Health Issues in IC Overview
* Underlying health issues predispose a person to a chronic disease, and often precede onset of that disease. They may go undetected for years and often include genetic weaknesses, allergies, parasitic infections, yeast infestations, hormone imbalances, nutritional deficiencies and environmental toxins.
* Environmental toxins have increased dramatically in recent years and are often linked to an increase in chronic disease. Our environment is often compared to a “toxic soup” with pesticide residues showing up in our water systems, along with antibiotic residues, hormones, caffeine and fragrances.
* Although the body is innately designed to eliminate unwanted chemicals and toxins, this process is overtaxed and may not be functioning optimally, or even at all. Adding to the increase in toxins, there is a decrease in nutrients necessary for this vital function. In particular, the mineral sulfur is required in large doses for the detoxification process, but obtained in limited quantities from the average diet.
* Hormonal imbalances play an ever increasing role in the onset of many chronic diseases, including IC. In particular, estrogen dominance (more estrogen than progesterone) is linked to PMS, inflammation, endometriosis, allergic reactions, yeast overgrowth, fibrocystic breasts, low thyroid, low cellular oxygen and blood clotting.
* Another often overlooked, but important player in some chronic diseases, is poor oral health. Bacteria travel from the mucus membranes of the mouth to the blood stream and from there, throughout the body. Chronic infection and inflammation result, but may not be detectable for years. Certainly a particular bacteria or virus can travel from the mouth to the mucus membranes through the blood to the bladder.
* Heavy metals, especially aluminum and mercury, often disrupt metabolic functions leading to illness. Mercury, in particular, was found in higher amounts in some IC patients than in the normal population.
* The role of the lymphatic system in health and illness is often overlooked. A sluggish lymphatic system has been linked to IC, and many other chronic illnesses. The lymphatic system makes white blood cells, cleans metabolic debris from an injury site, removes bacteria, viruses and toxins from the body, and plays a role in inflammation.