimmune diseases are on the rise around the world, making this poorly understood category of diseases a public health crisis comparable to cancer and heart disease.

Autoimmune disease is a national crisis on women’s health.

The NIH has recognized autoimmune disease as a national health crisis on women’s health given that 75% of the cases affect women at all stages of their lives.  The diseases are difficult to diagnose as symptoms vary and can go undetected for years while symptoms increasingly worsen. Delay in diagnosis puts a significant burden on patient quality of life, risk of permanent organ damage and/or risk of major debilitation. Autoimmune disease is a life-long chronic condition with no permanent cure, although patients can control the symptoms.  Progression of disease significantly impacts quality of life, ability to participate in the job force and reduces long-term earnings potential. It also has a significant negative impact on the overall family well-being.

Autoimmune disease is a major factor behind the rise in healthcare costs.

Low awareness among the general public and medical practitioners and a compartmentalized approach to managing autoimmune disease based on the organ(s) affected, negatively affects the communication with other doctors and the extended healthcare constituents. This compartmentalization has hampered communication among physicians and scientists interested in autoimmune diseases. A lack of coordinated care and standardized diagnostic tests cause a significant increase in the cost of autoimmune disease as a portion of the total healthcare budget. Unequal funding and suboptimal focus at the NIH on autoimmune diseases have slowed progress. The result is an escalation in the burden of autoimmune disease on patients,  society and healthcare costs.

Urgent Need for a Dedicated Focus on Autoimmune Diseases

Increase Awareness, Research, and Patient Advocacy

We need a dedicated comprehensive focus on increasing awareness, research investment and education about autoimmune disease now more than ever. The time for intense focus on autoimmune disease is now. Heart disease and cancer (and most recently kidney disease) have garnered proper focus and investment. Now it is time for autoimmune disease to get the attention it deserves and sorely needs.

Streamline the Autoimmune Diagnosis Process with Coordinated Care Model.

The autoimmune disease diagnosis and treatment puzzle is extremely complex. It often takes years for patients to get a proper diagnosis and the right treatment. It is very complicated to manage autoimmune disease patients because they often need multiple specialists treat their symptoms. We urgently need a new model of coordinated care for autoimmune disease patients to save time, costs, but most importantly to improve health outcomes much faster.

Establish Inter-Disciplinary Autoimmune Disease Centers.

We need a radical change in how the collection of autoimmune diseases are viewed, studied, and managed given their complexity and significant burden on patients and society.  Let’s start with recognition that most or all autoimmune diseases are related, and they should be viewed as autoimmune disease versus individual diseases.  We know there are common threads unite all autoimmune diseases based on a maladaptive immune response called “cross-reactivity” that is caused by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental risk factors (infectious, chemical, physical, or other).  If we focus on autoimmune disease with an interdisciplinary approach and secure the proper funding, we can accelerate scientific discovery to help find a cure for the underlying problem(s) that cause the immune system to break down in the first place.

Collective and Comprehensive Approach Towards Autoimmune Disease

We need comprehensive and collective interdisciplinary approach to help address the autoimmune disease epidemic. We need to build a movement together across patients, scientists, medical researchers, practitioners and service providers, to better serve patient.  It’s essential way to stem the rapid growth of autoimmune disease and more importantly find a cure. It starts with a vision and a belief that we can do it. It starts with each one of us taking steps forward to drive change.

Take Small Steps to Ease the Way Forward for One and All

We need big change, but small individual actions by patient themselves can start the wave of change. First and foremost, take care of yourself. Focus on what it takes for you to manage your condition and live your best life day-to-day. Connect with patient advocacy groups to share your journey and  find community support. Help spread the word about the autoimmune disease epidemic and help raise funding for patient-driven research so we can find cures and change the lives of future generations to come (possibly your own children and grandchildren!)

Take these 5 steps to create a change movement:

• Learn about autoimmune disease through autoimmune patient resources.
• Share your knowledge and use your voice to spread awareness.
• Take care of yourself. Follow an anti-inflammatory lifestyle to help keep flares down.
• Partner with your best healthcare provider team and stick with your treatment plans.
• Join patient advocacy support groups in whatever format you like. Give and you will receive!

Individually, and collectively we can change the course of the rising autoimmune epidemic. I believe it and am taking action to make change happen! I hope you will join me.

Live Well with Zest!

Bev Hope

Written By Bev Hope

Reviewed by Board Certified MD

The post Understanding Autoimmune Disease appeared first on Well with Zest.

