What is an autoimmune disease?

An autoimmune disease is a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks itself.

A disorder in which your immune system wrongly targets your body is known as autoimmune disease.

 Normally, the immune system protects us against pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. It sends out an army of fighter cells to attack these foreign invaders when it detects them.

Normally, your immune system is able to distinguish between alien and native cells.

The immune system misidentifies parts of your body, such as your joints or skin, as alien in an autoimmune disease. Autoantibodies are proteins released by the body that assault healthy cells.

 14 common autoimmune diseases

There are more than 80 different autoimmune diseases. Here are 14 of the most common ones

1. Type 1 diabetes
2. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
3. Psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis
4. Multiple sclerosis
5. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
6. Inflammatory bowel disease
7. Addison’s disease
8. Graves’ disease
9. Sjögren’s syndrome
10. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
11. Myasthenia gravis
12. Autoimmune vasculitis
13. Pernicious anemia
14. Celiac disease

Symptoms of autoimmune illness

Many autoimmune disorders have similar early symptoms, such as;  weariness, achy muscles, swelling and redness, low-grade fever, difficulties concentrating, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, hair loss, and skin rashes.

 Individual diseases can have their own own set of symptoms. Type 1 diabetes, for example, produces excessive thirst, weight loss, and exhaustion. IBD is characterized by stomach pain, bloating, and diarrhea.

Symptoms of autoimmune illnesses like psoriasis or RA might come and go. A flare-up is a time of increased symptoms. Remission is a period during which the symptoms disappear.

VERDICT: Fatigue, muscle aches, swelling, and redness are all symptoms of an autoimmune condition. Symptoms could appear and disappear over time.

Affiliation tests for autoimmune illnesses

Most autoimmune disorders cannot be diagnosed with a single test. To diagnose you, your doctor will utilize a mix of tests, as well as a review of your symptoms and a physical examination.