We know that the human body has an immune system that identifies and protects our body from harmful invaders. Harmful invaders like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and toxins.
But what happens when the immune system mistakenly attacks our healthy cells? When the immune system fails to recognize and attack our healthy cells, it leads to a depletion of these cells, resulting in an autoimmune disorder.
Why does the immune system fail to distinguish from foreign cells?
Science does not know the exact answer to this, but there are pivotal risk factors that make one person more likely to experience an autoimmune disorder than others. Genetics is a major risk factor – some autoimmune disorders happen due to family history, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or thyroid problems.
In some cases, ethnicity plays a role, as is the case with lupus affecting African American and Hispanic citizens at a more widespread rate compared to people with European heritages. Another study also found that women of childbearing age are more likely to experience autoimmune disorders than men.
What are autoimmune disorders and their likely causes?
With ongoing research, scientists continue to research what are autoimmune disorders and potential risk factors that trigger the conditions. Risks can include environmental factors, including those that cause infections or result in chemical exposures to dangerous substances. Also, unhealthy western diets that are rich in sugar, fat, and highly processed foods increase the likelihood that healthy cells will be attacked by foreign agents.
Among the biggest risk factors are stress, which affects our lives on a mental, emotional, and physical level. New research found that stress has a potential association with autoimmune disorders. People who had stress-related disorders were more prone to developing an autoimmune disease, especially at a younger age.
Most common autoimmune disorders
There is a wide range of autoimmune diseases that exist today – more than 80 autoimmune disorders. Common autoimmune disorders include:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Type 1 diabetes
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Multiple sclerosis
- Thyroid problems like Graves’s disease or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
- Myasthenia gravis
- Sjögren’s syndrome
- Pernicious anemia
- Celiac disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- The list can go on
Signs and symptoms
The signs and symptoms vary and depend on the diagnosis of the disorder. However, the signs can sometimes appear silently and progress over time until one notices. An example is vitiligo, a condition where skin cells are mistakenly attacked. The symptoms appear in the form of white patches that grow in size and spread quickly over time. Brain fog, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, dizziness, or cold intolerance are some other examples of silent signs.
How to manage autoimmune disorders
Managing autoimmune disorders can be tricky since, while they can be treated, they can not be cured. The treatment given is based on the diagnosed condition.
Treatment options are broad and include medications, injections, herbs, acupuncture, and chiropractic care. Some autoimmune conditions like vitiligo can be managed with treatment, but the spread cannot be controlled.
As mentioned earlier, stress plays a role and perhaps, reducing stress can prevent the spread. Hence, another important aspect of treatment is finding ways to cope with stress. Getting engaged in relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation can help relieve stress.
The diet also plays an important management role. Remember to eat healthy since this can have an impact on the diagnosed autoimmune disorder. Some foods may trigger the autoimmune condition and it is best to avoid them. Formulate a healthy eating plan with your healthcare provider.
In addition to physical health, mental health is also imperative. A medical disorder can negatively impact a person’s mental health. If you’re struggling with a mental health condition, seek help from a counsellor if necessary or speak to a friend or family member.
What are autoimmune disorders? They’re silent attackers
An autoimmune disorder is a silent attacker that unfortunately invades our healthy cells. We cannot stop it from happening, but we can follow the doctor’s instructions and treatment plan. Maintaining healthy habits like incorporating healthy foods and physical activity can play a role to some extent.