Dr. Robert Lichtenstein, DC, CNS
Functional Nutritionist NY
Natural Healing with Scientific Nutrition
(718) 719-5878
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) causes pain and deformity and can lead to disabilities severe enough to prevent people from earning a living. Every form of arthritis is concerning, but RA has more risks. The disease often begins in younger patients who experience disabling consequences years or even decades before retirement.
Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis
RA begins when the immune system attacks the body rather than blocking invading germs. In the instance of RA, the attack occurs on the synovium or the lining of the joints. The disease causes inflammation and pain in the hands, knees, and ankles and can lead to more severe illnesses. The condition often strikes in middle age and is much more likely to occur in women and certain ethnic groups.
Most forms of arthritis affect the joints. RA affects the joint lining, so it is more like to cause excessive swelling and deformities in the joints. The condition causes inflammation throughout the body and damages much more than the joints.
The hormone cortisol has earned a bad reputation in diet circles as the cause of wide waistlines. Excessive amounts of the hormone can cause weight gain, but cortisol remains essential to life. The body needs cortisol to respond effectively to stress, stabilize blood pressure, protect the immune system, and more.
The adrenal glands produce cortisol and supply the body with aldosterone, another vital hormone. Aldosterone balances potassium and sodium in the blood to keep the kidneys functioning. Anything that affects the efforts of the adrenal glands can cause a severe health crisis. Addison's disease is also called primary adrenal insufficiency and hypoadrenalism.
Understanding Addison's Disease
The body has two small adrenal glands sitting on top of the kidneys. The adrenal cortex is the outer layer of these glands. The immune system, for unknown reasons, can fail to operate as expected and mistakenly attack the adrenal cortex. However, the glands will continue to work at first, so no symptoms will begin until damage occurs to about 90 percent of the adrenal cortex.
Addison's disease occurs once the cortex fails, and the adrenal glands begin producing inadequate levels of cortisol and aldosterone. People usually experience minor symptoms initially because the body will have adequate, or nearly adequate, hormone levels. However, the health issues worsen over time as the level of hormones in the body decline.
Choosing Natural Remedies for Addison's Disease
Traditional medicine Addison's disease treatments address the symptoms experienced by each patient. The methods used will vary because the symptoms are often different between patients. Doctors will also prescribe medications for each patient to replace the missing hormones. The prescriptions used for this purpose weaken the immune system and make the body more susceptible to infections. The treatments rarely help to restore adrenal gland function.
People can always choose a more natural and safer wellness option. Dr. Lichtenstein is a functional medicine practitioner who uses holistic methodology to find the cause of symptoms. A diet modification that eliminates harmful foods and incorporates specific healing and system-strengthening supplements can boost nutrition and balance the immune system.
Dr. Robert Lichtenstein used this natural method twice to defeat his stage 4 cancer. Dr. Lichtenstein is a Board-Certified Nutritional Specialist and a Chiropractor. He understands how nutrition plays a role in keeping the body healthy and the immune system working.
I had never heard of Addison's disease before my diagnosis. I tried the usual treatments but never felt as good as I had before the illness started. I also never got the results I wanted. Finally, I decided to do something more, so I contacted Dr. Lichtenstein. Taking control of my health was the smartest choice I have ever made. Now, I feel even better than I did before I developed Addison's disease.
-A. Van Cott, Long Island, NY
The symptoms of Addison's disease may remain unnoticed or be mistaken for other health problems until they become severe. Most people will experience severe symptoms, but not necessarily everything. Typical Addison's disease warning signs include:
An immune system dysfunction causes the body to damage or destroys the adrenal cortex, the outermost layers of the glands. Once damage occurs to about 90 percent of the adrenal cortex, people begin to experience symptoms. Some people with similar symptoms fail to produce the hormones because of a problem with the pituitary gland. In this instance, the illness is another condition known as secondary adrenal insufficiency.
An autoimmune reaction that causes the body to attack healthy and vital cells causes most cases of Addison's disease. Immune system disorders often arise after the immune system addresses an illness. Infections, injuries, surgery, or physical trauma could cause immune system dysfunction.
Having an autoimmune disease can put people at risk of developing another. Many Addison's patients were already managing illnesses like Type 1 diabetes before their newest diagnosis. Women are more likely to experience Addison's than men, and most people receiving the diagnosis are between 30-50 years old.
It is dangerous not to follow through with Addison's disease remedies because they can have life-threatening consequences. Without treatment, the hormone levels in the body will continue to decline. Acute adrenal failure or adrenal crisis can develop. People can suddenly lose their strength and feel extreme pain in the abdomen, lower back, and legs. Some people may lose consciousness due to low blood pressure or experience vomiting and diarrhea. Kidney failure, shock, seizures, coma, and death can occur.
Addison's disease can seem frightening because of the potential for serious health complications. However, effective treatment options that correct the immune system function can alleviate the worries and help people to have the healthy body they deserve. Dr. Robert Lichtenstein wants to help by sharing the health plan he developed that helped him overcome cancer.
Learn more about this method by speaking with the doctor through a convenient telehealth consultation. Virtual phone or video visits enable everyone to access health care without leaving home. The money-saving and time-saving appointments are available on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Schedule a free phone consultation through the website today to learn more.
Additional References
Nutritional and herbal programs are not intended as a primary therapy for any disease because they have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This website and the patients services offered here are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. They are intended to provide nutritional and herbal support for normal body physiology and repair.