Vaccine Risk For Autoimmune Disease

Narcolepsy is a neurological sleep disorder. It can make people fall asleep instantly and involuntarily during the day, while they are in the middle of an activity.

New research has shown that narcolepsy is an autoimmune disease. People with narcolepsy produce antibodies that destroy the cells in the brain that produce orexin. Orexin is a neurotransmitter that regulates wakefulness and appetite.

In August 2010, neurologists from Sweden and Finland reported an increase in narcolepsy in children who received the swine flu vaccine. These children had a 13 fold greater incidence of narcolepsy.

Symptoms of narcolepsy appeared within days to 6 months of receiving the vaccination. The average time frame was 2.5 months. All of the children who developed narcolepsy had a particular gene variant called HLD DQB1*0602.

Vaccinations are known to trigger autoimmune disease in genetically susceptible individuals. Not everyone who is exposed to the vaccine will develop health problems afterwards. Usually a combination of genetic and environmental factors are at play. For detailed information about my recommendations for autoimmune disease, see the book Healing Autoimmune Disease: A plan to help your immune system and reduce inflammation.

Reference: Outi Vaarala National Institute of Health and Welfare, Department of Vaccinations  and Immune Protection, Helsinki, Finland.

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