What Autoimmune Disease Do I Have?
You may feel tired and achy between balancing your personal and professional life. However, are these symptoms just an indicator of your stressful life, or could there be something more.
Autoimmune disease happens when the body’s natural defense cannot distinguish between foreign cells and your cells. This can result in the body’s defense mechanism attacking the normal cells. Over 80 kinds of autoimmune diseases can affect a wide range of body parts.
Here are some of the common autoimmune diseases noted.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: This kind of arthritis attacks the joints
- Lupus: This damages the areas of the body, including the skin, joints, and the organs
- Thyroid diseases: This results when the body mistakes too much thyroid hormone
- Psoriasis: This condition is marked by scaly, thick patches on the skin
The symptoms of the autoimmune disease could be severe in a few people and mild in others. There are varying degrees of this condition which can be related to multiple factors like personal health, environment, and genetics.
Common Symptoms Noted In Autoimmune Diseases
- Swollen glands
- Recurring fever
- Abdominal pain
- Skin problems
- Swelling and joint pain
- Fatigue
Diagnosis Of Autoimmune Condition
It is hard to diagnose the condition. There is usually no single test to tell you if you have an autoimmune disease. Certain symptoms combined with specific blood markers and even a tissue biopsy could help identify the condition.
Diagnosis becomes even more complicated when the symptoms come from common conditions.
If you notice that you have been healthy and have suddenly started experiencing joint stiffness or fatigue, then you should not ignore the symptoms. Mentioning the condition to the doctor will help them take a closer look at your condition.
Can Autoimmune Diseases Go Away On Their Own?
There have been various instances where the symptoms associated with autoimmune diseases go away. However, the most chronic conditions last a long time, if not for a lifetime.
Can I Lead A Normal Life With Autoimmune Disease?
Yes. It is possible, but it could be more difficult if your symptoms become severe. Your healthcare provider could help you figure out how to manage your symptoms so you can go about your daily activities.
What Questions Do I Need To Ask My Healthcare Provider About Autoimmune Diseases?
It would help if you had some questions ready to ask before meeting your healthcare provider. If you suspect you could be having an autoimmune condition, then here are the questions to ask.
- Do I have an autoimmune disease?
- What tests do I need to go through?
- Do I need to take specialist consultation?
- What would be the best treatment for me?
The Bottom Line
There are over 80 different autoimmune diseases. Often, the symptoms of various conditions overlap, making them hard to diagnose. Autoimmune diseases are more common in women and also run in families. Blood tests that check for autoantibodies can help diagnose these conditions.
We have given a lot of information about autoimmune diseases. We have also created an autoimmune disease quiz to take that and better understand the symptoms and get more details if you might have it or not.
So let’s start with the what autoimmune disease do i have quiz!