Naturopathic Doctors Explain Women’s Immune

Health

Naturopathic doctors understand that the body has an incredible ability to heal itself—unless its vitality is blocked or out of balance. That’s why supporting the immune system is a natural medicine practitioner’s first priority.

When women become ill, it’s often because their immune health is su�ering.

White Blood Cells — Your Body’s Warriors!

Leukocytes:

B-cells:

T-cells:

Identify and eliminate pathogens.

Produce antibodies that attack toxins and bacteria.

Destroy infected or cancerous cells.

Top 5 Threats to Women’s Immune Health

1. Smoking2. Chemical Contaminants3. Sleep Deprivation4. Stress5. Persistent Negative Emotional State

Stress

Stress releases cortisol into your blood, which:

1. Suppresses inflammation, your body’s natural response to disease.

2. Dampens production of lymphocytes and cancer-killing cells (B-cells and T-cells).

3. Increases the rate of infection and tissue damage.

49%

90% of primary care visits are stress-related.90% of primary care visits are stress-related.

of women say their stress has increased

over the past 5 years.

What does Prolonged Stress do?

30mins

Your immune system receives the equivalent of a shot of epinephrine—the drug used to suppress life-threatening

allergic reactions.

1month

Chronic stress reduces the number of disease-fighting antibodies in your bloodstream.

8in10 Caregivers have Chronic Illness

Why do Caregivers get sick?Stress from caring for a sick or elderly relative increases your odds of becoming chronically ill.

66% of caregivers are women.

20%of all female workers in the United States are family caregivers.

Inflammation

When infection occurs, inflammation is the immune system’s natural response:

1. Damaged tissues release histamines.

2. Nearby capillaries enlarge in response to allow

more blood flow.

3. Pathogen-absorbing cells leak into the tissue and consume the foreign cells.

What Causes Chronic Inflammation?

NEARLY ALL chronic diseases stem from chronic inflammation.

Inflammation can persist for months or even years if:

• The body is unable to eliminate the problem.

• Healthy tissues are mistaken for harmful pathogens.

• A low-intensity irritant persists.

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Cancer

Cancer cells, which the immune system normally eliminates, are allowed to multiply when:

1. The immune system is suppressed.

2. Cancer cells develop strategies to resist detection by the immune system.

1in8 Women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their life.

62%The risk of breast cancer increases after a stressful life event by{ {

1in9 Women of childbearing age will be diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder.

Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune disorders can develop when:

1. The immune system mistakes normal tissue for harmful antigens.

2. The body produces antibodies that attack healthy tissues.

3. Tissues (and sometimes organs) are damaged.

Common Symptoms

There are 80-100 known autoimmune diseases, many of which cause:

Allergies

Allergies, the immune system’s reaction to normally harmless substances, occur when:1. The substance is swallowed, touched or inhaled.2. The body overreacts, releasing histamines. 3. Inflammation leads to swelling, itching or breathing problems.

1. Pollen 2. Grass 3. Dust Mites 4. Mold 5. Weeds

of asthma deaths are women.

of asthma deaths are women.

Asthma

65%65%of asthma deaths are women.

of asthma deaths are women.

Chronic inflammation of the lungs can provoke an asthma attack when:

1. An environmental irritant triggers the immune system.

2. Bronchial tubes tighten and produce mucus.

3. Airflow becomes restricted.

Top 5 Enviornmental Allergies

20%more likely to have asthma

than men.

Symptoms of Asthma

• Shortness of Breath

• Chest Tightening

• Coughing or Wheezing

Skin Conditions

65%

An overactive immune system can cause skin disorders when:

1. Hypersensitive skin comes into contact with a persistent irritant.

2. The immune system launches an inflammatory response.

3. Defensive cells in the skin attack the surrounding tissue.

Common Skin Disorders

60%of women with psoriasis say it interferes with their enjoyment of life.

Eczema • Psoriasis • Hives • Skin Cancer • Rosacea

a

Fatigue

Joint Pain

GeneralMalaise

Fever

Normal Cells

Cancer Cells

0

100

of adults with allergies are WOMEN.

Harnessing the body’s natural healing power, including the immune system and inflammatory reactions, lies at the heart of naturopathic medicine. Naturopathic physicians work collaboratively to remove the obstacles to natural healing so your body can return to its optimal state.

Sources: prevention.com, everydayhealth.com, uppitysciencechick.com, apa.org, aafa.org livescience.com, cdc.gov, alternet.org, aarda.org, everydayhealth.com, psoriasis.org, caregiver.org, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, questdiagnostics.com

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