Rheumatoid Arthritis - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects more than 1.5 million adults in the world. It is an autoimmune condition that occurs when the body’s immune system begins attacking the joints, mistaking them as foreign invaders. The body attacks the thin membrane surrounding joints, allowing fluid and immune complexes to build up and cause significant pain. Normally, these immune complexes filter out of your blood on their own, yet when there is build-up, they tend to settle into different joints and cause local inflammation and tissue damage. When these immune complexes build up in the joints, they can cause the pain and swelling characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis.
5 Underlying Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Gluten is a big problem for most people and it’s in everything! It can wreak havoc on your gut and set you up for a leaky gut. Once your gut is leaky, gluten gets into your bloodstream and confuses your immune system into attacking healthy cells.
Leaky Gut: Having a leaky gut is the gateway for infections, toxins and foods - such as gluten - to cause inflammation that leads to autoimmunity.
Mercury: This heavy metal can alter or damage the cells of various bodily tissues. When cells are damaged, your immune system can mistake them as foreign invaders and begin attacking its own organs.
Mycotoxins: Toxic molds produce mycotoxins, which are volatile organic compounds (VOC) and can be toxic to genetically susceptible people.
Infections: Gut bacteria can cause leaky gut, which is a frequent cause of immune dysfunction and inflammation. In addition to bacteria, the Epstein-Barr virus is also believed to be a potential trigger of rheumatoid arthritis.
Ways to get Relief
Remove gluten from your diet.
Maintain optimal weight - Carrying extra weight puts added stress on your joints, especially the joints in your knees, hips and feet. An extra 10 pounds puts 15 to 50 extra pounds of pressure on your knees. Losing excess weight not only improves mobility and flexibility, it can also help prevent future damage to your joints.
Exercise
Aerobics
Light weightlifting
Conditioning activities
Yoga
Cryotherapy - Cryotherapy literally means “cold therapy.” It’s basically a term that can be used any time extreme cold is used as a form of treatment.
Contrast Bath Therapy - Cold water immersion therapy has recently evolved into a more complex form of natural arthritis relief. Contrast bath therapy incorporates cold water immersion and hot tub therapy.
Take a Bath in Epsom Salts - Epsom salts contain high levels of magnesium and sulfates which can help reduce inflammation, relax tense muscles, and reduce muscle spasms.
Infrared Therapy - Infrared light can penetrate further down into the joints, muscles, and tissues, promoting circulation and blood flow.
Massage Therapy
Support Your Immune System
Quit Smoking
Fibromyalgia
It’s estimated that Fibro affects 6 million people or 1 in 50. It causes chronic pain, muscle spasms, fatigue, sleep issues, brain fog, cognitive impairment, and depression.
Root causes include:
Gluten Intolerance
Candida Overgrowth. Candida is fungus or yeast that lives in your intestines. When overproduced it breaks down the wall of the intestines and penetrates the bloodstream, releasing toxic byproducts and brain fog, fatigue, digestive issues and pain. Over 90% of fibro patients have candida overgrowth.
Thyroid imbalance. Check for OPTIMAL thyroid levels rather than standard reference ranges for thyroid-an underactive thyroid is often present, DO NOT just run a TSH!
Vitamin deficiencies such as D, and B12 are the most common. D should be 60-95 and b12 should be 6-900.
SIBO - Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth or Leaky Gut or any kind of gut dysbiosis can be at the root of Fibro
Adrenal fatigue. Chronic pain is stress to the adrenal glands. Adaptogenic herbs can often be helpful to balance the adrenals.
Toxic mold. Getting a mold panel can be a great idea as a root cause behind fibro
Mercury toxicity. Removing mercury dental fillings and doing heavy metal testing is imperative
Glutathione deficiency. Taking a glutathione supplement will help detox the body of unwanted materials. HERE is my glutathione suggestion. It helps tremendously with fatigue!
Lastly, working with me to follow an Autoimmune diet is the final key to success! Click HERE for a free consultation! 67% of clients with Autoimmune disorders that I see state after working with me their symptoms are significantly less if not gone completely!
Keep Moving Forward 😊 Sarah