MOST COMMON AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS Immune system disorders may cause abnormally low activity or overactivity of the immune system. The body may attack and damage its own tissues when these instances occur. An autoimmune disorder is the most complicated and hard to treat immune system-related disease. The disease occurs when the immune system attacks healthy cells in the body. It is complex to diagnose and often share symptoms with other health conditions. Basics of Autoimmune disorder: Autoimmune disease occurs when the body’s natural defense system cannot recognize the difference between its own cells and foreign cells. This causes the body to mistakenly attack normal cells.
There are more than 80 types of autoimmune disorders that affect a wide range of body parts. Of which, we have covered the most common autoimmune diseases that occur in most people. 1. Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA): Rheumatoid Arthritis is the most common long-term autoimmune disorder. This causes the immune system to attack tissues, often affecting joints in the hands and feet. Symptoms of this autoimmune disorder include painful swelling and stiffness in the joints, especially in the hands and feet. 2. Psoriasis: This is one of the most common autoimmune diseases affecting many people. This is a condition where the white blood cells called the T-cells mistakenly identify your skin cells as invaders and attack them. This attack triggers a cascade of responses in your immune system and in your skin, resulting in the skin damage seen in psoriasis – swelling, reddening, and scaling. Both genetic and environmental factors and certain bacterial infections like strep throat are believed to be indicators on whether a person will get psoriasis. 3. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: In this disease, the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue and affects the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other organs. Symptoms of this disorder include muscle and joint pain, rash, tiredness and fever. 4. Grave's Disease: This disease is caused due to overproduction of thyroid hormones and this condition is called hyperthyroidism. Signs and symptoms associated with this disease can vary significantly influence