In completing this research, I started doing the math it seems that there are entirely too many of us walking around in the U.S. with an immune system that has been suppressed by disease or by chemical.
Let’s start with autoimmune diseases in general. For a definition, when you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system attacks your body by mistake. There are a variety of treatments for autoimmune diseases. Speaking generally, some treatments are designed to add or remove components of the blood that are affecting the immune system. Most treatments suppress the immune system so it doesn’t attack your body.
Below is a list of autoimmune diseases and their treatments. The disease list was obtained from: hxxp://autoimmune.pathology.jhmi.edu/diseaselist.cfm. Although, these are the standard, most widely used treatments for the diseases, they are not the only treatments for some diseases. The treatments were obtained from various websites.
Addison's disease - Corticosteroids;
Alopecia Areata - Steroid injections or cream;
Ankylosing Spondilitis – Non Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Medication(NSAIDs) or Corticosteroids;
Antiphospholipid Syndrome - Low dose aspirin & Warfarin (anticoagulant);
Aplastic Anemia – Immunosuppressive therapy with Corticosteroids given at the same;
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemias – Corticosteroids, IV immunoglobulin G (IVIG)
Autoimmune Hepatitis - Prednisone, Prednisone with azathioprine, Corticosteroid therapy.
Autoimmune Hearing Loss - Steroids (prednisone), methotrexate, chemotherapy agent
Autoimmune Hypoparathyroidism - Oral calcium carbonate and vitamin D. A high-calcium, low-phosphorous diet is recommended.
Autoimmune Hypophysitis – Corticosteroids and adequate hormone replacement therapy
Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative - Corticosteroids or immunosuppressants
Autoimmune Myocarditis - Immunoglobulin (Ig) on effector T cells in autoimmune myocarditis. Treatment with Ig reduced production of the so-called T-helper type 1 (Th1) cytokines stimulated by concanavalin A or cardiac myosin in cultured lymph node (LN) cells from rats with myocarditis. hxxp://ajpheart.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/287/6/H2619
Autoimmune Oophoritis - There are few reports on a successful ovulation-inducing treatment with high dosages of corticosteroids. hxxp://autoimmune.pathology.jhmi.edu/diseases.cfm?systemID=3&DiseaseID=19
Autoimmune Orchitis - Deoxyspergualin (Immunosuppressive agent)
Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathy – Hormone therapy, insulin,
Behcet's Disease – Corticosteroids;
Bullous Pemphigoid - Corticosteroids or immunosuppressive medication;
Celiac Disease – Gluten Free diet & Dapsone;
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy – Corticosteroids;
Churg-Strauss Syndrome – Corticosteroids;
Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita - Systemic steroids, Immunosuppressants;
Giant Cells Arteritis – Corticosteroids;
Goodpasture's Syndrome - Immunosuppressive medication & Corticosteroids;
Graves' Disease – Thyroid hormone and the use of radioactive iodine to destroy part of the thyroid gland and thereby reduce hormone production, or surgical removal of part of the gland.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome – Plasmapheresis & Intravenous immunoglobulin.
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - thyroid hormone replacement.
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura - include glucocorticoids, intravenous immunoglobulin, intravenous anti-Rho (D), and splenectomy;
IgA Nephropathy (Berger Disease) - Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, Angiotensin II receptor antagonists, Corticosteroids, Immunosuppressive agents.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease – aminosalicylates, antibiotics, Corticosteroids, immune modifiers.
Kawasaki's Disease - Antibiotics, single dose of intravenous immunoglobulin, High doses of aspirin
Meniere's Syndrome - vestibulosuppressants, diuretics, steroids, aminoglycosides,
Mooren's Ulcer - Steroids and immunosuppressive agents
Multiple Sclerosis – treatment: Immunosuppressive agents: Avonex (interon beta 1-a), Betaseron (interferon beta 1-b), Copaxone (glatiramir acetate), Rebif (interferon beta 1-a),Novatrone, Tysabri, Fingolimod (in trials)& Steroids.
