Autoimmune Diseases, What Is Their Origin?
In recent years, autoimmune diseases have become more common in doctors’ offices. The cause? Many disorders that were not correctly classified have been found to be due to alterations in the immune system.
How the immune system works
Our immune system is in charge of the body’s defense. Through different mechanisms it attacks and neutralizes foreign substances to our body : bacteria, viruses, toxins, cancer cells, etc.
Well, for reasons still unknown, there are times when the immune system stops recognizing one or more tissues or organs as its own . Thus, it creates antibodies and produces an immune reaction that attacks cells, tissues and organs of the body itself. This process generates inflammation and injury, leading to an autoimmune disease.
It could be said that it is a process similar to that which occurs in an allergy. The immune system attacks a substance that under normal conditions it should not (for example, pollen). On the other hand, in autoimmune diseases, the system attacks cells of the body itself, which, under normal conditions, should not attack either.
Causes of autoimmune diseases
The cause is unknown. Still, the research carried out postulates different hypotheses. The theories that have the most adherents are genetic predisposition, the influence of certain medications, infection by certain bacteria or viruses, or exposure to some environmental factors.
In this way, there are many factors that can influence as triggers of an autoimmune disease. We can cite among the most common:
- Feeding.
- Tobacco and other toxins.
- Stress and psychological factors.
- Hormonal changes.
- Hygienic and sanitary habits.
When the immune system is not working properly, it cannot distinguish its own cells from those of others. Instead of fighting external antigens, the cells of the immune system or the antibodies they produce, they can mistakenly go against their own cells and tissues (Arthritis Foundation). There are even scientific currents that suggest that the interaction of several of these factors leads to the development of autoimmune diseases. And it is not uncommon for a person to suffer more than one disease of this type.
Most frequent symptoms
Although there are different autoimmune diseases with very different symptoms, almost all share some:
- Fatigue.
- Dizziness
- Chronic malaise
- Fever.
- Depression : it is usually due to the fact that the patient does not assume suffering from a chronic disease, which he associates with not having a cure.
- Joint pains.
- Weight loss.
- Neurological symptoms.
Autoimmune diseases can be treated, their symptoms minimized, and their progression prevented. Thus, we are talking about anti-inflammatory treatments (naproxen, aspirin, ibuprofen, cortisone …) and some, such as methotrexate, that block the immune system. In addition, much research has been done up to the development of biological response modifiers.
The diagnosis of these diseases is not simple, it is based on the symptoms that the patient presents and on some analytical tests that are not always decisive. That is why it requires the supervision of a medical specialist to make the correct diagnosis and the corresponding treatment.
Most common autoimmune diseases
Although there are more than 80 types, we can distinguish two groups of autoimmune diseases:
Organ specific
They are those in which only one organ or tissue is affected. The best known and most common are:
- Pernicious anemia.
- Celiac disease.
- Type I diabetes mellitus.
- Graves disease.
- Addison’s disease.
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
- Myasthenia gravis.
- Goodpasture syndrome.
- Crohn’s disease, etc.
Systemic
These are those that affect more than one organ or tissue. Normally those that are usually affected are: blood vessels, connective tissues, endocrine glands (thyroid or pancreas), joints, muscles, red blood cells and the skin.
The most common are:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Psoriasis.
- Sarcoidosis, etc.
