Blog 9 Things To Know About Autoimmune Diseases

9 Things To Know About Autoimmune Diseases

You’ve probably heard about autoimmune disease, but you might not know much about it. The basic idea is that the immune system attacks its own body.

This could be as simple as a rash or redness in a specific area of skin, where only one type of cell is affected. For example, psoriasis causes scaly patches of skin because the immune system attacks one part of the skin cells. Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), meanwhile, attacks all kinds of tissues throughout the body and causes finger tissue to die off and your kidneys to shut down.

Unfortunately, many autoimmune diseases are out there, and doctors are still figuring out how they work. Here are things you should know about these diseases:

Contents

9 Facts You Should Know About Autoimmune Diseases

1. Your Immune System Mistakenly Attacks Your Body

Man with sick hands dry flaky skin on his hand with vulgar psoriasis eczema and other skin diseases such as fungus plaque rash and blemishes autoimmune genetic disease Premium Photo

An autoimmune disease is when your immune system mistakenly attacks your body instead of attacking outside invaders. So, it’s critical to know what the immune system does typically.

Your immune system has a team of cells that seek out and destroy unknown substances that enter the body to protect you from disease and infection. Sometimes, the immune system fails to recognize healthy cells and starts attacking them instead, which happens with autoimmune diseases.

There are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases with different symptoms, but all have in common an immune system attack on a healthy body part.

2. There Are Rare Autoimmune Diseases, And CIPD Is One Of Them

Chronic immune demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a sporadic neurological disorder that is challenging to diagnose.

It’s one of the rare autoimmune diseases.

Although the cause of this condition is unknown, many people living with CIPD who seek early treatment have recovered as per Ameripharma, with proper medical treatment and care. Albeit, recovery stages are slow and progress over time.

3. It’s Essential To Consult The Doctor

3. It’s Essential To Consult The Doctor

When you have an autoimmune disease, your treatment may require adjusting to other medications or supplements. So, it’s necessary to see a doctor.

When working with autoimmune clients and dealing with pain from injury or arthritis, doctors often recommend herbal remedies to reduce inflammation. Yet certain supplements, such as turmeric, can cause side effects when combined with specific prescription drugs.

Hence, your doctor must know about any medications or supplements you take so they can counter any potential drug interactions. It’s a good idea to put together a list of all the vitamins and herbs you regularly take before each appointment so your doctor can have updated information on your supplement routine.

4. They Can Be Localized Or Systemic

Most people with an autoimmune disease have a disease that affects more than one part of the body. Examples include scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, and vasculitis.

Thus, autoimmune diseases can be localized to one part of the body or affect several parts. In either case, they can cause complications affecting many organs and systems.

5. Symptoms Depend On Affected Organ(s)

5. Symptoms Depend On Affected Organ(s)

Autoimmune diseases affect different people in different ways. Your symptoms may be different from the symptoms that someone else experiences, even if you both have the same type of autoimmune disease.

Yet what might be consistent among autoimmune diseases are the organ systems they affect. For example, celiac disease and type 1 diabetes are two very different autoimmune diseases. However, both can cause digestive problems and fatigue.

6. Women Are More Likely To Have Autoimmune Diseases Than Men

Women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, and they account for three-fourths of those living with autoimmune conditions. The most common autoimmune diseases among women are thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus.

Why exactly this is the case is still unknown. However, researchers have hypothesized that it may have something to do with sex hormones, like estrogen, playing a role in regulating the body’s immune response.

7. There Are Different Types Of Autoimmune Diseases

7. There Are Different Types Of Autoimmune Diseases

Although there are different autoimmune diseases, celiac disease is an excellent place to start. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition triggered by sensitivity to food with gluten like those containing wheat, rye, or barley.

Many of the symptoms of celiac disease include fatigue or unexplained weight loss, digestive problems, and joint pain.

It can be challenging to know if you have this problem until you have other health issues and feel exhausted. For your doctor to diagnose celiac disease, they will ask you many questions about your diet and what you’ve been eating recently to ensure it’s not just an issue with food sensitivities.

8. Diagnosis Can Be Tricky

When it comes to autoimmune diseases, symptoms may start long before there are blood tests to make a diagnosis. Some autoimmune diseases are diagnosed based on symptoms alone; in others, blood tests can find antibodies that signal the disease.

In some cases, doctors need to take a tissue sample from inside the body (a biopsy) for a diagnosis. Therefore, if you suspect an autoimmune disease, talk to your doctor about testing.

Symptoms of autoimmune diseases can be general and may overlap with those of other conditions. Doctors use these symptoms and lab results to determine if further testing is needed and whether they need repeated testing over time before making a diagnosis.

Moreover, some people who have an autoimmune disease, especially those with type 1 diabetes, don’t experience any symptoms before the diagnosis.

9. There’s No Known Cure

9. There’s No Known Cure

Although treatments can help manage symptoms and reduce the risk of long-term health consequences, there’s no known cure for autoimmune disease. Home remedies or alternative treatments can’t cure it, and these methods may even complicate the condition.

That is why it is crucial to ensure you have a good doctor you can work with to manage your symptoms. See a physician as soon as possible if you experience any of the following:

  • Breathing difficulties
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Skin rashes
  • Stomach pain

There’s also loads of information on various autoimmune diseases on the internet, but be careful which sources to trust. Your doctor will always have the most accurate information on what’s best for your particular case.

Conclusion

Autoimmune diseases can be challenging to diagnose and treat. They are also more common in women and can differ in severity and onset throughout different stages of life. However, it’s essential to work with your doctor to determine the cause of your symptoms. Likewise, you need to receive regular medical and follow-up care if you live with an autoimmune disease or suspect that you have one.

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