Graves’ Disease is one of those hidden diseases. Which means that all the information found in scientific articles still doesn’t convey what is really going on inside the person who has it. In fact, Graves’ Disease is so hidden it’s hard for even the experts to diagnose it. Even worse is that empathy from friends and family is illusive because the disease is so invisible to everybody. Therefore, how do people with Graves’ Disease ever feel understood?  That’s the problem. Unfortunately, and sadly, it’s not so easy.

Walk Around in My Skin

I’ve been marketing healthcare products to patients and doctors for over 25 years. My holy grail has always been to understand my patients as if I were the patient myself. My mission has always started with this powerful quote: “The only way you ever understand a person is to climb in their skin and walk around in it” from Harper Lee’s classic novel “To Kill A Mockingbird”.

Power of Letters in Building Empathy

So, if you really want to understand someone, how do climb in their skin? One easy way is to start a simple technique like writing letters. Have you ever received a letter from your disease telling you what it’s doing to your body? Ironically, I received this letter after I was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease. The bugger knew that I knew and decided to announce itself. Graves’ disease jumped out of my computer as soon as I started searching around in Google. It was too creepy. It felt like it was in my mind and in my skin!

After over 25 years in marketing, I know the power of letters in building understanding and empathy. So, I’d like to share this letter I received from Graves’ Disease when I was first diagnosed.  Read on. Climb in my skin and walk around in it if you want to have an inkling about what Graves’ Disease is really like.

“A Letter to Me from Graves’ Disease”

• Hi. My name is Graves, and I’m an invisible autoimmune chronic disease that attacks your thyroid gland.
• I am now Velcro…ed to you for life.
• Others around you can’t see me or hear me, but YOUR body feels me.
• I can attack you anywhere and anyhow I please.
• I can cause severe pain or, if I’m in a good mood, I can just cause you to ache all over.
• Remember when you and energy ran around together and had fun?
• I took energy from you and gave you exhaustion. Try to have fun now!
• Love sleep? I can take good sleep from you and in its place, give you brain fog and lack of concentration.
• Want sleep? I can make you want to sleep 24/7, and I can also cause insomnia.
• I can make you tremble internally or make you feel cold or hot when everyone else feels normal.
• Feeling puffy? I can also give you swollen hands and feet, swollen face and eyelids, swollen everything!
• Oh, yeah, I can make you feel very anxious or very depressed, too. I can also cause other mental health problems.
• Those clumps of hair? That’s me! I can make your hair fall out, become dry and brittle, cause acne, cause dry skin, the sky is the limit with me!
• Frustrated with your scale? Me again. I can make you gain weight and no matter what you eat or how much you exercise. Trying to lose weight but scale won’t budge? That’s me again keeping that weight on you. But I can also make you lose weight. I don’t discriminate.
• Some of my other autoimmune disease friends often join me, giving you even more to deal with.
• If you have something planned, or are looking forward to a great day, I can take that away from you. You didn’t ask for me. I chose you for various reasons:
• That virus or viruses you had that you never really recovered from, or that car accident, or maybe it was the years of abuse and trauma (I thrive on stress.) Maybe you have a family history of me. Whatever the cause, I’m here to stay.
• I hear you’re going to see a doctor to try and get rid of me. That makes me laugh! Just try. You will have to go to many, many doctors until you find one who can help you effectively.
• You will be put on the wrong thyroid meds for you, pain pills, sleeping pills, energy pills, told you are suffering from anxiety or depression, given anti-anxiety pills and antidepressants.
• There are so many other ways I can make you sick and miserable, the list is endless – that high cholesterol, gall bladder issue, blood pressure issue, blood sugar issue, heart issue among others? That’s probably me.
• Can’t get pregnant, or have had a miscarriage?
• That’s probably me too.
• Teeth and gum problems? TMJ? I told you the list was endless.
• You may be given a TENs unit, get massaged, told if you just sleep and exercise properly, I will go away.
• You’ll be told to think positively, you’ll be poked, prodded, and MOST OF ALL, not taken seriously when you try to explain to the doctor how debilitating I am and how sick you really feel. In all probability you will get a referral from the ‘understanding’ (clueless) doctor, to see a psychiatrist.
• Your family, friends and co-workers will all listen to you until they just get tired of hearing about how I make you feel, and just how debilitating I can be.
• Some of them will say things like “Oh, you are just having a bad day” or “Well, remember, you can’t do the things you use to do 20 YEARS ago”, not hearing that you said 20 DAYS ago.
• Some will start talking behind your back, they’ll call you a hypochondriac, while you slowly feel that you are losing your dignity trying to make them understand, especially when you are in the middle of a conversation with a “normal” person and can’t remember what you were going to say next. You’ll be told things like, “Oh, my grandmother had that, and she’s fine on her thyroid pill” when you desperately want to explain that I don’t impose myself upon everyone in the exact same way, and just because that grandmother is fine on the medication SHE’S taking, doesn’t mean it will work for you.
• I’ve been trying to keep this next part quiet, but since you’re reading this you already know.
• The only place you will get the kind of support and understanding in dealing with me, is with other people that have me. They are really the only ones who can truly understand.

