The human body is a precious gift of nature. That is why it also includes the immune system. This system protects the body from any kind of infection. You must be aware that your body has immunity power, which works to protect the body from diseases, but when you are suffering from autoimmune disease then this disease immune system damages the healthy cells of the body.
Autoimmune disease is a change in cells within the body and a crisis of identity. Many times due to auto-immune disease, there is opposition to each other in the cells of the body. In this disease, many changes occur inside the body. The destruction of body cells is also found in auto immune disease.
What is Auto Immune Diseases ?
When our body’s immune system attacks our healthy cells, it is called autoimmune disease. To protect us from any external (virus, bacterial) attack, our immune system makes antibodies, but sometimes due to disturbances in it, it attacks healthy cells considering them as foreign elements. However, when a person has autoimmune diseases, their body starts making auto antibodies that provide protection against their own tissues.
Autoimmune diseases can attack any tissue in our body, whether it is blood (lupus), skin (psoriasis), muscles (myositis), joints (rheumatoid arthritis), endocrine glands like thyroid (autoimmune thyroid) and pancreas (diabetes). This can damage organs, alter their function and cause abnormal growth in an organ.
Autoimmune diseases arise due to disorders in the body’s immune system. About 80 diseases are included in autoimmune diseases. Any part of the body can be affected by these diseases. However, these diseases mainly affect the joints, skin, blood vessels and nervous system. Now a new medical method has come into vogue for the treatment of these diseases.
What are the Cause of Auto Immune Diseases ?
- Doctors no longer know the exact reason for this. Yet it is believed that some people are more likely to develop autoimmune disease than others. Some autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and lupus tend to run in families for a long time. It is not necessary that every member of the family has the same disease, but they inherit the disease.
- Researchers have suspected environmental factors as the cause of the increase in the incidence of autoimmune diseases. There is an increased risk due to infection in certain chemicals or solvents.
- Western food can also be considered as the reason for this. Eating high fat, high sugar and highly processed food increases the problem of inflammation. It can turn off the immune response. This has not been proved so far.
- According to another theory, this is called the Hygienic Hypothesis. Because of vaccines and antiseptics, germs cannot grow near children. Due to this also the immune system of children has become weak.
What are the Symptoms of Autoimmune Diseases ?
The symptoms of each autoimmune disease can vary according to the organ it is affecting. However, all autoimmune diseases can have some of the following symptoms :
- Fatigue
- Achy muscles
- Swelling and redness
- Low grade fever
- Trouble concentrating
- Tingling in hands and feet
- Hair fall
- Catching skin rashes
- Joint pain and swelling
- Rashes
- Restlessness
Symptoms of autoimmune diseases also do not appear in all people at the same age. These symptoms can appear in childhood, youth or can be seen in the growing age towards old age.
Types of Auto Immune Disease
As you have come to know that auto immune disease is accompanied by symptoms of pain in a way. Similarly, in its diseases also you can see fatigue, pain and inflammatory diseases. Following are the main types of auto immune disease.
- Lupus
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Celiac disease
- Polymyalgia rheumatica
- Type 1 diabetes
- Spot baldness
- Vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels)
Who is at Risk of Autoimmune Diseases ?
Heredity plays an important role in autoimmune diseases. If anyone in your family has any type of autoimmune disease, then you can also have such a disease. However, along with genetic factors, some environmental factors may also play a role.
Women are more prone to autoimmune diseases than men. This is because of the two X chromosomes present in them. Autoimmune diseases can also be caused by major changes in sex hormones such as pregnancy and menopause.
There are several risk factors for autoimmune diseases such as:
- Female gender
- Young to middle age
- Afro-American, American-Indian or Latino ethnicity
- Family history of autoimmune disorders
- Exposure to environmental agent
- Any chronic infection
How are Autoimmune Diseases Diagnosed ?
The disease cannot be diagnosed with a single test. Your doctor may do some tests to make a diagnosis.
- Antinuclear Antibody Test (ANA).
- Antinuclear antibody test is the first test that doctors do as soon as the disease is diagnosed.
