“One of the functions of an immune system is to protect the body by responding to invading microorganisms, such as viruses or bacteria, by producing antibodies or sensitized lymphocytes (types of white blood cells) (AARDA, n.d.).” Typically, an immune response cannot be triggered against the cells of one’s own body. However, in some cases the immune cells mistakenly attack the cells that they are meant to protect, which can lead to a variety of autoimmune diseases. They encompass a broad category of related diseases in which a person’s immune system attacks his or her own tissue.
Autoimmune Disease Facts (Sutter Health, 2021)
• Nearly 24 million people live with an autoimmune disease in the United States.
• About 75% of individuals living with an autoimmune disease are women.
• Genetics, infection and environmental exposures likely increase your risk of developing an autoimmune disease.
• Lupus, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis are among the most common autoimmune diseases.
A few autoimmune diseases include:
• Addison’s Disease
• Behcet’s Disease
• Crohn’s Disease
• Graves’ Disease
• Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
• Hashimoto’s Disease
• Lupus Erythematosus
• Psoriatic Arthritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Sjogren’s Syndrome
• Type 1 Diabetes
• Ulcerative Colitis
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References
Autoimmune disease list • aarda. AARDA. (n.d.). https://www.aarda.org/diseaselist/.
Sutter Health. Autoimmune diseases facts and stats. (2021). https://www.sutterhealth.org/diseases-conditions/autoimmune-disease.