Our body is blessed with a competent defense mechanism against all possible threats to it. This mechanism is our body’s immune system. It comprises of cells, tissues and organs to ably protect our body round the clock. But what if these very protective forces turn hostile and start destroying our body. Such an unfortunate state give rise to autoimmune disorder. This article tries to gain further insight.

Definition of Autoimmune Disorder: It is an ailment where the body’s own immune system attacks the healthy functional cells and tissues. Instead of seeking and destroying the harmful invaders to our body (technically called the “antigens”), the immune system helps them in destruction of our body. As a result, the blood in the patients of this disorder contains very high number of antigens.

Examples: 80 different types of this disorder are present. Some of them are:

• Addison Disease
• Arthritis
• Anemia
• Chronic Lymphocytic Thyroiditis
• Diabetes (Type 1)
• Nephritic Syndrome
• Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Polymyositis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Scleroderma
• Vitiligo

Inside the Body of a Patient with Autoimmune Disorder:

Bacteria and viruses in the air we breathe, toxins present in the food we eat, cancer cells developing in our body form the antigens in our body. The immune system’s antibodies continuously search for the antigens, locate them, fight with them and secure the body from the threats of these organisms. However, in the case of a patient suffering from this disorder, the immune system is unable to distinguish between the antigens and the healthy cells. The reasons for this inability of the immune system are not yet known. It means there is no explanation for autoimmune disorder. There is no cure too for this disorder, yet. Once the symptoms are diagnosed, treatment only means curbing and efficient management of this disorder.

The autoimmune disorder causes killing of healthy functional cells and tissues, abnormal growth and malfunctions of organs in our body. Some of these cells, tissues and organs deeply affected by this disorder are red blood cells, connective tissues, blood vessels, skin, muscles, joints, thyroid and pancreas. The genetic cells inherited from parents also plays a vital role in the destructions caused by this disorder.

Symptoms of an Autoimmune Disorder: The symptoms are specific to the kind of disorder the patient is affected with. There is a tendency of these symptoms getting overlapped. This makes the job of the doctor difficult to isolate a disorder specifically. However, some of the common indications are:

• Fever
• Illness
• Fatigue
• Dizziness

Important Facts About Autoimmune Disorder:

• According to an estimate of the National Institutes of Health, 23.5 million Americans are suffering from this disorder and the prevalence is only rising in the society.
• Women are at higher risks of getting affected with this cluster of disorders.
• It is one of the top 10 health problems which cause deaths in women up to the age of 64 years.
• It is because the very important female hormone “estrogen” effects the immune system in such a manner that it starts the autoimmune disorder faster in women.
• One disorder increases the risks of getting other disorders too.
• Good diet, regular exercise, adequate rest and stress free life are imperative once diagnosed with this disorder.

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