When your body is suffering from an autoimmune disease, it means that your immune system has become confused and is attacking healthy cells and tissues in your body. This happens due to a malfunction in the natural defense system.
In order to fight off invading organisms, the immune system produces antibodies that seek out and destroy them. With an autoimmune disorder, the antibodies mistakenly attack healthy cells and tissue.
This disruption to the immune system can cause inflammation and damage in different organs of the body. Autoimmune diseases can affect virtually any part of the body, including but not limited to the skin, muscles, joints, and organs like the heart, lung, kidneys, and blood vessels.
Common symptoms of autoimmune disorders include fatigue, rashes, muscle and joint pain, shortness of breath, and fever. Treatment for autoimmune disorders focuses on managing symptoms and slowing progression of the disease.
This typically involves a combination of medications and lifestyle changes.
What are 5 common symptoms of an autoimmune disorder?
Common symptoms of an autoimmune disorder can vary depending on the specific disorder, however, there are several key symptoms associated with autoimmune disorders in general. These include:
1. Fatigue: People with autoimmune disorders commonly experience extreme fatigue or exhaustion, even after sleeping for long periods of time. This can have a major impact on daily life and activities.
2. Joint pain and swelling: Many autoimmune disorders cause joint pain and swelling due to increased inflammation. This can cause stiffness and decreased range of motion, making daily activities more difficult.
3. Skin changes: Changes in the skin, such as rashes, hives, lesions, and itching, can be seen in many autoimmune disorders.
4. Digestive issues: Digestive issues, such as abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and nausea, are common in those with an autoimmune disorder.
5. Fever: Recurrent or persistent fevers or low-grade fever can be a symptom of an autoimmune disorder. Other flu-like symptoms, such as chills and body aches, may also be present.
What are the most serious autoimmune diseases?
The most serious autoimmune diseases include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), psoriasis, multiple sclerosis (MS) and type 1 diabetes. All of these diseases involve a malfunction of the body’s immune system, where it attacks its own healthy cells and tissues.
Lupus is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder that can cause joint pain, fatigue, a butterfly-shaped rash and fever. It is important to look out for other symptoms such as hair loss, painful or swollen joints, Raynaud’s phenomenon and seizures.
Without treatment, lupus can lead to organ damage and even death.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that primarily affects the joints. Symptoms include pain and swelling in the joints, fatigue, fever and loss of appetite. Left untreated, it can lead to severe joint damage, osteoporosis and joint deformity.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of disorders, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Symptoms vary but can include abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea and weight loss. Left untreated, IBD can lead to malnutrition, anemia, dehydration and bowel complications.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder that causes thick, scaly and itchy patches on the skin. It can also lead to joint pain and swelling, arthritis and nail damage.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the immune system, neurological system and central nervous system. Symptoms include balance issues, vision problems, muscle weakness and coordination issues.
Without treatment, MS can lead to paralysis and cognitive decline.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Symptoms may include excessive thirst, fatigue, weight loss and frequent urination.
Left untreated, it can lead to serious complications such as cardiovascular disease, kidney damage and nerve damage.
What does an autoimmune flare up feel like?
An autoimmune flare up can feel like a wide range of symptoms, depending on what autoimmune disorder is active in your body. Generally, the most common symptoms include fatigue, fever, joint pain, muscle aches, headaches, rash, abdominal pain and bloating, and hair loss or thinning.
Many people also report feeling weak, having a loss of appetite, and experiencing nausea or vomiting. Depending on the autoimmune disorder, you may also experience changes in your vision and/or hearing, shortness of breath, chest pain, and/or other neurological symptoms such as numbness or tingling.
To diagnose an autoimmune flare up and determine the cause, it is best to consult a medical professional.
Can you randomly develop an autoimmune disease?
No, you cannot randomly develop an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are complex and can be caused by a variety of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Many of these factors can cause a person’s immune system to become imbalanced, leading to the body attacking its own tissues or organs, resulting in an autoimmune disease diagnosis.
Some of the risk factors associated with autoimmune diseases include family history of autoimmune diseases, previous infections or illnesses, medications, or exposure to toxins or viruses. Additionally, autoimmune diseases are often associated with a person’s age, gender, and ethnicity.
Thus, autoimmune diseases cannot suddenly appear at random.
How do you get an autoimmune flare up?
An autoimmune flare up is when the body’s immune system turns against itself, causing symptoms similar to an infection. This can happen when a person with an autoimmune disorder experiences a significant stressor, such as a virus, injury, or change in medications.
Common triggers for an autoimmune flare up include physical or emotional stress, and changes in the environment or diet. People who have an autoimmune disorder can take steps to decrease the risk of a flare up and reduce its severity, such as avoiding triggers, managing stress, eating a healthy diet, and getting a good night’s rest.
Additionally, it is important to follow any treatment plans prescribed by a doctor, such as taking medication or supplements, as this can help reduce symptoms and prevent additional flares.
Are autoimmune diseases genetic or hereditary?
Autoimmune diseases can be both genetic or hereditary. While environmental factors and lifestyle can play a role in risk factors, many autoimmune diseases are caused by genetic mutations, which are inherited from our parents.
Different autoimmune diseases can have varied genetic inheritance patterns. Some, like celiac disease and type 1 diabetes, follow a simple autosomal recessive pattern where two copies of the gene mutation (one from each parent) are required for the disease to manifest.
Other autoimmune diseases, like lupus, follow a complex inheritance pattern involving multiple genes, as well as environmental factors.
Hereditary, or familial, autoimmune diseases occur when family members all have the same autoimmune disease. Often, these hereditary cases are caused by a mutation in an immune system gene passed down from a parent.
Overall, research has suggested that most autoimmune diseases have a combination of both genetic and environmental factors. Ultimately, if you have an autoimmune condition, it’s best to research your family history and be aware of potential risks.
Genetics can influence the onset and severity of autoimmune diseases, regardless of environmental factors, and family history is a key factor in diagnosing and treating autoimmune diseases.
How are autoimmune diseases passed down?
Autoimmune diseases are usually not passed down from parents to their children in the traditional way parents pass down genetic traits. In most cases, the cause of an autoimmune disease is not a single gene, but rather the result of a combination of multiple factors that interact in a complex way.
These factors may include lifestyle, dietary choices, certain medications, and environmental triggers. Studies have shown that there is a very strong hereditary component to some autoimmune diseases, meaning a person is more likely to develop a certain type of autoimmune disorder if a close relative has it.
However, the majority of research has not been able to establish consistent genetic links that cause a particular autoimmune disease.
Family members of a person who has an autoimmune disease have an increased risk of developing that same disease or a different one. This is because many autoimmune diseases have similar underlying cellular pathways, genetic risk factors, and environmental triggers.
Additionally, family members are more likely to have similar exposures to environmental triggers, such as diet and drugs, which can play a significant role in autoimmunity.
Although autoimmunity cannot be directly passed down from one generation to the next, it is important for parents, siblings, and other close relatives to be aware of their family history. If a family member has been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, it is a good idea to discuss the risks of developing another autoimmune condition with a doctor.