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Autoimmune Disease
The term "autoimmune disease" refers
to a varied group of more than 80
serious, chronic illnesses that
involve almost every human organ
system. In all of these diseases,
the underlying problem is
similar--the body’s immune system
becomes misdirected, attacking the
very organs it was designed to
protect. About 75% of autoimmune
diseases occur in women, most
frequently during the childbearing
years. Autoimmune diseases can
affect connective tissue. (This is
the tissue which binds together
various tissues and organs.) It can
also affect the nerves, muscles,
endocrine system, and
gastrointestinal system.
Most Common Examples of Autoimmune
Diseases
Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and
systemic sclerosis all affect the
connective tissue. Multiple
sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, and
Gullian-Barre syndromes are
neuromuscular diseases. On the other
hand, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis,
Graves’ disease, and
insulin-dependent/juvenile diabetes
(type 1) are all related to the
endocrine system. Finally,
inflammatory bowel disease is an
autoimmune disease which attacks the
gastrointestinal system.
Causes of Autoimmune Diseases
Unfortunately, autoimmune diseases
remain among the most poorly
understood of any category of
illness. It is thought that hormones
play a role in inducing autoimmune
diseases; some cases suddenly
improve during pregnancy, some
flare-ups occur after delivery,
while others will get worse during
pregnancy, or flare up after
menopause.
Autoimmune diseases seem to also
have a hereditary component, but
mysteriously, they can cluster in
families as different illnesses. For
example, a mother may have lupus
erythematosus; her daughter,
diabetes; her grandmother,
rheumatoid arthritis. Research is
shedding light on genetic, as well
as hormonal and environmental risk
factors that contribute to the
causes of these diseases.
Content Courtesy : www.4woman.gov
Note : Information herein is
provided for informational purposes
only and is not a substitute for
professional medical advice. You
should not use this information for
diagnosing or treating a medical or
health condition. If you have or
suspect you have a medical problem,
promptly contact your professional
healthcare provider. Please consult
your healthcare provider before
beginning any course of
supplementation or treatment.
Diagnosis & Treatment of Autoimmune
Diseases
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