Myasthenia Gravis – Corticosteroids, Beta-agonist bronchodilators, Anticholinergic bronchodilators, Cholinesterase inhibitors
Pemphigus Foliaceous - Topical treatment with Corticosteroids and antibiotics
Pemphigus Vulgaris - Corticosteroids, medications containing gold, the anti-inflammatory drug Dapsone, or medications that suppress the immune system, Plasmapheresis & antibiotics.
Pernicious Anemia - vitamin B12
Polyarteritis Nodosa - high-dose intravenous and oral cortisone medications & immunosuppressive medication.
Polyglandular Autoimmune Syndrome Type 1 (PAS-1) Hormone replacement therapy
Polyglandular Autoimmune Syndrome Type 2 (PAS-2) thyroid hormone therapy, Glucocorticoids, antidiabetic agents, Mineralocorticoids (form of steroids)
Polyglandular Autoimmune syndrome Type 3 (PAS 3) – thyroid hormone therapy, antidiabetic agents
Polymyositis/dermatomyositis - glucocorticoids; immunosuppressants
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis – immunosuppressants, colchicine(anti-inflammatory), antipruritics & antihistamines.
Reiter's Syndrome – NSAIDs, Corticosteroids, antibiotics, other anti-inflammatory medication.
Rheumatoid Arthritis – Aspirin, Corticosteroids, Methotrexate, Hydroxychloroquine.
Sarcoidosis - Corticosteroid Treatment, NSAIDs, Methotrexate, Azathioprine Cyclophosphamide, Chloroquinine phosphate.
Scleroderma – Because scleroderma can affect many different organs and organ systems the list is long, but includes steroids, Hydroxychloroquine, Methotrexate, and Immunosuppresants. Other treatments and can be viewed at: hxxp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/scleroderma/DS00362/DSECTION=7
Sjogren's Syndrome - Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, Corticosteroids or immunosuppressive medication.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – NSAIDs, Corticosteroids, Hydroxychloroquine, Alternative medications for skin disease include dapsone and retinoic acid (Retin-A). immunosuppressive medications, plasmapheresis
Takayasu's Arteritis - Glucocorticoid medications, immunosuppressive medication
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus – Antidiabetics
Vitiligo (leucoderma)- Topical corticosteroid therapy, topical photochemotherapy, Oral psoralen photochemotherapy, surgery.
Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease – Corticosteroids, cycloplegics, Immunosuppressive therapy,
Wegener's Granulomatosis – Corticosteroids, immunosuppressive therapy
THE MEDICATIONS
Steroids:
There are 3 types of steroids. Corticosteroids, Estrogens and Progestogens, and Androgens.
Since Corticosteroids are used in treatment of autoimmune diseases, we’ll stick with those.
Corticosteroids mimic the effects of cortisone and hydrocortisone — hormones your body produces naturally in your adrenal glands.
Corticosteroids help control:
* Stress of illness and injury
* Immune function
* Inflammation
hxxp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/steroids/HQ01431
Effects of Long Term Use of Steroids:
hxxp://health.ninemsn.com.au/asktheexperts/richardday.aspx?id=1403
* Fat may be transferred to different parts of the body such as the face (causing a "moon face" appearance), shoulders ("buffalo hump") or abdomen.
* Some changes in bone texture can occur due to calcium loss; in some patients this results in osteoporosis, which can be treated.
* Mood or behavior changes have occurred in some individuals, particularly with high doses.
* As these agents suppress the immune system, the body may be susceptible to infections.
* Changes in the sugar levels in the body can occur and patients with diabetes may need some changes in their treatment.
* Other medication may be needed if fluid builds up or there is any loss of the mineral potassium or other body salts.
* The skin can become thin and bruises may appear. Some people taking these agents have developed a peptic ulcer and cataracts can occur in some people.
Immunosuppressive Drugs:
This one is self explanatory. Wikipedia defines them as drugs that are used in immunosuppressive therapy to inhibit or prevent activity of the immune system. They can be divided into five groups.
