Your immune system serves the amazing function of protecting your body against bacteria, viruses, and foreign substances that can cause illness or disease. When your body detects a foreign substance such as a pathogen, allergen, or object, it mounts an immune response to contain the intruder and fight to kill off or eject it.
Unfortunately, in some cases, your immune system may go haywire, triggering an immune reaction that fights against your own healthy cells and tissues. There is no way of knowing when this might happen or who it might happen to, but some of these disorders have a hereditary component meaning that if one of your primary relatives have it then you may be at risk of developing the same or a similar disorder.
There are a variety of these autoimmune disorders that can cause havoc on a person’s health.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the pancreas, preventing it from manufacturing insulin. This type of diabetes is usually detected in childhood although it can develop at any age. Symptoms include increased hunger and thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, tiredness, and irritability. Since the body is incapable of making insulin, treatment requires daily insulin injections and blood glucose monitoring. This type of diabetes is also known as insulin dependent diabetes because people suffering from it have to depend on insulin injections to control their blood sugar levels.
Vitiligo
You may have seen some people with irregular lighter colored patches of skin and wondered why. It is most likely due to a condition known as vitiligo which the great “King of pop” Michael Jackson was said to have suffered.
Vitiligo occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the melanocytes, the skin cells associated with skin pigmentation. When this happens, the skin may develop patches of skin that are pale or devoid of color and this can happen anywhere on the body. These pale areas can change in size and these changes can be triggered by stress. It is critical to see a dermatologist if you notice areas of decreased pigment in your skin. A dermatologist can determine if vitiligo or another skin disease is the cause of the problem. Other conditions associated with vitiligo include an increased risk of sunburn, vision or tear duct abnormalities, and anxiety or depression.
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an immune-mediated condition in which your immune system attacks your central nervous system. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, an immune system attack causes inflammation of the nerve fibers and the protective sheath (myelin) that surrounds them. This affects communication between the brain, nerves and rest of the body. Symptoms of multiple sclerosis can vary and every part of the body may be affected. Symptoms may include tiredness, weakness, vision problems, muscle stiffness, and difficulty walking. Medications are available to slow the progression of this disease while relieving symptoms and preventing symptom flare-ups.
Lupus
This is also known as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. In lupus, the immune system may attack any of the body tissues, including skin, organs, muscles, and joints. A butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and the bridge of the nose is a feature of this condition. Other symptoms may include excessive fatigue, painful and swollen joints, chest pain, sun sensitivity, and mouth ulcers. Treatment may consist of anti-inflammatory pain medications, corticosteroids, antimalarial drugs, and medicines to suppress the immune system. Avoiding excessive sun exposure, stress, and infections may help prevent painful lupus flare-ups.
Graves’ disease
Graves’ disease is a thyroid condition in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, causing it to make an excessive amount of thyroid hormone. Since the thyroid hormones affect many of your body systems, an overabundance of these hormones can lead to multiple adverse effects. Symptoms of Graves’ disease may include weight loss, irregular heartbeat, difficulty sleeping, diarrhea, and irritability. People who have other autoimmune disorders are at an increased risk of developing Graves’ disease as well.
Celiac disease
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which eating gluten triggers a person’s immune system to attack the lining of the small intestine. Damage to the lining of the small intestine can result in a decreased ability to absorb nutrients from food. Gluten is a protein contained in wheat and wheat products. A person with this condition has a higher risk of developing bowel cancer . Treatment for celiac disease involves maintaining a strict, gluten-free diet.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Another autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid gland and thyroid hormones is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Unlike Graves’ disease, this condition causes a lack of necessary thyroid hormones in the body. In this case, the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, preventing it from making essential hormones. Symptoms of deficiency in thyroid hormones include fatigue, weakness, weight gain, sensitivity to cold, and constipation. Treatment for Hashimoto’s disease includes medications such as levothyroxine to replace the thyroid hormones which the body is no longer able to produce.
The human body remains a mystery that modern medicine continues to attempt to solve. Unfortunately these disorders can not be cured but most of them can be managed effectively to allow people to still live fairly full lives even with their badly behaved immune systems.
If you or anyone you know has any of the symptoms mentioned above, consider seeing a doctor to investigate further.
