Autoimmune Diseases: When Your Immune System Goes Off-Script

Arjun Kapoor recently opened up about his struggle with Hashimoto’s disease — an autoimmune disorder affecting the thyroid gland. The precise origins of autoimmune diseases are not completely understood. However, researchers think they are initiated by a mix of genetic factors, infections, and environmental influences, including exposure to specific chemicals or stress. Common examples of different autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis. These diseases are more prevalent in women and can develop at any age. 

Autoimmune diseases happen when the immune system incorrectly targets and attacks the body's own healthy cells. Under typical circumstances, the immune system defends the body by fighting infections from bacteria, viruses, and other harmful agents. In cases of autoimmune diseases, however, the immune system gets confused and mistakenly identifies healthy tissues as threats.

This can result in various health problems, depending on the specific area of the body that is impacted.

Some autoimmune diseases, like type 1 diabetes, target a single organ, such as the pancreas. Others, like lupus, can affect multiple organs or systems, including the skin, joints, and kidneys.

Symptoms can differ significantly and may encompass tiredness, joint discomfort, skin rashes, and gastrointestinal issues. Autoimmune diseases are chronic, meaning they last a long time. While a cure is not available, there are treatments that can help manage symptoms and better your quality of life. Treatment often focuses on reducing the immune system’s activity to prevent further damage to healthy tissues.

Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system, normally responsible for defending the body against harmful agents like bacteria and viruses, incorrectly targets the body's own healthy tissues. While scientists are still trying to find out the exact causes of these conditions, several factors appear to play a role:

• Genetics: If someone in your family has an autoimmune disease, you might be more likely to develop one, too. This suggests that genes can influence how the immune system functions.
• Environmental triggers: Certain infections caused by viruses and bacteria can confuse the immune system and trigger an autoimmune response, particularly in individuals with a genetic predisposition.
• Medications: Certain medications may trigger changes in the body that can result in autoimmune reactions. It's important to discuss any side effects with your doctor.
• Hormones: Autoimmune diseases are more common in women, with about 78% of those affected being female. Hormonal differences, such as having an extra X chromosome, may contribute to this higher risk.
• Lifestyle factors: Certain lifestyle choices can raise the chances of developing autoimmune diseases. For example, smoking has been linked to several autoimmune conditions, as the chemicals in tobacco can disrupt immune function. Carrying excess weight or being obese may increase the risk, as surplus body fat can lead to inflammation that impacts immune system function.
• Exposure to toxins: Harmful chemicals in the environment can affect our immune systems and may raise the chances of developing autoimmune diseases.

While our genes and the environment both play important roles in causing autoimmune diseases, how they interact is quite complicated. Researchers are actively studying these connections to better understand autoimmune disorders and find ways to prevent them.

Autoimmune diseases arise when the immune system, designed to defend against infections, mistakenly targets and attacks the body’s own healthy cells and tissues. Normally, the immune system identifies harmful invaders, like bacteria and viruses, and produces proteins called antibodies to neutralise them. However, in autoimmune diseases, the immune system gets confused and produces ‘autoantibodies’ that target and damage healthy tissues. Many types of immunoglobulins and cells are also involved in the process.

The impact of autoimmune diseases can vary based on which body parts are affected. In rheumatoid arthritis, the joints are harmed by the immune system, causing pain and inflammation. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system harms the pancreas' insulin-producing cells, resulting in higher blood sugar levels. Some diseases, like lupus, can affect multiple organs and cause symptoms such as fatigue, skin rashes, and kidney issues.

Experts believe that a mix of genetic factors, infections, hormonal influences, and environmental triggers contribute to autoimmune diseases. For instance, if someone has a family history of these diseases, they may be more likely to develop one, indicating a genetic link.

Managing autoimmune diseases typically requires medications that suppress the immune system to prevent it from damaging healthy tissues. However, these treatments can make people more likely to get infections. Therefore, it’s important for patients to work closely with healthcare providers to balance managing their condition while minimising health risks. 