I Am Graves’ Disease.

(author unknown)

Try Writing a “Dear Graves’ Disease” Goodbye Letter

After reading this letter, I hope you’ll write your own letter to Graves’ Disease telling it to move out! Tell Graves’ Disease about all the help you are getting from other people with Graves’ Disease who truly understand you. Tell it you’ll use every proven Life Hack you’ve learned to put Graves’ Disease in its place: In Remission. Remember the power of letters. Keep writing. It will help.

Live Well with Zest,

Bev xo

Written by Bev Hope

The post My “Dear Graves’ Disease” Goodbye Letter appeared first on Well with Zest.

In January 2017 I received a phone call from the nurse at my endocrinologist office. She said, “We have received your lab tests results. You have Graves’ disease. Dr. Hudak wants you to pick up a medication at your pharmacy and start taking right away”. Stunned, I rushed out to my drugstore and picked up my prescription for methimazole. As soon as I returned home, I started searching Graves’ disease on Google to figure out what in the world was going on with my body. When my son walked in a short while later,  I had learned enough to tell him my unfortunate news. I looked up from my computer and said, “I’ve got some bad news. I’m sick. I have been diagnosed with a chronic autoimmune disease like you. It’s not my pancreas, it’s my thyroid.”

My Graves’ Disease Journey

That day was a turning point in understanding the impact of type 1 diabetes on my son, seeing the journey he had been on for 7 years and then starting on my own new path with an autoimmune disease. Since January 4, 2017,  I’ve been on a Graves’ disease journey of shock, confusion, anger, grief, acceptance, and finally moving forward. I’ve made it my mission to share what I learn on my journey to help others dealing with a chronic health condition and to live full, active, joyful lives—to live Well with Zest!

So, let’s start with the basics of what I’ve learned about Graves’ disease.

What is the Thyroid Gland?

The thyroid gland is a butter-fly shaped organ that sits low on the front of your neck. The tiny 2-inch size organ is a vital hormone gland: it plays a major regulating the body’s metabolic rate, heart rate, cholesterol levels, digestive functions, muscle control, brain development, mood and bone maintenance. The thyroid makes two hormones that are secreted into the blood and carried to every tissue in the body:  thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones are necessary for all the cells in the body to work normally. So, this tiny butter-fly shaped gland is like your body’s operating system. It enables the body’s key organs to function normally and helps maintain overall wellness.

What is Graves’ Disease?

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disease that damages the thyroid gland. With this disease your immune system mistakes healthy cells for foreign invaders and attacks the thyroid gland causing it to make more thyroid hormone than your body needs (hyperthyroidism).

Graves’ disease was first identified by the Irish physician Robert Graves in 1835. Graves’ disease symptoms can vary a lot depending on the individual and how severe the disorder has become. Because the thyroid gland has such widespread and vital roles in the body, signs and symptoms of Graves’ disease can be wide-ranging and significantly influence your overall well-being.

How Common is Graves’ Disease?

Graves’ disease is one of the most common autoimmune disorders and is estimated to affect 2%-3% of the general worldwide population. Graves’ disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, causing 60% to 80% of all hyperthyroid cases. In the United States, the disease affects about one in every 200 people and is seven to eight times more common in women. Graves’ disease usually affects people between ages 30 and 60, but it can occur at any age.

What Causes Graves’ Disease?

Scientists do not know the exact cause of Graves’ disease. What is known is that somehow the body’s immune system is tricked into making anti-bodies that target receptors on the surface of thyroid, causing them to work overtime. In Graves’ disease the antibodies, called thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAb) or thyroid simulating immunoglobulins (TSI) bind to receptors on the surface of the thyroid cells. When they bind to receptors they stimulate those cells to overproduce and release too much thyroid hormones. The result is hyperthyroidism.

