What are autoimmune diseases?
The body’s immune system is supposed to protect against harmful substances, such as bacteria, viruses, toxins, cancer cells, and foreign blood and tissue. Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system malfunctions and accidentally attacks healthy cells in the body. They are not infectious diseases, meaning that they can’t be spread from person to person.
Risk factors:
Sex: more common in people who are assigned female at birth
Age: more common for people between the ages of 15–44 years
Ethnicity: certain autoimmune diseases are more likely in particular groups of people (eg. those who are African American, Hispanic, or Latinx have a higher risk of developing lupus)
Family history: past occurrences of autoimmune diseases increases the likelihood of family members or relatives because of inherited genes
Environmental factors: exposure to sunlight, mercury, chemicals, cigarette smoke, and some diseases can increases chances of autoimmune diseases
Common symptoms:
Many autoimmune diseases can show similar symptoms. These include:
Fatigue
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Low grade fever
Swelling
Muscle aches
Skin rashes
Trouble concentrating
Numbness and tingling in hands and feet
Four common autoimmune diseases:
Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)
The body’s immune system mistakenly destroys beta cells in the pancreas. Beta cells produce insulin, a hormone which allows glucose (blood sugar) to enter cells. Cells are subsequently deprived of energy and blood sugar levels skyrocket.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
A chronic (long-term) inflammatory disease that affects a variety of organs, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels. It occurs when the immune system attacks synovium (tissue lining of joints), causing the synovium to expand. The joint area after inflammation feels tender and painful, and looks red and swollen. Eventually, bone erosion and joint deformity may result.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
The immune system attacks myelin, the protective sheath that surrounds nerve fibers, causing inflammation and lesions. The damage interrupts signals being transmitted from the brain to other parts of the body, ultimately causing permanent damage to nerves. Symptoms of multiple sclerosis vary widely in severity. Some may lose their ability to walk, while others may have long periods of remission (disappearance of a disease and its related symptoms).
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
The immune system damages tissues and organs throughout the body, resulting in inflammation that affects the skin, joints, blood vessels, and organs (like the kidneys, heart, and lungs). The most distinctive sign of lupus is a facial rash in the shape of a butterfly’s wings, which occurs in most but not all lupus cases.
Works Cited
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Accessed 21 Jan. 2024.
"Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)." Cleveland Clinic,
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4875-lupus. Accessed 21 Jan. 2024.
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Pietrangelo, Ann. "Understanding Multiple Sclerosis (MS)." Edited by Lauren Bullen and
Aline Ren Dias. Healthline, 23 July 2021, www.healthline.com/health/multiple-sclerosis. Accessed 21 Jan. 2024.
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www.arthritis.org/diseases/rheumatoid-arthritis. Accessed 21 Jan. 2024.
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www.healthline.com/health/autoimmune-disorders#causes. Accessed 21 Jan. 2024.
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www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/what-is-type-1-diabetes.html. Accessed 21 Jan. 2024.
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www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/diabetes/type-1-diabetes. Accessed 21 Jan. 2024.
Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board