WHAT IS AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE?
"An autoimmune disease develops when your immune system, which defends your body against  disease, decides your healthy cells are foreign. As a result, your immune system attacks  healthy body cells. Depending on the type, an  autoimmune disease can affect one or many different types of body tissue."  
There are more than 100 types of autoimmune diseases, and some have similar symptoms which makes autoimmune disease difficult to diagnose.  Fatigue, muscle aches, low fever and inflammation are classic signs of an autoimmune disease.. People suffering from autoimmune diseases may  have flare-ups ( times when they get worse) and remissions (times when they get better). Treatment depends on the disease, 
RISK FACTORS
Researchers don’t know what causes autoimmune disease, but they know that certain risk factors increase the chances of developing autoimmune disorders.
  • Genetics: Certain disorders tend to run in families. 
  • Weight: Being overweight increases your risk.
  • Smoking: Research has linked smoking to a number of autoimmune diseases​.
Common triggers are stress, hormones, metals, food antigens pesticides and poison. 
Some of the most common autoimmune disease in the United States are:
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis                 
  • Lupus
  • Crohn's Disease
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Celiac Disease
  • Psoriatic Arthritis
  • Type 1 Diabetes
  • Grave's Disease
  • Scleroderma
  • Raynaud"s Disease
​DID YOU KNOW? 
  • 1 out 5 Americans, or 20% of the population, has an autoimmune disease.
  • There are more people with autoimmune diseases in the United States than there are with cancer and heart conditions. 
  • According to the National Institute of Health (NHI), "research discoveries of the last decade has made autoimmune research one of the most promising areas of new discoveries."
  • Autoimmune disorders are more common in women than in men.
  • It is one of the top 10 leading causes of death in women and children.
For information and a complete list of autoimmune diseases visit .......
click on logo​ for information on autoimmune studies.
WHY IS MEDICAL RESEARCH SO IMPORTANT?
  • Thanks to biomedical research, in the late 1990s and early 2000s there was a significant progress of innovative treatments for rheumatic and autoimmune diseases. 
  • Understanding how to modulate the immune system activity doesn't only benefit patients with autoimmune disease, it will also benefit transplant recipients, cancer patients, and infectious disease patients. 
  • "Rheumatic disease research has lead to new forms of treatment such as TNF inhibitors (ex. Enbrel, Humira, Remicade), IL-6 blockade (Actemra), co- stimulatory blockade (Orencia), and B-cell depletion therapy (Rituxan). These drugs have fundamentally changed the practice of rheumatology and the quality of life for patients with rheumatic disease."
  • The chronic and debilitating nature of these diseases,  leads to high medical costs and reduced quality of life.
  • Although researchers have made a lot of progress in understanding how the immune system causes damage to organs and cell tissue, there is still a lot to learn. ​
DATES TO REMEMBER
Thyroid Awareness Month: Jan 
National Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month: Mar 
MS GO Orange Day: Mar 18, 2022
Lupus Awareness Month: May 
Arthritis Day May 20, 2021
Scleroderma Awareness Day: Jun 1, 2021
Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month: Jul 1, 2021
World Sjogren's Awareness Day: Jul 23, 2021
Auto inflammatory Diseases Awareness Month/Psoriosis Awareness Month: Aug 
Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month: Sep 1, 2021
Still's Awareness Day: Sep 7, 2021
National Celiac Disease Awareness Day: Sep 13, 2021
World Psoriosis Day: Oct 29, 2021
Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Month: Nov 1, 2021
Diabetes Awareness Day: Nov 14, 2021
AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)?
  • ​RA is a type of autoimmune disease where the person's immune system believes that the joints are foreign and attacks them. This causes chronic inflammation and pain leading to joint destruction if untreated. 
  • RA can also cause inflammation and injury in other organs of the body. 
  • RA is referred to as a systemic illness. 
  • When RA it begins in people under the age of 16 is referred to as Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).  
