August 8, 2022
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Source/Disclosure
The issuer:
Munoz GE. Microbiome Dysregulation in Autoimmune Diseases (Immunomodulators) – Updated August 2022. August 3-6, 2022.
Disclosure:
Munoz does not report related financial disclosures.
ORLANDO — Lifestyle changes such as exercise and an anti-inflammatory diet can improve the health of patients being treated for autoimmune diseases, says a presenter at the 2022 Rheumatology Nursing Association Conference.
George E. Munoz, MD As medical director of the American Arthritis and Rheumatology Associates in Miami and chief medical officer of the Oasis Institute, he explains how factors such as lifestyle, immune balance, genetics, environmental triggers and autoimmunity affect patients with autoimmune disease. I talked about how it affects you.
“It’s about healing the whole person, not just the disease.” George E. Munoz, MD told attendees. “It’s not just the number of joints.” Source: Adobe Stock
“All of these factors influence how patients respond to biologics,” he said.
Munoz also explained how the ‘crosstalk’ between the microbiome and these factors affects patients on all kinds of rheumatism drugs. He added that genetic abnormalities have links to the microbiome and can lead to autoimmunity.
According to Munoz, integrative medicine approaches such as diet, exercise, nutrition, reflection, stress reduction, sleep improvement, botanicals and nutritional supplements can impact the overall well-being of patients with these conditions. I have.
“Doctors are thinking about medication and test results,” he said. “As a nurse, I believe you are [using integrative medicine] From the beginning. “
Balancing traditional and integrated approaches may be key to optimizing patient outcomes, Munoz added.
“It’s about healing the whole person, not just the disease,” he said. “It’s not just the number of joints.”
That said, Munoz concedes that while many integrative medicine approaches have become more precise in recent years, they are “still a bit vague.” He sought to provide a deeper perspective on how these approaches have a legitimate impact on patient outcomes.
For example, he noted that sleep disturbances and increased stress can increase cytokine levels and trigger a pro-inflammatory response.
“Sleep disorders are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease or all-cause mortality,” he said.
Turning to genetic factors, Munoz noted the relationship between the HLA-B27 system and the microbiome as a potentially important factor for physicians and nurses to consider.
“Ask patients if they have relatives with psoriasis or IBD,” he said.
Having this information and then testing for HLA-B27 allows clinicians to intervene early, before arthritis or spondyloarthritis activity appears. This intervention does not necessarily take the form of pharmacotherapy, but is an integrative approach to improve the microbiome and minimize inflammatory agents.
“If you’re on an anti-inflammatory diet, you’re less likely to have an intestinal dysbiosis,” he said.
According to Munoz, this gut microbiota disorder can have a significant impact on patients at risk for autoimmune diseases. He noted that when gut bacteria cross the epithelium and migrate to places they don’t belong, they can activate macrophages, including T and B cells.
“It showed an inflammatory cascade,” he said.
An important way to reduce this risk is an anti-inflammatory diet. Munoz suggested that the Mediterranean trophic pattern is a good starting point.
“There’s a lot of fiber and color,” he said. “That’s what you want your microbiome to be a happy microbiome.”
For attending physicians, Munoz provided a final point that connects traditional and integrative approaches.
“Conventional therapeutic interventions may not work well unless patients follow all other lifestyle improvement areas,” he said.
