Autoimmune Diseases’ Symptoms and how They Affect Your Immune System

Your immune system works by protecting your cells from invading cells likely to cause infections. However, your immune system may turn against your cells and attack them when you have an autoimmune disease. You may be having an autoimmune disorder without knowing it. Dr. Jeffrey Miller in Tampa specializes in diagnosing and treating autoimmune conditions. Such illnesses have overlapping symptoms, making them hard to diagnose. The specialist helps you identify autoimmune disorder symptoms, giving you full details about the condition and allowing you to make an informed decision about your care.

What are the basics you should know about autoimmune disorders?

Autoimmune diseases cause you to have abnormally low activity or hyperactivity of your immune system. In instances of overactivity, your body attacks its tissues, consequently damaging them. On the other hand, low activity or a deficiency lowers your body’s ability to fight invasions, making you vulnerable to infections.

In response to triggers, your immune system begins to produce antibodies that are likely to attack your tissues instead of helping you fight infections. There are various types of autoimmune disorders, some of which are gender-specific. For instance, lupus, psoriasis, and thyroid diseases will most likely affect women. Additionally, you may experience remission and flare-ups with other particular autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, with their signs appearing and receding over specific periods.

Conditions like psoriatic arthritis, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis increase your risk of heart disease. Therefore, taking steps to keep your heart strong and healthy through regular exercise and eating a healthy diet can be a lifesaver.

Types of autoimmune diseases you are likely to have include:

• Type 1 diabetes
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Psoriasis (psoriatic arthritis)
• Multiple sclerosis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Sjögren’s syndrome

· Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

What are the symptoms you are likely to have with autoimmune disorders?

The symptoms you are likely to have with an autoimmune infection vary depending on the type and severity. Individual conditions may have unusual symptoms. For instance, type 1 diabetes may cause symptoms like weight loss and extreme thirst. Additionally, your symptoms might relate to factors like personal health, environment, and genetics. As a result, while some people may have severe symptoms, other individuals only experience mild symptoms.

Despite the varying types of autoimmune diseases and symptoms, most of the ailments share the following symptoms:

• Joint pain
• Fatigue
• Skin problems
• Swollen glands
• Recurring low-grade fever
• Digestive issues
• Abdominal pain
• Tingling or numbness in your hands and feet
• Trouble concentrating

Diagnosing an autoimmune disease may be hard for your doctor because the symptoms can be signs of other conditions. As a result, your doctor may use your symptoms, blood markers, and a biopsy (if necessary) to diagnose an autoimmune disorder.

What are the treatments for autoimmune diseases?

There are various treatment options your doctor may recommend to help you manage the condition. Medications your healthcare provider may use include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and immune-suppressing medication. The treatments calm your overactive immune responses, minimizing inflammation.

It might be challenging to establish when you have autoimmune infections, except with various diagnostic tests. Contact your doctor to help you get the best treatment to minimize your immune system’s overreactive response.