Fatigue, joint pain, sleep issues, and digestive symptoms feel like separate problems, but they may share a root cause.
The underlying mechanism? Changes in gut barrier function.
When the intestinal lining becomes more permeable (leaky gut) it increases immune exposure to microbes and food particles. Over time, that can contribute to systemic inflammation and symptoms well outside of the digestive tract.
In this episode of Ruscio Radio, I walk through five common conditions that may be linked to increased intestinal permeability, and how to evaluate this possibility without overcomplicating your care.
In the episode, we discuss:
What contributes to gut barrier disruption
How fatigue, brain fog, and depression can be fueled by gut-immune signaling
The reason joint pain and autoimmune flares sometimes improve when the gut is addressed
Why poor sleep both worsens (and is worsened by) gut inflammation
If you’ve been addressing symptoms one at a time without meaningful improvement, this episode offers a broader framework for connecting the dots.
Understanding when the gut is involved can make your next steps much more strategic.
In Health,
Dr. Michael Ruscio, DC
Adjunct Professor, University of Bridgeport Clinical Researcher
