15/08/2016
Auto-immune disease
Auto -immune disease develops when the body's immune system attacks the body's own healthy tissue. Normally the immune system recognizes foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria. The immune system will then produce anti-bodies against the invaders to act as soldiers to protect the body against disease. With auto-immune disease the body's immune system gets confused and it makes anti-bodies against the body's own healthy tissue. There are as many as 80 auto-immune diseases. It is possible to have more than one auto-immune disease. It can sometimes be difficult to diagnose because many of them have similar symptoms. Symptoms can vary between remission and flare-ups. Symptoms depend on the type of auto-immune disease. It can affect joints, muscles, skin, red blood cells, blood vessels, connective tissue or endocrine glands.
The cause of auto-immune disease is unknown. It is much more common in women (up to 75% of cases). There may also be an increased risk when there is a family history of auto-immune disease.
Common auto-immune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, antiphospholipid syndrome, psoriasis, Sjögren’s syndrome and many other.
Treatment is focused on the symptom reduction. There is no cure for auto-immune disease.
The following is important in the management of auto-immune disease:
* eat a balanced and healthy diet
* exercise regularly
* get enough of rest
* take supplements
*decrease stress
* limit sun exposure
* avoid any known triggers of flare-ups
Medical interventions include:
* physiotherapy
* hormone replacement therapy, if necessary
* blood transfusions, if blood is affected
* anti-inflammatory medication, if joints are affected
* pain medication
* immuno-suppressive medication