Autoimmune diseases are diseases that occur when the immune system overworks and causes damage to the body. The immune system is responsible for protecting the body against bacteria, viruses and external factors. When this system sees body cells and tissues as enemies, it also fights and fights against them. Among the reasons that trigger these conditions are stress and some external factors.
These diseases, which are common in society, can affect many different areas of the body, but it is not known exactly what causes these diseases. In the treatment of this disease, studies are carried out to reduce the factors that cause the immune system to overwork.
What is Autoimmune Disease?
The immune system in the body protects the individual against internal and external threats. However, when the immune system works too much, it perceives many tissues and organs in the body as negative and bad substances and creates attacks against them, leading to these diseases. These diseases can affect many tissues and organs.
Why do autoimmune diseases occur?
There is no definite finding and explanation as to why these diseases occur and why they occur. However, it is thought that some damages, suppressions or infections can cause these diseases while making the immune system work too hard.
In addition, some conditions cause these diseases to occur. The risk factors that cause autoimmune diseases are as follows:
Genetic (Hereditary): Some diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Lupus may show genetic clustering. Having a family member who carries some diseases such as these diseases increases the likelihood of developing these diseases.
Obesity (weight): People who are overweight are at risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. The reason for this is that excess weight increases the pressure on the joints, which also leads to an increase in the functioning of the immune system. When these conditions are taken into consideration, it is seen that there is a link between these diseases and nutrition.
Smoking: People who smoke have a higher risk of developing diseases such as lupus, hyperthyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis (MS), making smoking one of the top risk factors.
Medications: Long-term use and triggering of certain medications also increase the likelihood of these diseases in people.
What are the Symptoms of Autoimmune Diseases?
As most of these diseases occur in a similar way, the symptoms and signs are also similar. This increases the degree of difficulty in diagnosing the disease.
The symptoms seen in most of the diseases are pain, rash, fever and inflammation. Although the early symptoms of many diseases are similar, the symptoms of autoimmune diseases are as follows:
- Weakness and fatigue
- Muscle and joint pain
- Lack of attention and inability to focus
- Numbness and tingling of the hands and feet
- Hair loss
- Skin problems (flaking and redness)
- Swelling in the joints and different tissues
In addition, some diseases may have their own symptoms. Some diseases (Type 1 diabetes) cause excessive thirst, weight loss and urination, while other diseases cause abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea.
Symptoms of different diseases, such as psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis, can be severe in some periods and mild in others.
What are autoimmune diseases and their types?
There are many different types of these diseases that can develop depending on the digestive system. The most common diseases among these diseases are as follows:
Rheumatoid Arthritis
It is a chronic condition also known as inflammatory rheumatism. It occurs when the digestive system inadvertently damages tissues in the body, especially joint tissues. In some people, this can damage the skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Although the exact cause of these diseases is unknown, they are thought to be caused by a number of immune system problems, genetic causes and environmental factors.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
MS is a chronic disease that has serious effects on the nervous system and is characterized by a number of attacks. It occurs when the immune system attacks the nervous system, particularly cells in the brain and spinal cord.
Type 1 Diabetes
Diabetes can occur in several different types. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by a decrease in the body's natural insulin production. In type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes, the body develops resistance to the effect of insulin.
Guillain Barre Syndrome
It is a rare disease. It occurs when the immune system damages the nerves. While people experience muscle loss and weakness, symptoms of numbness in the arms and legs can also be seen. Although there is no definitive treatment for this disease, which can also cause paralysis, studies are carried out to alleviate the symptoms experienced in the treatments applied.
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
Similarly, this disease has similar symptoms that occur when the immune system attacks and damages the nerves. Early diagnosis and treatment are of serious importance in this disease, which is accompanied by numbness of the arms and legs.
Psoriasis
It is a skin disorder that causes skin cells to increase more than normal. White scales and some red spots may appear on the skin. These spots can grow over time and usually appear on the surface of the scalp, elbows, back and knees. This disease is not contagious and cannot be passed from one person to another. In some cases, it can occur in people in the same family.
Graves' disease
Graves' disease is an immune system problem that causes overproduction of thyroid hormone and hyperthyroidism. In this disease, the body reacts by secreting too much thyroid hormone and speeds up the metabolism. In addition, pulse movements accelerate and it becomes very difficult for the person to gain weight. This situation can turn into a life-threatening problem by affecting the person's life very seriously in the future.
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is the most common type of inflammation of the thyroid gland. It is known as an endocrine system disease caused by the immune system.
Antibodies produced against external factors cause inflammation and damage to this area as a result of attacking thyroid cells with the immune system.
Myasthenia Gravis
It is a chronic nerve and muscle disease that causes different levels of weakening of the skeletal muscles in the body. It is caused by the failure of impulses to be transmitted to the muscles.
Vasculitis
A condition in which the immune system damages and inflames arteries and veins. Vasculitis causes deterioration of the kidneys, lungs and nerve tissues that provide nutrition through blood vessels.
Which doctor treats autoimmune diseases?
People who suspect the symptoms and signs of these diseases should see a physician and be examined immediately. Depending on the symptoms experienced and the type of disease, different areas may treat these diseases.
Rheumatology Specialist: Specialists who diagnose and treat rheumatologic diseases and certain joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome.
Gastroenterology Specialist: These specialists treat diseases of the digestive system, such as Celiac disease and Crohn's disease.
Endocrinology Specialist: Specialists who treat many diseases such as Hashimoto's and Graves' diseases related to the thyroid gland or Addison's disease, which is related to adrenal gland problems.
Dermatology Specialist: Specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of some autoimmune skin diseases such as psoriasis.
How are autoimmune diseases diagnosed and treated?
Different diagnostic and diagnostic methods are used for each of these diseases, which have many types and varieties. When the symptoms and findings seen in the patient point to this type of disease, a number of examinations and tests can be performed.
These diseases cannot be cured one hundred percent. The priority in treatment is to control the overwork of the immune system and alleviate the symptoms. For this reason, certain medications to suppress the immune system may be recommended by the doctor.
Studies and some methods are applied for the treatment of organ damage and functional losses that occur due to the disease. The treatment processes of these diseases are also divided among themselves. While insulin may be preferred in the treatment of type 1 diabetes, hormone-regulating drugs can be used in Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Although the formation processes of these diseases, which have a very wide range, are similar, the effects they leave on the body are different. Early diagnosis and treatment is very important to alleviate and reduce the progression of the diseases and the loss of function that may occur due to these diseases.
It is recommended that people who suspect a disease or individuals who see that they have symptoms and signs should immediately consult a specialist doctor or hospitals and be examined. Since early diagnosis and treatment is important in these diseases, it is also of great importance for the health and quality of life of the person.