{"id":2495,"date":"2019-01-20T05:54:51","date_gmt":"2019-01-20T05:54:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=2495"},"modified":"2021-05-20T15:12:33","modified_gmt":"2021-05-20T15:12:33","slug":"12-silent-autoimmune-disease-causes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/12-silent-autoimmune-disease-causes\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Silent Autoimmune Disease Causes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Autoimmune diseases are conditions that make your immunes system attack your body by mistake. Under normal circumstances, your immune system protects you from viruses and bacteria. As soon as it detects these invasive pathogens, it\u2019ll send out a battalion of cells to wipe them off the face of the earth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any healthy immune system has no trouble differentiating between your own cells and those that are invading. That said, for those with autoimmune disease, the immune system will think that the skin, joints, or another part of your body are actually a foreign entity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It then releases proteins that will attack these healthy cells since they are under the impression that they are invasive pathogens looking to cause the body harm. Some autoimmune diseases will target a specific area of the body like how type 1 diabetes attacks the pancreas whereas other diseases such as lupus could attack the entire body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis<\/a>, or RA for short, their immune system attacks their own joints which could lead to various adverse effects in the patient. The attack from the immune system can cause stiffness, soreness, redness, and warmth in the joints. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast to osteoarthritis which only develops when people get older, rheumatoid arthritis can develop as early in life as the age of 30. A healthy immune system will never attack the joints of the host but one that has rheumatoid arthritis cannot differentiate between the joints and invasive pathogens which is why they strike it like they would any virus or bacteria that sought to infect the patient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People are often shocked when they are told that they have arthritis as they didn\u2019t expect they could develop it so early in life. The range of age that rheumatoid arthritis affects is what makes it such a terrible disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Type 1 diabetes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Insulin <\/a>is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas. It helps you regulate your blood sugar levels. For those who suffer from type 1 diabetes, their immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas that are responsible for insulin production which then leads to a deficiency in the hormone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since not enough insulin is produced, the blood sugar levels in the body get too high which can lead to a myriad of adverse effects. The kidneys, eyes, blood vessels, heart, and nerves can all suffer from abnormally high blood sugar levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Type 1 diabetes often develops in childhood whereas type 2 diabetes can develop later on in life. It\u2019s important to note that only type 1 diabetes leads to insulin deficiency. Type 2 diabetes actually doesn’t inhibit the creation of insulin in your body but rather lets you develop a resistance to it so that the effect is dulled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. Psoriasis\/psoriatic arthritis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Psoriasis <\/a>is one nasty condition to have. In normal bodies, the skin cells will grow at a regular pace and then shed off once their services are no longer required. In the case of patients with psoriasis, the skin cells multiply far too fast and the shedding process isn\u2019t able to keep up with the excessive rate of production. Since there are too many cells, they begin to build up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This buildup of excess cells eventually manifests into scaly red patches that are very unsightly. A third of the patients who have psoriasis will also develop other symptoms such as stiffness, swelling, and joint pain. When the psoriasis is accompanied by the aforementioned symptoms, it is referred to as psoriatic arthritis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psoriasis is a good metaphor for most things that require moderation. Whether it\u2019s liquor, vitamins, or even skin, we have to remember that too much of anything can be bad for you. In fact, even drinking too much water in one sitting can kill you, and the same rule of excess holds true for those who have psoriasis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Multiple sclerosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Multiple sclerosis<\/a>, often shortened to MS, is a disease that causes damage to the myelin sheath. The myelin sheath is a protective coating that surrounds each nerve cell in your body. It is an integral part of the health of your cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think of it like a fur coat during the cold winter months. When this myelin sheath is damaged, the transmission of messages between your body and brain will be negatively impacted. To further the analogy, it\u2019s like losing your fur coat during the peak of winter and being late for work since you have to walk in the cold without a coat to keep you warm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the myelin sheath is damaged, you could suffer from a myriad of adverse effects including difficulty walking, balance issues, weakness, and numbness. There are multiple forms of the disease, and each one progresses at a different rate. For most people who have multiple sclerosis, they\u2019ll need assistance to walk within the first 15 years of being diagnosed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

5. Lupus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When lupus <\/a>was first discovered in the 19th century the doctors at the time originally classified it as a skin disease due to the rash that it comes with. It retained its classification for quite some time until medicine advance far enough to learn more about its true nature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We now know that lupus actually affects multiple organs, not just the skin. This includes the heart, brain, kidneys, and joints. Seeing as lupus targets so many areas of your body, it should come as no surprise that the symptoms it will bring are just as diverse. The most common symptoms for those who suffer from lupus are fatigue, rashes, and joint pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lupus is a condition that leads to hyperactivity in the immune system of the host which leads to its attack on perfectly healthy cells. The self-destructive nature of the disease is what makes its symptoms so severe. In a way, lupus is like mankind, destroying its host despite knowing that it will die along with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6. Myasthenia gravis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Myasthenia gravis<\/a> is a disease that negatively impacts the nerves in your body, specifically those that let your brain control the muscles. These are an especially important group of nerves since they\u2019re responsible for mobility, and when impaired, can severely impair one\u2019s ability to move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When this group of nerves becomes impaired, the signals that the brain sends to the muscles won\u2019t be transmitted properly, and thus the muscles won\u2019t be able to move. The damage to the nerves can cause a wide range of symptoms, but the most common is muscle weakness. This weakness will get better with rest but worsen whenever the patient physically exerts themselves, creating a catch-22. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You want to strengthen your muscles, but you can\u2019t exercise them without making things worse. As if all that wasn\u2019t enough, the muscles responsible for facial movements and swallowing are also affected. Imagine not being able to move, swallow, or even smile. Now that\u2019s one disease that is truly debilitating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

