What are the Symptoms of Autoimmune Diseases?

Definition of an Auto Immune Disease ~

Your immune system is a network of organs, tissues, and cells that work together to protect your body from bacteria, parasites, viruses, and cancer cells.

An autoimmune disease results from the immune system accidentally attacking your body instead of protecting it – unable to tell the difference between you and an invader.

No one is sure what causes autoimmune diseases. It is most likely the cause of a combination of factors related to genes and the environment. Gender and ethnicity can also increase one’s chances of getting an autoimmune disease. Women are much more likely to get most autoimmune diseases.

Symptoms of Autoimmune Diseases?

Autoimmune diseases can affect many types of tissues and almost any organ in your body.

Despite the varying types of autoimmune diseases, many of them share similar symptoms. Common symptoms of autoimmune disease include:

Fatigue
Joint pain and swelling
Skin problems
Abdominal pain or digestive issues
Low-grade fever
Swollen glands

Symptoms can come and go for many autoimmune diseases, be mild sometimes, and more severe at others. Symptoms can go into remission. Or, one can experience a “flare” – a sudden and severe onset of symptoms.

Many autoimmune diseases affect more than one part of the body. Therefore, the symptoms you have will depend on the body part / parts affected.

Below are some symptoms one might have ~

Diseases of the joints and muscles:

Muscle aches and pains
Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling
Muscle weakness
Inflammation.

Diseases of the digestive tract:

Bloating.
Constipation.
Abdominal pain.
Acid reflux.
Nausea.
Food sensitivities.

Diseases of the skin:

Rashes.
Itching.
Dry eyes.
Dry mouth.
Inflammation.
Hair loss.
Dry skin.

Diseases of the nervous system:

Dizziness.
Headaches.
Anxiety and depression.
Confusion and difficulty thinking.
Blurry vision.
Insomnia.
Memory issues.
Migraines.
Lightheadedness.
Numbness and tingling.

Other diseases:

Fatigue.
Pain.
Fever.
Chest pain.
Swollen glands.
Weight gain or loss.
Rapid or irregular heartbeat.
Shortness of breath.
Temperature sensitivity.

How many autoImmune diseases are there?

There are over 100 known autoimmune diseases.

How common are autoimmune diseases?

Autoimmune diseases are common, affecting more than 24 million Americans. Some are rare, and some are much more common such as Hashimoto’s, which affects many people. About 25 percent of patients with autoimmune diseases have a tendency to develop other autoimmune diseases (3 or more). Many autoimmune diseases are more common in women than in men.

Diagnosing Autoimmune Diseases ~

Many people find it very difficult to get a diagnosis. “There’s usually no single test to diagnose autoimmune disease.

Diagnosis can also be difficult because these symptoms can come from other common conditions.

Looking back, I realized that I had had symptoms my entire life, that I thought were normal. The symptoms slowly snowballed, adding new symptoms every few years until my health hit a wall.

I never got a conclusive diagnosis.

But, despite that, I was able to take control of my health through the Vegan AIP lifestyle!

Below are some of the more common autoimmune diseases~

Lupus

attacks the skin, joints, blood vessels, and/or internal organs, causing inflammation. It is more common in women than in men.

It can manifest itself in different ways, tends to be a multiple-system disease, and with symptoms affecting many different organs.

Common symptoms can include fatigue, pain, joint swelling, a distinctive butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks, other skin rashes on sun-exposed areas, and fever. Lupus can also cause anemia; swelling in the hands, legs, feet, or around the eyes; chest pain when breathing, hair loss, and mouth ulcers; and fingers that turn white or blue when they’re cold.

Psoriasis

is a skin disease that causes a rash with itchy, scaly patches, most commonly on the knees, elbows, trunk, and scalp. It can be painful, interfere with sleep, and make it hard to concentrate. The condition tends to go through cycles, flaring for a few weeks or months, then subsides for a while.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

is a disabling autoimmune disease that can be tricky to diagnose. Symptoms range from obvious physical symptoms of joint damage and joint deterioration to less obvious signs and symptoms that mimic other illnesses. This is what makes rheumatoid arthritis so difficult for healthcare providers. Common symptoms, though are joint pain, inflammation, tenderness, and stiffness in 1-4 joint locations in the body.

