Is an Autoimmune Disease Causing Your Nagging Symptoms?

If you have been ill for some time and no one believes you are living with a serious medical condition, you may be suffering with the onset of an autoimmune disorder. Researchers believe that as many as a hundred diseases may be caused by faulty immune system attacks on healthy tissues and organs. If you have a family medical history that includes inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis or thyroid conditions, there is a good chance that your chronic fatigue, low-grade fever, headaches and upset digestive tract may be classic symptoms of autoimmune diseases. Although the blood cells in our body’s immune system are suppose to protect against harmful invaders, faulty autoimmunity results in antibodies attacking healthy cells, which can lead to damaging inflammatory responses.

When your body’s immune system attacks due to a breakdown in immunologic tolerance, you can develop one or more of the following diseases:

• Graves’ Disease
• Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Type 1 Diabetes
• Celiac Disease
• Addison’s Disease
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Guillian-Barre Syndrome
• Psoriasis
• Autoimmune Hepatitis
• Pernicious anemia
• Vitiligo
• Psoriatic Arthritis
• Systemic Lupus
• Sjögren’s syndrome
• Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
• Vasculitis
• Myasthenia Gravis

The body’s immune system is a first responder with protective mechanisms that are activated when you are exposed to stress and stressors. No single test can be used to diagnose most autoimmune diseases, which means healthcare providers will rely on symptoms and lab work to check for the presence of inflammation these diseases are known to produce. Since some autoimmune diseases limit your body’s ability to produce hormones, medications may be needed to regulate an underactive or overactive gland. In addition, there is a clear link between dietary intake and autoimmune disease, as well as a pronounced need for each individual to discover which foods cause an issue with his or her diet. For help with a personalized autoimmune treatment plan, contact DeltaIMC to schedule an appointment with our board-certified internist.