Auto-immune Disease at a Glance

Our immune system is the body’s natural defense system that defends the body against disease and infection. Auto-immune disease is when the body’s immune system cannot tell the difference between foreign cells attacking the body and its own cells – causing the body to attack its own healthy cells, tissues, and organs.

There are over 80 different types of auto-immune diseases recognized by scientists, and each type can attack the body in different ways. In some cases, the symptoms of the auto-immune disease can be mild, or in others, the symptoms can often be severely affecting daily life. The type and severity of the symptoms that a person may experience can be caused by several factors linked to the environment, personal health, and genetics. Due to the variety of symptoms that can be experienced, it is often hard to diagnose auto-immune disease and can often lead to patients living with symptoms for years before diagnosis.

SOME OF THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE ARE:

Rheumatoid Arthritis – this type of auto-immune disease attacks the joints causing inflammation, pain, and swelling. If left untreated, this condition can lead to permanent joint damage.
Inflammatory bowel disease – this condition causes the body to attack the lining of the intestines causing changes in bowel movement such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, fatigue, weight loss, and rectal bleeding.
Multiple sclerosis- This condition causes the immune system to attack the protective coating around the nerves affecting the brain and spinal cord, causing weakness with coordination of balance, speech and walking, paralysis, tremors, and numbness in limbs.
Lupus- this type of disease attacks many areas of the body, including joints, skin, blood vessels, nerves, and organs.
Thyroid Disease – this disease either makes too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) or too little thyroid hormone ( hypothyroidism).

WHAT CAUSES AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE?

The main causes of auto-immune disease are still unknown. However, it is thought that a combination of factors plays a role in the development of the disease, including environmental factors, genetics, infections, and personal health.

ARE THERE TREATMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE?

Yes, there are many treatment options to help manage the symptoms of auto-immune disease, and it depends on the type of auto-immune disease you have. Unfortunately, these treatment options aim to reduce the immune system activity from attacking itself and relieving the symptoms caused by the disease. Unfortunately, there is still no cure for the disease.

For more information on the auto-immune disease, check out the links below!

Sources

https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/autoimmune-diseases

https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/conditions/autoimmune/index.cfm

https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/autoimmune-diseases

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/autoimmune-diseases

https://www.webmd.com/women/features/life-with-autoimmune-disease