Autoimmune Diseases

“Women – particularly African-American, Hispanic-American, and Native-American women – have a higher risk for some autoimmune diseases”.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 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
  • Some forms of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
  • Myasthenia Gravis
  • Some forms of Myocarditis
  • 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 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 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 the (United States) MedlinePlus note:

Autoimmune Diseases

“No one is sure what causes autoimmune diseases. They do tend to run in families. Women – particularly African-American, Hispanic-American, and Native-American women – have a higher risk for some autoimmune diseases”.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? Womenshealth.gov 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

Womenshealth.gov 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 Disease List
  5. Autoimmune Diseases
  6. Autoimmune Diseases
  7. Autoimmune Diseases
  8. Autoimmune Diseases
  9. Autoimmune Diseases: Basics
  10. Autoimmune Diseases: In-Depth – Types of Autoimmune Diseases
  11. Autoimmune Pancreatitis
  12. Autoimmune.org.au [Autoimmune Resource & Research Center, Australia]
  13. Carrie Ann Inaba Doesn’t Let Sjögren’s Syndrome Stand In Her Way
  14. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  15. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  16. Diagnosis Tips
  17. Disorders of the Immune System
  18. Fibromyalgia
  19. Fibromyalgia
  20. Graves Disease
  21. Graves’ Disease
  22. Graves’ Disease
  23. Hashimoto Disease
  24. Hashimoto’s Disease
  25. Hashimoto’s Disease
  26. Hormone.org [Hormone Health Network, United States]
  27. Immune System and Disorders
  28. Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  29. Lupus
  30. Lupus
  31. Multiply Sclerosis
  32. Myasthenia Gravis
  33. Myasthenia Gravis
  34. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  35. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science
  36. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  37. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Women’s Health and Complementary Approaches
  38. Patient Resources
  39. Primary Immune Deficiency Diseases (PIDDs)
  40. Psoriasis
  41. Questions & Answers
  42. Resources
  43. Sjögren’s Syndrome: What You Need To Know
  44. Thyroid Disease
  45. Thyroid Diseases
  46. Women & Autoimmunity
  47. Women’s Health
  48. World Lupus Day May 10, 2020

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Autoimmune Diseases: Summary. Page Last Updated on: 23 July 2020. Topic Last Reviewed: 22 May 2018. MedlinePlus https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/autoimmunediseases.html Accessed: 14 August 2020
  2. Autoimmune Diseases: In-Depth – Types. 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: 14 August 2020
  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: 14 August 2020
  4. 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: 14 August 2020
  5. Autoimmune Diseases: Are Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Autoimmune Diseases? Medical Review In 2012. 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: 14 August 2020
  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: 14 August 2020
  7. Autoimmune Diseases: Summary. Page Last Updated on: 23 July 2020. Topic Last Reviewed: 22 May 2018. MedlinePlus https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/autoimmunediseases.html Accessed: 14 August 2020
  8. Autoimmune Diseases: How Do I Find Out If I Have An Autoimmune Disease? Medical Review In 2012. 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: 14 August 2020
  9. Autoimmune Diseases: How Do I Find Out If I Have An Autoimmune Disease? Medical Review In 2012. 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: 14 August 2020

Topic Last Updated: 30 August 2020 – Topic Last Reviewed: 14 August 2020
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