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”.1

Umbrella
What may the Autoimmune Diseases Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Autoimmune Diseases/Disorders
  • Celiac Disease
  • Graves’ Disease
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome
  • Hashimoto’s Disease
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Multiply Sclerosis
  • Myasthenia Gravis
  • Psoriasis
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Scleroderma
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
  • Type 1 Diabetes

Definition

What are autoimmune diseases?

DotS the definition of autoimmune diseases (ADs) may vary. The (United States) National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases’ (NIAMS) definition is:

“Autoimmune diseases refer to problems with the immune system, which usually fights off viruses, bacteria, and infection. The problem causes your immune cells to attack your body by mistake. These diseases can affect almost any part of the body”.2

Types

What are some of the more common autoimmune diseases?

In Autoimmune Diseases the (United States) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases elaborate on:

“More than 80 diseases occur as a result of the immune system attacking the body’s own organs, tissues, and cells. Some of the more common autoimmune diseases include type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and inflammatory bowel disease”.3

In Autoimmune Diseases: In-Depth – Types of Autoimmune Diseases the NIAMS elaborate on:

“Some examples of autoimmune diseases include:

  • Alopecia Areata
  • Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
  • Autoimmune Hepatitis
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Diabetes (Type 1)
  • Glomerulonephritis
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
  • Graves’ Disease
  • Guillain-Barré Syndrome
  • Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
  • Myasthenia Gravis
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Pemphigus/Pemphigoid
  • Pernicious Anemia
  • Polyarteritis Nodosa
  • Polymyositis
  • Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
  • Psoriasis
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Scleroderma/Systemic Sclerosis
  • Sjögren’s Syndrome
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
  • Some forms of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
  • Some forms of Myocarditis
  • Some forms of Thyroiditis
  • Some forms of Uveitis
  • Vitiligo”.4

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia

Are chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, autoimmune diseases?

In Autoimmune Diseases – Are Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Autoimmune Diseases? the Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov (OWH) note:

“Chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME/CFS, and fibromyalgia (feye-broh-meye-AL-juh) (FM) are not autoimmune diseases. But they often have symptoms of some autoimmune disease, like being tired all the time and pain”.5

Cause

What causes autoimmune diseases?

The NIAMS explain:

“No one is sure 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)”.6

Women

Is there an association between women and autoimmune diseases?

In Autoimmune Diseases: Summary – Who Is At Risk for Autoimmune Diseases? the (United States) MedlinePlus note:

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”.7

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have an autoimmune disease?

If you think you have an autoimmune disease it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Autoimmune Diseases – How Do I Find Out If I Have An Autoimmune Disease?  the OWH elaborate on:

“Getting a diagnosis can be a long and stressful process. Although each autoimmune disease is unique, many share some of the same symptoms. And many symptoms of autoimmune diseases are the same for other types of health problems too. This makes it hard for doctors to find out if you really have an autoimmune disease, and which one it might be. But if you are having symptoms that bother you, it’s important to find the cause. Don’t give up if you’re not getting any answers”.8

The OWH also note:

  • “Get a second, third, or fourth opinion if need be. If your doctor doesn’t take your symptoms seriously or tells you they are stress-related or in your head, see another doctor”.9

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Autoimmune Diseases?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Autoimmune Diseases Links?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

  1. Aarda.org [American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association]
  2. Arthritis: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
  3. Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month [March]
  4. Autoimmune Diseases
  5. Autoimmune Diseases
  6. Autoimmune Diseases
  7. Autoimmune Diseases
  8. Autoimmune Diseases: Basics
  9. Autoimmune Diseases: In-Depth – Types of Autoimmune Diseases
  10. Autoimmune Pancreatitis
  11. Autoimmune.org.au [Autoimmune Resource & Research Center, Australia]
  12. Carrie Ann Inaba Doesn’t Let Sjögren’s Syndrome Stand In Her Way
  13. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  14. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  15. Diagnosis Tips
  16. Disorders of the Immune System
  17. Fibromyalgia
  18. Fibromyalgia
  19. Graves Disease
  20. Graves’ Disease
  21. Graves’ Disease
  22. Hashimoto Disease
  23. Hashimoto’s Disease
  24. Hashimoto’s Disease
  25. Hormone.org [Hormone Health Network, United States]
  26. Immune System and Disorders
  27. Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  28. Lupus
  29. Lupus
  30. Multiply Sclerosis
  31. Myasthenia Gravis
  32. Myasthenia Gravis
  33. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  34. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science
  35. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  36. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Women’s Health and Complementary Approaches
  37. Patient Resources
  38. Primary Immune Deficiency Diseases (PIDDs)
  39. Psoriasis
  40. Resources
  41. Resources for People Living With Autoimmune Diseases
  42. Sjögren’s Syndrome: What You Need To Know
  43. Thyroid Disease
  44. Thyroid Diseases
  45. Women & Autoimmunity
  46. Women’s Health
  47. World Lupus Day May 10, 2021

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Autoimmune Diseases: Summary. Page Last Updated on: 28 October 2021. Topic Last Reviewed: 22 May 2018. MedlinePlus https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/autoimmunediseases.html Accessed: 04 November 2021
  2. Autoimmune Diseases: Basics – What Are Autoimmune Diseases? Last Reviewed: March 2016. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/autoimmune-diseases Accessed: 04 November 2021
  3. Autoimmune Diseases. Content Last Reviewed on 02 May 2017. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/autoimmune-diseases Accessed: 04 November 2021
  4. Autoimmune Diseases: In-Depth – Types of Autoimmune Diseases. Last Reviewed: March 2016. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/autoimmune-diseases/advanced#tab-types Accessed: 04 November 2021
  5. Autoimmune Diseases: Are Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Autoimmune Diseases? Page Last Updated: 01 April 2019. Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/autoimmune-diseases.html Accessed: 04 November 2021
  6. Autoimmune Diseases: Basics – What Causes Autoimmune Diseases? Last Reviewed: March 2016. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/autoimmune-diseases#tab-causes Accessed: 04 November 2021
  7. Autoimmune Diseases: Summary – Who Is At Risk for Autoimmune Diseases? Page Last Updated on: 28 October 2021. Topic Last Reviewed: 22 May 2018. MedlinePlus https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/autoimmunediseases.html Accessed: 04 November 2021
  8. Autoimmune Diseases: How Do I Find Out If I Have An Autoimmune Disease? Page Last Updated: 01 April 2019. Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/autoimmune-diseases.html Accessed: 04 November 2021
  9. Autoimmune Diseases: How Do I Find Out If I Have An Autoimmune Disease? Page Last Updated: 01 April 2019. Office on Women’s Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Womenshealth.gov https://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/autoimmune-diseases.html Accessed: 04 November 2021

Topic Last Updated: 04 November 2021 – Topic Last Reviewed: 04 November 2021
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