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A well-functioning immune system protects the body against sickness and infection. Consider your body to be a house, and your immune system serves as an army, fending off intruders such as bacteria. You could have lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or psoriasis, among a hundred other autoimmune diseases, if your army malfunctions and attacks the house. Pain, fatigue, dizziness, rashes, depression, and a slew of other symptoms are all possible.
What is Autoimmune Disease?
A disorder in which your immune system attacks your body by mistake is known as autoimmune disease.
Normally, the immune system protects us against pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. It sends out an army of fighter cells to attack these foreign invaders when it detects them. The immune system can normally distinguish between foreign and native cells.
The immune system misidentifies parts of your body, such as your joints or skin, as foreign in autoimmune diseases. Autoantibodies are proteins released by the body that assault healthy cells.
Over 100 autoimmune diseases have been identified. Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis are examples of common autoimmune diseases.
Only one organ is targeted by some autoimmune disorders. The pancreas suffers from type 1 diabetes. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an example of a disease that affects the entire body.
What Causes Autoimmune Diseases?
Nobody knows why autoimmune diseases occur. One notion is that some microbes (such as bacteria or viruses) or medicines can cause immune system alterations.
Autoimmune diseases also tend to run in families, so certain genes may predispose some people to developing a problem. If you have the genes for autoimmune illness, viruses, certain chemicals, and other things in the environment may trigger it.
List of Common Autoimmune Diseases and Symptoms
Autoimmune diseases can affect almost any organ or system in the body. Here are some common autoimmune diseases and symptoms.
Joints and Muscles Disorders:
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus, SLE)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Sjögren’s syndrome
Symptoms:
- Muscle pains and weakness
- Joint pain, swelling and stiffness
- Inflammation
Digestive Tract Disorders:
- Crohn’s disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Celiac disease
Symptoms:
- Constipation
- Bloating
- Acid reflux
- Abdominal pain
- Food sensitivities
- Nausea
- In stool, there may be blood or mucus (poop)
Endocrine System Disorders:
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
- Addison’s disease
- Graves’ disease
Skin Disorders:
- Psoriasis
- Dermatomyositis
Symptoms:
- Itching
- Rashes
- Inflammation
- Dry skin
- Dry mouth
- Dry eyes
- Hair loss
Nervous System Disorders:
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
Symptoms:
- Headaches
- Migraines
- Dizziness
- Confusion and a lack of ability to think clearly
- Anxiety and depression
- Memory issues
- Blurry vision
- Insomnia
- Tingling and numbness
- Lightheadedness
Other Autoimmune Diseases:
- Type 1 diabetes
- Pernicious anemia
- Autoimmune vasculitis
- Vasculitis
- Myasthenia gravis
Symptoms:
- Muscle pain and chest pain
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Swollen glands
- Shortness of breath
- Temperature sensitivity
- Irregular or rapid heartbeat
How Acupuncture Helps Autoimmune Diseases?
Acupuncture has been proven to produce reactions in nerve cells and areas of the brain in studies. Acupuncture can help people with autoimmune diseases rewire their brains and cells to behave as they should over time.
Acupuncture works by calming the immune system and correcting the body’s sensitivity to the “trigger.” For the vast majority of patients, acupuncture slows or stops the progression of autoimmune illness.
Acupuncture is frequently advised as part of the treatment plan for people with autoimmune diseases. Our Acupuncture Halls clinic offers a special treatment plan for you based on your personal needs, visit us at San Juan Capistrano. You can call 949-510-6333 or contact us here for an appointment.