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Showing posts with the label autoimmune disorders

Inflammation: Friend OR Foe?

Inflammation is a natural body process.  It is a natural body response to disease--in response to infection, allergens, and other bodily invaders.  This can be a good thing because it can save us from things foreign to our bodies. But in can be a bad thing when it's a  chronic response to chronic illness. Swan Neck Deformity--Rheumatoid Arthritis Celiac disease is a good example of this.  Those diagnosed with this condition experience an inflammatory response to gluten, a component of wheat and some other cereal grains.  The problem is, the antibodies produced also attack the lining of the small intestine.  The resulting inflammatory damage causes reduced ability to absorb nutrients from food, causing diarrhea, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, neurological damage, etc. Rheumatoid arthritis is another condition in which antibodies to one's own tissue are produced, causing damage to body joints and internal organs as well. Historically, anti-inflammatory medications h