When you hear about autoimmune disease, you generally think of an adult tirelessly dealing with chronic and lifelong health problems they face.
Johnson and Johnson said scientists are still learning much about what causes autoimmune disease. But here's what you need to know about this illness.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 30: Timothy Lunceford Stevens, who suffers from autoimmune diseases and allergies, holds an EpiPen as he speaks to reporters during a protest against the price of EpiPens, outside the office of hedge fund manager John Paulson, August 30, 2016 in New York City. Paulson's hedge fund is a major investor in Mylan, the pharmaceutical company who has raised the price of EpiPens over 400 percent in the past 8 years. Mylan announced on Monday they will start offering a generic version of EpiPen, which will cost about half the price of the 600 dollar brand name version.
Autoimmune Disease Explained
Dr. Tomi Mitchell of Holistic Wellness Strategies, a Board-Certified Family Physician, told Eat This Not That, "An autoimmune disease is when the body's immune system attacks healthy cells, tissues, and organs."
The immune system, according to Mitchell, protects the body from outside invaders such as germs and viruses. On the other hand, people with autoimmune disorders have their immune systems mistake healthy cells for foreign intruders and attack them.
Autoimmune illnesses can strike any body region, and they can be minor or severe. Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Crohn's disease, and type 1 diabetes are all autoimmune diseases. Although autoimmune illnesses have no cure, some medications and therapy can help control symptoms and prevent additional bodily harm.
Cause of Autoimmune Disease
Your immune system does not discriminate between healthy tissue and potentially hazardous antigens when you have an autoimmune illness. As a result, the body triggers a chain reaction that causes normal tissues to be destroyed.
"The exact cause of autoimmune disorders is unknown," according to Medline Plus.
One notion is that some microbes (such as bacteria or viruses) or medicines might cause immune system alterations. It may occur more frequently in persons with genes predisposing them to autoimmune diseases.
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Everything Else You Should Know About Autoimmune Diseases
There are three other things that individuals should be aware of when it comes to autoimmune disorders.
Autoimmune Diseases Affect Women More Than Men
Autoimmune diseases impact people of all ages all over the world. However, this sickness strike women far more frequently than they do men. Women account for 75 percent of the 23 million sufferers in the United States, although it's unknown why.
According to Johann Gudjonsson, M.D., Ph.D., the Arthur C. Curtis Professor of Skin Molecular Immunology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, women have a "stronger immune response" than men because the latter are two times as likely to get cancer and infection, Prevention reported.
A better response, according to Gudjonsson, is a double-edged sword. The stated reaction is beneficial for defense, but it predisposes women to an out-of-control immune system, according to the expert.
Autoimmune Diseases Can Be Found in Different Ways
According to Starhealth, autoimmune illnesses are routinely examined by doctors in an attempt to diagnose them. In most cases, there is no accurate test to detect whether or not you have an autoimmune disease.
In addition, the symptoms may be puzzling. Because many autoimmune disorders have similar symptoms, this is the case. Furthermore, certain symptoms, such as muscle aches, are common in a variety of ailments. As a result, acquiring a diagnosis might take a long time and numerous doctor visits.
The manner of diagnosis differs depending on the condition. Blood tests, on the other hand, are frequently necessary. Antibodies produced by the immune system are frequently used by doctors to diagnose autoimmune illnesses.
A complete blood count is a test that allows a clinician to determine how many white and red blood cells are present in the body. The levels shift from the usual baseline as the immune system tackles an illness.
Autoimmune Disease Puts You at Risk for Heart Disease
Heart disease is more likely if you have lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or psoriatic arthritis, according to John Hopkins Medicine. While taking precautions to prevent heart disease is usually a good idea, it is especially important if you have one of these diseases. Discuss what you can do to maintain your heart healthy and strong with your doctor. Maintaining appropriate blood pressure and cholesterol levels, eating a nutritious diet, and exercising frequently, for example, can save your life.
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