Glucocorticoids - A class of steroid hormones.
Cytostatics - Chemotherapy Drugs
Antibodies - Used as a quick and potent immunosuppression method to prevent the acute rejection reaction as you might encounter with organ transplants.
Drugs acting on Immunophilins - Used as a quick and potent immunosuppression method to prevent the acute rejection reaction as you might encounter with organ transplants.
Other drugs - Interferon, Opioids, TNF binding proteins like Humira or Enbrel, Glatiramir Acetate and small biological agents in the form of new synthetic immunosuppressant (FTY720-Fingolimod).
Non Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAIDS):
They have no direct effect on immune function that I could find (yet), but can tear up your stomach.
Antidiabetics have no direct effect on immune function that I could find, but Diabetes can.
Dapsone
The main use of Dapsone is in the treatment of leprosy in combination with other medication. Through an unknown mechanism Dapsone is also effective in treating the rare skin condition known as dermatitis herpetiformis. It works inside the infecting cell to stop the manufacture of a chemical called folinic acid. Folinic acid is necessary for the production of genetic material (DNA). Without the production of DNA the infecting organism is not able to reproduce, and the spread of the infection is stopped.
Some of the effects on the blood:
* Inability of red blood cells to transport oxygen due to disorders of hemoglobin (methaemoglobinaemia)
* Sudden severe deficiency in the number of white blood cells (white blood cells fight foreign invaders) in the blood.
Source: hxxp://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100000679.html
Methotrexate
Can reduce the production of white blood cells by the bone marrow, making you more prone to infection. hxxp://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Treatments/Chemotherapy/Individualmedication/Methotrexate#6992
Methotrexate is an Antimetabolite drug used in treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. It acts by inhibiting the metabolism of folic acid. Interestingly, there have also been some reports of central nervous system reactions to Methotrexate which include Myelopathies and Leucoencephalopathies. hxxp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methotrexate
Chloroquinine/ Hydroxychloroquine
Drug treatment for Malaria. The immune suppression is mild. hxxp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloroquine.
THE TREATMENTS
Plasmapheresis:
The removal, treatment, and return of the components of blood plasma from blood circulation. Blood is initially taken out of the body through a needle or previously implanted catheter. Plasma is then removed from the blood by a cell separator.
Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG):
Immunoglobulin is naturally manufactured by everyone’s immune system to respond to toxins, bacteria, and foreign cells. IVIG is a blood product administered intravenously. It contains the pooled IgG immunoglobulins (antibodies extracted from the plasma of over a thousand blood donors). For neurological and autoimmune diseases treatment is implemented for three to six months over a five day course once a month. Then maintenance therapy every 3 to 4 weeks follows.
THE STATISTICS
The statistics below have been obtained from hxxp://www.wrongdiagnosis.com unless otherwise noted. Where prevalence for the disease wasn’t listed, I used the incidence rate. For diseases listed as rare, the following prevalence applies: Rare means it is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that the disease or subtype affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Addison's Disease
Prevalence of Addison's Disease: 1 in 100,000; 13,335 people in the USA 1996
Alopecia Areata
According to a recent study from the Mayo Clinic, the lifetime incidence rate of alopecia areata is 1.7% which makes it almost as common as psoriasis.
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 775 or 0.13% or 350,879 people in USA
Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Prevalence: Rare
Aplastic Anemia
Prevalence: About 3 out of every 1 million people in the United States get aplastic anemia each year. hxxp://www.marrow.org/PATIENT/Undrstnd_Disease_Treat/Lrn_about_Disease/Aplastic_Anemia/index.html
Autoimmune Hearing Loss
Unable to find statistics specific to this disease.
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemias
Incidence Rate: approx 1 in 80,000 or 0.00% or 3,400 people in USA
Autoimmune Hepatitis
Prevalance of Autoimmune Hepatitis: 1,156 people in the USA
Autoimmune Hypoparathyroidism
Unable to find statistics specific to this disease.
