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Q & A About Autoimmune Diseases
By peace | April 28, 2006
Autoimmunity is a major cause of human diseases affecting at least 10 million Americans, virtually all being more prevalent in women. Because some autoimmune illnesses occur more frequently in women who have just had a baby, after periods of high emotional or physical stress, accidents, periods of hormonal changes such as peri-menopause, and after starting the pill or hormone replacement therapy, hormones are thought to play a role. In women having Multiple Sclerosis (MS), symptoms of the disease have shown to improve during pregnancy, but worsen or occur for the first time soon after giving birth. MS research suggests that fluctuating hormones are responsible for the pregnancy induced changes in MS, but that this is only a piece of the puzzle.
What Are Autoimmune Diseases?
There are 80 categorized chronic illnesses referred to as autoimmune diseases that can affect any organ in the body, including the brain, skin, kidney, lungs, liver, heart and thyroid. The immune system’s normal function is to clear infection from the body. However, when a person has an autoimmune disease, the immune system gets confused and rather than protecting organs and cells, it actually attacks those same organs, cells and tissues. This produces an inflammatory reaction and other serious symptoms attributed to the disorder. In MS, the immune cells attack the myelin sheath, the insulation surrounding nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord .
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.
What Causes The Immune System To Misfire?
- The Genetic factor: the genes people inherit contribute to their susceptibility for developing an autoimmune disease. Some of these genes may be specific for certain autoimmune diseases, but others predispose a person to autoimmunity in general. In January 2005, researchers at the Mayo Clinic announced the discovery of the gender differences that exist in MS susceptibility, which may be attributed to levels of a protein known as ‘interferon gamma’. Data revealed that if you are genetically predisposed to produce high levels of ‘interferon gamma’, (which women have an increased tendency for), you might be at a higher risk for developing MS.
- Environmental Triggers : Most people do not develop an autoimmune disease until an external trigger acts on their body. An infection, virus or chemical is thought to initiate the harmful autoimmune process. These environmental triggers act only in individuals with a genetic predisposition.
- Overlapping Diseases: Having one autoimmune disease slightly increases your risk of developing another autoimmune condition. Autoimmune diseases are not contagious and do not spread to other people like infections. However, they can run in families. If an immediate family member has an autoimmune disease, then your risk of developing an autoimmune disease is also increased.
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.
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