Let us talk on “Autoimmune Diseases: Types, Symptoms, Causes”
Examples of autoimmune
diseases include:
·
Rheumatoid arthritis. ...
·
Systemic lupus erythematosus
(lupus). ...
·
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
...
·
Multiple sclerosis (MS). ...
·
Type 1 diabetes mellitus. ...
·
Guillain-Barre syndrome. ...
·
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating
polyneuropathy. ...
·
Psoriasis.
·
What is an autoimmune disease?
An
autoimmune disease is a condition in which
immune system mistakenly attacks
body.
The
immune system normally guards against germs like bacteria and viruses. When it
senses these foreign invaders, it sends out an army of fighter cells to attack
them.
Normally,
the immune system can tell the difference between foreign cells and own cells.
In
an autoimmune disease, the our immune
system mistakes part of body, like joints or skin, as foreign. It releases
proteins called autoantibodies that attack healthy cells.Some autoimmune
diseases target only one organ. Type 1 diabetes damages the pancreas. Other
diseases, like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), affect the whole body.
.
According
to a 2014 study, women get autoimmune diseases at a rate of about 2
to 1 compared to men — 6.4 percent of women vs. 2.7 percent of men. Often the
disease starts during a woman’s childbearing years (ages 15 to 44).Some
autoimmune diseases are more common in certain ethnic groups. For example,
lupus affects more African-American and Hispanic people than Caucasians. Certain
autoimmune diseases, like multiple sclerosis and lupus, run in families. Not
every family member will necessarily have the same disease, but they inherit a
susceptibility to an autoimmune condition. Because the incidence of autoimmune
diseases is rising, researchers suspect environmental factors like infections
and exposure to chemicals or solvents might also be involved.A “Western diet” is another suspected risk factor for developing
an autoimmune disease. Eating high-fat, high-sugar, and highly processed foods
is thought to be linked to inflammation,
which might set off an immune response. However, this hasn’t been
proven.A 2015 study focused on another theory called the hygiene hypothesis.
Because of vaccines and antiseptics, children today aren’t exposed to as many
germs as they were in the past. The lack of exposure could make their immune
system prone to overreact to harmless substances.
Till
now, researchers don’t know exactly what
causes autoimmune diseases. Genetics, diet, infections, and exposure to
chemicals might be involved.
There
are more than 80 different autoimmune diseases. Here are 14 of the most
common ones.
1. Type 1 diabetes
The
pancreas produces the hormone insulin, which helps regulate blood sugar levels.
In type 1 diabetes mellitus, the immune system attacks and
destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.High blood sugar results can
lead to damage in the blood vessels, as well as organs like the heart, kidneys,
eyes, and nerves.
2. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
In rheumatoid
arthritis (RA), the immune system attacks the joints. This attack
causes redness, warmth, soreness, and stiffness in the joints.Unlike osteoarthritis,
which commonly affects people as they get older, RA can start as early as at 30s or sooner.
3. Psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis
Skin
cells normally grow and then shed when they’re no longer needed. Psoriasis causes skin
cells to multiply too quickly. The extra cells build up and form inflamed red
patches, commonly with silver-white scales of plaque on the skin.Up to 30 percent of
people with psoriasis also develop swelling, stiffness, and pain in their
joints. This form of the disease is called psoriatic
arthritis.
4. Multiple sclerosis
Multiple
sclerosis (MS) damages the myelin sheath, the protective
coating that surrounds nerve cells, in his central nervous system. Damage to
the myelin sheath slows the transmission speed of messages between the brain and spinal cord to and from the rest of
body.
This
damage can lead to symptoms like numbness, weakness, balance issues, and
troubled walking. The disease comes in
several forms that progress at different rates. According to a study ,
about 50 percent of people with MS need help walking within 15 years after the
disease starts.
5. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Although doctors in
the 1800s first described lupus as
a skin disease because of the rash it commonly produces, the systemic form,
which is most the common, actually affects many organs, including the joints,
kidneys, brain, and heart.Joint pain, fatigue, and rashes are among the most
common symptoms.
6. Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory
bowel disease (IBD) is a term used to describe conditions that
cause inflammation in the lining of the intestinal wall. Each type of IBD
affects a different part of the GI tract.
- Crohn’s
disease can inflame any part of the GI tract, from the
mouth to the anus.
- Ulcerative
colitisaffects only the lining of the large intestine (colon)
and rectum.
7. Addison’s disease
Addison’s
disease affects the adrenal glands, which produce the hormones
cortisol and aldosterone as well as androgen hormones. Having too little of
cortisol can affect the way the body uses and stores carbohydrates and sugar
(glucose). Deficiency of aldosterone will lead to sodium loss and excess
potassium in the bloodstream.Symptoms include weakness, fatigue, weight loss,
and low blood sugar.
8. Graves’ disease
Graves’ disease attacks
the thyroid gland, causing it to produce too much of its hormones. Thyroid
hormones control the body’s energy usage, known as metabolism.Having too much
of these hormones gears up body’s
activities, causing symptoms like nervousness, a fast heartbeat, heat
intolerance, and weight loss. One potential symptom of this disease is bulging
eyes, called exophthalmos.
