1. Mouth (Rheumatoid Arthritis) 2. Sinuses, Respiratory tract (Nasal Polyps)
3. Gastrointestinal tract (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) 4. Genitals, Urinary tract (Reactive Arthritis) 5. Skin (Eczema) 6. Within tissue or organs (Hepatitis) 7. Our Environment (Migraines)
Symptoms of Dysbiosis Symptoms or conditions that can occur
from dysbiosis can be different from one person to the next. Symptoms are based off of: 1) The type of offending microbe, 2) the location of the dysbiosis, and 3) the severity of immune system dysfunction. Some of the symptoms, fi ndings and conditions that can be attributed to dysbio- sis include:
• Fatigue/Fibromyalgia • Joint pain • Allergies • Digestive disturbances (bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, heart burn)
• Yeast infections/thrush • Mental fogginess • Auto-immune conditions • Eczema, Cystic Acne • Vitamin B defi ciency • Sugar cravings • Depression/anxiety • And More…
Two Major Causes of Dysbiosis 1. Antibiotics
The causes of dysbiosis are numerous but some of the best known include medi- cations such as antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-infl ammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Con- sumption of antibiotics through prescription medication and or through our food supply can contribute to dysbiosis in a few different ways. Antibiotics are not selective only to bad bacteria, but they can also damage or kill the good benefi cial bacteria. When our benefi cial bacteria are depleted it allows for other competing microbes to proliferate or grow in the location, most commonly seen in practice within the GI tract. Yeast/fungus is the most common microbe that can cause problems for individual’s post antibiotic treatment. The other tricky part is that bacte- ria can build up resistance to the antibiotic and therefore create additional trouble by making eradication more diffi cult. NSAIDs are a medication that many people take on
a daily basis and can contribute to dysbio- sis by preventing the growth of the “good guys”. Long term use can cause digestive disturbances or even contribute to the development of leaky gut and autoimmune disease.
2. Dietary Habits
The majority of the microbes that are present in our body actually reside in the digestive tract. Therefore anything that we eat, the microbes eat. By your everyday food choices you either choose to promote growth of the “good guys” or the “bad guys.” A diet high in sugar, carbohydrates and/or processed foods can be the most detrimental because it fuels the bad guys such as Candida, a type of yeast. By choos- ing foods such as vegetables, fi ber, moder- ate protein, quality fats and limiting simple carbohydrates, sugar and starchy foods, you can help fuel the growth of benefi cial bacte- ria within the gut.
Testing
To determine if you have dysbiosis there are some different tests available, however the testing is different based on the location of the potential dysbiosis. I will provide you with some of the types of testing available for microbes but a knowledgeable practitio- ner should be ordering these tests for you depending on your personal history, present- ing signs and symptoms, and diagnosis.
Types of testing for microbes:
1. Testing the immune system (antibod- ies) to see if there is prior exposure to a bad guy or the microbe in question. 2. Checking to see if the microbe will grow from a sample taken from the location of dysbiosis.
If “bad guys” are present then ad- dressing their eradication is step one of the treatment. This treatment can include antimicrobial medication or herbs, dietary changes to stop fueling the “bad guys,” and repopulating the dysbiosis location with good microbes, such as occurs with the consumption of probiotics.
The understanding that these microbial populations need to live in harmony not only with one another but also with our immune system is an important piece to structuring an effective treatment plan. If our immune system is over or under active due to poor nutrition, poor gastrointestinal health, stress and/or exposure to environ- mental toxins then we must also address the immune system dysfunction.
3. Genetic testing (PCR Testing) of a sample taken from the body to search for and identify the presence of micro- bial DNA.
4. Metabolite testing of specifi c metabol- ic markers in the urine or breath that may be positive if microbial infection is present.
The most commonly ordered testing
for dysbiosis in my offi ce is of the GI tract, which can be completed with a CDSA (Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis). It uses some of the technologies listed above to determine what microbes are present within your stool, both good and bad. This test is a great start for looking into your bal- ance or imbalance of gut microbes.
Treatment/Prevention Considerations
Treatment is two-fold. First, identify the “bad guy(s)” and address their eradication if they are present as well as treat the immune dysfunction.
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