Autoimmune Disease

In autoimmune diseases, the body attacks normal, healthy tissues. And while the cause is unknown, it’s probably a combination of a person’s genes and something in the environment that triggers those genes.

Three common autoimmune diseases are:

• Type 1 diabetes: The immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Insulin removes sugar from the blood to use as energy.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis: This type of arthritis causes swelling and deformities of the joints. An auto-antibody called rheumatoid factor is in the blood of some people with rheumatoid arthritis.
• Lupus: This disease that attacks body tissues, including the lungs, kidneys, and skin. Many types of auto-antibodies are found in the blood of people with lupus.

If these types of conditions are plaguing you and your health, consult your physician for how to combat the symptoms.