It can occur as a part of what is called Graves’ ophthalmopathy, which occurs
in around 30 percent of those who have Graves’ disease, according to a 1993 study
9. Sjögren’s syndrome
This
condition attacks the glands that provide lubrication to the eyes and mouth.
The hallmark symptoms of Sjögren’s
syndrome are dry eyes and dry mouth, but it may also affect the
joints or skin.
10. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
In Hashimoto’s
thyroiditis, thyroid hormone production slows to a deficiency.
Symptoms include weight gain, sensitivity to cold, fatigue, hair loss, and
swelling of the thyroid (goiter).
11. Myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia
gravis affects nerve impulses that help the brain control the
muscles. When the communication from nerves to muscles is impaired, signals
can’t direct the muscles to contract.The most common symptom is muscle weakness
that gets worse with activity and improves with rest. Often muscles that
control eye movements, eyelid opening, swallowing, and facial movements are
involved.
12. Autoimmune vasculitis
Autoimmune
vasculitis happens when the immune system attacks blood vessels. The
inflammation that results narrows the arteries and veins, allowing less blood
to flow through them.
13. Pernicious anemia
This
condition causes deficiency of a protein, made by stomach lining cells, known
as intrinsic factor that is needed in order for the small intestine to
absorb vitamin B-12 from
food. Without enough of this vitamin, one will develop an anemia, and the
body’s ability for proper DNA synthesis will be altered.Pernicious
anemia is more common in older adults. According to a 2012 study, it affects 0.1 percent of people in general, but
nearly 2 percent of people over age 60.
14. Celiac disease
People
with celiac
disease can’t eat foods containing gluten, a protein found in
wheat, rye, and other grain products. When gluten is in the small intestine,
the immune system attacks this part of the gastrointestinal tract and causes
inflammation.
A 2015 study noted that celiac disease
affects about 1 percent of people in the United States. A larger number of
people have reported gluten
sensitivity, which isn’t an autoimmune disease, but can have similar
symptoms like diarrhea and abdominal pain.
The
early symptoms of many autoimmune diseases are very similar, such as:
- fatigue
- achy muscles
- swelling and redness
- low-grade fever
- trouble concentrating
- numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
- hair loss
- skin rashes
Individual
diseases can also have their own unique symptoms. For example, type 1 diabetes
causes extreme thirst, weight loss, and fatigue. IBD causes belly pain,
bloating, and diarrhea.
With
autoimmune diseases like psoriasis or RA, symptoms may come and go. A period of
symptoms is called a flare-up. A period when the symptoms go away is called
remission.
: Symptoms like fatigue, muscle aches, swelling, and
redness could be signs of an autoimmune disease. Symptoms might come and go
over time.
See
a doctor if you have symptoms of an autoimmune disease. You might need to visit
a specialist, depending on the type of disease you have.
- Rheumatologists treat
joint diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis as well as other autoimmune
diseases like Sjögren’s syndrome and SLE.
- Gastroenterologists treat
diseases of the GI tract, such as celiac and Crohn’s disease.
- Endocrinologists treat
conditions of the glands, including Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s
thyroiditis, and Addison’s disease.
- Dermatologists treat
skin conditions, such as psoriasis.
Tests that diagnose autoimmune
diseases
No
single test can diagnose most autoimmune diseases. doctor will use a combination of tests and a
review of symptoms and physical
examination to diagnose you.
The antinuclear
antibody test (ANA) is often one of the first tests that
doctors use when symptoms suggest an autoimmune disease. A positive test means
you may have one of these diseases, but it won’t confirm exactly which one you
have or if you have one for sure.
Other
tests look for specific autoantibodies produced in certain autoimmune
diseases. doctor might also do
nonspecific tests to check for the inflammation these diseases produce in the
body.
BOTTOM
LINE: A positive ANA blood test may
be indicative of an autoimmune disease.
doctor can use symptoms and other
tests to confirm the diagnosis.
How are autoimmune diseases treated?
Treatments
can’t cure autoimmune diseases, but they can control the overactive immune
response and bring down inflammation or at least reduce pain and inflammation.
Drugs used to treat these conditions include:
- nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Motrin,
Advil) and naproxen (Naprosyn)
- immune-suppressing
drugs
Treatments
are also available to relieve symptoms like pain, swelling, fatigue, and skin
rashes.
Eating
a well-balanced diet and getting regular exercise may also help you feel
better.
BOTTOM
LINE: The main treatment for
autoimmune diseases is with medications that bring down inflammation and calm
the overactive immune response. Treatments can also help relieve symptoms.
More
than 80 different autoimmune diseases exist. Often their symptoms overlap,
making them hard to diagnose.
Autoimmune
diseases are more common in women, and they often run in families.
Blood
tests that look for autoantibodies can help doctors diagnose these conditions.
Treatments include medications to calm the overactive immune response and bring
down inflammation in the body.
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Last
medically reviewed on March 21, 2019
12 sourcescollapsed
FEEDBACK:
Medically
reviewed by Stacy Sampson,
DO — Written by Stephanie Watson — Updated on
March 26, 2019
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