Autoimmune Diseases

 


Autoimmune disease is the result of the immune system accidentally invading your body instead of protecting it. It is not clear why your immune system does this.  Why does the immune system attack the body? Doctors do not know exactly what causes the immune system. However, some people are more likely to get the autoimmune disease than others. According to a 2014 study, women contracted an autoimmune disease by about 2 to 1 percent compared to men. The disease usually begins within the woman's birth years (15 to 44 years). Not all family members will have the same disease, but they do inherit an autoimmune disease. Because the rate of autoimmune diseases is increasing, researchers suspect that environmental factors such as disease and exposure to chemicals or solvents may be involved. "Western Diet" is another suspected risk factor for developing autoimmune disease. High-fat, high-sugar, and high-digested foods are thought to be associated with inflammation, which may trigger the body's reaction. Thanks to vaccines and antibiotics, children today are less susceptible to infections than they were in the past. Lack of exposure can cause their immune system to become overly sensitive to harmless substances. Symptoms of Autoimmune Disease; the first symptoms of many autoimmune diseases are very similar, such as fatigue, aching muscles, swelling and redness, low-grade fever, focusing on the problem, numbness, and tingling in the hands and feet, hair loss, and skin rash. Each disease can also have its distinct symptoms. For example, type 1 diabetes causes severe thirst, weight loss, and fatigue. IBD causes stomach pain, constipation, and diarrhea. With autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis or RA, the symptoms may even go away. The time of the signs is called a flare-up. The time when the symptoms end is called release.

What are the 7 autoimmune diseases?

Rheumatoid arthritis

Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus)

Stomach tuberculosis (IBD)

Multiple sclerosis (MS)

Type 1 diabetes

Guillain-Barre syndrome

Chronic inflammation of demyelinating polyneuropathy

Psoriasis

Type 1 diabetes; pancreas produces the hormone insulin, which helps control blood sugar levels. With Type 1 diabetes, the body's immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The effects of high blood sugar can lead to damage to the blood vessels, as well as organs such as the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA); Unlike osteoarthritis, which usually affects people as they grow older, RA can develop in 30 years or sooner. Psoriasis / psoriatic arthritis; skin cells usually grow and degenerate when they are no longer needed. Psoriasis causes skin cells to multiply very rapidly. Additional cells form and form swollen red spots, usually with white-silver plaque scales on the skin. Up to 30 percent of people with psoriasis experience swelling, stiffness, and pain in their joints. Multiple sclerosis; MS damages the myelin shell, the protective layer around the nerve cells, in your central nervous system. Injury to the myelin sheath slows down the transmission of messages between your brain and spinal cord throughout your body. The disease comes in many forms and develops in varying degrees. According to a 2012 study, Trusted Source, about 50 percent of people with MS need mobility assistance within 15 years of the onset of the disease. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); although doctors in the 1800s began to define lupus as a skin disease due to the frequent outbreaks, the systemic form, which is the most common, affects many organs, including the joints, kidneys, brain, and heart. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term used to describe conditions that cause inflammation of the intestinal wall. Crohn's disease can infect any part of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus. Addison's disease affects the adrenal glands, which produce the hormones cortisol and aldosterone as well as the androgen hormones. Having too little cortisol can affect how the body uses and stores carbohydrates and sugar (glucose). Aldosterone deficiency will lead to loss of sodium and excess potassium in the blood. 

When to see a doctor? See a doctor if you have symptoms of autoimmune disease. Depending on the type of disease you have, you may need to visit a specialist. Rheumatologists specialize in joint diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren's syndrome and SLE. Gastroenterologists treat GI tract infections, such as celiac and Crohn's disease. Endocrinologists treat glandular conditions, including Graves' disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and Addison's disease. Tests to diagnose autoimmune diseases; no single test can diagnose many autoimmune diseases. Your doctor will use a combination of tests and reviews of your symptoms and physical examination to diagnose you. A nuclear antibody (ANA) tests are usually the first test that doctors use when symptoms indicate an autoimmune disease. Direct testing means you may have one of these diseases, but it will not confirm which one you have or if you have it. Another study looked at autoantibodies produced in specific autoimmune diseases. Your doctor may also perform indirect tests to check for inflammation in the body.


Samina Zaheer (Health Tips, Health Care)

 

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