7. Addison\u2019s disease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Addison\u2019s disease<\/a> is a condition that negatively affects the adrenal glands. These glands are responsible for the production of both aldosterone and cortisol. Having a deficiency in either or both of these two hormones can alter the way that your body stores and uses sugar and carbohydrates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any disease that affects the levels of a hormone in your body will have adverse effects, much like type 1 diabetes. Those who suffer from Addison\u2019s disease will often experience symptoms such as low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), weight loss, fatigue, and weakness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If anyone has sudden weight loss without any change in diet or exercise volume, getting a doctor\u2019s appointment would be a good idea so that Addison\u2019s disease can be caught early if it is truly the cause. Those with Addison\u2019s disease often have to check their blood sugar levels to ensure that it hasn\u2019t dropped too low otherwise they might go into hypoglycemic shock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

8. Graves\u2019 disease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Graves <\/a>is another autoimmune disease. It targets your neck, specifically the thyroid gland. This attack leads to an overproduction of hormones. The hormones produced by the thyroid are responsible for regulating the metabolism of your body. Excessive amounts of hormones can put your body into overdrive leading to various adverse effects such as sudden weight loss, heat intolerance, nervousness, and tachycardia (rapid heartbeat.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another common symptom for those with Graves\u2019 disease is exophthalmos. Exophthalmos is the official term used to describe the bulging of the eyes. Studies on the disease have shown that around half of the hosts diagnosed with Graves\u2019 will have bulging eyes as one of their symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bulging eyes are often a trade characteristic of Graves\u2019 disease that many doctors rely on for diagnosing the condition. It\u2019s important to remember that bulging eyes isn\u2019t a symptom exclusive to Graves\u2019 disease, so if you find your eyes in this state, don\u2019t panic, just go for a checkup.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

9. Inflammatory Bowel Disease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

IBD<\/a> is a term for a condition affecting the health and efficiency of the digestive tract. There are different types of inflammatory bowel disease that affect different parts of the body and exhibit varying symptoms. For example, Crohn\u2019s disease can inflame any part of the digestive system, from the throat to the rectum. However, many occur in the colon and intestines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IBD is often an autoimmune dysfunction that responds to changes in the gut microbiome. Many patients end up developing food allergies and sensitivity to foods that create inflammation in the digestive tract, altering biome health. Changing your diet and lifestyle to support gut biome health will dramatically reduce any signs and symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If left untreated, some forms of inflammatory bowel disease may set the stage for the development of colorectal cancer in affected individuals. Colorectal cancer will kill more than 51,000 Americans during 2019, that\u2019s according to research from the American Cancer Society.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

10. Sj\u00f6gren\u2019s Syndrome<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This autoimmune disorder affects the salivary and lacrimal glands around the eyes and mouth. People diagnosed with Sj\u00f6gren\u2019s syndrome <\/a>often experience dry mouth and dry eyes during attacks. The condition affects between one and four million Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s possible to reduce the symptoms of dry eyes associated with Sj\u00f6gren\u2019s syndrome using specialized eye drops that provide hydration to the eye socket, eyeball, and eyelids. However, it\u2019s important to note that some brands of eye drops may dry your eyes out even more. Speak to your pharmacist about brands you can trust. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms of dry mouth may make affected individuals want to drink more fluids to quench their thirst. As a result, they may end up frequently visiting the bathroom, and this can make social events an embarrassing experience if you have to run to the bathroom every ten minutes. Relieve symptoms of dry mouth by sucking on an ice block to keep your tongue and cheeks hydrated.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

11. Hashimoto\u2019s Disease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The thyroid <\/a>is a butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck. The thyroid produces the hormones triiodothyronine, (T3,) and thyroxine (T4,) that regulate the speed of your metabolism \u2013 the system that controls your energy levels. Thyroid conditions either slow or speed up the production of thyroid hormones, playing havoc with metabolic function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune thyroid disorder where white blood cells mistake thyroid cells for invading pathogens and try to destroy them. As a result, thyroid efficiency slows, and many people experience a swelling of the thyroid gland that\u2019s noticeable when looking at the throat in a mirror. Medical science is at a loss to explain the cause of this autoimmune disease, but some believe that genetics may play a significant role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several risk factors for the development of Hashimoto\u2019s, and the disease is challenging for doctors to identify. The ideal candidate is a white female who has recently given birth and has a family history of autoimmune disorders.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

12. Celiac Disease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This digestive disorder occurs as a result of an autoimmune response to the consumption of gluten proteins found in barley, wheat, rye, and triticale. It\u2019s important to note that Celiac disease<\/a> is different from gluten sensitivity disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People who have a sensitivity to gluten experience symptoms of bloating and gas after eating foods containing gluten. It\u2019s a digestive repose to the proteins and subsides after a few hours. However, people who are living with Celiac disease have an autoimmune disorder affecting the way the immune system views gluten proteins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In patients with Celiac disease, the body\u2019s immune response to the proteins creates toxic compounds that destroy the villi \u2013 the microscopic protrusions inside the small intestine that absorb nutrition from food. In a damaged and inflamed state, the villi can operate efficiently, and you don\u2019t get all of the necessary vitamins and minerals from your meals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Damage to the health of the villi results in malnutrition and digestive disease.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

<\/div>