Can you guess what I believe is the biggest disease-causing, and ultimately, the most significant detrimental factor to our overall health and wellness today? Knowing my repetitive advice, you might say junk food, sugar, excessive body weight, or a lack of exercise. Or maybe you guessed– given the horrible troubles it causes–smoking.

Yes, these do top the list of obstacles that inhibit our ability to live well, but there is something worse, something that plagues so many of my patients I have declared it to be the biggest and most widespread killer of our healthspan and wellbeing. The answer: inflammation.

This may be a new concept for some. In fact, even the medical community has not yet identified the symptomatic results of this unfortunate, long-term imbalance with an official label or specific diagnosis. Yet I am confident that it will happen soon due to its prevalence in the population. For now, I’ll stick to simply calling it inflammation.

The affect that inflammation can have on the immune and autoimmune signaling system is not only pain, which can lead to intense sadness and a loss of zest, it is the single most prevalent underlying factor in a long list of ailments.

THE BEGINNING

The negative effects of inflammation result from a process in which the otherwise-protective inflammatory response fails to end. The most obvious example of protective inflammation is the short-term swelling that comes from trauma. As the healing begins, the swelling subsides.

However, there is also an immune-system response that deals with encountered pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungus, yeast, or parasites). This is where the inflammation trouble I am writing about today begins. The condition I am referring to is one in which the tamping down of the response doesn’t happen after the first phase of the assault passes. In fact, the inflammatory process never shuts down.

THE MIDDLE

In order to gain a full understanding of this process, it is important for us to recognize how the immune system functions and, specifically, how the inflammatory process protects us from assaults that occur every day to our immune system.

Let me start by defining a couple of the components of your immune system that your body uses to fight against what we would commonly refer to as an “infection.”

There are two basic parts of your immune system. They are referred to as the “Th-1” and “Th-2.” The Th in these two terms refers to T Helper cells. Th-1 is what is referred to as the “innate immune system.” This component of the immune process would include, for example, the various types of white blood cells that your body produces to kill the invaders. This is your body’s first line of defense in the immune process. The Th-2 component of the immune system is what is called the “adaptive immune system.”  This is the part of the immune system that comes into play if the innate immune system becomes overwhelmed by the invaders and can’t handle the invading pathogen alone. Th-2 system then goes to work after sensing the invaders by producing “antibodies” against the pathogens.

The Th-1 system launches a “pro-inflammatory” response. Meaning that it produces inflammation. In this instance inflammation is helpful in mounting up the soldiers to fight the invading pathogens. The problem comes in when this innate immune response doesn’t shut off.

The Th-2 or adaptive component of the immune response is anti-inflammatory. In other words, it inhibits inflammation as it produces antibodies that work to kill off whatever the Th-1 system was unable to destroy.

A balance between these two systems is essential for the function of a healthy immune response and a fully functional immune system. Think of these two components of the immune system as opposite sides of a sea saw.

THE END?

In some instances, the Th-1 system remains active and continues to produce an inflammatory response when it should be shutting off. Further immune, autoimmune, further infections, allergic conditions and even cancer and diabetes and Alzheimer’s have all been implicated as potential outcomes of this inflammation and resultant aberrant immune process. Once this swing of Th-1 overbalance occurs, many other things take place over time.

There are numerous aspects of this involved process that occur as well. However, the end result is the progressive development of some of the disorders that will ultimately be diagnosed as a disease condition.

This all can occur as a result of this imbalance between these two components of our immune systems. However, for now, let’s just concentrate on getting the concept down about the imbalance and, let’s discuss how that imbalance can be altered.

When an ongoing inflammatory response occurs and becomes out-of-control, it will then adversely affect our body. Prolonged inflammation causes the breakdown of tissue. Ultimately the body’s response to the circulating cellular components of this tissue destruction is to develop antibodies (via the Th-2 system). As current research is demonstrating, this can cause an autoimmune attack on various organ systems in our body.

AN ALTERNATIVE ENDING

But how then can we slow or perhaps even reverse this process?  First of all, it is necessary to determine if in fact the symptomatic changes are in due to a prolonged Th-1 response. It is necessary to identify the imbalance in the Th-1/Th-2 response and whether or not a prolonged inflammatory response is the true cause of the symptoms and the ultimate diagnosis. This requires a good case history and examination.

Once this is accomplished, then the process of tamping down the immune imbalance begins. In other words, regaining a balance on the sea saw between the Th-1 and Th-2 components of the immune system.

A multifaceted approach is required to calm inflammation and aid the body in tissue repair. Dietary and lifestyle are certainly key elements in this process. Reducing the consumption of inflammatory foods and incorporating exercise, proper sleep patterns, and assisting with stress reduction and management are all hallmarks in the process. Then, adding to those lifestyle modifications, if appropriate for the individual, anti-inflammatory supplementation. Checking levels of vitamin D, cortisol, a simple evaluation of the immune system through blood testing as well as an evaluation of the gut microbiome and inflammatory biomarkers would all be good starting points.

If indicated, the addition of vitamin D to bring levels up to healthy range would be essential. This along with the incorporation of such things as curcumin, turmeric, resveratrol, in order to tamp down the inflammatory cascade might also be indicated.

The key is to reduce inflammation as well as you can as soon as possible. This in turn helps to rebalance the Th-1/Th-2 ratio and create a healthier internal environment.

These suggestions are just that: general recommendations. For true success, it essential to consult with a healthcare provider who is knowledgeable in treating patients who have symptoms of this type. The practitioner must be versed in the process of a chronic imbalance in the immune response. They would also need to understand the effects of a long-standing immune modulated inflammatory process and the ultimate chronic disease and sickness that it can cause.
Please understand that in this newsletter article we are just exploring the tip of the iceberg in the understanding of the inflammatory process and the autoimmune signaling that it can bring on. Its intent is to highlight the fact that we do not need to accept imbalance and disease as inevitable. There is hope for healing.

In the coming months, I plan to provide you with further information to consider regarding this and many other components involved with increasing your healthspan and helping you to create a longer healthier life.

Dr. Pfeiffer