The Intro "Understanding"

Starting with the basics.....everyone is not educated in the area of "illness" that is one of the main reasons for this blog.

What is an autoimmune disease?

An autoimmune disorder occurs when the body's immune system attacks and destroys healthy body tissue by mistake. There are more than 80 types of autoimmune disorders. Causes. The white blood cells in the body's immune system help protect against harmful substances.
What does it mean to have an autoimmune disease?
Antigen. A foreign substance that triggers the production of antibodies when it is introduced into the body. Autoimmune disease. A disease that results when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues.
A disease in which the body's immune system attacks healthy cells.
Most common types
• Rheumatoid arthritis

• A chronic inflammatory disorder affecting many joints, including those in the hands and feet.

• Type 1 diabetes

• A chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin.

• Multiple sclerosis

• A disease in which the immune system eats away at the protective covering of nerves.

• Vasculitis

• An inflammation of the blood vessels that causes changes in the blood vessel walls.

• Alopecia areata

• Sudden hair loss that starts with one or more circular bald patches that may overlap.

• Lupus

• An inflammatory disease caused when the immune system attacks its own tissues.

• Polymyalgia rheumatica

• An inflammatory disorder causing muscle pain and stiffness around the shoulders and hips.

• Ankylosing spondylitis

• An inflammatory arthritis affecting the spine and large joints.

• Temporal arteritis

• An inflammation of blood vessels, called arteries, in and around the scalp.

• Sjögren's syndrome

• An immune system disorder characterized by dry eyes and dry mouth.
• Celiac disease

• An immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye.