cHRONIC INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE SYNDROME
Our mission
Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome is the largest hidden epidemic facing the United States with an estimated 50 million Americans suffering silently. We seek to provide support, validation and scientifically based diagnosis and medical care to this overlooked, misunderstood and largely stigmatized group of patients.
BACKGROUND
Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) occurs when a genetically susceptible person develops an immune reaction to exposure to biotoxins. Biotoxins known to trigger Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome include Lyme disease from ticks, ciguatera from tainted reef fish and toxic red-tide algal blooms.
However, the most prevalent cause of CIRS is biotoxins from water-damaged buildings.
Colloquially referred to as “mold disease,” CIRS is a leading cause and contributor to a host of mysterious illnesses including fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. A leading Alzheimer’s researcher Dr. Dale Bredesen identified water-damaged buildings as such an important cause of Alzheimers that he termed this mechanism “inhalational Alzheimers,” a reference to the mechanism of breathing in immune stimulating particles from the environment.
SYMPTOMS
The symptoms are far-ranging and nearly always includes fatigue. Since fatigue is such a prominent symptom, patients with CIRS frequently get misdiagnosed as cases of fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and depression.
Other common symptoms include weakness, unusual pains throughout the body, blurry vision, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cognitive decline and psychiatric problems. Due to this diversity of symptoms affecting different systems in the body and overall complexity, it often takes years before a patient is properly diagnosed.
dIAGNOSIS
The proper diagnosis involves understanding the environmental exposure and assessing symptoms. More importantly, there are objective lab and brain imaging biomarkers that are present in nearly all patients. Response to treatment is also highly valuable for confirming the diagnosis.
TREATMENT
We use the Shoemaker Protocol, the treatment approach that has the most scientific validation for its effectiveness in treating CIRS. It is a sequential protocol that occurs in multiple steps and involves the use of environmental changes, supplements, prescription medications and hormone support and supplementation.