9 Common Autoimmune Diseases

 

Autoimmune disease is where the natural immune system attacks the body. Usually, the human immune system helps guard against bacteria, viruses, toxins, cancer cells, pathogens, disease-carrying organisms, or any non-self (foreign invaders). The immune system is complex, vast, and interconnected with multiple organs, cells, and proteins to shield from any illness. But when the immune system malfunctions, it will attack the healthy cells, organs, and tissue. These attacks can weaken any bodily functions, and in some instances, they can be life-threatening. Scientists know nearly 80 immune diseases, including lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriatic arthritis, Addison's disease, Graves' disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, pernicious anemia, and type 1 diabetes; other conditions are rare. Patients with uncommon immune diseases may suffer for years before a proper diagnosis. While some diseases have no cure, some require a lengthy treatment to reduce symptoms. Following are the nine common autoimmune diseases. 

Lupus

Lupus occurs when the immune system affects the body's organs and tissues. Also, lupus is a long-term disease that triggers the immune system to be hyperactive and attack tissues. It is one of the complex autoimmune diseases, so lupus is also known as the "disease of a thousand faces." The inflammation by lupus can affect joints, skin, kidneys, heart, brain, lungs, and blood cells.

Inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease or IBD is a combination of two chronic inflammation disorders of the digestive tract: ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The gastrointestinal tract also characterizes these two.

·   Ulcerative colitis is a condition that involves ulcers and inflammation.

·   Crohn's disease is a condition that causes inflammation of the lining in the digestive tract, which often involves more deep layers of the digestive tract.

Both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are primarily involved with diarrhea, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, fatigue, and weight loss. 

Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is also a long-term condition that can get worsen over time. It affects people with a psoriasis skin condition—a disease where people get red patches and silvery scales above the skin. People with psoriasis take years to develop psoriatic arthritis.  

Addison's disease

Addison's disease is a.k.a. adrenal insufficiency, an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body is not producing enough specific hormones. For example, when the adrenal glands above the kidney produce too little cortisol and aldosterone, it can increase the risk of Addison's disease. While cortisol helps reduce stress, it helps maintain heart function, blood glucose levels, immune system, and blood pressure. The absence of aldosterone can affect the balance of potassium and sodium in the blood. 

Graves' disease

Graves' disease can cause overactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism. It is a butterfly-shaped gland found in the neck, and the thyroid hormones can control the body's energy usage. So, Graves' disease can affect nearly every organ in the body and even change the way of heartbeats. Since thyroid hormones can affect multiple body systems, the signs and symptoms can be vast. 

Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis attacks the protective myelin (sheath) that can affect nerve fibers and cause communication problems between the body and the brain. So multiple sclerosis is a potentially disabling disease of the spinal cord (central nervous system) and brain. Ultimately, the disease can cause permanent damage to nerves. The symptoms can widely vary depending on the nerve damage and the affected specific nerve. 

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory and autoimmune disease that can affect the healthy cells in the body by mistake. Usually, it involves multiple joints at once and comes with painful swelling. But in some people, the condition can damage various varieties of the body's system, including the eyes, lungs, blood vessels, and skin. 

Pernicious anemia

Pernicious anemia is a variety of vitamin B12 anemia that the body needs to produce red blood cells. The development of pernicious anemia is slow and difficult to recognize with fatigue, headaches, chest pain, weight loss, weakness, and pale skin. Pernicious anemia can lead to depression, memory loss, dementia, and severe stages.

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition where the pancreas produces no insulin. It is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes include frequent urination, hunger, thirst, fatigue, and blurred vision. The treatments aim to maintain a balanced blood sugar level through insulin therapy, regular monitoring, exercise, and a proper diet. 

Get on track

A British Bertrand Russell has stated, "To acquire immunity to eloquence is of the utmost importance to the citizens of a democracy." So being on track with your immunity should always be of utmost importance. Keeping track of it isn't complex with proper guidance. You can always consult a doctor online for free with Optimists, and with our immunity package, you can know where you should focus on your health. Follow this link to learn more about Immunity care and the Immunity package.