  • According to a US census, around 1.3 million people in the United States have RA.  
  • RA is 3 times more common in women than in men.
  •  RA can begin at any age (even in children), but most often starts after 40 years of age and before 60 years of age.
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 Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
  • Joint pain the feet, hands, and knees
  • Tender, warm, and swollen joints
  • Loss of joint function
  • Morning stiffness that lasts many hours​
  • Fatigue
  • Rheumatoid nodules
  • Fever
What is Still's Disease?
  • Still's Disease is a rare autoimmune disease that like RA also causes joint inflammation and pain. Different from RA, Still's Disease causes high fevers, a rash, and high white- blood cell count.
  • Still's Disease is a severe version of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), which occurs in children.
  • Still's Disease can also cause inflammation in other organs of the body. 
  • Only 1 out of 100,000 people develop Still's Disease each year. ​​
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​Still's Disease Symptoms 
  • Joint pain, warmth, and swelling (affecting multiple joints).
  • Morning stiffness of joints that lasts for several hours.
  • High fevers that usually come once a day, most commonly in the evening. 
  • The skin rash is often salmon-pink colored that comes and goes.
  • Fatigue
  • High white- blood cell count
What is Crohn's Disease?
  • Crohn's Disease develops when a person's immune system attacks the intestines and they become inflamed.
  • Crohn's belongs to a group a conditions known as Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
  • Crohn's mostly affects the end of the small bowel and the beginning of the colon. However, it is possible that is also affects any part of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • It can affect both children and adults and it is known as a chronic disease.
Crohn's Disease Symptoms 
  • Diarrhea
  • Rectal bleeding
  • Urgent need to move bowel
  • Pain in the abdomen and stomach
  • Constipation
  • Loss of appetite 
  • Weight loss
  • Fatigue​
What is Lupus?
  • Lupus is an anti-inflammatory disease caused when the immune system attacks its own tissues.
  • Lupus  can affect any organ in the body such as, joints, skin, heart, lungs, and blood vessels. It can cause many varied symptoms.
  • 90% of patients are women.
  • People diagnosed with Lupus may suffer from "Lupus Fog".  Difficulty concentrating and remembering details. 
Lupus​ Symptoms 
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle pain
  • Joint pain/inflammation
  • Butterfly-like rash in the face
  • High Fever
  • Hair loss
​What is Multiple Sclerosis?
  • MS is a disease of the central nervous system. It is an autoimmune disease that attacks its own tissues.   
  • In MS the immune system attacks the myelin which protect the nerve fibers. These disrupts the communication between the brain and other parts of the body and has effects that that can range from mild to disabling. 
​Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
  • Blurred vision
  • Weakness and difficulty with coordination and balance that can impair walking or standing.
  • Pain 
  • Muscle spasms
  • Numbness or tingling
  • Dizziness
  • Cognitive and speech impairments
  • Bowel Dysfunction
What is Celiac Disease?
  • Celiac disease is an inmune reaction to eating gluten ( a protein fond int wheat, barley and rye.
  • Eating gluten triggers and immune response that overtime damages the lining of the small intestine and prevent it from absorbing some nutrients. 
  • Celiac disease is hereditary and can develop at any age.
  • Celiac disease is difficult to diagnose because it affects people differently.
  • The only treatment is to stop eating gluten.
  • Undiagnosed Celiac disease can lead to long term health conditions. 
Celiac Disease Symptoms 
  • Abdominal bloating or pain
  • Chronic diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Weight loss
  • Anemia
  • Fatigue
  • Adults are less likely to have digestive symptoms. Some of their other symptoms are bone and joint pain, bone loss, and migraines.
What is Psoriatic Arthritis?
  • Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy tissue causing inflammation and pain. 
  • Psoriatic is a form of arthritis, a chronic condition, is a form of arthritis that affects people who have psoriasis.
