Our immune system is our best defense against invaders. Invaders of the body, that is. These invaders can be bacteria, virus and fungi. These elements actually attack our bodies everyday. But thanks to our immune system, they are unable to wreak significant havoc. The immune system is indeed crucial. It acts as the body’s protector and thus keeps us healthy. But that may not always be the case. Especially with
. Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system attacks itself. That is of course, by mistake, and much is yet to be known about this process or its causes.
“Auto” actually means “self”. So by autoimmune diseases, those are diseases caused by the immune system itself. The tissues are the components most often affected by autoimmune diseases. The tissue is that which binds the body’s tissues and the organs together. Autoimmune diseases can affect various parts of the body. They can be the nerves, the muscles and the digestive system. More women than men are affected by
. As to why, experts are still in a puzzle. Autoimmune diseases are also said to run in families. During pregnancy, a mother exchanges cells with her baby. This is said to induce autoimmunity.
To date, there are around 80 known autoimmune diseases. It is only important that you gain awareness of these diseases. In cases wherein you think you may have acquired them, it is then that you can take measures. Early detection has so much to do with alleviation and even remission of a disease. So it is with autoimmune diseases. When an autoimmune disease is intervened in its initial stages, there are more chances that it can be controlled. That way, further complications and damage can be prevented. Primarily, it’s best that you know about the symptoms of common autoimmune diseases.
These symptoms may however be confusing, especially as they can be similar with one disease to another. Among the most common autoimmune diseases are Grave’s disease, Lupus and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. The following are the symptoms of Grave’s disease: bulging eyes, insomnia, shaky hands, irritability and sweating. A person with lupus on the other hand may experience joint swelling and damage, as well as inflammation and impairment of the heart, lungs, the brain and the skin. The same can be said with a “butterfly rash” on the nose and the cheeks and sensitivity to the sun. As for indications of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, they can be muscle pain, tiredness, dry hair, rough skin and constipation.
When you have an autoimmune disease, you may experience a sudden onset of these symptoms. The best recourse then would be to seek medical help- go to your doctor immediately. It is then that medications may be administered according to the nature of the disease. When the symptoms are mild, pain killers may be employed. For severe cases, they may require prescription medications. Medicines often hinder the progression of
. It is best to take preventive measures for them such as eating healthy, exercising and getting enough rest. That way, the immune system is boosted and is less likely to be in a disarray.
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