Common Autoimmune Disease Symptoms Joint pain and swelling. Skin problems. Abdominal pain or digestive issues. Recurring fever.
Tests that may be done to diagnose an autoimmune disorder include: Antinuclear antibody (ANA) tests. Autoantibody tests. Complete blood count (CBC) with white blood cell differential (CBC with WBC differential)
You also might need immunity testing if you are experiencing symptoms associated with an autoimmune disorder, including fever, rash, fatigue, joint pain or swelling, or muscle pain.
An autoimmune disease is the result of the immune system accidentally attacking your body instead of protecting it. It's unclear why your immune system does this. There are over 100 known autoimmune diseases. Common ones include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Some common autoimmune diseases, including Type 1 diabetes mellitus, are relatively easy to diagnose, while others, such as vasculitis, Addison's disease, lupus, and other rheumatic diseases, are more difficult.
The Link Between Autoimmune Disease and Women
Doctors aren't sure why autoimmune disease happens in the first place or why women are affected more than men. One theory is that higher levels of hormones in women, especially during the childbearing years, could make women more susceptible to autoimmune diseases.
Who is at risk for autoimmune diseases? Millions of Americans of all ages have autoimmune diseases. Women develop many types of autoimmune diseases much more often than men. And if you have one autoimmune disease, you are more likely to get another.
Asherson's syndrome is an extremely rare autoimmune disorder characterized by the development, over a period of hours, days or weeks, of rapidly progressive blood clots affecting multiple organ systems of the body.
Routine blood work is also a big part of diagnosing autoimmune diseases. Some of the common blood tests your healthcare provider may order include: Basic metabolic panel or comprehensive metabolic panel: These tests measure your body's metabolism, detecting ranges of electrolytes and minerals in your blood.
One blood test for autoimmune disease is C-reactive protein (CRP). Another test is ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) - this is done to assess an inflammation that is not from an infection or due to other reasons. One of the most common blood tests for detecting autoimmune disorders is ANA (antinuclear antibodies).
One of the most commonly ordered tests is the antinuclear antibody (ANA) test. ANA may be positive with a variety of autoimmune diseases, including lupus, Sjögren syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and autoimmune hepatitis.
Most scientists believe environmental factors play a key role in this rise. “Human genetics hasn't altered over the past few decades,” said Lee, who was previously based at Cambridge University. “So something must be changing in the outside world in a way that is increasing our predisposition to autoimmune disease.”
Autoimmune diseases can be very difficult to diagnose. Each diagnosis requires a thorough history and physical exam, and often many laboratory tests. Sometimes, imaging and biopsies are also ordered in the workup by a rheumatologist.
Thyroid disorders
When your immune system messes with your thyroid, it can cause unexplained weight changes. Your thyroid helps control your metabolism, so if it's underactive (hypothyroidism), everything slows down. That's why common symptoms include weight gain, fatigue, constipation, hair loss, and depression.
Women account for 80–95% of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), primary biliary cirrhosis, autoimmune thyroid disease and systemic sclerosis, and about 60% of arthritis and multiple sclerosis patients are women.
An increase in pollen in the spring or leaf mold in the fall may also contribute to flares. Diet: Food triggers can be different for each person. They can be a variety of things, including gluten, soy, dairy, corn, nightshades, grains, legumes, coffee, and/or eggs.
Psychological stress is reported to be a risk factor for autoimmune diseases, including Graves' disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Different types of stress and the length of time that stress is present might also affect the presentation of inflammatory autoimmune disease. There is no one known cause for autoimmunity.
Although numerous studies have shown that fibromyalgia is not an autoimmune disease (conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, whereby the body attacks healthy tissues), reliable research concurs that this condition does weaken your immune system by causing various abnormalities and irregularities.
Most autoimmune diseases cause inflammation. But the symptoms they cause depend on the body parts affected. You can have pain in your joints or muscles. Or you may experience skin rashes, fevers, or fatigue.
Many people with chronic autoimmune disease feel that there is a lack of understanding among those closest to them about their experiences and an unwillingness to learn more about their illness. This can create feelings of rejection, which can lead to increased feelings of isolation and loneliness.