Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) is a chronic condition of inflammation related to excessive stress on your immune system, nervous system and endocrine system (INE). Oftentimes the underlying cause of this stress is some form of biological toxin. If you are suffering from symptoms such as fatigue, muscle and joint pain, cognitive problems (brain fog), gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, irritable bowel), unstable body temperature, unexplained rashes, dizziness and vertigo, headaches, red and burning eyes, hormonal problems, sleep issues, and unexplained weight gain, you may be suffering from CIRS.
What are the underlying causes of CIRS?
Common biological toxins causing/contributing to CIRS include exposure to the contents of a water damaged building (WDB) like mold, fungus, bacteria and other organisms as well as metabolic byproducts of the metabolism of these organisms (proteinases, hemolysins, volatile organic compounds, endotoxins, beta glucans mannans, spirocyclic drimanes). Other CIRS producing biological toxins include Lyme disease, exposure to toxic blue – green algae, brown recluse spider bites and poisoned fish. Moreover, physiological principles, scientific studies and clinical experience reveal that any form of chronic, unremitting stress can contribute to CIRS. These stressors may include poor diet, inadequate sleep, exposures to unnatural electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs), lack of natural sunlight, chronic situational/emotional stress, excessive physical activity, lack of rest and many other forms of stress.
What are the Secondary Symptoms/Diagnoses as a Consequence of CIRS?
I have working with patients who have been diagnosed with CIRS for many years. It has been my experience that most CIRS patients will eventually manifest secondary symptoms/diagnoses related to immune system, nervous system and endocrine system (INE) dysfunction. Examples of secondary diagnoses include chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), leaky gut syndrome, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), paroxysmal orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Other commonly diagnosed diseases/syndromes such as dementia, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome and various forms of arthritis may also be related to CIRS and excess INE stress.
How is inflammation related to CIRS?
It is well established in the scientific and medical literature that inflammation is the underlying cause of virtually all chronic diseases. However, this inflammation can manifest very differently in you depending on your own unique biochemical individuality. This concept explains why so many people that are diagnosed with one disease/syndrome frequently suffer from many other symptoms. For example, many people diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) also suffer from fibromyalgia, and/or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and/or multiple chemical sensitivities (MSC), and/or electrical hypersensitivity (EHS, and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Are all of these just “separate” diseases/syndromes that coincidentally are occurring in the same patient? Or is chronic inflammation merely manifesting in various ways in these unfortunate individuals?
How Can I Feel Better if I Have CIRS?
The treatment for CIRS requires an intelligent, systematic approach that includes the following:
- Identify that you have a case of CIRS – through a battery of tests
- Avoid/remove the offending biological toxin from your internal and external environment
- Take steps to restore control and reduce stress to your immune system, nervous system, and endocrine system through a metabolically directed functional medicine approach
What Are The Foundational Essentials to Improving your Health?
Believe it or not, the things your mother tells you to do like eating properly, getting enough sleep, getting proper exercise and getting fresh air and sunshine are vital to your health. I call these simple but important habits “practicing Your Momma Care”. While the treatment plan I provide will include a metabolically directed functional medicine approach, it is critical that you also take part in Your Momma Care essentials. Many people undervalue the importance of Your Momma Care. In fact, if your foundation is weak, then all the medical treatments you seek will NOT help. Let us imagine, for example, a completely healthy person. You then subject him/her to extensive periods of sleep deprivation. For those who have experienced a terrible night of sleep, you would be familiar with the lousy symptoms the following day. Therefore, you would not be surprised to know that sleep deprivation has adverse effects on you immune system, your nervous system and your endocrine system (INE). So if a sleep deprived, otherwise healthy individual sees changes in his/her body chemistry, then someone whom is suffering from some sort of inflammatory disease, would suffer consequences that are even more significant.
How Do You Recover From CIRS?
The vast majority of the patients that I treat are suffering from various maladies caused by a chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS). These inflammatory syndromes can manifest in a myriad of ways, leading you to many diagnosis and many symptoms. The key to your recovery is to address the foundations of your health, identify and remove your biological toxins, and take measures to mitigate your immune system, nervous system and endocrine system (INE) stress. Only then can you truly be on the road to wellness.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Rothman by calling (732) 268-7663 or request a consultation and begin living a life of metabolically directed wellness today!
