Facts Regarding Auto Immune Diseases

By Virginia Schmidt


The body of human beings runs on some of the most comprehensive systems. Specialization is necessary to allow a medical expert concentrate on certain parts of the human body. When specializing in specific areas a medical expert gains deeper understanding of illnesses and conditions associated with that part. Auto immune diseases are caused by the body mistaking certain parts for foreign cells thereby launching attacks against them.

When the body is functioning normally it is able to differentiate between cell bodies and foreign cells. This enables it to attack foreign cells but not body cells. In people with autoimmune diseases their bodies mistake certain parts like the skin and joints for foreign cells. As a result their immune systems release antibodies which attack healthy cells in those parts.

Various kinds of autoimmune diseases exist. Some attack specific body parts while others attack the entire body. An example disease of the former is type 1 diabetes which attacks the pancreas while an example of the latter is lupus which attacks the whole body. The main cause of the illnesses is unknown, but they tend to run in families. Infections, diet, and exposure to specific chemical may be a trigger in some cases too.

The susceptibility level of women is also higher compared to men according to research. Women in childbearing age are more affected. Most cases are diagnosed at this stage in life. Some races are also more affected compared to others. Many people still live without developing the conditions even if they run in the family. However, their chances of developing the disease are much higher than normal people.

A contributing factor could also be diets with high contents of sugar and fats. The close link between inflammation and consumption of highly processed foods makes it necessary to avoid such diets. The quest for answers for underlying cause of these illnesses is what has seen the proposal of many theories. Hygiene hypothesis is one such theory.

Under hygiene theory scientists speculate that advancement in the medicine field has resulted in development of several vaccines and antiseptic. They think that are a result of preventive measures put in place children are exposed to less germs. It is thought that less exposure to germs could make the immune system over sensitive. This means that it could react even to harmless substances.

Statistics indicate that there are over 80 varying types of illnesses in which the body attacks itself. These include multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriatic arthritis, and celiac disease. Others include vasculitis and rheumatoid arthritis. Note that similar symptoms may be manifested for a wide range of diseases.

One should pay attention to muscle aches, swelling, and fatigue among other recurrent symptoms. They may be a cause. One should get help early to avoid excessive suffering. Better management methods have been developed over time. Prevention is the best approach, and it should be comprised of eating a balanced and healthy diet and regular exercising. However, it is also important to know that there is no cure for these diseases.




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