Risk Factors of Getting Graves’ Disease

Research suggests that Graves’ disease may be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some of these factors have been identified but many remain unknown.  A number of factors that increase the risk of getting Graves’ disease include:

• Family history. Because a family history of Graves’ disease is a known risk factor, there is likely a gene or genes that can make a person more susceptible to the disorder.
• Women are much more likely to develop Graves’ disease than men.
• Age. Graves’ disease usually develops in people between age 30 and 60 but can hit at any age.
• Other Autoimmune Disorders. People or individuals connected to family members with other disorders of the immune system including type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, vitiligo, celiac disease, lupus, pernicious anemia, and Addison’s disease are at risk.
• Emotional or Physical Stress. Stressful life events or illness may act as a trigger for the onset of Graves’ disease among people who are genetically susceptible.
• Pregnancy or recent childbirth may increase the risk of the disorder, particularly among women who are genetically susceptible.
• Cigarette smoking increases the risk of Graves’ disease. Smokers who have Graves’ disease are also at increased risk of developing Graves’ ophthalmopathy.

What are the Symptoms of Graves’ Disease?

The majority of symptoms of Graves’ disease are caused by the excessive production of thyroid hormones. Many of the symptoms can be confused with other conditions which can make it very difficult to diagnose Graves’ disease. The most common Graves’ disease symptoms include:

• Changes in mood, including irritability, nervousness and anxiety
• Rapid or racing heartbeat, irregular heart rate, heart palpitations
• Hand and finger tremors
• Sensitivity to heat and changes in temperature
• Increased blood pressure
• Difficulty sleeping, restlessness and sometimes insomnia
• Increase in sweating or warm, moist skin
• More frequent stools and/or diarrhea
• Weight loss despite normal or increased appetite
• Muscle pains, cramps and weakness
• Chest pain, shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Hair loss
• Irregular menstrual periods
• Reduced libido
• Enlargement of thyroid gland
• Pain in eyes, gritty feeling, redness
• Eye sensitivity to light
• Bulging, puffy eyes

How is Graves’ Disease Diagnosed?

Graves’ disease can be difficult to diagnose. Aside from ophthalmopathy, most of the symptoms of Graves’ disease are shared with many other health conditions. The diagnosis of Graves’ disease is typically confirmed by an endocrine or thyroid specialist after conducting a number of tests which may include:

Physical exam

The doctor examines eyes for protrusion or redness, checks the thyroid for enlargement, checks pulse, blood pressure and looks for signs of hand tremor.

Blood sample

The doctor orders blood tests to determine levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), the hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland, as well as levels of thyroid hormones (T3) and (T4). Another lab test option measures the levels of the antibody known to cause Graves’ disease.

Ultrasound

The doctor does an ultrasound scan of your neck that produces images of the thyroid to see if the thyroid is enlarged or if nodules are present.

Radioactive Iodine uptake. A radioactive iodine uptake test is done to measure the amount of iodine taken up by the thyroid gland. Your body needs iodine to make thyroid hormones. By taking a tiny amount of radioactive iodine in a pill, the doctor can measure the amount taken up by the thyroid within a specific time to determine if Graves’ disease is the cause of hyperthyroidism.

Imaging

If diagnosis of Graves’ ophthalmopathy isn’t clear from physical exam, the doctor may order an imaging test such as a CT scan, or MRI to create cross-sectional or 3-D images of the eye.

How is Graves’ Disease Treated?

There is much controversy surrounding the best way to manage Graves’ disease. Each case needs to be individualized, including the therapy, based many factors, thus requiring a careful discussion with your doctor about the risks and benefits of each option.

The goal of treatments for Graves’ disease is to lower the amount of thyroid hormone in your body or block the action of the thyroid hormone.

Conventional Medical Treatments for Graves’ Disease

There are three conventional medical treatments for Graves’ disease:

Antithyroid Medication

There are two approved antithyroid medicines for Graves’ disease; methimazole, or MMI and propylthiouracil, or PTU. These medicines keep the thyroid from making too much thyroid hormone.

Radioactive Iodine (RAI)

RAI is a type of iodine that destroys the thyroid gland by giving it radiation. The RAI destroys the thyroid cells so that your thyroid gland cannot make as much thyroid hormone. It cures the overactive thyroid gland, but it can lead to an underactive thyroid gland. If this happens, you then need to take thyroid hormone medicine for the rest of your life.

