A disease that occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the body itself or Any of a large group of diseases characterized by abnormal functioning of the immune system that causes your immune system to produce antibodies against your own tissues is know as Autoimmune diseases. There are more than eighty different types of autoimmune diseases that can affect various parts of your body such as your muscles, nerves, digestive system and endocrine system. Some of the more common autoimmune diseases that you may recognize are lupus, multiple sclerosis, Rheumatoid arthritis and an under active or overactive thyroid.
Since there are so many different autoimmune diseases, the symptoms vary from disease to disease. Some of the diseases share symptoms, making it tricky to identify which disorder you actually have. If you have an autoimmune disease, it may start out by making you feel achy, feverish and fatigued. As time passes, your symptoms may flare up and become more severe followed by periods of remission in which you don't notice any symptoms. If you have lupus, for example, you may experience pain and swelling in your joints, rashes and problems with your skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, blood vessels and brain. If you have an under active thyroid, you may gain weight, feel constipated, be sensitive to the cold, have dry hair and skin and you may feel tired and depressed. With an overactive thyroid, you may experience weight loss, light periods, shaky hands, heat sensitivity, insomnia and irritability.
