A Simple Guide To The Autoimmune Diseases, Diagnosis, Treatment And Similar Conditions

This book describes The Autoimmune Diseases, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related DiseasesAn auto immune disease is a disease of the human body where the abnormal cells of the body attack its own cells:1. In the joints as in Rheumatoid arthritis2. In the skin as in psoriasis3. In the muscles as in Myasthenia gravis4. Throughout the body as in Systemic Lupus Erythematosis. An autoimmune disorder happens when the body's immune system attacks and wipes out healthy body tissue by mistake.
The blood cells in the body's immune system help defend against harmful materials. The harmful substances are bacteria, viruses, toxins, cancer cells, and blood and tissue from outside the body. These substances have antigens. The immune system forms antibodies against these antigens that allow it to destroy these harmful substances. When the patient has an autoimmune disorder, the immune system does not differentiate between healthy tissue and antigens.
As a result, the body produces a reaction that kills normal tissues. The immune system normally defends against germs like bacteria and viruses. Normally, the immune system can tell the distinction between foreign cells and the own cells. In an autoimmune disease, the immune system inaccurately identifies the part of the body, like the joints or skin, as foreign. It secretes proteins called auto-antibodies that fight healthy cells.
Rheumatoid arthritis injures the joint. Other diseases, like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), involve the whole body. The precise cause of autoimmune disorders is not known. Genetics, diet, infections, and exposure to chemicals might be some of the causes. One belief is that some microorganisms (such as bacteria or viruses) or drugs may activate alterations that cause confusion in the immune system.
This may occur more often in people who have genes that make them more vulnerable to autoimmune diseases. Doctors do not know precisely what induces the immune-system to misfire. Some people tend more likely to have an autoimmune disease than others. Based on a 2014 study, women have autoimmune diseases at a rate of about 2 to 1 compared to men. Often the disease begins during a woman's childbearing years (ages 15 to 44).
Some autoimmune diseases are more frequent in certain ethnic groups. Certain autoimmune diseases, like multiple sclerosis and lupus, are inherited in families. Since the incidence of autoimmune diseases is rising, doctors believe environmental factors like infections and exposure to chemicalsAn autoimmune disorder may cause:1. The destruction of body tissue2. Abnormal growth of an organ3. Changes in organ functionNo single test can diagnose most autoimmune diseases.
A positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) blood test may suggest an autoimmune diseaseThe treatments cannot cure autoimmune diseases but they can control the overactive immune reaction. Immune-suppressing drugs can reduce the symptoms and relieve the inflammationTABLE OF CONTENTIntroductionChapter 1 Autoimmune DiseasesChapter 2 MyastheniaChapter 3 Systemic Lupus ErythematosisChapter 4 Rheumatoid ArthritisChapter 5 PsoriasisChapter 6 Multiple SclerosisChapter 7 Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn Disease)Chapter 8 Ulcerative ColitisChapter 9 Addison's DiseaseChapter 10 Grave's DiseaseChapter 11 Sjogren DiseaseChapter 12 Hashimoto thyroiditisChapter 13 VasculitisChapter 14 Autoimmune HepatitisChapter 15 Pernicious AnemiaChapter 16 Celiac DiseaseChapter 17 MyocarditisChapter 18 Interstitial CystitisChapter 19 Alopecia areataChapter 20 Guillian BarreChapter 21 Giant Cell ArteritisChapter 22 Systemic SclerosisChapter 23 Wegener GranulomatosisChapter 24 Still DiseaseChapter 25 Felty DiseaseChapter 2...