Surgery

Surgery to remove all or most of the thyroid cures the overactive thyroid but can lead to underactive thyroid. You will then need to take thyroid hormone medicine to replace the needed thyroid hormone your body can no longer make.

Doctors sometimes suggest taking a beta blocker medicine to help you feel better while waiting for your treatment to start to work. Beta blockers block some of the effects of excess thyroid hormone on your body. They slow down your heart rate and reduce symptoms such as nervousness and shaking.

Lifestyle and Home Remedies for Managing Graves’ Disease

To manage Graves’ disease, it’s not only critical to take your prescribed medication consistently, but to also incorporate healthy lifestyle choices. If you have Graves’ disease, it’s essential to make physical and mental well-being a top priority to help you keep the disease under control. Here are some of the lifestyle choices that can help manage Graves’ disease:

Diet

It’s important to reduce inflammation by eating healthy anti-inflammatory foods that supports the immune function. Avoid foods that trigger or worsen your autoimmune symptoms. Avoid foods and dietary supplements that are high in iodine as they worsen hyperthyroidism

Stress Management

Stress is a trigger with Graves’ disease. It’s important to incorporate relaxation into your daily routine, such as listening to music, mediation, massage, aromatherapy, taking a warm Epsom salt baths, taking walks, or getting out in Nature.

Exercise

Exercise helps lower stress and control inflammation. Brittle bones can occur with Graves’ disease, and weight-bearing exercises can help maintain bone density.

Eye Protection

It’s important to take precautions to protect your eyes. Wear sunglasses, use lubricating drops, apply cool compresses to your eyes to ease the pain, grittiness and dryness. Use a pillow to keep your head higher than the rest of your body to relieve pressure on your eyes.

Sleep

Incorporate relaxation techniques to help get necessary sleep. It’s important to  avoid drinking caffeine or doing stimulating exercise activities in the hours before bedtime. And further, it’s important to  keep digital devices down during bedtime. Use  relaxation techniques to prepare for sleep.

Quit Smoking

Cigarette smoking is a trigger for Graves’ disease and may make it worse. The high amount of toxins in cigarettes can aggravate your immune system, triggering worse symptoms.

Lower Exposure to Toxins

Drink high quality water, use organic foods whenever possible, avoid over-exposure to harsh chemicals. Be aware of potential side effects of long-term use of prescription and OTC medications.

What are the Complications with Graves’ Disease?

Without treatment Graves’ Disease can cause serious health problems affecting the heart, bones, muscles, menstrual cycle, and fertility.  During pregnancy, untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to health problems for mother and baby. Graves’ disease can also cause serious eye problems and less often, skin problems.  Graves’ complications include:

Thyroid Storm

Thyroid storm is a very rare, life-threatening condition caused by too much thyroid hormone that suddenly increases your heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature to dangerously high levels. A stressful event such as trauma, surgery, or infection may trigger thyroid storm.

Heart Problems

Heart problems such as irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia—e.g. atrial fibrillation) and heart failure.

Bone Loss

Bone loss that can lead to osteoporosis. After menopause,  women are at increased risk for bone loss and weak and fragile bones that break easily. Graves’ disease can speed up bone loss.

Pregnancy Problems

Problems during pregnancy for mother and baby.

What is the Outlook Graves’ Disease?

While there is no cure for Graves’ disease, luckily there are medical treatments available to manage the disease. There is also plenty that can help by making healthy lifestyle choices to manage disease symptoms and keep them from worsening. It’s important to monitor symptoms on an on-going basis because there are many triggers that worsen them.  Make sure you get professional help if you notice symptoms worsening, or if you are suddenly under a lot of stress and anxiety which can trigger a relapse.

Hope for a Cure of Graves’ Disease!

The positive outlook is breakthrough research is underway to identify the genes linked with Graves’ disease and to develop treatments that target the underlying cause of the disease vs. just treating the symptoms. The genes that have been studied as possible risk factors for Graves’ disease are part of a family called the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex. Apitope is working on a potential treatment to target the immunological bases of Graves’ disease, which would be the first innovative treatment in more than 60 years. There is real hope that someday there will be an actual cure for Graves’ disease.

My wish for Graves’ disease “Spoonies” like me, is to help you live Well with Zest despite having a chronic health condition. Never lose hope!

Cheers to living Well with Zest!

Bev

Written by Bev Hope

Reviewed by Board Certified MD

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