  • Most researchers believe that Psoriatic Arthritis it is triggered by something in the environment such as  an infection or stress on people with an inherited predisposition. 
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​Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms
  • Itchy, painful red patches or a silvery white buildup of dead skin cells, most common in the knees, elbows and scalp. 
  • Nail disease
  • Join pain, stiffness and swelling that can affect any part of your body.
  • Swollen fingers and toes
  • Foot pain
  • ​Lower back pain​
  • Fatigue when experiencing flare ups. 
What is Type 1 Diabetes?
  • ​Type 1 Diabetes has been commonly called Juvenile Diabetes. 
  • It is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to allow glucose to enter cells to produce energy.
  • Type 1 usually appears during childhood, but could develop during adolescence or in adults.
  • Treatment for Type 1 Diabetes consists on managing blood sugar levels with insulin and diet. Without insulin, too much glucose stays in your blood and overtime can lead to serious problems with your heart, eyes, kidneys, nerve, gums and teeth. 
  • A blood test can show if you have diabetes.
  • Maintaining normal blood sugar levels can drastically reduce the risk of complications. 
  • If you have Type 1 Diabetes you will need to take insulin for the rest of your life.
Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms
  • Increased thirst
  • Frequent urination
  • Extreme hunger
  • Weight loss
  • Mood changes
  • Loosing feeling or tingling in your feet
  • Blurred vision
  • Dry, itchy skin
  • Fatigue
What is Grave's Disease?
  • Grave's Disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid.
  • The body attacks the thyroid and causes it to produce more thyroid hormone that the body needs.
  • The thyroid is a small, butterfly shaped gland in the front of the neck.
  • Thyroid  hormones affect many aspects of your body. These can include your nervous system function, brain development, and body temperature.
  • If untreated, hyperthyroidism can cause weight loss, depression, and mental fatigue.
  • Some people eyes may look enlarged as a result  of eyelids retracting or have thicker skin around the shin area. 
Grave's Disease Symptoms
  • Hand tremors
  • Weight loss
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Intolerance to heat
  • Fatigue
  • Nervousness
  • Irritability
  •  Muscle weakness
  • Goiter ( swelling of the thyroid gland)
  • Diarrhea
  • Difficulty sleeping
What is Scleroderma?
  • ​Scleroderma is a group of rare diseases that involve the hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues.
  • Scleroderma results from an overproduction of collagen in the body tissues. 
  • It affects more women than men and it mostly occurs between the ages of 30-50.
  • There are two different types of scleroderma.: Localized Scleroderma (only affects the skin) and Systemic Scleroderma ( affects both skin, blood vessels and internal organs. 
  • Symptoms depend of the type of Scleroderma,
  • There is no cure, but a variety of treatments can improve quality of life for patients suffering from this disease. ​
Scleroderma Symptoms
  • Hardened or thickened skin that looks shinny and smooth, It's most common on the hands and face.
  • Raynaud's Phenomenon (cold fingers and toes that turn red, white, and blue).
  • Ulcers or sores on the fingertips.
  • Small red spots on the face and chest,
  • Swollen, painful fingers, toes, joints.
  • Shortness of breath
  • Weight loss
  • Diarrhea
  • Itching
What is Raynaud's Phenomenon?
  • Raynaud's disease is a disorder of the blood vessels, usually in fingers and toes. 
  • The blood flow to the fingers and toes narrows when you are cold or feeling stress. When this happens, blood cannot get to the surface of the skin and the fingers or toes turn white or blue. When the blood flow returns, the skin turns red, and throbs or tingles. 
  • As many as 1 in 10 people have Raynaud"s phenomenon. 
Raynaud's Phenomenon Symptoms
  • Cold fingers and toes
  • Fingers and toes that are white or blue
  • Feeling cold or numbness in fingers and toes
  • When blood returns to the fingers and toes, they turn red, burn, throb or tingle
IT'S ESSENTIAL TO CONTINUE TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE!