Common Symptoms Of Autoimmune Diseases
As most of you know, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. And, in light of this, I’ve been super motivated to start releasing more blogs dedicated to showing you this side of my life. And, more importantly, in hopes of raising more awareness about autoimmune diseases in general. If you’re like me and you suffer from any of these autoimmune diseases, just remember, you’re not in this alone! I started off this series by talking about the 8 most common autoimmune diseases in the United States. Today, we’ll be talking about the most common symptoms of autoimmune diseases so you know what to look out for!
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, an “Autoimmune disease happens when the body’s natural defense system can’t tell the difference between your own cells and foreign cells. This causes the body to mistakenly attack normal cells”. In other words, it’s your own immune system attacking your own body. Unfortunately, there are over 80 different known autoimmune diseases that affect many different types of people. And, as it turns out, these diseases also have a variety of symptoms that can vary in severity. Some autoimmune diseases have side effects that are nonexistent or hardly noticeable at all. Others come with very extreme side effects.
So, you might be thinking…”How will I know if I have an autoimmune disease, then?” The best place to start is awareness of the most common symptoms of autoimmune diseases. This way you can be more aware of your body and realize any small changes in your health. Recognizing and acting upon these symptoms early on is incredibly important. Knowing when to see a doctor is the best way to ensure you continue to live a healthy life.
Common Symptoms Of Autoimmune Diseases
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune defect where the body mistakenly attacks pancreatic cells that make insulin for the body. Without insulin, the sugar that enters your body can’t be turned into energy. This sugar then builds up in your blood and can have some side effects. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, type 1 diabetes can lead to nerve damage, kidney damage. As well as a variety of cardiovascular conditions. So it’s super important to be on the lookout for these symptoms.
Symptoms To Look Out For:
- Urinating often
- Very dry mouth
- Blurry vision
- Slow healing of sores/bruises
- Weight loss
- Numb or tingling feelings in the hands or feet
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a particularly horrible autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. This disease causes the immune system to attack nerve fibers along the spine and in the brain. While some victims of this disease have mild side effects, others may lose their ability to walk, speak, and write. So no matter the severity of your symptoms, it’s always best to check with your doctor if you’re experiencing any of the below.
Symptoms To Look Out For:
- Fatigue
- Numb, prickling, or tingling feelings in the hands or feet
- Blurry vision
- Double vision
- Weakness/soreness
- Red/green color distortion
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus)
Lupus, unfortunately, is one of those autoimmune diseases that are extremely hard to diagnose. Because it affects each and every person so differently symptoms can vary greatly. This disease causes your immune system to attack your body’s own healthy cells and organs. If left undiagnosed lupus can eventually cause organ failure. So the consequences of going untreated can truly be life or death.
Symptoms To Look Out For:
- The butterfly rash: a red rash across the cheeks and nose that resembles a butterfly
- Other skin rashes
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Pain/swelling in joints
Celiac Disease
Simply put, celiac disease is an immune reaction to eating gluten. Celiac disease is interesting because it occurs only in those with predisposed genetic conditions. Because this disease has so many different symptoms that vary from person to person, it’s often overlooked. Or misdiagnosed as other symptoms like IBS. In addition, this disease damages the small intestine. This can also lead to other medical issues like infertility, osteoporosis, malnutrition, and depression. The only cure for celiac disease is to practice a strict gluten-free diet. So if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms below, give the gluten-free diet a try! Thousands of people deal with this disease and more are diagnosed each year. Luckily more and more gluten-free food options are becoming available every day.
Symptoms To Look Out For:
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Weight loss
- Skin rashes
- Ulcers
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes major disruptions in the digestive tract. Enough so, that it can make day-to-day life super uncomfortable. Like other autoimmune illnesses, Crohn’s disease also has no cure. However, its symptoms can be managed with a doctor’s help, ensuring a better quality of life. Always be sure to speak to a doctor if you are having any of the symptoms listed below. In fact, undiagnosed Crohn’s disease can lead to life-altering side effects like ulcers, colon cancer, and fistulas.
Symptoms To Look Out For:
- Diarrhea
- Rectal bleeding
- Urgent need to move bowels
- Abdominal cramps and pain
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Weight Loss
Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease that combines the swollen achy joints of arthritis with psoriasis. In fact, it’s usually first diagnosed as psoriasis. Psoriasis is characterized by dry, red, and patchy rashes on your body. And while there is no cure-all for these rashes, they can usually be managed with the help of a doctor. However, without treatment, long-term effects of psoriatic arthritis can include bone damage, disability, and deformity of the joints.
Symptoms To Look Out For:
- Swelling of the joints, fingers, or toes
- Joint pain
- Eye inflammation
- Weak nails
- Back pain
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease in which your immune system attacks the healthy cells surrounding your joints. It will usually initially affect the hands, feet, knees, hips, and similar joints. However, the long-term effects can include heart and lung issues, permanent deformities, and more. In addition, men and women around the age of 50 and above should be on the lookout for signs of rheumatoid arthritis.
Symptoms To Look Out For:
- Painful or achy joints
- Stiffness around joints
- Tenderness around joints
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Weakness
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease that disproportionately affects more women than men. This autoimmune disease causes your immune system to target and destroy the thyroid’s hormone-producing cells. If left untreated, Hashimoto’s disease can cause trouble swallowing, depression, reduced mental capacity, and even heart failure. Additionally, people with pre-existing autoimmune diseases are more likely to experience this disease. Furthermore, the likelihood of developing Hashimoto’s increases as you age.
I, myself, have experienced many of the effects of Hashimoto’s like extreme fatigue, sensitivity to the cold, and also joint pain. As well as hormonal acne, constant heart palpitations, weight gain, depression, memory and concentration issues, and hair loss. I’ve even experienced reduced exercise tolerance, which led me to write about the dos and don’ts of exercising with Hashimoto’s disease.
Symptoms to look out for:
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Constipation
- Increased sensitivity to cold
- Dry skin
- Hair loss
- Depression
- Muscle weakness or aches
- Reduced exercise tolerance
Graves Disease
This autoimmune disorder is specifically related to thyroid function. Thyroid diseases are on the rise in the USA, so this one is worth noting. Grave’s disease specifically takes place when thyroid hormone overproduction. Because the thyroid impacts so many different body systems, symptoms include a wide range of ailments.
Symptoms To Look Out For:
- Anxiety and irritability
- Fatigue
- Sleep issues
- Hands or finger tremors
- Heat sensitivity or increased perspiration
- Unexplainable weight loss
- Larger thyroid gland (goiter)
- Menstrual cycle irregularities
- Bowel movement issues
- Bulging eyes (Graves’ ophthalmopathy)
- Thick, red skin usually on the shins or tops of the feet (Graves’ dermopathy)
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
When To See A Doctor
If you’re worried at all that you might be experiencing any of these symptoms and you think they may have risk factors for one of these autoimmune diseases, there is absolutely no reason to avoid seeing the doctor. In fact, if you’ve been experiencing any of these symptoms for more than two weeks, I recommend making that doctor’s appointment. In order to diagnose autoimmune disease, you need to see a doctor. It might sound cliche, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. And if you do find that you are a victim of one of these diseases, it will most certainly be in your best interest to start managing those symptoms earlier, rather than later.
Remember, you’re not alone if you’re struggling with autoimmune disease symptoms!
So to sum everything up, just remember that you are NOT alone in this struggle! Millions of people around the world, including myself, suffer from autoimmune diseases. So believe me when I say I know how much of a burden this type of disease can be. When you’ve been diagnosed with an incurable autoimmune disease, it is sooo common to feel isolated, vulnerable, and just lonely. But, the good news is that you’re not the only one and there are plenty of resources. Support groups and blogs like this one were created for people just like us. These resources have helped me in so many ways. I know they can help you better understand what you’re going through right now. As well as help you gain the skills you need to have a happy and healthy outlook on life!
Xx Monti