Celiac Disease

When people with this autoimmune condition consume gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley, their immune system responds by attacking the small intestine. The resulting damage prevents the body from properly absorbing nutrients from food causing long-term health risks.

Celiac disease tends to run in families.

In children, celiac causes many symptoms (bloating, vomiting, chronic diarrhea, or constipation) In adults, other symptoms are more common such as fatigue, anemia, missed menstrual periods, or osteoporosis).

The first step in treating Celiac Disease is a gluten-free diet.

Graves Disease

This autoimmune condition attacks the thyroid and leads to the overproduction of thyroid hormone. Too much thyroid hormone can cause an enlarged thyroid, a rapid heartbeat, nervousness or irritability, frequent bowel movements, weight loss, and sleep problems. In addition, many people with Graves’ disease develop eye problems like swelling or bulging eyes. Less commonly, it can cause reddening and thickening of the skin on the lower legs and tops of the feet.

It is the most common cause of overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) in the US. No one knows the cause for sure. Genes, hormones, environmental factors, pregnancy, and infection, may play a role.

Diabetes Mellitus, type 1

In people with type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

Insulin is a hormone that helps blood sugar get to the body’s cells for energy. Without it, the body’s cells starve, and blood sugar levels spike, causing damage to the heart, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.

Symptoms include extreme thirst, hunger, frequent urination, fatigue, weight loss, slow-to-heal sores, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, and blurry vision.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Your thyroid, a small gland in your neck—has a massive impact on your body. It produces thyroid hormone (TH), which is responsible for keeping your metabolism, heartbeat, temperature, mood, and more in check. An underactive thyroid can cause a host of health problems.

Hashimoto’s disease progresses slowly over the years. You may not notice signs or symptoms of the disease. Eventually, the decline in thyroid hormone production can result in many symptoms. Signs and symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease vary widely and are not specific to the disorder.

Multiple Sclerosis

Experts are stumped by multiple sclerosis (MS). There’s no diagnostic test for the disease, and one patient can experience wildly different symptoms from another. It affects women two to three times more often than men. They do know that MS occurs when the body starts to attack its own central nervous system, and certain factors can raise one’s risk of developing the disease.

Vasculitis

Vasculitis refers to a group of disorders in which the immune system attacks and inflames the body’s own blood vessels. The damage can impede blood flow throughout the body, depending on the vessels and organs affected. Most forms of vasculitis are rare and the causes are unknown. It can occur by itself or with other diseases, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

As mentioned above – there are over 100 known autoimmune diseases!

But, the important question is:

Can You Reverse Autoimmune Disease?

Yes, You Can! The standard answer by western doctors is: No! They say that autoimmune diseases are not curable. This is just blatantly false. Many people with autoimmune diseases have reversed their symptoms, gone into remission, and even cured their diseases.

The standard AIP (Autoimmune Protocal) lifestyle has successfully treated many with autoimmune diseases.

But, if you want to go a step further – in addressing your overall health – (i.e., cancer, heart disease, hypertension, body mass index, blood pressure, diabetes indicators, cholesterol levels, and overall inflammation levels)

– then, the vegan AIP is for you!

The vegan AIP – is a nutrient-dense diet that eliminates potentially inflammatory foods and concentrates on large veggie portions with a constantly rotating, wide variety of veggies.

Although people generally find it challenging to get speedy help and a diagnosis from Western doctors – the Vegan AIP is a way for you to take control of your health! It is a lifestyle that many of us have successfully embraced for the substantial healing it has brought us!

After many years of living in pain, dealing with unexplained symptoms that worsen over time, severe frustration of not knowing what to do, and losing hope – many people on the vegan AIP have found joy and relief within weeks – and over time, complete remission from their symptoms.

But, regardless of the difficulty in getting a diagnosis – those of us on the vegan AIP – still recommend finding a doctor you can trust and who will listen to you.

Many of us find that ~ “Complementary or Alternative Health Practices and Practitioners” – have been very beneficial. These can include: Functional doctors, Naturopaths, Acupuncturists, Ayervetic health practitioners, herbs, supplements, or modalities like hypnosis, massage, or acupuncture. These modalities focus on the mind-body connection and also include a strong focus on relaxation, nutrition, and stress reduction.

These modalities, along with the vegan AIP lifestyle – can allow us to regain control of our health – and find a new sense of joy and relief!

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