Useful Facts About Auto Immune Diseases

By Virginia Schmidt


Some of the most complicated systems can be found in the human body. Specialization in specific parts of the body helps to make understanding the systems easier. Medical practitioners specialize in specific systems where they study all diseases and medical conditions and disorders related to that part. The immune system is meant to guard the body against foreign harmful organisms and substances. However, sometimes, the immune system attacks body cells, causing what is called auto immune diseases.

A properly functioning body is usually able to tell the difference between foreign cells or organisms and body cells. Knowing the difference, they only attack the foreign matter. When one is suffering from autoimmune disease, their body mistakes joints, skin and other parts of the body for foreign organisms/substances and attacks them. This is achieved through the release of antibodies to attack the healthy cells.

Some types of these diseases attack the entire body while some target specific organs. For instance Lupus affects the entire body while Type 1 Diabetes specifically targets the pancreas. The cause of these illnesses is not known although they tend to run in families. It is also speculated that exposure to certain chemicals, infections, and diets might trigger or contribute to the condition.

Research also indicates that women are more susceptible to these illnesses than men. Most patients of these conditions are females in their childbearing age. It is as this stage that the diseases attack most. The issue of race also comes into play with some races getting affected more than others. Where a disease runs in a family does not necessarily mean that every member will get affected. What it means is that they have higher infection chances.

A contributing factor could also be diets with high contents of sugar and fats. The close link between inflammation and consumption of highly processed foods makes it necessary to avoid such diets. The quest for answers for underlying cause of these illnesses is what has seen the proposal of many theories. Hygiene hypothesis is one such theory.

Under the hygiene theory, many different kinds of antiseptics and vaccines have been developed. The vaccines and antiseptics are meant as preventive measures in children so that they are exposed to less germs. The common thought is that exposing the body to more germs may result in the immune system of the body to become excessively sensitive. As a result of over sensitivity, it may start attacking harmless substances in the body.

More than 80 cases of the body launching attacks on itself have been reported so far. These are instances of known autoimmune diseases with each instance being different from the other. The most common diseases that fall under this category of diseases are rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriatic arthritis, celiac disease, vasculitis, and inflammatory bowel disease. There is an astounding similarity in the symptoms of the diseases.

One should pay attention to muscle aches, swelling, and fatigue among other recurrent symptoms. They may be a cause. One should get help early to avoid excessive suffering. Better management methods have been developed over time. Prevention is the best approach, and it should be comprised of eating a balanced and healthy diet and regular exercising. However, it is also important to know that there is no cure for these diseases.




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