What does the average person do when they feel a cold coming on or feel their immune system is not up to snuff?

They rest, call in sick or take a trip to the health food store; where they may buy some supplements and amp up. There are a plethora of supplements on the market today to help with most ailments. It is an amazingly profitable business. One after another they swap their turns in the spotlight. They are the champs, but could supplements be more harmful than helpful for people with diagnosed or undiagnosed autoimmune diseases?

People living with autoimmune diseases already have overactive immune systems. The system is so active we are literally killing cells in our body when it is in attack mode. When we get sick consuming some choices may be fine but what about others? Having one autoimmune disease does increase your chance of developing another.

According to Noel Rose MD (John’s Hopkins, In Focus June 2001):

“… it is important, from the clinical point of view, to consider the autoimmune diseases as a united group of disorders. The presence of one autoimmune disease will alert the physician and the patient to the possibility that a second or third autoimmune disease may occur in the same individual or in other members of the same family. The presence of one autoimmune disease may be a sign of heightened susceptibility to a second disease.”

As a Nurse, I see many patients diagnosed with multiple autoimmune diseases. I note connections with type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, lupus, hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and many other autoimmune diseases. Many people will swear they are the only person in their family with type 1 diabetes. When you delve deeper you will almost always find other autoimmune diseases littered throughout the family tree.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine 2012:

“Echinacea is often used as a dietary supplement to boost the immune system against colds and other illnesses. However, because Echinacea boosts your immune system, it may cause flares in people with autoimmune diseases such as lupus. In fact, Echinacea supplements sold in Europe bear warning labels that advise against use by people with autoimmune diseases. As a result, people with lupus and other autoimmune diseases should avoid these supplements. In general, it is important that you speak with your physician before taking any new medications or supplements.”

As you can see it is recommended to tread cautiously. Remember, the clerks at your local health food store in the supplements department are not MD’s or Naturopaths. They are usually well educated on their products and know whats popular. However, they can only recommend them based on their properties not on your western medicine diagnosis. Always seek a professional opinion when you have a probable or suspicious autoimmune disease and then take your approved supplements. One autoimmune disease is enough, isn’t it?

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