1. Introduction: What are Autoimmune Diseases
An autoimmune disease is where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells within the body. There are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases, which collectively target virtually every part of the body, from the skin, eyes and muscles to inner organs like the lungs, kidneys, heart and brain. In all cases, autoimmune diseases have one trait in common: the immune system is malfunctioning and targets healthy cells. There is no single cause or driver behind autoimmune diseases; they are influenced by many factors, from genetic predisposition to many other environmental factors.
People suffering from an autoimmune disease may experience a wide range of symptoms, depending on the type and part of the targeted body. Symptoms associated with autoimmune diseases may include muscle or joint pain, constipation, nausea, skin rashes, hair loss, migraines, dizziness, and memory issues, among many other symptoms. Some autoimmune diseases can also affect your body’s ability to get pregnant or influence the outcome of your pregnancy.
2. What are some different types of autoimmune diseases?
According to the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), autoimmune diseases can be broadly classified into localised and systemic. Localised autoimmune diseases target a specific organ or part of the body. In contrast, systemic autoimmune diseases target more than one and usually multiple organs or parts of the body.
Five examples of localised autoimmune diseases, their targets and symptoms include:
- Multiple sclerosis
- Target: central nervous system
- Description: the immune system of people with this condition attacks the myelin layer that protects nerves in the central nervous system.
- Common symptoms: muscle cramps, weakness, vision problems, loss of coordination.
- Grave’s Disease
- Target: thyroid gland
- Description: the immune system of people with this condition attacks the thyroid gland, making it hyperactive. Consequently, people with this condition produce excessive amounts of thyroid hormones, which can affect the function of multiple body parts.
- Common symptoms are weight loss, irregular heartbeats, a specific eye pathology called Graves’ ophthalmopathy, and skin problems, such as reddish and thick skin.
- Coeliac disease
- Target: gastrointestinal tract
- Description: people with this condition produce an immune reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat. Consequently, cells from the small intestine lining can get damaged, leading to many pathologies.
- Common symptoms: Stomach pain, constipation and diarrhea, and nutritional deficiencies.
- Crohn’s disease
- Target: gastrointestinal tract
- Description: people with this condition suffer from inflammation and swelling of different parts of the gastrointestinal tract, like the large and small intestines. Autoimmune reactions against the gastrointestinal tract are thought to be one cause of Crohn’s disease.
- Common symptoms: Stomach pain, diarrhea, and abnormal weight loss, among others.
- Type 1 Diabetes
- Target: pancreas
- Description: People with this condition have a malfunctioning pancreas that produces little to no insulin, a hormone needed to regulate blood glucose levels. Type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction that attacks cells in the pancreas.
- Common symptoms: excessive thirst, frequent urination, and excessive hunger, among other symptoms.
Five examples of systemic autoimmune diseases, their targets and symptoms include:
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Target: skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels.
- Description: people with this condition develop autoimmune reactions against their skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels, causing widespread inflammation.
- Common symptoms: fatigue, skin rashes, fever, and pain or swelling in the joints.
- Sjögren’s syndrome
- Target: salivary and tear glands.
- Description: people with this condition develop autoimmune reactions against glands that secrete fluid, such as tear and saliva glands.
- Common symptoms: dry eyes and mouth.
- Polymyositis
- Target: skin and muscles.
- Description: people with this condition experience muscle weakness on both sides. This condition is thought to occur due to autoimmune reactions to muscle tissue.
- Common symptoms: muscle weakness and aches, fatigue, difficulty getting up, fever and weight loss.
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Target: joints, and in some cases, lungs, skin and eyes.
- Description: people with this condition experience chronic inflammation in their joints, as well as in the skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels. The cause behind this condition is autoimmunity acting against the synovium, the tissue lining found around a joint,
- Common symptoms: pain, tenderness, and swelling in the joints.
- Scleroderma
- Target: skin, intestine, less commonly lungs, kidneys
- Description: This autoimmune condition affects connective tissue, causing thickening and hardening of the skin and other body parts. This condition can be localised in a specific organ or systemic, affecting internal organs such as the digestive tract, heart, lungs, and kidneys.
- Common symptoms include thickening of the skin, hair loss, dry skin, skin colour changes, heartburn, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation.
3. Autoimmune Diseases in Australia
Currently, it is estimated that more than 1.2 million Australians suffer from some autoimmune disease, according to ASCIA. People affected by autoimmune diseases can experience a wide range of symptoms, and their quality of life is significantly impacted. People with autoimmune disease may experience symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, skin problems, abdominal pain, chronic fever or swollen glands. Depending on the specific autoimmune condition, many other symptoms may occur.
In Australia, some of the most common autoimmune diseases include:
- Coeliac disease – which targets the small intestine. About 250,000 Australians are affected.
- Type 1 diabetes – which targets the pancreas. About 134,000 Australians are affected.
- Rheumatoid arthritis – which targets bones and cartilage. About 456,000 Australians are affected.
- Graves’ disease – which targets the thyroid glands. More than 500,000 Australians are affected.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) – which targets the nervous system. More than 25,600 Australians are affected.
- Lupus can target the skin, muscles, joints, lungs, heart and kidneys. About 20,000 Australians are affected.
Central to all these conditions lies a minor genetic element that triggers the immune system’s dysfunction. However, the environment, encompassing numerous factors, predominantly influences these illnesses.
At AUCFM, our emphasis is on comprehending and tackling the environmental determinants of your autoimmune condition. For further insights into our autoimmune disease treatment approach, please visit our website.
