Why 80% of Autoimmune Diagnoses Are in Women — and What's Really Causing It

Did you know that autoimmune conditions affect women at nearly four times the rate of men? In this eye-opening episode, host Azra Alagic sits down with functional medicine health coach Jo Brownlow to unpack why autoimmunity is on the rise, why women are disproportionately affected, and — most importantly — what you can actually do about it. Jo brings both clinical expertise and personal experience to the conversation, having navigated her own autoimmune journey from a coeliac diagnosis in infancy through to Hashimoto's in adulthood. In this episode, we cover: What autoimmunity actually is and the four key factors that drive it Why leaky gut is present in virtually every autoimmune case — and the everyday things causing it (including the contraceptive pill and ibuprofen) Why so many women are misdiagnosed or dismissed for years before getting answers The truth about thyroid medication — and why it doesn't treat the root cause of Hashimoto's Why chronic stress may be the most underestimated trigger of autoimmune flare-ups The critical role of nervous system regulation in healing Hidden mediators like mold toxicity and heavy metals that are often overlooked How to advocate for yourself and what blood tests to ask for Whether you've already been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition or you're simply not feeling like yourself and can't get answers, this episode will give you the knowledge and tools to start asking the right questions. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Introduction & what is autoimmunity? 01:35 — The four key drivers of autoimmune conditions 02:15 — Leaky gut: why it's present in nearly every autoimmune case 04:17 — Chronic stress: the trigger most women don't even know they have 05:14 — Why autoimmune conditions are so often misdiagnosed 07:32 — Jo's personal journey: from coeliac as a baby to Hashimoto's 10:22 — Are autoimmune conditions becoming more common in women? 11:32 — How Jo investigates root causes with new clients 13:57 — What happens when autoimmunity is left unaddressed 17:27 — Can autoimmune conditions actually be reversed? 19:39 — Why functional medicine gets labelled "woo woo" (and why that's wrong) 20:47 — Thyroid testing: why the reference ranges are too wide 23:24 — The biggest misunderstanding about Hashimoto's and thyroid medication 25:19 — Chronic stress, trauma & nervous system regulation 29:30 — Vagus nerve: simple techniques to activate your parasympathetic state 31:37 — Strength training with autoimmunity: how to exercise without adding inflammation 34:25 — Healthy habits that are secretly making autoimmune symptoms worse 36:40 — The gut-immune connection and why it's everything 42:04 — Alcohol, leaky gut & making mindset shifts that stick 45:39 — When autoimmune symptoms get mistaken for perimenopause 47:29 — Maternal stress, neurodivergent children & autoimmune resilience 49:53 — Early red flags to watch for before autoimmunity progresses 52:55 — How to advocate for yourself & what blood tests to request CONNECT WITH JO BROWNLOW Website: www.jobrownlow.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jo-brownlow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jobrownlowholistichealth Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jobrownlow.holistic.health HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! If you found this conversation valuable, interesting or inspiring I'd love you to share the pod and leave a review! Great reviews will help me to continue to bring you interviews with experts in longevity, and health and wellness. I would be so grateful if you could take a few minutes to submit a review on the podcast platform you listen from. WANT TO LEARN MORE? If you're keen to get started on your biohacking journey to optimise your health and live well longer please join me on my socials:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biohackher_official Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/people/Biohackher  Website: www.biohack-her.com  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@biohackherpodcast