Health ConditionsAutoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues. Many autoimmune diseases cause flares of symptoms that come and go, sometimes in response to triggers or actions. These symptoms vary significantly, but they commonly include inflammation symptoms like rashes, swelling, pain, and warmth. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and reducing immune system activity, often involving medications, physical and occupational therapy, or infusions. You may need to change your diet, daily routine, or other lifestyle factors to reduce exposure to triggers and adjust to the effects of the disease.

Common Questions & Answers

What are common autoimmune diseases?
Examples of common autoimmune diseases include Addison’s disease, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, Graves’ disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, Sjögren’s syndrome, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and reactive arthritis. However, hundreds of autoimmune diseases can develop.
Genetic and environmental factors can cause autoimmune diseases. However, the underlying cause isn’t certain. Certain viral infections, being female, a family history, and smoking can increase your risk. Having one autoimmune disease may make it easier for another to develop.
Autoimmune diseases are usually lifelong. However, some can enter remission if you control them with medications, meaning that a long time passes between symptom attacks. You can manage most autoimmune diseases with medications to improve your quality of life.
Diagnosing autoimmune diseases can be complex, involving ruling out different conditions to explain your symptoms. Blood tests and imaging scans may help your doctor identify signs of autoimmune diseases called markers.
You may need to change how you do physical activity or exclude certain foods that trigger symptoms, depending on the condition and how you experience it. Autoimmune disease varies a lot, even in people with the same disease.
Meet Our Experts In Autoimmune Diseases
Everyday Health’s team of board-certified physicians and health professionals contribute to the creation and review of content, ensuring that the information is useful, up to date, and accurate.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Autoimmune Diseases. Cleveland Clinic. October 22, 2024.

ALL AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES ARTICLES

See All Articles