Conditions / Functional Medicine / Autoimmune
Condition guide · Functional medicine in Tampa
Autoimmune
Disease
When your immune system turns on you, we look for what set it off.
Symptoms, the conventional view, the functional and holistic view, the testing we use, and how we build a plan alongside your specialists.
Physician-led care with Dr. Jose Lizardi, MD
What is an autoimmune condition? It’s when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own healthy tissue, such as the thyroid, joints, skin or gut. There are more than 80 types. Conventional care focuses on diagnosing and calming the immune response. Functional medicine adds a search for what may be driving it, like gut health, infections, toxins, nutrient gaps and stress.
Quick answer
80+
known autoimmune diseases
4 in 5
people affected are women
1
immune system behind them all
Common types
One root problem,
many names.
Autoimmunity can target almost any part of the body. These are some of the most common.
Hashimoto’s
Thyroid
Graves’ disease
Thyroid
Rheumatoid arthritis
Joints
Lupus
Whole body
Psoriasis
Skin
Celiac disease
Gut
Multiple sclerosis
Nervous system
Type 1 diabetes
Pancreas
Crohn’s & colitis
Gut
Symptoms
Signs that often
show up together.
Symptoms vary by type, and they often come and go in flares. Many people see several doctors before getting answers.
Fatigue that rest doesn’t fix
Joint pain, stiffness or swelling
Rashes or skin flares
Bloating, pain or irregular digestion
Brain fog
Low-grade fevers
Hair loss
Numbness or tingling
Symptoms that flare, then ease
Feeling “off” even with normal labs
The traditional approach
How autoimmune disease
is usually treated.
Conventional medicine is essential, and for many people it’s life-changing. Here’s the typical path, and where it can leave gaps.
01
Symptoms
Fatigue, joint pain, rashes or digestive issues bring you to your doctor.
02
Referral
You’re sent to a specialist for the affected organ, like a rheumatologist or endocrinologist.
03
Diagnosis
Antibody tests and imaging confirm a specific autoimmune disease.
04
Medication
Anti-inflammatories, steroids, immunosuppressants, biologics or hormone replacement.
05
Monitor
Regular visits to track symptoms and adjust doses.
What it does well
Diagnoses the specific disease
Controls severe flares quickly
Protects organs from serious damage
Essential in emergencies
Where it often falls short
Rarely asks what triggered the immune system
Often waits until damage is advanced enough to diagnose
Long-term immunosuppression can bring side effects
One specialist per organ, so the whole picture gets missed
Common triggers
Genes load the gun.
Environment pulls the trigger.
Genetics can make you more likely to develop autoimmunity. Research points to a combination of factors that may set it off or keep it active.
Gut barrier
Increased intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”) is being studied for its link to several autoimmune conditions.
Infections
Some viruses and bacteria, including Epstein-Barr virus, have been associated with autoimmune activity.
Toxins & mold
Environmental exposures can add to your body’s overall inflammatory load.
Food sensitivities
Gluten is a known trigger in celiac disease, and other foods may aggravate symptoms for some people.
Nutrient gaps
Low vitamin D and other deficiencies are common in people with autoimmune conditions.
Chronic stress
Long-term stress affects cortisol and immune balance, and many people notice flares during stressful times.
Data, not
guesswork.
How we test
Autoimmune antibodies (e.g. thyroid, ANA)
Inflammation markers like hs-CRP
Vitamin D and micronutrient testing
Gut health and food sensitivity testing
Infection markers, such as EBV
Toxin and mold exposure
Thyroid and hormone panels
Cortisol and stress markers
Depending on your history, Dr. Lizardi may recommend testing such as:
Your plan
Four steps to calm
the immune system.
01
Remove
Identify and reduce triggers, like food sensitivities, toxins and hidden infections.
02
Repair
Support a healthy gut lining and microbiome.
03
Replenish
Correct nutrient gaps, like vitamin D, found in your labs.
04
Rebalance
Sleep, stress and movement habits that support immune balance.
Therapies at OMNI LIFE
Therapies that may
support your plan.
These complement, not replace, the care from your specialists. Dr. Lizardi recommends them based on your results.
Nutrients
IV therapy
Vitamins, minerals and glutathione delivered directly into the bloodstream.
When to get help right away
Don’t wait on these.
Sudden weakness, vision changes or trouble speaking
Chest pain or shortness of breath
High fever with a rash or swollen joints
Severe abdominal pain or blood in your stool
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Never stop prescribed medication without talking to your prescribing doctor.
FAQ
Autoimmune questions,
answered.
-
There’s no cure for most autoimmune conditions. Many people can reduce symptoms and flares, and some reach remission, by combining conventional care with nutrition, lifestyle and trigger management.
-
No. Never stop or change prescribed medication without your prescribing doctor. Our care is designed to work alongside your specialists.
-
Increased intestinal permeability is a real, measurable process and an active area of research in autoimmunity. We assess gut health as part of the bigger picture.
-
It depends on your symptoms and history. Dr. Lizardi will recommend testing that may include antibodies, inflammation markers, nutrients, gut health and infection markers.
-
OMNI LIFE is a cash-pay clinic. Call 813-210-9394 to ask about consultation fees.
Ready to find
your triggers?
Hyde Park · South Tampa
Start with a consultation with Dr. Jose Lizardi, MD. Bring your labs, your history and your questions.
This guide is for education only and isn’t medical advice. It doesn’t replace care from your physician or specialists. Individual results vary.