Autoimmune Hypophysitis
Unable to find statistics specific to this disease.
Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative
Prevalance: NIAID mentions 58 individuals.
Autoimmune Myocarditis
Unable to find statistics specific to this disease.
Autoimmune Oophoritis
Rare
Autoimmune Orchitis
Unable to find statistics specific to this disease.
Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathy
Unable to find statistics specific to this disease.
Behcet's Disease
Prevalence of Behcet's Disease: Behçet’s disease is common in the Middle East, Asia, and Japan, but rare in the United States.
17% of population has Behcet’s disease in Northern European countries (American Behcet’s Disease Association)
70% of population has Behcet’s disease in Middle Eastern countries (American Behcet’s Disease Association)
Bullous Pemphigoid
Prevalence: Rare
Celiac Disease
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 249 or 0.40% or 1.1 million people in USA
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
Ophanet, who are a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when if affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy as a "rare disease".
Churg-Strauss Syndrome
European studies estimate an annual incidence of 1-2 cases per million population, and approximately 10 Europeans per million have the disease. This means that the syndrome affects 10-20 Swedes per year, and that approximately 100 Swedish adults have Churg-Strauss syndrome. The condition is more prevalent among people with asthma.
hxxp://www.sos.se/Smkh/2006-110-22/2006-110-22.htm
Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita
The incidence and prevalence of DDEB in the United States in 1990 were estimated to be approximately 2.9 per million live births and 1.0 per million population, respectively, whereas the incidence and prevalence of RDEB were estimated to be approximately 2.0 per million live births and 0.9 per million population, respectively.
Giant Cells Arteritis
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 500 or 0.20% or 544,000 people in USA
Goodpasture's Syndrome
Prevalence: Rare
Graves' Disease
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 89 or 1.12% or 3 million people in USA.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 100,000 or 0.00% or 2,720 people in USA
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 182 or 0.55% or 1.5 million people in USA
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Prevalence: Rare
IgA Nephropathy
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 4,428 or 0.02% or 61,422 people in USA
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 500 or 0.20% or 544,000 people in USA
Kawasaki's Disease
Incidence Rate: approx 1 in 271,440 or 0.00% or 1,002 people in USA
Meniere's Syndrome
More than 28 million Americans have a hearing loss; 80 percent of those affected have irreversible and permanent hearing damage. Meniere's syndrome causes bilateral hearing loss in 5 to 20 percent of cases. Compiled and researched by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institutes of Health as reported in the April 1989 National Strategic Research Plan. hxxp://members.aol.com/deafcultureinfo/deafstatistics.htm
Mooren's Ulcer
Summary of available prevalence data: Autoimmune uveitis: 4,637 people in the USA 1996.
Multiple Sclerosis
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 700 or 0.14% or 388,571 people in USA
Myasthenia Gravis
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 20,000 or 0.00% or 13,600 people in USA
Pemphigus Foliaceous
Prevalence: Rare
Pemphigus Vulgaris
Prevalence: Rare
Pernicious Anemia
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 680 or 0.15% or 399,454 people in USA.
Polyarteritis Nodosa
Incidence ranges from 2-6 per 100 000 people in most populations, but may be higher in populations where hepatitis B is common.
hxxp://www.virtualbloodcentre.com/diseases.asp?did=629
Polyglandular Autoimmune Syndrome Type 1 (PAS-1)
Polyglandular Autoimmune Syndrome Type 2 (PAS-2)
Polyglandular Autoimmune syndrome Type 3 (PAS 3)
Prevalence: Rare
Polymyositis/dermatomyositis
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 20,205 or 0.00% or 13,461 people in USA
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 29,462 or 0.00% or 9,231 people in USA
Reiter's Syndrome
Incidence extrapolations for USA for Reiter’s syndrome: 4,760 per year, 396 per month, 91 per week, 13 per day, 0 per hour, 0 per minute, 0 per second. The prevalence of Reiter’s syndrome: Among men under age 50, about 3.5 per 100,000 develop Reiter’s syndrome each year.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 108 or 0.92% or 2.5 million people in USA
Sarcoidosis
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 5,000 or 0.02% or 54,400 people in USA
Scleroderma
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 906 or 0.11% or 300,000 people in USA
Sjogren's Syndrome
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 272 or 0.37% or 1 million people in USA
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 194 or 0.51% or 1.4 million people in USA
Takayasu's Arteritis
Summary of available prevalence data for Temporal arteritis: 200 per 100,000 people over 50.