A positive test means you have one of these diseases. But the test does not tell which disease you have. Your doctor may also do tests to check for inflammation caused by diseases in the body.
How is Autoimmune Disease Treated ?
Autoimmune diseases cannot be cured, but they can be controlled. Can reduce inflammation. Medicines used to control this disease include :
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Naprosyn).
- Immune-Suppressing Drugs.
- Medication is also available to relieve symptoms such as pain, swelling, fatigue and skin rashes.
(Note : The information provided is not a substitute for any medical advice. Always consult your doctor for more details.)
Lifestyle for Autoimmune Treatment
The following lifestyle and home remedies can help you deal with the autoimmune disease :
- Take a balanced diet.
- Exercise regularly.
- Take a walk.
- Practice meditation and yoga daily.
- Eat fresh and light hot food.
- Eat food slowly in a quiet place with a calm, positive and happy mind.
- Make sure to eat three to four times a day.
- Do not skip meals at any time and avoid excessive food.
- Fast once a week.
- Leave 1/3rd / 1/4th part of the stomach empty.
- Chew the food properly and eat slowly.
- Wake up before sunrise.
- Brush your teeth twice in the morning.
- Sleep at the right time [9-10 PM] at night.
- If you have any questions consult your doctor for better solution.
Diet During Auto Immune Disease
If you are suffering from autoimmune disease, your diet should be like this:
Cereals :
Old rice, barley, corn, rye, wheat, millet, corn, oatmeal.
Lentils :
Moong, lentils, black beans, peanuts, peas, soybeans.
Fruits and Vegetables :
Apple, Guava, Papaya, Cherry, Jamun, Apricot, Mango, Watermelon, Avocado, Pineapple, Banana, Parwal, Gourd, Luffa, Bitter gourd, Pumpkin, Broccoli, Cabbage, Onion, Radish, Spinach, Garlic, Cucumber, Green Mustard, Sweet Potato, Beans, Tomato, Carrot, Green Onion, Lemon.
Others :
Basil, Black Pepper, Coriander, Cumin, Garlic, Ginger, Olive, Coconut + Shunthi Water, Chocolate, Honey, Black Pepper.
Food to Avoid in Auto Immune Disease
Not to be consumed if suffering from autoimmune disease:
Cereals :
New Paddy, Maida.
Lentils :
Peas, Chana, Kabuli Chana, Urad Dal, Rajma.
Fruits and vegetables :
Potatoes, brinjals, arbi.
Others :
Non-vegetarian, oily, greasy food, excessive salt, very cold contaminated food, contaminated water, dry food, curd.
Yoga and Asana for Autoimmune Treatment
You can do these yoga, asanas and meditation if you are suffering from autoimmune disease:
- Bhastrika,
- Kapalbhati,
- Bahyapranayama,
- Anuloma Vilom,
- Bhramari,
- Udgeetha,
- Ujjayi,
- Pranav Japa.
Ayurvedic Remedies for Autoimmune Disease
- Take one tablet each of Neem and Giloy Ghanvati daily.
- Eat 1-1 grams of Ashwagandha, Shatavar and Safed Musli.
- Take one tablet of spirulina daily.
- Drink turmeric and Shilajit in milk before sleeping at night.
- Eat Ashtvarga Chyawanprash.
- Drink buckwheat water for kidney.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are auto immune diseases dangerous?
Generally, auto immune disease occurs in people who have obesity, poor lifestyle and wrong eating habits. Due to obesity, there is a problem of arthritis with type 1 diabetes. The disease of Rheumatoid Arthritis is very painful. The special thing about auto-immune diseases is that it is not possible to cure them completely.
How common are autoimmune diseases?
Women are more prone to autoimmune diseases than men. Women get autoimmune diseases at a rate of about 2:1 compared to men. You might assume that if 6.4 percent of women would be afflicted then the percentage of men would be 2.7. Please discuss with your doctor for more details.
When should I see my doctor?
Please consult your doctor if you experience any signs of illness. Everyone’s body functions differently. You can get an accurate idea of your condition by discussing with the doctor.
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