Welcome to the Phoenix Helix podcast dedicated to maximizing autoimmune health through the

paleo-autoimmune protocol and functional medicine. While there is no cure for autoimmune disease,

the choices we make every day can have a powerful impact on how we feel. I'm Eileen Laird, your host from

PhoenixHelix.com, and I reduced my rheumatoid arthritis pain by 95%, which took me from a life of

excruciating pain and disability back to a full and beautiful life. A short disclaimer, I'm neither a

doctor nor a nutritionist and the opinions expressed here are personal. Always consult with

your health care team before making medical decisions. Now let's get on to the show.

Welcome to Episode 153. Our topic today is gender, race, and autoimmune disease.

78% of people with autoimmune disease are women. What makes women more susceptible than men?

Race is a factor in autoimmune disease as well.

For example, black women get lupus two to three times more often than white women. Not only that,

but black women develop lupus at a younger age, experience more serious complications, and have higher mortality rates. What are the causes behind

these differences and how can we improve this outcome? One challenge in medical treatment is that

the health care system is biased. White men tend to receive the best care. Research shows that doctors

and nurses treat patients differently based on many things, including

gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, weight, age, and income level.

Many of our listeners have experienced this themselves, the higher the bias, the lower the care.

So what can we do about this, both as patients and a community interested in fair health care

for all?

My guest is Dr. Maggie Kadei, a rheumatologist who is passionate about this issue.

She's going to share her personal and professional insights with us today.

Welcome to the podcast, Dr. Kadeh. Thank you so much for

...