Which autoimmune disease do i have

Sometimes, a doctor may also recommend immunosuppressants, especially for fibrosing scarring lung disease. This causes an oxygen deficiency, leading to symptoms such as:. Doctors treat hemolytic anemia with corticosteroids, which reduce inflammation, and immunosuppressant drugs, which lower immune system activity. A doctor might also consider a splenectomy, which refers to the surgical removal of the spleen. The spleen removes damaged red blood cells from circulation, so by removing it, a person is less likely to have low red blood cell levels.

However, autoimmune processes can also affect other blood cells. When they affect platelets, it can lead to thrombocytopenia. When they affect white blood cells, it can give rise to leukopenia, lymphopenia, and neutropenia.

Repeated exposure to gluten may damage the intestinal lining. However, most people with celiac disease can prevent these symptoms by removing sources of gluten from their diet. Inflammatory bowel disease IBD causes chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, giving rise to pain and irritation. The symptoms of IBD can include:. IBD does not currently have a cure, but people may see an improvement in symptoms and their quality of life by changing their eating habits.

Medications such as aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants — including biologics — can also help. In type 1 diabetes , the immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar levels. People with type 1 diabetes can manage the condition with daily insulin injections to balance out the amount of carbohydrates they eat. Unlike type 2 diabetes , a person cannot prevent type 1 diabetes by making diet or lifestyle changes.

However, monitoring diet and exercise levels can help reduce symptoms. This can cause a range of symptoms , including:. Antithyroid medications can lower thyroid hormone levels, and radioactive iodine damages the thyroid cells so that they do not produce as much hormone. In severe cases, a doctor may recommend removing part or all of the thyroid gland. In multiple sclerosis MS , the immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath that protects the nerves.

This causes damage, affecting the transmission of information to and from the brain and spinal cord and the nerves they connect with. The symptoms of MS include :. There is currently no cure for MS, but some medications may reduce the symptoms and the underlying disease process. The type of medication that the condition responds to will vary from case to case. Guillain-Barre syndrome occurs when the immune system attacks healthy nerves, disrupting the electrical signals the nerves send to the brain.

This may cause :. What causes them? What causes autoimmune diseases? In most cases, your disease may have been caused by: Genes, which may make you more likely to have the disease. Environment, such as a virus that triggers the disease if you have the gene s.

How are they treated? How are autoimmune diseases treated? For More Info. For more info U. Related Information Rheumatoid Arthritis. Orbai talks about how to recognize common autoimmune disease symptoms and when you should see a doctor. There are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases that affect a wide range of body parts.

Symptoms of autoimmune disease may be severe in some people and mild in others. Despite the varying types of autoimmune disease, many of them share similar symptoms.

Common symptoms of autoimmune disease include:. You have to have certain symptoms combined with specific blood markers and in some cases, even a tissue biopsy. Diagnosis can also be difficult because these symptoms can come from other common conditions. Orbai says women should seek treatment when they notice new symptoms. Autoimmune disease affects If you're one of the millions of women affected by this group of diseases, which includes lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid disease, you may be wondering why your immune system is attacking itself.