"Autoimmune disease, in my best description, is that your current speed of life is not compatible with your current state of being. Appreciating this may allow for uncovering of the true root causes that build a beautiful future."
– Cheng Ruan, MD Chief Medical Officer of Texas Center for Lifestyle Medicine
What Is Autoimmune Disease?
Your immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs which work together to defend the body from foreign invaders, such as bacteria and viruses. An autoimmune disease develops when your body’s immune system attacks healthy cells. There are over 80 different types of autoimmune disease, and while both genders may experience one or several of these ailments, they tend to occur more in women than in men.
Autoimmune diseases can affect almost any part of your body and are often difficult to diagnose because many of them have similar symptoms. As a result, countless people go undiagnosed or must visit several healthcare providers before receiving an answer to their debilitating symptoms.
The Texas Center for Lifestyle Medicine specializes in autoimmune disease treatment. Through our personalized approach to the body’s most difficult medical concerns, we can help you to uncover the root cause of your dysfunction and provide comprehensive treatment to restore your daily functioning.
Learn More About Autoimmune Disorders
While autoimmune disease causes are not fully understood, there are many factors believed to trigger autoimmune reactions, including:
- Genetics
- Environmental toxins
- Dietary choices
- Leaky gut syndrome
- Chronic stress
- Food allergies and sensitivities
This is why an autoimmune disorder requires a personalized approach; two people can have the same disorder for different reasons. For example, they may be from different cultures, have different genetics, eat different foods, and are exposed to different environmental factors and stressors.
Depending on the autoimmune disease which impacts your health, symptoms may vary. Most autoimmune disorders produce symptoms of fatigue, pain, and inflammation. These symptoms worsen during flare-ups and dissipate during remission.
Other autoimmune disease symptoms include:
- Joint or muscle pain
- General feeling of illness
- Headaches
- Difficulty concentrating
- Unexplained weight loss or gain
- Acne, body rashes, or hives
- Insomnia
- Heat or cold intolerance
- Stomach cramping
The Texas Center for Lifestyle Medicine spends substantial time reviewing all aspects of your health to arrive at a proper diagnosis and to formulate a treatment plan appropriate for your unique needs. We will collect the following information through various tests and assessments as part of the diagnostic process:
- Microbiome data (gut bacteria)
- Environmental toxins
- Cultural patterns
- Behavioral patterns
- Hormones
Taking this data, and combining it with additional specialized testing of autoantibodies, inflammatory markers, stool microbiome cultures and immunoglobulin testing, we tailor your program to include personalized diet plans, supplements, and medications (as needed). We go beyond the "diet and exercise" cliché and take a scientific approach to the most complex autoimmune disease cases. We may also recommend training programs to empower you to take control of your health and to learn about the aspects of your everyday life which contribute to autoimmunity.
We offer IV infusions of any medications you may be on for your autoimmune disease while also providing adjunctive services such as acupuncture, IV nutrient repletion, physical therapy, exercise training, and lifestyle management.
How Autoimmune Disease is Modified Through Lifestyle
How food and environment affects autoimmune disease
Start Your Autoimmune Disorder Treatment Today!
If you have an autoimmune disease, you are not without options. Healing autoimmune disease is possible through personalized and comprehensive treatment at Texas Center for Lifestyle Medicine. What’s more, these therapies and lifestyle changes can make it possible for you to finally get off of steroids and/or immune-suppressing medications.
The Texas Center for Lifestyle Medicine treats a number of autoimmune disorders, including but not limited to:
Lupus
Rheumatoid arthritis
Celiac disease
Sjögren’s syndrome
Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative colitis
Type 1 diabetes
Psoriasis
Eczema