Autoimmune disease is a condition in which cells in the body are recognized as unknown antigens and destroyed by the immune system. It is activated by hereditary factors as well as environmental influences, and this type of condition is most common in women of childbearing age.
Some of the most common autoimmune diseases are celiac disease, multiple sclerosis, reactive arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, type 1 diabetes, Addison's disease, and malignant anemia.
How to recognize?
Symptoms may include insomnia, severe chronic fatigue, muscle weakness and joint pain, blood pressure fluctuations, weight changes, digestive problems, gastrointestinal problems.
Thyroid problems
They are often an indicator of the presence of an autoimmune disease. Hormonal fluctuations in women can also lead as a result to premenstrual syndrome and decreased libido.
Multiple sclerosis
The brain's ability to control functions such as vision, walking, speaking is impaired. It is called "multiple" because multiple scattered areas of the brain and spinal cord are affected. It is called "sclerosis" because the disease causes "sclerosis" or thickening of brain tissue in the affected areas of the brain or spinal cord.
Lupus
A chronic autoimmune disease in which antibodies are formed outside the norm, called autoantibodies. There are several types of manifestations, such as a rash on the face, forehead, nose. There may be joint manifestations, muscle pain and the most severe manifestation, affecting the blood vessels of the kidneys - leading to necrosis, kidney failure and haemodialysis.
Addison's disease
Endocrine disease, which arises from a deficiency of glucocorticosteroids and mineralocorticosteroids, renal androgens. The symptomatology can be confused with other diseases, so it is very important that the diagnosis is very precise. In women, a violation of the menstrual cycle is characteristic. Treatment is with corticosteroids.Other diagnoses belonging to autoimmune diseases are: myasthenia gravis; Hashimoto's thyroiditis; Graves' disease; Sjögren's syndrome
Read more about:
Autoimmune Diseases (Part 1) - Symptoms and Risk Factors
Autoimmune diseases (Part 2) - The most common autoimmune diseases
