Autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which your immune system mistakenly attacks and damages your own healthy cells and tissues. Normally, the immune system defends against harmful substances like bacteria and viruses, but in autoimmune diseases, it cannot distinguish healthy tissue from harmful invaders, leading to inflammation, tissue damage, and impaired organ function.

There are more than 80 to 100 different autoimmune disorders, affecting various parts of the body such as blood vessels, connective tissues, endocrine glands (like the thyroid or pancreas), joints, muscles, skin, and organs. Examples include rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease.

The exact causes are not fully understood but are believed to involve a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental triggers such as infections, certain medications, toxins, or stress.

In summary, autoimmune diseases are diverse chronic conditions where the immune system attacks the body itself, leading to various symptoms depending on the organs involved.