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 800 or 0.12% or 340,000 people in USA
Vitiligo
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 136 or 0.74% or 2 million people in USA
Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease
Prevalence: Rare
Wegener's Granulomatosis
3 out of every 100,000 in the United States (The exact number of patients is not known, but a very rough estimate is two new cases per million Americans per year, or about 500 new cases diagnosed each year.)
hxxp://www.vasculitisfoundation.org/node/50
OTHER MEDICATION, TREATMENTS & DISEASES THAT AFFECT IMMUNE FUNCTION
Depression: Antidepressants/Anti-anxiety medication
“Medication that treat depression by manipulating the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain may also affect the user's immune system in ways that are not yet understood, say scientists from Georgetown University Medical Center and a Canadian research institute.
That's because the investigators found, for the first time, that serotonin is passed between key cells in the immune system, and that the chemical is specifically used to activate an immune response. They do not know yet, however, whether these SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) medication "including the brands Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil and others" could have either a beneficial or a damaging effect on human immunity.
"The wider health implication is that commonly used SSRI antidepressants, which target the uptake of serotonin into neurons, may also impact the uptake in immune cells," said Gerard Ahern, Ph.D., assistant professor of Pharmacology at Georgetown and lead researcher on the study. He said that while it may be possible that SSRI medication may restore a healthy immune function in people who are depressed and prone to infections, it is possible that they might also bolster immunity to the point that they trigger autoimmune disease. "At this point we just don't know how these medication might affect immunity, so we really need to clarify the normal role of serotonin in immune cell functioning," Ahern said.
hxxp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=36441 (Jan 23 2006)
“Thus, Ahern theorizes that SSRIs that block serotonin reuptake "likely change some of the parameters of T-cell activation, but we don’t know yet if it enhances or inhibits the total immune response. But it is something that should be explored because we really have no idea what SSRIs are doing to people’s immune systems." hxxp://www.newsinferno.com/archives/758
Prozac: FDA Statistics on Prozac’s Side Effects (WHOA!): hxxp://www.oism.info/en/psychiatric_medication/harm/fda_report_prozac_side_effects.htm
I received an email bulletin from WebMD dated 8/25/2006. The subject of the bulletin was: “Today’s Top Medication: What’s America Taking?� It contained a list of the top 10 prescribed medications according to WebMD and/or its advertisers(?).
Starting from #10: Lipitor, Vicodin, Effexor, Wellbutrin, Xanax, Cymbalta, Hydrocodone, Predinsone, Zoloft, Lexapro.
Lipitor- Lowers cholesterol
Hydrocodone & Vicodin – Narcotic (Opioid) Analgesics
Prednisone – Steroid
The rest are anti-depressant/anti-anxiety medications.
