Autoimmune diseases are the result of the body responding in an inappropriate manner to normal tissues and/or substances present in the body, causing prolonged inflammation followed by tissue destruction.  The body is fooled and can’t recognize the difference between healthy tissue and disease.  The body, therefore, mounts an immune response (directs antibodies against its own tissues) against itself, as if allergic to itself.  The cause of this dysfunctional behavior is unknown, it may be caused by a drug or toxin or bacterial or viral infection or environmental exposure to foreign substances.  The result of the body’s inability to recognize the difference between normal tissue and disease results in destruction.  As we age, this alone causes our immune system to decline in effectiveness.  Autoimmune diseases affect over 24 million Americans and are one of our society’s leading causes of death and disability.  Autoimmune diseases are ranked as the number one cause of heart disease, cancer, and all diseases.

A couple of the most common autoimmune diseases are diabetes (Type 1), rheumatoid arthritis, and allergies.  Many autoimmune diseases also may have a genetic or traumatic component.

Here is a short additional list of autoimmune diseases and more are being discovered all the time.  All of these diseases should have the autoimmune prefix:

Autoimmune Disease Causes:  The immune system is also thought to be suppressed by multiple factors, including abuse of:

• alcohol
• caffeine
• tobacco
• sugar (this cannot be over-emphasized)
• drugs
• food (poor diet or contaminated with herbicides, hormones, etc.)
• sleep (lack of)

As well as exposure to environmental pollution, including:

• automobile exhaust
• chemical fertilizers
• cigarette smoke
• heavy metal
• herbicides
• industrial waste
• pesticides
• stress

So, what has autoimmune diseases and oral disease (periodontal disease and tooth decay) have in common?  Well, much more than one might think:  Plaque and calculus left on teeth cause inflammation, initially gingivitis, followed often by periodontal disease (which we used to refer to as periodontitis).  Any time you see –itis on the end of a word, it is screaming inflammation.  Remember:  it is always means it is inflammation.  Chronic inflammation causes destruction of tissue.  Periodontal disease causes destruction of all periodontal tissues, gum, bone, and periodontal ligament, causing loss of teeth.  Tooth decay causes loss of tooth structure.  Since periodontal tissues are all tissues supporting teeth in the mouth, without them – no teeth.

How periodontal disease (inflammation of all periodontal tissues) leads to loss at of oral tissues, including teeth, is a simple model demonstration for what happens to a body with autoimmune diseases.

Anything that a patient can do to minimize or eliminate inflammation will lessen the effects of the disease.  A few of the things a patient can do to lessen the effects of many of these diseases are to avoid abuse of/or exposure to the above mentioned factors.  Also, as always, eat lots of antioxidants found in fresh fruit and vegetables.  Include vitamin C, vitamin E, green tea extract, beta-carotene, grape seed-skin extract, coenzyme Q-10 (coQ10) and selenium in your diet.

Also, talk to your dental and medical professionals on current treatments.  Find support groups, ask others with your particular autoimmune disease how they cope.

Good luck…keep brushing and flossing,

Dr. James G. Hood

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Dental Care Associates of Spokane Valley, P.S.
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Welcomes Patients
from Age 2 to 102!

James G. Hood, D.D.S., M.A.
507 North Sullivan Road, Suite A-1
Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576  USA
Phone: (509) 928-9100  |  Fax: (509) 928-0414
Email: drhood@drhood.com

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Dear Fellow Achalasia Patients,

I write this blog today during a beautiful, sunny Spokane, Washington, Sunday.  As I write I wonder how all of my fellow achalasia patients out there are doing.

Achalasia is a rare disease. I know from experience that it helps to talk to others who have the same affliction. It is hard to believe that October 4, 2011, will be the fourth anniversary of my repair surgery. Life is far better than it was for the seven years before the surgery.  Prior to that time, I was not aware of the term “achalasia.” Therefore, what I would like to tell all of you is that there is hope.  Do not struggle with your current situation, as professional help is available.

A CXR showing achalasia (arrows point to the outline of the massively dilated esophagus)

In my case I was officially diagnosed with achalasia in August 2007. I had no idea what achalasia was and was not particularly worried with the term.  Being as curious as I am, I immediately went home after my esophageal dilation procedure and waited for the anesthesia to fully leave my body so I could hop on the Internet and read exactly what achalasia was all about. Holy Molie! I became scared almost to death! There is truly frightening stuff out there on the Web. In fact, after reading the stuff, I thought I would be dying soon, and this was no happy thought!

I have a lot of people who depend on me and a lot of responsibilities in my life, so I began trying to take care of things in my now suddenly expected short life.  I called my doctor, and he said I most certainly was not near death, but I thought he was just trying to be optimistic and nice. I wasn’t having any of it!

To my husband’s dismay, I planned my own funeral arrangements to save him the trouble. Yep, I selected a simple coffin and a nice cemetery with a view. It seems that relaxation for me only takes place when I have a view. Weird as it may seem, I was at peace making time payments on my selected plot and even bought one for my husband next to me. Of course, he would not be using it for a long time after me, since he would have a long, healthy life, I figured. The thought of him marrying too soon, without a respectable time mourning my passing, was disturbing, so I pushed those thoughts right out of my mind. I was having enough trouble as it was.

Back to my achalasia. Now it was time to complete more research, so back to my computer I went. I ordered every natural remedy out there, although there were only a few at the time. Still hopeful in spite of my funeral planning, I faithfully followed directions on all of them. My physician told me there was no cure but that most achalasia patients live with the disease and do not die from it. Yipes! That was not reassuring.

"Bird's beak" appearance, typical in achalasia.

My weight dropped 69 pounds suddenly. It scared my kids and my husband. Previously I was a tubby, but this was no way to lose weight. I could not get or keep much food down. My stomach sphincter was so tight that it would allow only a trickle of fluid through to my stomach.  My regurgitation was out of control, and since my diagnosis was vigorous achalasia, it brought the worst type of pain. Sometimes my esophageal pain would last an hour. My family timed it, and it seemed that I could not bear the duration of the pain. Often I would run out of the house and walk around the house, using my animal instinct to flee. Nothing worked and for the first time in my life I could understand people wanting to die because of pain.

Stay tuned for the second installment of my story. There is hope at the end of the tunnel.

Karen Jean Matsko Hood

Achalasia Support Group
James and Karen Hood Foundation
507 North Sullivan Road, Suite LL-6
Spokane Valley, WA 99037-8576 USA
E-mail: karenscustomerservice@gmail.com
Phone: (509) 924-3550 | Fax: (509) 922-9949

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