Autoimmune Disease

Type 1 diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes. It is an autoimmune disease where the immune system of the body starts killing the pancreatic cells responsible for making insulin. This results in an increase in blood sugar levels.

The common symptoms of type 1 diabetes are: 

• Excessive hunger (polyphagia)
• Excessive thirst (polydipsia)
• Fatigue
• Sudden weight loss
• Blurred vision
• Difficulty in breathing

Vitamin B12 helps in the production of energy in the body. It is essential for proper brain functioning and for the synthesis of red blood cells. For the absorption of vitamin B12, the body requires intrinsic factor, a glycoprotein released by the stomach for this purpose. 

In pernicious anaemia, the body forms antibodies against the parietal cells which line the stomach and make intrinsic factor. These antibodies destroy the parietal cells, thus making it impossible for the stomach to make the intrinsic factor. The common symptoms of pernicious anaemia are:

• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Headache 
• Cold clammy hands and feet
• Pale skin
• Dizziness
• Pain in the chest

Any two bones of the body meet at a joint. Every joint is held in place by a thick fluid-filled capsule called the synovium. Synovium protects the bones and joints from sudden jerks and trauma.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system starts producing inflammation in one or more joints.

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis:

• Joint pain and swelling 
• Stiffness
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Dry eyes
• Chest pain

You might also be interested in: Exercises for arthritis

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a medical condition marked by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, which starts from the mouth, goes to the oesophagus (food pipe), stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and ends at the anus.

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are types of IBD which damage the gastrointestinal tract. Ulcerative colitis is limited to the colon (the large intestine) while Crohn's disease can occur anywhere between the mouth and the anus.

The common symptoms of IBD are:

• Abdominal pain
• Severe diarrhoea (loose motions)
• Fatigue 
• Loss of weight

Read more: Exercises for irritable bowel syndrome

Fibromyalgia is a neurologic (nerve-related) pain issue. The pain can be triggered due to any physical or emotional stress. It can be genetically transferred.

The common symptoms of fibromyalgia:

• Muscle stiffness
• Fatigue
• Muscle spasm
• Sleep disturbances
• Widespread pain and tenderness
• Headaches

Read more: Ayurvedic remedies for body pain

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland and destroys it gradually. Since the thyroid gland cannot make thyroid hormone anymore, it leads to hypothyroidism.

The symptoms of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are:

• Tiredness
• Inability to tolerate cold
• Weight gain
• Thinning and drying of hair
• Joint and muscle pain
• Irregular periods
• Constipation

Read more: Yoga for thyroid problems

Grave’s disease is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland in such a way that it starts releasing an excessive amount of thyroid hormone in the blood. This leads to hyperthyroidism.

The symptoms of Grave’s disease are:

• Extreme tiredness
• Inability to tolerate heat
• Weight loss
• Diarrhoea
• Trembling of hands
• Irritability
• Weakness

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease where the muscles of the skeletal system weaken with time. Although myasthenia gravis can affect any skeletal muscle, facial muscles are most commonly involved. The affected person may suffer from weakness in the arms, hands, fingers, legs, and neck. 

The thymus gland present in the chest controls the immune system and is associated with myasthenia gravis. The gland normally grows till puberty and then gets smaller with time, but in some people, it remains enlarged.

Sometimes people with myasthenia gravis develop a tumour on their thymus gland which is known as thymoma.

The common symptoms of myasthenia gravis are:

• Inability to smile due to drooping of the mouth
• Slurring of speech
• Drooping of one or both the eyelids (medically called ptosis)
• Blurred vision due to weakening of eye muscles
• Difficulty swallowing
• Shortness of breath

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the skin cells and makes them grow at a faster rate. It can affect the scalp, face, hands, feet, nails and genitals. 

The common symptoms of psoriasis are:

• Red patchy skin
• Burning sensation on the skin
• Crusted plaques on the scalp and skin

Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition where the person loses skin colour from different parts of the body. This happens because the immune system attacks the melanocytes which provide colour to the skin. It can also be seen in people who have a family history of vitiligo.

The common symptoms of vitiligo are:

• White milky patterns on hands, feet, face and arms.
• Hair of the scalp, beard, eyebrows and eyelashes turn white.

Multiple sclerosis is a serious autoimmune condition in which the brain is unable to give signals to the body. In this condition, the immune system attacks the myelin sheath, a layer that covers and protects the nerve cells (neurons). 

The common symptoms of multiple sclerosis are:

• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Muscle spasm
• Difficulty in balancing and coordination
• Difficulty in walking
• Inability to control the bladder (urinary incontinence)
• Difficulty in planning and remembering things

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is an autoimmune disease where the immune system causes inflammation in the connective tissues of the body. Normally, these tissues provide strength and flexibility to various organs of the body. Therefore, this condition affects the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels.

The symptoms of SLE are:

• Fatigue
• Rashes on the body
• Fever
• Swelling and pain in the joints
• Mouth ulcers
• Lung disease
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Seizures

Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease where the immune system affects the glands of the body that produce fluids like tears and saliva.

There is a triad of symptoms that are seen in people with Sjogren’s syndrome:

• Keratoconjunctivitis: Drying of eyes
• Xerostomia: Drying of mouth
• Rheumatoid arthritis: Pain and swelling in different joints of the body

Addison’s disease is also known as primary adrenal insufficiency. It is an autoimmune condition where the adrenal gland (present on top of each kidney) gets damaged by the immune system of the body and stops producing cortisol. Cortisol hormone helps in preventing the body from going into shock during stressful situations.

The common symptoms of Addison’s disease are:

• Prolonged fatigue
• Muscle weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Increased thirst
• Weight loss
• Abdominal pain

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease where if the affected person consumes gluten, their immune system starts attacking the small intestine. Gluten is a protein which is present in wheat, barley and rye.

The common digestive symptoms of celiac disease are seen in children: 

• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Foul-smelling fatty stools
• Bloating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Fatigue

The more severe symptoms that can be seen in adults are: 

• Anaemia
• Ulcers in mouth
• Joint pains
• Headache
• Tingling sensation in hands and feet
• Extreme tiredness