Autoimmune diseases? Everyone talks about them. But what are they really?
The human body has an immune system, a complex network of special cells and organs that defend it against microbes and other foreign invaders. The heart of the immune system lies in its ability to identify and differentiate foreign bodies from the body's own components. A flaw, a malfunction can render the body incapable of making this distinction.
When this happens, the body produces autoantibodies (which mistakenly attack normal cells). At the same time, special cells called regulatory T cells fail to do their job of preserving the proper functioning of the immune system. Thus, the immune system mistakenly attacks human cells and causes chronic damage. This is what we call autoimmune diseases.
Many mechanisms, cells, and organs can be affected. There are believed to be over fifty of them. Autoimmune diseases are common, affecting 5 to 10% of populations. They particularly affect:
Women of childbearing age.
People with a family history of autoimmune diseases. It is also common for different types of autoimmune diseases to affect several members of the same family. The explanation could be genetic and/or behavioral (lifestyle).
People facing contaminations or harmful exposures: chemicals (solvents), prolonged sun exposure, viral and bacterial infections, etc.
Certain ethnic groups: some autoimmune diseases are more common or affect certain groups more severely than others, certainly due to their genetic profile. For example, type 1 diabetes is more common in Caucasians. Lupus is more severe in Africans, African-Americans, and Latino-Americans.
Some examples of autoimmune diseases
Although very different from each other, autoimmune diseases have recurrent symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, and low-grade fever. Most of the time, symptoms appear intermittently and their intensity varies. When symptoms disappear for a while, it's called remission. When they reappear suddenly with greater intensity, it's called a flare-up.
Alopecia areata or alopecia
The immune system attacks hair follicles (the structures from which hair grows). It is generally not a threat to health, but it can affect the overall appearance of the person. Warning signs: hair loss in patches on the scalp, face, or other areas of the body.
Celiac disease
This disease is characterized by an intolerance to gluten, a substance found in wheat, rye, and barley, as well as in processed food products and certain medications. When exposed to gluten, the immune system reacts by damaging the lining of the small intestine. Warning signs: bloating and abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, weight loss or gain, fatigue, amenorrhea, rash, itching, infertility or miscarriages, etc.
Type 1 diabetes
The immune system attacks the cells that produce insulin, a hormone necessary for controlling blood sugar. As a result, the body cannot produce insulin. Without insulin, too much sugar remains in the blood. Consistently high blood sugar can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves, gums, and teeth. However, the main consequence of type 1 diabetes is the occurrence of heart disease. Warning signs: recurrent thirst and frequent urination, extreme fatigue and frequent hunger, unexplained weight loss, slow-healing wounds, dry skin and itching, loss of sensitivity or tingling in the feet, blurred vision, etc.
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)
They all have in common to cause chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the most common forms of IBD. Warning signs: abdominal pain, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), rectal bleeding, fever, weight loss.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis occurs when skin cells renew too quickly, causing localized inflammation. They accumulate on the surface of the skin and form a layer of white scales called scales. Perfectly harmless, they have the disadvantage of being unsightly. Psoriasis can develop on any part of the body (face, elbows, knees, scalp, nails, etc.). Warning signs: thick red patches covered with scales usually appearing on the scalp, elbows, knees; itching and pain (disabling in daily life); more rarely a form of arthritis that affects the joints, fingertips and toes or causes back pain.
Rheumatoid arthritis
In rheumatoid arthritis, it is the immune system through T lymphocytes that orders the destruction of joint cartilage, generating chronic inflammation and joint pain. Inflammation maintains the mobilization of the immune system or conversely, leaves no respite for the body to allow joint reconstruction. Warning signs: painful, stiff, swollen, and deformed joints, reduced mobility and flexibility. Possibly: fatigue, fever, weight loss, eye inflammation, lung diseases, anemia, etc.
Difficult diagnosis
Getting a diagnosis can be a long and stressful process. Indeed, although each autoimmune disease is unique, it shares with other autoimmune diseases, or not, a certain number of symptoms. This makes diagnosis difficult for doctors. Generally, the general practitioner directs patients to specialists or qualified healthcare professionals, depending on major warning signs (rheumatologist, endocrinologist, nephrologist, hematologist, gastroenterologist, psychotherapist, etc.).
What treatments?
Several types of medications are used to treat autoimmune diseases depending on their intensity and with different objectives:
Relieving symptoms. It is possible to use traditional analgesics such as aspirin and ibuprofen for mild pain. When the disease is more intense, some prescription medications can relieve certain symptoms: pain, swelling, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, fatigue, skin rashes, etc.
Replacing vital substances in the body that it can no longer produce on its own. Some autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes and thyroid diseases, can affect the body's ability to produce substances it needs to function. With diabetes, insulin injections are necessary to regulate blood sugar.
Suppressing the activity of the immune system. Some medications can suppress the activity of the immune system to help control the disease process and preserve organ function. For example, these medications are used to control inflammation in the kidneys in people with lupus to maintain their function. A class of drugs called anti-TNF alpha blocks inflammation in some forms of autoimmune arthritis and in psoriasis.
Alternative complementary solutions
Alternative medicine can reduce some symptoms when conventional medications have too many side effects. Homeopathy, aromatherapy, herbal medicine, nutritional therapy, or chiropractic, acupuncture can be of great help. It is important to discuss this with your doctor to avoid certain interferences. It is also possible to improve one's daily comfort by adopting a good lifestyle:
Adopting a balanced, alkaline (which reduces acidosis), diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy products, lean proteins, fatty fish, and plant sources of omega-3.
Engaging in regular physical activity, according to your abilities. A progressive and gentle exercise program often works well for people with chronic muscle and joint pain. Yoga or tai chi can be helpful.
Reducing stress and anxiety would help reduce the chronic inflammation specific to autoimmune diseases. It is important to find, according to one's own sensitivity, a way to regain calm and serenity when needed (meditation, self-hypnosis, relaxation, etc.).
Sources: womenshealth.gov