Autoimmune Diseases
What are autoimmune diseases?
Our bodies have an immune system that protects us from disease and infection. But if you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system attacks itself by mistake, and you can get sick. Autoimmune diseases can affect connective tissue in your body (the tissue which binds together body tissues and organs). Autoimmune disease can affect many parts of your body, like your nerves, muscles, endocrine system (system that directs your body’s hormones and other chemicals), and digestive system.
Who is at risk for getting autoimmune diseases?
Most autoimmune diseases occur in women, and most often during their childbearing years. Some of these diseases also affect African American, American Indian, and Latina women more than white women. These diseases tend to run in families, so your genes, along with the way your immune system responds to certain triggers or things in the environment, affect your chances of getting one of these diseases. If you think you may have an autoimmune disease, ask your family members if they have had symptoms like yours. The good news is that if you have an autoimmune disease, there ARE things you can do to feel better!
What are the most common symptoms of autoimmune diseases?
There are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases. Learning the symptoms of some of the more common autoimmune diseases can help you recognize the signs if you get one. But some autoimmune diseases share similar symptoms. This makes it hard for doctors to find out if you really have one of these diseases, and which one it might be. This can make your trip to doctors long and stressful. But if you are having symptoms that bother you, you need to persist to make sure you get relief. Below are descriptions of some common autoimmune diseases.
Symptoms of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (underactive thyroid)
- tiredness
- depression
- sensitivity to cold
- weight gain
- muscle weakness and cramps
- dry hair
- tough skin
- constipation
- sometimes there are no symptoms
- Insomnia (not able to sleep)
- Irritability
- Weight loss without dieting
- Heat sensitivity
- sweating
- fine brittle hair
- weakness in your muscles
- light menstrual periods
- bulging eyes
- shaky hands
- sometimes there are no symptoms
Symptoms of Lupus
- Swelling and damage to the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and brain
- “Butterfly” rash across the nose and cheeks
- Rashes on other parts of the body
- Painful and swollen joints
- Sensitivity to the sun
Symptoms of Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Weakness and trouble with coordination, balance, speaking, and walking
- Paralysis
- Tremors
- Numbness and tingling feeling in arms, legs, hands, and feet
Symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis
- Inflammation begins in the tissue lining your joints and then spreads to the whole joint (hand joints are the most common site, but it can affect most joints in the body)
- Muscle pain
- Deformed joints
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Becoming confined to bed in severe cases
What are flare ups?
Symptoms of autoimmune diseases can come and go, ranging in how bad they are, or all go away for a while (called remission). Flare-ups, or the sudden and severe onset of symptoms, can also happen. It’s best to work closely and often with your doctor and other members of your health care team to manage your illness. If you have a flare-up, it is best to first call your doctor. Don’t try a “cure” you heard about from a friend or relative.
Are there medicines to treat autoimmune diseases?
You can take medicines to help your symptoms, which your doctor(s) will talk with you about. The type of medicine you take depends on which disease you have and what your symptoms are. Some people can take over-the-counter drugs, like aspirin and ibuprofen for pain. Others with more severe symptoms may have to take certain kinds of prescription drugs that can help with pain, swelling, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, fatigue, or rashes. You also might be able to take medicine to help slow the progress of your disease. New treatments for autoimmune diseases are being studied all the time.
Informations obtained from National Institute of Health.