Martin Mueller IV Achalasia Awareness Foundation, Inc.



What is autoimmunity? Noel R. Rose, MD, PhD, Director Autoimmune Disease Research Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.Autoimmunity – Immune response to normal antigens of the hostAutoimmunity disease – Disease caused or significantly promoted by autoimmunityCells T-LymphocytesCells B-LymphocytesRegulatory is limited or suppressed or stimulus might be overly strong.At least 100 diseases affecting every organ system in USA 14.7 to 23.5 million people (5-8%) most require life-long treatment chronic among the leading causes of mortality among woman under 65.Vascular systemConnective tissueEndocrineNeurologicalGI (Martin note – Achalasia?)SkinKidneysHeartVirtually all autoimmune disease are rare diseasesEstrogen tends to increase some autoimmune responses Genes on the X Chromosome contribute to autoimmune diseaseProlactin levels are raised in some autoimmune diseasesAge, Geographic and ethnic factorsDistance from equator might create a higher ratio of occurrence in autoimmune diseases (Martin note - Achalasia?)Sex and age bias for autoimmune. Puberty, pregnancy?Environmental triggers – Manufacturing and hormones in foods.2705100137160Environmental Factor2209800908051562100908050 Genetic dispositionAutoimmune DiseaseEndocrine EffectFamily clustersMultiple autoimmunity diseases30% twin concordanceMajor histocompatibility complexEnvironmental TriggersDrugs – Procaine AmideVirusesBacteria – Beta Hemolytic streptococcusFood – IodinePollutants – MercuryHormones – DistruptorsSmokingSTRESS1219200996950Where to go DirectionPredictive – Early diagnosisBiomarkers – Tests for antibodiesMore numbers of antibodies = Higher risk of an autoimmune disease – Risk signs(Martin note – Look for antibodies for Achalasia?)Physicians are unfamiliar with Autoimmune diseasesAverage time to diagnosis – 4 years and 5 doctorsFetal cells from past pregnanciesLacking high levels of autoimmune antibodies, antigen specificWomen and Autoimmune Disease – Rita Baron-Faust, MPH, CHES – Author of The Autoimmune ConnectionFatigueJoint pain (Martin note – Connection to Achalasia, inflammation in entire body)Depression(Martin note – Track when my joint pain increases, see if there is a connection with increased eating issues. Post question on Facebook – Merissa note: Question has been posted, and will track the answer)Predictive auto antibody testingPain and fatigue – Pre-cursor to having increased swallowing issues.Autoimmune Diseases of the Skin – Robert A. Norman, DO, MPH, MBA, Lead Dermatologist, Dr. Robert A Norman and Associates, Tampa FLB-Cells attack outside the cells – the invadersT-Cells attack inside the cells – the invaders(Martin note – Myelin sheath questions on how many effect Achalasia)Get the three basic blood test blood testsCBC – Complete blood countANA – Anti-nuclear antibodyThyroid or TSH – For thyroid disease(Martin note – Also look for antibodies for achalasia, test prolactin levels for possible increase)What is the Immune System – Andrew Cooke, MD, Fellow, Allergy and Immunology Division, University of South Florida, Tampa FLThymus – Where T-cells are made. Helps fight infectionTwo major typesInnate – Born withAdaptive – AlterCells of Immune systemNeutrophil – 3 Million a dayEosinophilBasophilMast cellsMacrophagesDendritic cells – Brain of immune system cells of B Cells – Mature into bone marrowPlasma cells Mature from B-cellsSecret antibodiesT- Cells – Mature in the thymus (Cancer fighting cells)NK Cells – Natural killer cells (Cancer fighting cells)Vaccines – Prevent deathsCommon Issues in Chronic Illness – Linda Ruescher, Program Director, Lupus Foundation of FloridaHelp grieve your diseaseJournal as a private person not public personDon’t burden family, they are grieving alsoManage your fatigueRest before you are tiredDon’t pushRest/Activity ratioTalk to your doctorOther causes of fatigueDepressionCoping with Autoimmune Disease – Robert H. Phillips, PhD, Director, Center for Coping, Long Island, NYMake an action plant to reach (GOALS)Book – You can’t afford the luxury of a negative thought1 in 3 has an incurable condition in the U.S.Coping – First figure out how the disease effects youSocialPhysicalEmotionalActivitiesKinAutogenic trainingUse of imagery to help with quality of life with the diseaseImagine your symptom – Paint a picture of it-Come up with a way to imagine reversing the symptomConclude with something very relaxing.S + I =RStimulusInterpretationResponseCognitive re-constructioning – Book: Feeling Good by David Burns)The quick release technique ................
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