Understanding Autoimmune Disease

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Autoimmune disease is a condition where your immune system — which normally protects you from infections and harmful invaders — mistakenly attacks your own healthy cells and tissues.

Instead of defending your body, the immune system becomes confused and targets parts of itself, causing inflammation, damage, and impaired function in various organs or systems.

There are many types of autoimmune diseases, depending on which part of the body is affected. Examples include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis: immune system attacks joints
   
• Type 1 diabetes: attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas
   
• Multiple sclerosis: attacks nerve coverings in the brain and spinal cord
   
• Lupus: can affect skin, joints, kidneys, and other organs
   
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: attacks the thyroid gland
   

As of 2025, approximately 50 million Americans—about 15% of the U.S. population—are affected by autoimmune diseases . These conditions occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues, leading to chronic inflammation and damage.

Gender Disparity: Women are disproportionately affected, comprising about 78% of those with autoimmune diseases.

• It’s the longest cranial nerve, running from your brainstem down through your neck and into your chest and abdomen.
   
• The name “vagus” comes from Latin, meaning “wandering,” because it travels to so many parts of the body.
   

1. Regulates the Parasympathetic Nervous System
   It’s the main nerve responsible for the “rest and digest” state — calming the body down after stress.
    
2. Controls Heart Rate and Breathing
   It helps slow the heart rate, regulate breathing rhythms, and lower blood pressure.
    
3. Supports Digestion
   It sends signals to the stomach, intestines, pancreas, and liver to help with digestion, enzyme release, and gut motility.
    
4. Inflammation Control (The Inflammatory Reflex)
   The vagus nerve can signal the immune system to reduce inflammation by releasing acetylcholine, which blocks inflammatory molecules like TNF.
    
5. Mood and Emotional Regulation
   It connects with areas of the brain involved in anxiety, mood, and resilience. Healthy vagal tone is linked to better emotional well-being.
    
6. Voice and Swallowing
   It helps control the muscles of the voice box (larynx) and swallowing reflexes.
    

1. The Brain Senses Inflammation:
   When your body experiences injury, infection, or stress, it sends inflammatory signals to the brain.
    
2. The Brain Should Respond via the Vagus Nerve:
   Normally, the brain sends calming signals down the vagus nerve to regulate the immune response, especially in the spleen, where immune cells are active.
    
3. With Low Vagal Tone, This Response Is Weakened:
   If your vagal tone is low (due to chronic stress, trauma, or nervous system dysfunction), the brain's calming signal is either delayed, weak, or dysregulated.
    
4. Less Acetylcholine Is Released:
   The vagus nerve doesn’t release enough acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter that tells immune cells to reduce inflammation.
    
5. Overproduction of TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor):
   Without enough acetylcholine, immune cells (especially in the spleen) keep producing TNF, a powerful inflammatory chemical. This can lead to chronic inflammation, autoimmune responses, and tissue damage over time.
    

Healthy vagal tone = balanced immune response

Low vagal tone = overactive inflammation

Also called TNF inhibitors, are medications that reduce inflammation by blocking a protein called tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).

(Often just called steroids) are powerful anti-inflammatory medications that help reduce inflammation by mimicking the effects of hormones your body naturally produces in the adrenal glands, like cortisol.

As of 2025, the autoimmune disease therapeutics market is experiencing significant growth, with leading pharmaceutical companies dominating the landscape. The global market is valued at approximately USD 168.6 billion and is projected to reach USD 226.2 billion by 2035, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.0% .Credence Research Inc.Future Market Insights

The competitive landscape is primarily led by: 

• AbbVie Inc.: Holding a market share of 16.6%, AbbVie continues to lead with its blockbuster drugs Humira (adalimumab), Skyrizi (risankizumab), and Rinvoq (upadacitinib) .Future Market Insights+2PW Consulting+2Investopedia+2
   
• Johnson & Johnson: With a 11.4% market share, J&J's portfolio includes Stelara (ustekinumab) and Tremfya (guselkumab), both targeting interleukin pathways .PW Consulting
   
• Sanofi S.A.: Holding an 8.8% share, Sanofi's collaboration with Regeneron has led to the development of Dupixent (dupilumab), a leading treatment for autoimmune diseases .

Breath is the primary regulator of the vagus nerve, which controls the body’s relaxation and stress responses. Through mindful breathwork—practicing slow, deep, and rhythmic breathing—you can increase your vagal tone. Higher vagal tone boosts the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that signals immune cells to reduce inflammation. This process inhibits the production of TNF (tumor necrosis factor), a powerful inflammatory chemical produced especially by immune cells in the spleen. By reducing TNF levels, the body can begin to heal chronic inflammation, autoimmune reactions, and tissue damage over time.

Mastering your breath empowers you to calm your nervous system, support immune balance, and promote lasting health.

When you breathe slowly and deeply—especially using your diaphragm (the muscle below your lungs)—you stimulate the vagus nerve’s sensory fibers. This sends calming signals to your brainstem, which then activates the parasympathetic nervous system (the “rest and digest” system).

This activation:

• Slows your heart rate
   
• Increases heart rate variability (HRV), which is a sign of strong vagal tone
   
• Lowers stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline
   
• Reduces inflammation
   
• Helps your body relax and recover