What everybody should know about autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune diseases affect dozens or possibly hundreds of millions of people around the world. Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system of a person turns against their own body and attacks its own cells. There are over 80 autoimmune conditions, but among the most common are multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. Autoimmune diseases can affect anyone, so it is advisable that people are more informed about these conditions. Discover three essential items of information that any person should know about autoimmune diseases.
Autoimmune diseases are very hard to detect
The correct diagnosis of a patient suffering from an autoimmune disease may take a long time to bring to light, either due to the difficulty of recognising the symptoms of these diseases or the likelihood of their symptoms to be similar to more common diseases. For example, many of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), one of the most common neurological conditions affecting young adults, are similar to those of the Lyme disease. Unlike MS, Lyme is not an autoimmune disease, but an infectious disease.
Furthermore, another reason why the correct diagnosis of autoimmune disease takes a lot of time to establish is that some symptoms experienced by patients may appear or disappear for a certain period of time depending on various factors such as diet or lifestyle.
Autoimmune diseases are not allergies
Many times, autoimmune diseases are considered allergies. The celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that can be easily taken for an allergy. The celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that prevents those diagnosed with this condition from absorbing nutrients from food in the body. The celiac disease is also known as gluten intolerance syndrome. In celiac disease, the consumption of gluten causes the immune system to attack the small intestine cells.
Unlike a simple gluten allergy, the celiac disease can very seriously affect the small intestine and may further promote the appearance of some cancers.
The evolution of certain autoimmune diseases can be stopped or slowed down
It is important to know that the evolution of certain autoimmune diseases, such as MS, can be stopped or slowed down. In order for the evolution of autoimmune diseases to be controlled, patients should follow some complex treatment regimens and a certain diet and change their lifestyle. In order to get results, the treatments followed by patients should be recommended by a specialist.
Alternatively, unverified treatments that people may “hear about” can further alter the condition of the patient and should be avoided.
Last Updated on November 28, 2023
