Causal Factors Behind Rheumatoid and Other Autoimmune Disorders

drtener
6 days ago
4 min read

Paul A. Goldberg MPH, DC, DACBN, DCBCN

Founder and Consultant to The Goldberg Tener Clinic

I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis/ankylosing spondylitis, both labeled as autoimmune disorders at 24 years of age. After a period of discovery and hard work, I found my way back to health, maintaining it now into my 74^th year. My experience drove the direction of my professional training in Public Health/Chronic Disease Epidemiology writing my thesis on Rheumatoid Diseases at the University of Texas Graduate School of Public Health. I later pursued further studies in Clinical Nutrition and Chiropractic, focusing my practice on assisting patients with all forms of chronic health issues, particularly those with medically diagnosed autoimmune /rheumatoid diseases.

My long-standing approach, now part of the Goldberg Tener Clinic with Dr. Tener, is to help patients reverse their health problems — not through “treatments” of any kind — but by identifying and addressing the causes of their problems and taking concrete health building action steps. In doing so, for over forty years, my patients have had the opportunity to recover their health as a byproduct of their efforts. Dr. Tener and I do not “treat” any medical condition, nor do we desire to do so.

Autoimmune Disease: A Rapidly Growing Challenge

Over the past five decades, the number of people diagnosed with autoimmune disorders has skyrocketed (see graph below) while medical treatments have become increasingly hazardous. One need only read the side effects of widely prescribed “Biologicals” to understand the risks involved which for many include additional autoimmune issues, a variety of infections and cancer. Two factors underlie autoimmune/rheumatoid disorders as is true with most chronic health issues:

Genetic Predisposition
Environmental Factors

Our inherited genetic tendencies, which we cannot change, are brought to expression by environmental factors, a concept referred to as epigenetics.

In the decades I have been involved in helping patients with rheumatoid and other autoimmune issues, I have found that the environmental factors most often involved include:

Immune Dysregulation caused by inappropriate/lack of microbial exposures. Over-sanitized environments, lack of contact with the natural world, excessive antibiotic and vaccine employment all can prevent our immune system from being appropriately “trained” to recognize real threats while avoiding being overly aggressive and causing our immune system to attack our own tissues. This concept was postulated by Thomas Strachan in his article, The Hygiene Hypothesis[1]. Our overly sanitized indoor existence has failed to train our immune systems adequately, in a balance manner, in how to deal with the microbial world around us.
A patient’s nutritional status involving inappropriate/low quality and or excessive nutrient intake. Diets high in processed foods such as refined carbohydrates, trans fats, heated seed oils, etc., over time disturb immune function and have been linked to contributing to autoimmune diseases. “Poor nutrition, including deficiencies and obesity, is strongly linked to autoimmune diseases, worsening inflammation, disrupting immune function, increasing flare-ups, and potentially triggering autoimmunity by impairing immune cell production and function.” [2]
Poor sleep patterns – a chronic lack of sleep or poor-quality sleep can trigger autoimmune/rheumatoid conditions [3]
High levels of emotional/mental stress through the endocrine and immune systems can create conditions that foster autoimmune and rheumatoid issues. Emotional stress can impact autoimmune diseases, potentially contributing to their development by disrupting immune balance and the endocrine system. “Stress may trigger and exacerbate autoimmune disease. Up to 80% of patients have reported uncommon emotional stress before the onset of disease”[4]. A disorderly or high stress life involving marital disharmony, occupational dissatisfaction, loneliness, ongoing financial problems and other long term social stresses may contribute to autoimmune/rheumatoid development.
Exposure to toxins g. Alcohol, tobacco, endocrine disrupters, pesticides, herbicides, and a myriad of environmental toxins can lead to increased inflammation and an increased risk of developing autoimmune conditions.[5]. Read “Environmental Toxins and their Role in Chronic Disease”.

Notably, the above are similar to what DD Palmer postulated as the cause of spinal subluxations i.e. Toxins, Emotions and Trauma circa 1910.

Healthy and necessary exposure to sunlight, fresh air, and other natural influences have declined. Our connections to the earth in the concrete, electronic, internet, cell phone, computer, AI maze have changed dramatically from that of our ancestors when autoimmune issues were rare. Life has become more chaotic for most people. An orderly life has become elusive.

Our environments have changed dramatically over the past few hundred years, yet we as human beings remain essentially the same as we were a hundred thousand years ago. This has led to a situation where our bodies, with their ancient roots and needs, have been thrust into living in ways that are incompatible with them. Autoimmune disease (along with other chronic diseases) has been a result. Alvin Toffler wrote the book, “Future Shock”, in 1984 [6] in which he explored how as we are thrust into a world incompatible with our biology, with health issues arising in reaction to the dramatic changes we have as a species encountered. Autoimmune Disorders may be the manifestation of our bodies distress under these rapidly changing conditions.

At the Goldberg Tener Clinic, our patient’s maladaptation to 21^st century life is explored through a lengthy interview covering health and social history generally taking one to two hours, a physical examination and laboratory evaluation. Every patient differs with the specifics as to the roots of their disease but to overcome autoimmune/rheumatoid illnesses it is essential to identify causes and address them directly so that a return to health can occur.

Taking the time and developing the detective skills to uncover and address causal factors allows health to emerge as opposed to methods involving ongoing “treatments”/ symptom suppression. In identifying etiological factors that contribute to poor health, taking steps to address them and supporting the patient’s nutritional biochemistry through environmental, structural and lifestyle changes, we have assisted our patients in their road back to renewed vitality without the use of drugs or other treatments. When causes are identified and addressed and the right conditions for health to emerge are established, those afflicted with autoimmune disorders and other chronic conditions have the greatest opportunity to return to good health. The video interview below with one of our patients illustrates the excellent outcomes that are possible.