Naperville Integrated Wellness
NAPERVILLE'S TOP RATED LOCAL® FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE FACILITY
The Real Pandemic – Your Immune System
COVID-19 won’t kill you… your immune system will
A pandemic is an epidemic of disease that covers a large region or the entire world and affects large numbers of people. We are calling COVID-19 a pandemic…but it is not the virus that is the real problem, it is our own immune systems. COVID-19 has become a such a concern because of the possibility of significant complications and even death. Why is a virus causing hospitalizations and even death? It is most likely NOT the virus that is killing people…it is their own immune system! The true pandemic is poor immune health and chronic inflammation. Inflammation is your immune system’s response to cell injury. The worldwide pandemic is not the coronavirus. The pandemic is poor immune health and chronic inflammation caused by a diseased immune system. Scientists believe these cytokines are evidence of an immune response called a cytokine storm, where the body starts to attack its own cells and tissues rather than just fighting off the virus.” “Cytokine Storms May Be Fueling Some COVID Deaths.” 17 Apr. 2020, https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200417/cytokine-storms-may-be-fueling-some-covid-deaths. Some COVID-19 patents’ immune systems turn deadly “…many experts suspect our own immune system is to blame for the intense illnesses some people are experiencing. The immune system is there to help us fight infection—and usually it does—but sometimes it goes rogue, wreaking more havoc than the disease itself.” https://www.health.com/condition/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/cytokine-storm. “A severe immune reaction in which the body releases too many cytokines into the blood too quickly. Cytokines play an important role in normal immune responses but having a large amount of them released in the body all at once can be harmful. A cytokine storm can occur as a result of an infection, autoimmune condition, or other disease.” https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/797584 There are numerous articles that are all saying the same thing…the corona virus is not killing people…their own immune system is true cause of death. Those individuals with an immune system that launches an inappropriate/diseased response which leads to damage bodily harm and even death. A healthy…properly functioning immune system does not do this…only a dysfunctional one does. “Inflammation in the vessel wall plays an essential part not only in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis but also in the erosion or fissure of plaques and, eventually, in the rupture of plaques.1 Moreover, recent investigations have shown that various markers of systemic inflammation can predict future cardiovascular events including non-fatal and fatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and the progression of peripheral arterial occlusive disease in men and women regardless of whether they are known to have atherosclerosis.” (2) “… inflammation and immune system alterations have been linked to AD. The prevailing hypothesis as cause of AD is the deposition in the brain of amyloid beta peptides (Aβ). Although Aβ have a role in defending the brain against infections, their accumulation promotes an inflammatory response mediated by microglia and astrocytes.” (3) “…immune cells produce pro-inflammatory cytokines that act on the brain to cause sickness behavior. When activation of the peripheral immune system continues unabated, such as during systemic infections, cancer or autoimmune diseases, the ensuing immune signaling to the brain can lead to an exacerbation of sickness and the development of symptoms of depression in vulnerable individuals.” (1) Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, dementia, respiratory illness, autoimmune disease, depression, anxiety, hormone problems, fatigue, weight gain…the list just keeps going and going! Inflammation and immune system problems are playing a significant role in these health issues. This is why functional medicine and the help of a functional medicine doctor is so important. We don’t have drugs to stop the numerous types of inflammation, nor do we have drugs to help our sick immune systems. We have drugs that will suppress the immune system but using that as a “solution” causes significant health risks. Your immune system is designed to protect you and promote healing. When it loses function, it loses control of itself. When this happens its responses are exaggerated, inappropriate, causing illness and death. 1.Dantzer, R., O’Connor, J. C., Freund, G. G., Johnson, R. W., & Kelley, K. W. (2008). From inflammation to sickness and depression: when the immune system subjugates the brain. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 9(1), 46-56. Retrieved 5 22, 2020, from https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc2919277 2.Koenig, W. (2000). Heart disease and the inflammatory response. BMJ, 321(7255), 187-188. Retrieved 5 22, 2020, from https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc1118197 3.Solana, C., Tarazona, R., Solana, R., & Solana, R. (2018). Immunosenescence of Natural Killer Cells, Inflammation, and Alzheimer’s Disease. International Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 2018, 3128758. Retrieved 5 22, 2020, from https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30515321 If you would like more information about functional medicine and integrative medicine or Dr. Sexton go to napervilleintegratedwellness.com Do your own research, inform yourself and ask lots of questions. When collecting information, you MUST consider the source. There is no shortage of false, misleading, outdated, profit-driven and utterly biased information in healthcare today; even from the most respected sources and organizations. This approach to healthcare is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease. This article is for information purposes and is not a substitute professional healthcare services. Contact our office for more information.The common denominators…or root causes of chronic illnesses and COVID-19 deaths are inflammation and a dysfunctional/diseased immune system response.
Cytokine Storms May Be Fueling Some COVID Deaths
“In many of the sickest patients with COVID-19, their blood is teeming with high levels of immune system proteins called cytokines.What Is a Cytokine Storm? How Some COVID-19 Patients …
Cytokine Storm?
Who is at risk?
Heart disease the #1 cause of death…
Alzheimer’s disease…
Depression…
Poor immune function and inflammation can be found as a root cause to all chronic illness and in the case of COVID-19, an acute illness. The true pandemic we are all facing is that of poor immune system health. COVID-19 won’t kill you…it will be the very system that is supposed to protect you. Your immune system can save your life, but for most, is will be the very thing which takes it away.
The purpose of functional medicine is:
Understanding how the body works, knowing how and where to investigate health issues, knowing what to look for, understanding the significance of what is found and creating a plan of action to reverse and correct the root cause the health problems.
My wish for you…health, happiness and a better quality of life!