Autoimmune Diseases

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:

“Your immune system is the network of cells and tissues in your body that work together to defend you from viruses, bacteria, and infection. It tries to identify and destroy the invaders that might hurt you.

In autoimmune diseases, proteins known as autoantibodies target the body’s own healthy tissues by mistake, signaling the body to attack them”.2

In Autoimmune Diseases the (United States) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) definition is:

“An estimated 8% of the U.S. population has an autoimmune disease. In this family of disorders, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy, working parts of the body, damaging them as a result. Researchers believe there are between 80 and 150 autoimmune diseases”.3

Types

What are some types of autoimmune diseases?

In Autoimmune Diseases: In-Depth – Types of Autoimmune Diseases the NIAMS explain:

“There are several types of autoimmune diseases. These include the following:

  • Alopecia Areata…
  • Pemphigus…
  • Psoriasis…
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis…
  • Scleroderma…
  • Sjögren’s Syndrome…
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus…
  • 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?

In What Is Autoimmunity? What Causes Autoimmunity? the Autoimmune Association elaborate on:

“Autoimmune diseases occur when there is some interruption of the usual control process, allowing lymphocytes to avoid suppression, or when there is an alteration in some body tissue so that it is no longer recognized as “self” and is thus attacked. The exact mechanisms causing these changes are not completely understood; but bacteria, viruses, toxins, and some drugs may play a role in triggering an autoimmune process in someone who already has a genetic (inherited) predisposition to develop such a disorder. It is theorized that the inflammation initiated by these agents, toxic or infectious, somehow provokes in the body a “sensitization” (autoimmune reaction) in the involved tissues”.6

Common or Not

How common are autoimmune diseases?

In Autoimmune Diseases: How Common Are Autoimmune Diseases? the (United States) Cleveland Clinic elaborate on:

“Autoimmune diseases are common, especially because there are so many different types. Experts estimate that around 1 in 15 people in the U.S. has an autoimmune disease”.7

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:

“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”.8

In What Is Autoimmunity? Who Does Autoimmunity Impact? Impact on Women the Autoimmune Association also note:

“Research shows autoimmune diseases are more common in women, occurring at a rate of 2 to 1. Many autoimmune disorders tend to affect women during periods of extensive stress, such as pregnancy, or during a great hormonal change. More women are affected every year with autoimmune diseases, leading to increased research to identify the causes”.9

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. You can take these steps to help find out the cause of your symptoms:

  • Write down a complete family health history…
  • Record any symptoms you have, even if…
  • See a specialist who has experience dealing with your most major symptom. For instance…
  • 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”.10

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z 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

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    Autoimmune Diseases Autoimmune Diseases

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Autoimmune Diseases: Summary. Last Updated: 26 January 2024. MedlinePlus https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/autoimmunediseases.html Accessed: 12 July 2026
  2. Autoimmune Diseases: Overview of Autoimmune Diseases. Last Reviewed: March 2023. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/autoimmune-diseases Accessed: 12 July 2026
  3. Autoimmune Diseases. Content Last Reviewed: 20 March 2025. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/autoimmune-diseases Accessed: 12 July 2026
  4. Autoimmune Diseases: In-Depth – Types of Autoimmune Diseases. Last Reviewed: March 2023. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/autoimmune-diseases/advanced#tab-types Accessed: 12 July 2026
  5. Autoimmune Diseases: Are Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Autoimmune Diseases? Page Last Updated: 04 May 2026. 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: 12 July 2026
  6. What Is Autoimmunity? What Causes Autoimmunity? Autoimmune Association https://autoimmune.org/resource-center/about-autoimmunity/ Accessed: 12 July 2026
  7. Autoimmune Diseases: How Common Are Autoimmune Diseases? Last Reviewed 22 October 2024. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21624-autoimmune-diseases Accessed: 12 July 2026
  8. Autoimmune Diseases: Summary – Who Is At Risk for Autoimmune Diseases? Last Updated: 26 January 2024. MedlinePlus https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/autoimmunediseases.html Accessed: 12 July 2026
  9. What Is Autoimmunity? Who Does Autoimmunity Impact? Impact on Women. Autoimmune Association https://autoimmune.org/resource-center/about-autoimmunity/ Accessed: 12 July 2026
  10. Autoimmune Diseases: How Do I Find Out If I Have An Autoimmune Disease? Page Last Updated: 04 May 2026. 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: 12 July 2026
Topic Last Updated: 12 July 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 12 July 2026

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