1. What Is an Autoimmune Disease?
An autoimmune disease is a condition in which your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells. It should target only foreign organisms, like viruses or bacteria, during an infection. However, autoimmune diseases become confused and cannot differentiate between outsiders and the body’s parts, such as joints, skin, or organs. There are over 100 different types of autoimmune diseases, and they can affect people of all ages, races, and genders, though women are more likely to be affected than men.
2. What Are the Common Autoimmune Diseases?
Autoimmune diseases can be organ-limited or systemic.
Organ-limited autoimmune diseases are limited to a single organ; i.e., the immune system affects only that particular organ. Examples include autoimmune thyroid disorder, certain skin conditions like vitiligo, lichen planus, or pemphigus, and neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis.
Systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases are usually systemic, as the disease is not restricted to one organ alone. For example, while rheumatoid arthritis predominantly affects joints, it can also affect other organs like the eyes, blood vessels, and lungs if the disease is not adequately controlled. Then we have a few aggressive diseases like lupus and vasculitis, which initially can involve multiple organs.
3. What Causes Autoimmune Diseases?
We do not have a single etiological factor for autoimmune diseases. They are usually multifactorial. One must have a genetic tendency, and if that individual has one or two triggers from the environment, then the disease manifests.
Genetic tendency means that someone in the immediate or extended family should have had an autoimmune disease, which does not need to be the same. And remember, not everyone in the family needs to get one, and the penetrance depends on the genetic contribution.
Environmental triggers can include infection (viruses and bacteria), hormonal changes, smoking, stress, and many other known and unknown factors. People get arthritis after a viral fever, like a Chikungunya fever. Similarly, females after delivery or after their menopause can develop rheumatoid arthritis. Among the various risk factors, smoking is the leading preventable risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis.
4. How to Diagnose Autoimmune Diseases?
There’s no single test that can diagnose all autoimmune diseases. Your doctor may:
- Ask about your symptoms and take a detailed history.
- Do a thorough physical examination.
- Order blood tests (like rheumatoid factor, anti-nuclear antibody, C-reactive protein, or other specific antibody tests) if there is a clinical suspicion of autoimmune disease.
- Recommend seeing a specialist, like a rheumatologist (better to link to Doctors’ page) for autoimmune rheumatic diseases or a dermatologist/endocrinologist/neurologist, depending on the organ involved in organ-specific vasculitis.
5. How to Live with an Autoimmune Disease?
Knowledge about the disease, treatment, and prognosis is necessary.
Healthy Lifestyle: Healthy diet (low sugars, avoid processed food and red meat), exercise/yoga, good sleep and stress management
Supportive Therapies: Physical therapy, counselling, or support groups
Taking medications regularly helps control the disease, and regular monitoring with blood tests will help in monitoring for side effects.
Common Myths and Facts About Autoimmune Diseases
Myth #1: Autoimmune diseases are rare.
Fact: They’re common, affecting around 10% of the population.
Myth #2: Only women get autoimmune diseases.
Fact: While about 75% of people with autoimmune diseases are young and middle-aged women, men and even children can be affected too.
Myth #3: You can catch an autoimmune disease from someone else.
Fact: Autoimmune diseases are not contagious. You can’t catch them like a cold or flu.
Myth #4: It’s all in your head.
Fact: Autoimmune diseases are real, and symptoms like fatigue, pain, or brain fog are not imaginary. Just because someone “looks fine” doesn’t mean they feel fine.
Myth #5: There’s no cure for autoimmune diseases.
Fact: Yes, the disease cannot be cured completely, but it can be controlled well, and the patient can lead a normal quality of life. Early diagnosis and proper treatment with the concerned specialist are essential.
Myth #6: If you eat the right foods, you can cure it.
Fact: No, diet can only help manage symptoms and support overall health, but it’s not a cure, nor is it sufficient in isolation to manage the diseases. Every person is different, and treatment often involves a combination of medication and lifestyle changes.
Myth #7: Autoimmune diseases aren’t serious.
Fact: Some can be mild, and some can be serious, causing life-threatening complications if not properly managed. Early diagnosis makes a big difference.
Myth #8: Symptoms and seriousness of the disease are the same for everyone.
Fact: Autoimmune diseases can appear differently in every person, even with the same diagnosis. That’s part of what makes them tricky to diagnose. The same disease can vary in severity and progression for each individual. For example, it can be very mild for some and quite aggressive for others. Therefore, never compare your symptoms and treatment with those of another person.
Dr. S. Sham
Senior Consultant Rheumatologist
Kauvery Hospital, Chennai
