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 Autoimmune Awareness Month: Facts About Autoimmune Diseases the Autoimmune Association note:

  • “The exact causes of autoimmune diseases are not fully understood but are believed to result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors”.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 Autoimmune Awareness Month: Facts About Autoimmune Diseases the Autoimmune Association note:

  • “Women make up 80% of those affected by autoimmune diseases, and autoimmune diseases are among the top 10 causes of death for women under 65
  • Autoimmune diseases often run in families, meaning if one family member has one, others may be affected, though they may not have the same condition
  • About 25 percent of patients with an autoimmune disease develop additional autoimmune diseases”.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”.10

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”.11

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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  26. Autoimmune.org [Autoimmune Association, United States]
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  48. Lupus
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  52. Lupusresearch.org [Lupus Research Alliance, United States]
  53. Multiply Sclerosis
  54. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  55. Myasthenia Gravis
  56. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  57. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  58. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Women’s Health and Complementary Approaches
  59. Office of Autoimmune Disease Research (OADR-ORWH) [United States]
  60. Office of Dietary Supplements [United States]: Dietary Supplements for Immune Function and Infectious Diseases
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  71. Sjögren’s Syndrome: What You Need To Know
  72. Society for Women’s Health Research [United States]
    Autoimmune Diseases
  73. Stress & Autoimmune Disease: Navigating the Complex Relationship
  74. Swhr.org [Society for Women’s Health Research, United States]
  75. Symptoms & Signs
  76. The Brain’s Journey During Pregnancy and Menopause: A Spotlight on Estradiol and the Immune System
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  78. The Impact of Menopause on Autoimmune and Rheumatic Diseases
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    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: 24 November 2025
  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: 24 November 2025
  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: 24 November 2025
  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: 24 November 2025
  5. Autoimmune Diseases: Are Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Autoimmune Diseases? Page Last Updated: 22 February 2021. 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: 24 November 2025
  6. Autoimmune Awareness Month: Facts About Autoimmune Diseases. Autoimmune Association https://autoimmune.org/autoimmune-awareness-month/ Accessed: 24 November 2025
  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: 24 November 2025
  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: 24 November 2025
  9. Autoimmune Awareness Month: Facts About Autoimmune Diseases. Autoimmune Association https://autoimmune.org/autoimmune-awareness-month/ Accessed: 15 February 2026
  10. Autoimmune Diseases: How Do I Find Out If I Have An Autoimmune Disease? Page Last Updated: 22 February 2021. 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: 24 November 2025
  11. Autoimmune Diseases: How Do I Find Out If I Have An Autoimmune Disease? Page Last Updated: 22 February 2021. 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: 24 November 2025
Topic Last Updated: 12 March 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 24 November 2025

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