Opioid medication:
May affect immunity through their neuroendocrine effects, or through direct effects on the immune system. Preclinical research has shown that opioids alter the development, differentiation and function of immune cells, and opioid receptors have been demonstrated on immune cells.[57,58] Evidence of immune modulation in humans is limited, but opioids have been shown to exacerbate immunosuppression in HIV patients, which suggests that prolonged opioid use may affect the immune system, at least in immunocompromised persons. hxxp://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/549294_5
Arthritis Medication:
Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Medication are usually used by inflammatory arthritis patients that have not responded to other medications. It is an immune system control drug that will slow or stop the immune system's attack on the body. hxxp://ezinearticles.com/?Using-Arthritis-Pain-Medication-as-Treatment-for-Your-Arthritis&id=428284
Fluoride:
"Patients who live in either an artificially fluoridated community or a community where the drinking water naturally contains fluoride at 4 mg/L have all accumulated fluoride in their skeletal systems and potentially have very high fluoride concentrations in their bones. The bone marrow is where immune cells develop and that could affect humoral immunity and the production of antibodies to foreign chemicals.�
“There is no question that fluoride can affect the cells involved in providing immune responses. The question is what proportion, if any, of the population consuming drinking water containing fluoride at 4.0 mg/L on a regular basis will have their immune systems compromised? Not a single epidemiologic study has investigated whether fluoride in the drinking water at 4 mg/L is associated with changes in immune function. Nor has any study examined whether a person with an immunodeficiency disease can tolerate fluoride ingestion from drinking water.�
hxxp://www.fluoridealert.org/health/immune/index.html
Asthma medication:
Medications for allergy-induced asthma decrease your body's sensitivity to a particular allergen and prevent your immune system from reacting to allergens. hxxp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/asthma-medications/AP00008
Medications include corticosteroids by mouth.
Steroids inhaled like Advair which has immune system effects and a higher chance of infections. hxxp://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/InfoSheets/patient/FluticasonePIS.htm
Diabetes:
Diabetes can make the immune system more vulnerable to severe cases of the flu. People with diabetes who come down with the flu may become very sick and may even have to go to a hospital. You can help keep yourself from getting the flu by getting a flu shot every year. hxxp://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/faq/concerns.htm
The Thyroid gland:
Though rarely thought of as part of the immune system, the thyroid gland plays a crucial role in maintaining the body's defenses. Hormones produced by the thyroid help regulate the metabolic rate within each cell and directly influence over 100 different cellular enzymes. With hypothyroidism, individuals routinely become more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections, especially those of the respiratory and urinary tracts.
THE NUMBERS
People with autoimmune diseases: Approximately fourteen and a half million.
Cancer: Incidence Rate: Approx 1 in 217 or 0.46% or 1.2 million people in USA –OR- Estimated number of new cancer cases for 2007: 1,444,920
hxxp://www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/CAFF2007PWSecured.pdf
Number of people with depression:
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 18 or 5.30% or 14.4 million people in USA –OR-
Depressive disorders affect approximately 18.8 million American adults or about 9.5% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year. This includes major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder. hxxp://www.upliftprogram.com/depression_stats.html
Number of asthma sufferers:
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 15 or 6.40% or 17.4 million people in USA
Let’s not forget AIDS/HIV. At the end of 2005, an estimated 437,982 people were living with AIDS in the USA. The CDC estimates that around one million people are living with HIV in the USA, including those not yet diagnosed, and including those who have already progressed to AIDS. hxxp://www.avert.org/usastats.htm
For diabetes the prevalence Rate: Approx 1 in 17 or 5.88% or 16 million people in USA
Alcoholism, drug abuse and obesity also effect immune function.
Prevalence of Alcoholism: estimated 15.1 million people: 15.1 million alcohol-abusing or alcohol-dependent individuals and 4.6 million are women (NWHIC); nearly 14 million Americans (NIAAA)
Prevalence of Drug Abuse: Approx 1 in 68 or 1.47% or 4 million people in USA
Prevalence of Obesity: Approx 1 in 6 or 14.63% or 39.8 million people in USA
Fluoride: In 2002, 67.3 percent of U.S. cities were receiving fluoridated water in their public water supplies. hxxp://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/nohss/FluoridationV.asp
I thought long and hard about a solution, but haven’t come up with one. It’s not wise to just stop taking medications we take for treatment of a disease, but exploring alternatives is something to consider.
With the current US Population of 301,795,267, a thought comes to mind. Bird Flu anyone?
I welcome any feedback this. Once I started digging, I had to stop myself from digging too deep, or I'd have 20 or 30 pages. I think my research is solid, but I don't have a lot of experience in researching in general.
