Autoimmune Disease Means The Body Attacks Itself

Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system attacks healthy cells in the body. In fact, the immune system should be a stronghold for the body in fightingfight disease and foreign cells, like bacteria and viruses.

This immune disorder can affect various parts of a person's body. So many, recorded there are 80 types of autoimmune diseases with some of the same symptoms. This makes it difficult to know whether a person suffers from this disorder or not, and in which type. Meanwhile, the cause of autoimmune disease is still not certain.

The Most Common Autoimmune Diseases

Of the many types of autoimmune diseases, the following are some of the most common autoimmune diseases, including:

• Rheumatoid arthritis

  Rheumatoid arthritis is a common autoimmune disease. The immune system produces antibodies that attack the lining of the joints. The result of this antibody attack is inflammation, swelling, and pain in the joints. A severe inflammatory reaction can also cause damage to other parts of the body, such as the skin, eyes, and lungs. Sometimes, the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can be similar to those of other diseases, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatic polymyalgia.

  If left untreated, this disease will cause permanent damage to the joints. To prevent it from getting worse, sufferers rheumatismoid arthritis Usually you will be given oral medication or injections that function to reduce the activity of the immune system.

• Lupus

  Other autoimmune diseases that we often hear about are: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or what we call it lupus. This disease causes the formation of antibodies that actually attack almost all the tissues of the sufferer's body. Some of the body parts that are most often attacked are the joints, lungs, kidneys, skin, connective tissue, blood vessels, bone marrow, and nervous tissue. Lupus that attacks the bone marrow can cause aplastic anemia.

  Until now there is no drug that can cure lupus. Lupus treatment generally aims to suppress the immune system, thereby reducing inflammation and preventing further organ damage.

• Type 1 diabetes

  If this is not stopped, there is a risk of causing damage to various organs, such as the kidneys, eyes, brain, heart, or blood vessels. For treatment, people with type 1 diabetes will be given insulin injections. In addition, patients are also required to monitor blood sugar levels, apply a healthy diet, and exercise regularly.

• Multiple sclerosis (MS)

  To treat it, certain drugs can be used to suppress the immune system. Physiotherapy and occupational therapy can be used to help MS patients perform daily activities.

• Graves' disease

  To treat Graves' disease, patients may be given radioactive iodine pills. These pills are used to kill the overactive cells of the thyroid gland. Patients can also be given anti-thyroid drugs, hypertension drugs class beta blockers, and corticosteroids. Some cases of Graves' disease need to be treated with a surgical procedure.

• psoriasis

  Psoriasis is a condition where the immune system is overactive, causing the skin to become chronic. This condition is caused by one of the blood cells in the immune system that is overactive, namely the T-cell. The accumulation of T-cells in the skin stimulates the skin to grow faster than it should. Symptoms of psoriasis include scaly patches on the skin and flaking of the skin that leaves a shiny white layer. To treat it, the doctor will give drugs that suppress the immune system, such as corticosteroids, as well as light therapy.

Some Risk Factors for Autoimmune Disease

So far, the cause of autoimmune disease is still unknown. However, there are several factors that cause a person to be more at risk of suffering from autoimmune diseases, namely:

• Genetics or heredity

  The main risk factor for autoimmune disease is genetics. However, this factor is not the only one that can trigger an immune reaction.

• Environment

  Environmental factors are important in the emergence of autoimmune diseases. Environmental factors include exposure to certain substances such as asbestos, mercury, silver and gold, as well as an unhealthy diet.

• Hormonal changes

  Several autoimmune diseases often attack women after giving birth. This leads to an assumption that autoimmune diseases are related to hormonal changes, such as during pregnancy, childbirth, or menopause.

• Infection

  Several autoimmune diseases are often associated with infection. This is natural because some of the symptoms of autoimmune diseases are exacerbated by certain infections.

Although the cause of autoimmune diseases is still unknown, we can be aware of the various risk factors above. Immediately consult a doctor if you experience the symptoms of the diseases above. The sooner it is known, the more likely it is to be able to prevent complications due to autoimmune diseases.