How Medicine Is Failing Autoimmunity Patients

With the media’s focus on cancer and heart disease, most people don’t know we are living in the midst of an autoimmune epidemic.

Some shocking stats:

•  The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) estimates up to 50 million Americans have an autoimmune disease (AD). In comparison, cancer affects up to 9 million and heart disease up to 22 million.
•  Researchers have identified nearly 100 different autoimmune diseases and suspect at least 40 more will soon be added to the list.
•  NIH research funding for AD in 2003 was $591 million. Cancer funding came to $6.1 billion, and heart and stroke $2.4 billion.
•  According to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Women’s Health, autoimmunity ranked #1 in a top-ten list of health topics requested by callers.
•  A close genetic relationship exists among autoimmune diseases, explaining clustering in individuals and families.
Common obstacles to an autoimmune diagnosis include:
•  Symptoms cross many medical specialties and are frequently missed or misdiagnosed.
•  Conventional medical education is behind on autoimmune disease diagnostics and treatment protocols.
•  Specialists aren’t trained to recognize or treat the interrelationships among different autoimmune conditions.
•  Because initial symptoms are often sporadic or non-specific, many patients suffer for years before proper diagnosis (if any).
•  More interdisciplinary sharing of information is needed.