Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system attacks and damages the organs and tissue of its own tissue. No one is sure exactly what causes autoimmune diseases but we know the immune system loses self tolerance. The classic sign of an autoimmune disease is inflammation, which can cause redness, heat, pain and swelling.
Autoimmune Disorders are:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting many joints, including those in the hands and feet.
- Lupus is an inflammatory disease caused when the immune system attacks its own tissues such as joints, skin, kidneys, or lungs.
- Sjogren’s Syndrome is an autoimmune disorder characterized by dry eyes and dry mouth. The condition often accompanies other autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
- Polymyalgia Rheumatica is an inflammatory disorder causing muscle pain and stiffness around the shoulders and hips in older people.
- Ankylosing Spondylitis is an inflammatory arthritis affecting the spine and large joints.
- Scleroderma or Systemic Sclerosis is a rare autoimmune disease in which the body produces too much connective tissue affecting the skin and organs causing them to harden.
- Psoriatic arthritis s a type of inflammatory arthritis that affects some people with psoriasis. Psoriasis is a condition that causes red, scaly patches to form on the skin. It affects roughly 30% of people with psoriasis, and it’s most common in people between the ages of 30 and 50.
- Vasculitis is an autoimmune disorder that attacks blood vessels.