Autoimmune diseases—which occur when the immune system turns on you and starts attacking healthy cells—can impact anyone, but almost 80 percent of people who have them are women. No one knows exactly why, but recent
research suggests that it may have to do with differences in the way certain genes are expressed in females. Whatever the cause, it's especially bad news since autoimmune illnesses are on the rise. "In the past 50 years, the incidence of autoimmunity in the US has tripled," says Amy Myers, MD, author of
The Autoimmune Solution.
There are at least 80 different
autoimmune diseases. Though each one is unique, many share hallmark symptoms, such as fatigue, dizziness, low-grade fever, and inflammation, which can cause redness, heat, pain, and swelling.
Treatment depends on the disease, but it often includes anti-inflammatory medications, drugs that suppress the immune system, or newer biologic agents that either mimic substances normally produced by the body or block other substances that are part of the immune system, explains Howard Smith, MD, a rheumatologist, and director of the Lupus Clinic at Cleveland Clinic. Natural strategies are also gaining traction, including reducing
inflammatory foods like those high in sugar and saturated fat, reducing stress, lowering your burden of toxins, and healing your gut. As Dr. Myers notes, 80 percent of your immune system is located in your gut.
Catching autoimmune diseases early is the best way to slow their progression, but you need to know what to look for. Read on to learn the signs and symptoms of seven the most common ones:
Rheumatoid arthritis
Nearly 4 percent of women will develop
rheumatoid arthritis in their lifetime, according to a study published in
Arthritis and Rheumatism. The disease produces inflammatory joint symptoms throughout the body, including in the hands, fingers, elbows, knees, and hips.
RA differs from osteoarthritis, a common degenerative condition that results from the wear and tear on your joints, in several ways. RA symptoms like fatigue, fever, weight loss, and loss of appetite tend to come on quickly and worsen in a matter of weeks, rather than developing slowly over time. RA also produces symmetrical symptoms, meaning both sides of the body are affected.
Treatments for RA include NSAIDs (like aspirin and ibuprofen) to reduce swelling and pain, prescription drugs to stop the immune system attacks, and physical and occupational therapy to improve mobility. Lifestyle changes like exercise, weight management, and overall healthy habits are also key.
Lupus
In 2015, actress and singer Selena Gomez brought
lupus into the spotlight when she announced that she was battling the chronic autoimmune disease.
Lupus affects an estimated 1.5 million people—nine out of 10 people of which are women—and it can damage the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, and other parts of the body. Because lupus can affect many different organs, so it's often accompanied by a
wide range of symptoms, which can make it hard to diagnose. Symptoms might include extreme tiredness; headaches; painful or swollen joints; fever; anemia; swelling in the feet, legs, hands, and/or around the eyes; chest pain on deep breathing; a butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and nose; sun- or light-sensitivity;
hair loss; abnormal blood clotting; fingers turning white and/or blue when cold; and mouth or nose ulcers.
Treatment often includes corticosteroids and other meds to help reduce inflammation, suppress the immune system, and minimize damage to organs.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis
Hashimoto's thyroiditis occurs when the immune system attacks the thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in the center of your neck, which usually leads to a deficiency of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism). Hashimoto's
affects 14 million Americans, making it the most common type of thyroid disorder.
Some people notice swelling at the front of the throat (aka a goiter). Other symptoms may include fatigue; weight gain; hormone imbalances; muscle or joint pain; cold hands and feet; dry skin and nails;
excessive hair loss; constipation; depression; memory lapses; and a hoarse voice. These issues are usually corrected by taking synthetic thyroid replacement hormone.
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