There are over 80 different autoimmune diseases, but here are some of the most common ones:

1. Type 1 Diabetes: This condition usually starts in childhood and occurs when the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Symptoms include frequent urination, excessive thirst, and weight loss.
2. Rheumatoid Arthritis: This long-term inflammatory disorder primarily affects the joints, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling. It can also impact other organs.
3. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Commonly known as lupus, this condition causes widespread inflammation and can affect multiple organs. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, and skin rashes.
4. Psoriasis: This skin disorder leads to red, scaly patches that can be itchy and painful. It often affects areas like the elbows, knees, scalp, liver, and heart and causes systemic inflammation.
5. Coeliac Disease: In this condition, eating gluten (found in wheat and barley) damages the small intestine. Symptoms include digestive issues, fatigue, and skin problems.
6. Graves' Disease: This disorder makes the thyroid gland overactive, leading to symptoms like weight loss, a rapid heartbeat, and bulging eyes.
7. Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: In contrast to Graves' disease, this condition causes an underactive thyroid, leading to fatigue, weight gain, and sensitivity to cold.
8. Multiple Sclerosis: This neurological condition harms the protective sheath surrounding the nerve fibres in the central nervous system. Symptoms may include fatigue, muscle weakness, and difficulty with coordination.
9. Inflammatory Bowel Disease: This category comprises conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which result in inflammation of the digestive tract and symptoms like diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
10. Sjögren's Syndrome: This condition impacts the glands responsible for moisture production, resulting in dry eyes and a dry mouth. It can also lead to fatigue and joint pain and affect the lungs, oesophagus, and skin.

Autoimmune diseases can be classified into two main types :

• Systemic Autoimmune Diseases: These affect multiple organs and tissues throughout the body, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Organ-Specific Autoimmune Diseases: These target a specific organ or tissue, like Graves' disease (thyroid) and type 1 diabetes (pancreas).

Understanding these common autoimmune diseases can help with early detection and management, improving the quality of life for those affected.

Autoimmune diseases present a range of similar symptoms, including fatigue, joint pain, skin issues, abdominal discomfort, recurring fever, and swollen glands. 

H3: Symptoms by disease type

• Joints and muscles: Muscle aches, joint stiffness, swelling, and inflammation
• Digestive tract: Bloating, constipation, nausea, and food sensitivities
• Skin: Rashes, dryness, itching, and hair loss
• Nervous system: Dizziness, headaches, memory issues, numbness, confusion, anxiety, and depression
• General symptoms: Fever, weight changes, irregular heartbeat, and temperature sensitivity

The duration of autoimmune diseases varies, with some lasting a lifetime and featuring periods of flare-ups and remission. Specific diseases may also present unique symptoms, like extreme thirst in type 1 diabetes or diarrhoea in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Dr Gautam Panjabi, Associate Consultant Rheumatologist at Medanta Hospital, Indore, believes that patients with autoimmune diseases can still live fulfilling lives. “Yes, normal to near-normal is possible,” he describes, which means that with the right treatments and lifestyle adaptations, many patients can easily manage their symptoms and have a high quality of life.

On the dangers of autoimmune diseases, Dr Panjabi emphasises that these conditions can indeed be serious. He states, “Yes, they can be deadly,” highlighting the significance of timely diagnosis and ongoing treatment to minimise the chances of serious complications or life-threatening results.

To sum up, autoimmune diseases are complex conditions where the immune system starts harming the body's healthy cells. Although a cure is not available at this time, numerous treatments and lifestyle adjustments can aid in managing symptoms and enhancing everyday living. With early diagnosis and a good treatment plan, people with autoimmune diseases can still live fulfilling and happy lives.

There is at present, no cure for autoimmune diseases, but many treatments are available to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system ends up targeting the body’s healthy cells and tissues, leading to a range of health problems.

Yes, many people with autoimmune diseases can lead normal, fulfilling lives by effectively managing their condition with appropriate treatment and lifestyle adjustments.

Autoimmune diseases can be serious and may lead to complications if not managed properly, but many individuals successfully control their symptoms and live well.

Autoimmune diseases can be serious and may lead to complications if not managed properly, but many individuals successfully control their symptoms and live well.