According to the American Autoimmune-Related Diseases Association (AARDA), more than 45 million Americans have one or several autoimmune illnesses. If you have an autoimmune disease Edmond, your immune system cannot distinguish between potentially dangerous antigens and healthy tissues. Therefore, your body triggers a reaction that destroys normal, healthy tissues.
You should go for early diagnosis, treatment, or management of your autoimmune disorder because the destruction of healthy tissues and cells can lead to abnormal organ growth or changes in the functioning of your organ. Areas in your body that an autoimmune illness may attack include the skin, joints, muscles, blood vessels, and endocrine system.
Below are some leading autoimmune diseases that may affect you.
1.Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition resulting from your body preventing the pancreas from creating and releasing insulin. The beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin become destroyed; therefore, your body cannot adequately regulate your blood glucose levels. The insulin hormone controls the sugar or glucose in your blood anytime.
If you have type 1 diabetes, you may experience itchy genitals, unexpected weight loss, frequent urination, constant exhaustion during the day, and excessive thirst.
2.Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is characterized by your immune system mistakenly attacking healthy cells in your joints. Thus, rheumatoid arthritis often attacks joints in your knees, wrists, and hands.
A joint affected by rheumatoid arthritis usually has its lining inflamed due to joint tissue damage. In the long term, the damage to joint tissues can affect your organs, including the eyes, heart, and lungs.
3.Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder resulting from the immune system attacking and destroying the nerve fibers and myelin sheathing, which insulate and protect healthy nerve fibers of your brain and spinal cord. As a result, nerve fibers in your spinal cord and brain become inflamed, which affects the traveling of electrical messages to and from the brain.
Severe or permanent damage to your nerves and nerve fibers may make it difficult for you to walk, and you may experience partial blindness and vision impairment. Also, you may have slurred speech and problems with your bowel and bladder function.
4.Vitiligo
Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease that leads to the loss of skin color in patches. The areas of your skin with discolored patches tend to increase in size. Vitiligo can affect the skin color in any part of your body, including the inside of your mouth.
Naturally, your body produces a substance called melanin, which gives eyes, hair, and skin their pigmentation. But, when you have vitiligo, the cells that create melanin die prematurely or stop working.
5.Autoimmune hepatitis
When you have autoimmune hepatitis, instead of your immune system attacking viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens, instead it attacks your liver. Therefore, your liver will have chronic inflammation, and its cells will suffer destruction.
Permanent scarring of the liver tissues puts you at higher risk of liver failure, liver cancer, or swollen veins in the esophagus lining. The swollen veins may rupture and bleed.
Contact The Lamkin Clinic today to schedule an appointment with an autoimmune disease specialist.
