Autoimmune Diseases: Overview
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What are autoimmune diseases?
Who is at risk
for getting autoimmune diseases?
What are the most common
symptoms of autoimmune diseases?
Are chronic fatigue
syndrome and fibromyalgia autoimmune diseases?
What are
flare ups?
Are there medicines to treat autoimmune
diseases?
How can I manage my life now that I have an
autoimmune disease?
What are some things I can do to feel
better?
What kinds of doctors will I need to treat my
autoimmune disease?
See also:
What are autoimmune diseases?
Our bodies have an immune system that protects us from disease and infection.
But if you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system attacks itself by
mistake, and you can get sick. Autoimmune diseases can affect connective tissue
in your body (the tissue which binds together body tissues and organs).
Autoimmune disease can affect many parts of your body, like your nerves,
muscles, endocrine system (system that directs your body’s hormones and other
chemicals), and digestive system.
Who is at risk for getting autoimmune diseases?
Most autoimmune diseases occur in women, and most often during their
childbearing years. Some of these diseases also affect African American,
American Indian, and Latina women more than white women. These diseases tend to
run in families, so your genes, along with the way your immune system responds
to certain triggers or things in the environment, affect your chances of getting
one of these diseases. If you think you may have an autoimmune disease, ask your
family members if they have had symptoms like yours. The good news is that if
you have an autoimmune disease, there ARE things you can do to feel better!
What are the most common symptoms of autoimmune diseases?
There are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases. Learning the symptoms of
some of the more common autoimmune diseases can help you recognize the signs if
you get one. But some autoimmune diseases share similar symptoms. This makes it
hard for doctors to find out if you really have one of these diseases, and which
one it might be. This can make your trip to doctors long and stressful. But if
you are having symptoms that bother you, you need to persist to make sure you
get relief. Below are descriptions of some common autoimmune diseases.
| Disease | Symptoms | Tests to help find out if you have it |
| Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (underactive thyroid) |
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| Graves’ disease (overactive thyroid) |
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| Lupus |
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| Multiple sclerosis (MS) |
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| Rheumatoid arthritis |
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Are chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia autoimmune
diseases?
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia (FM) are not autoimmune
diseases, but they often have symptoms—like being tired all the time and
pain—that may seem like other autoimmune diseases.
- CFS can cause you to be very tired, have trouble concentrating, feel weak,
and have muscle pain. Symptoms of CFS come and go. The cause of CFS is not
known. - FM is a disorder with symptoms of widespread muscle pain, fatigue (feeling
tired and having low energy), and multiple tender points. Tender points are
located in the neck, spine, shoulders, hips, and knees and are painful when
pressure is applied to them. FM mainly occurs in women of childbearing age, but
children, the elderly, and men are sometimes diagnosed with FM. The cause is not
known.
What are flare ups?
Symptoms of autoimmune diseases can come and go, ranging in how bad they are,
or all go away for a while (called remission). Flare-ups, or the sudden and
severe onset of symptoms, can also happen. It’s best to work closely and often
with your doctor and other members of your health care team to manage your
illness. If you have a flare-up, it is best to first call your doctor. Don’t try
a “cure” you heard about from a friend or relative.
Are there medicines to treat autoimmune diseases?
You can take medicines to help your symptoms, which your doctor(s) will talk
with you about. The type of medicine you take depends on which disease you have
and what your symptoms are. Some people can take over-the-counter drugs, like
aspirin and ibuprofen for pain. Others with more severe symptoms may have to
take certain kinds of prescription drugs that can help with pain, swelling,
depression, anxiety, sleep problems, fatigue, or rashes. You also might be able
to take medicine to help slow the progress of your disease. New treatments for
autoimmune diseases are being studied all the time.
How can I manage my life now that I have an autoimmune
disease?
Although there is no cure for autoimmune diseases, you can treat your
symptoms and learn to manage your disease, so you can enjoy life! Women with
autoimmune diseases lead full, active lives. Your life goals should not have to
change. It is important, though, to see a doctor who specializes in these types
of diseases.
What are some things I can do to feel better?
If you are living with an autoimmune disease, there are things you can do
each day to feel better:
- Eat a healthy diet. Keep your immune system as healthy as
can be! The list of nutrients that you need for a healthy immune system is long.
But don’t try to overload on vitamins because that could be worse for your
health. Try to get all you need from food, rather than from vitamin pills. Eat
balanced meals with foods from all of the food groups. Include yummy fruits and
vegetables and whole grains. Also eat calcium-rich foods, such as fat-free or
low-fat milk and yogurt. Avoid fatty foods. - Get regular exercise (but be careful not to overdo it).
Thirty minutes most days of the week is best, but talk with your doctor about
what types of exercise you can do. A gradual and gentle exercise program often
works well for people with long-lasting muscle and joint pain. Some types of
yoga or tai chi exercises may be helpful. - Get enough rest. Rest allows your body tissues and joints
the time they need to repair. Sleeping is a great way you can help both your
body and mind. If you don’t get enough sleep, your stress level and your
symptoms could get worse. You also can’t fight off sickness as well when you
sleep poorly. With enough sleep, you can tackle your problems better and lower
your risk for illness. Try to get at least seven hours of sleep every night. - Reduce stress and try “self” pain management. You also
might be able to lessen your pain or muscle spasms and deal with other aspects
of living with your disease if you try meditation or self-hypnosis. You can
learn to do these through self-help books, tapes, or with the help of an
instructor. You also can use imagery (use the power of your thoughts to
“destroy” your pain) or distract your focus on your pain by doing a hobby or
something else you enjoy.
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What kinds of doctors will I need to treat my autoimmune
disease?
Juggling your health care needs among different doctors and other types of
health care providers can be hard. But visiting other types of health care
workers, along with your main doctor, may be helpful in managing some symptoms
of your autoimmune disease. If you are visiting many types of health care
workers, make sure you have a supportive main doctor to help you. Often, your
family doctor may help you coordinate care. Here are some other kinds of health
care workers that may be useful.
- Nephrologist. A doctor who will look at how well your
kidneys are working. Kidneys are organs that clean the blood and produce urine. - Rheumatologist. A doctor who specializes in arthritis and
other diseases. - Endocrinologist. A doctor who specializes in diseases that
affect your glands (organs in your body that make hormones). Glands help control
the body’s reproduction, energy levels, weight, food and waste production, and
growth and development. - Physical therapist. A health care worker who can help you
with stiffness, weakness, restricted body movement, and with finding out the
proper level of exercise for your body. - Occupational therapist. A health care worker who can help
you find devices or make changes in your home or workplace to make life easier
for you. They also can teach you ways to do all you have to despite your pain
and other health problems. - Speech therapist. A health care worker who can be helpful
for people with MS who have speech problems. - Vocational therapist. A health care worker who offers job
training for people who cannot do their current jobs because of their illness or
other health problems. You can find this type of person through both public and
private agencies. - Counselor for emotional support. A health care worker who
is specially trained to help you to find ways to cope with your illness. You can
work through your feelings of anger, fear, denial, and frustration. - Support groups. Some women find that talking with others
who have the same health problem is helpful in finding new ways to cope with it. - Chiropractor. A type of doctor who might be helpful in
relieving some of your symptoms, such as muscle spasms and backaches. But you
should only see this type of doctor along with your regular autoimmune disease
doctor, not in place of him or her.
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