An Autoimmune Disease: What Do You Mean By An
Autoimmune Disease? The Criteria Involved; What Are The Causes, The
Symptoms Of Such Diseases And An Example Of An Autoimmune Disorder-
Alopecia Areata.
An autoimmune disease is a disorder that arises when
the immune system of the body reacts against tissues and substances
already present inside the body. Putting it into simpler words, it
is the disorder in which the human immune system mistakenly
considers a part of the body as a pathogen and start attacking its
own tissues and cells. An autoimmune disease may be only restricted,
however, to certain organs or might involve a specific tissue in
different parts of the body.
An autoimmune disease can be treated by a method
called immunosuppression, which involves medication that gradually
suppresses the response of the immune system. Typically carried out
using drugs, this might also include surgery or radiation therapies.
A person may suffer from one or more autoimmune diseases at the same
time.
Studies show that family members of patients
suffering from autoimmune system disorders are at a higher risk of
getting infected by an autoimmune disease. There are more than 80
types of autoimmune system diseases discovered and categorized so
far. People suffering from such diseases should follow a healthy
lifestyle and eat proper balanced diet with lots of fruits and
vegetables that will lead them with a better immune system.
What is the Criterion to Regard a
Disease as an Autoimmune Disease?
A disease is considered as an autoimmune disease when
it answers the Witebsky’s postulates:
If there is a direct evidence of transferring
pathogenic antibodies or pathogen T cells.
If there is an indirect evidence that can be
based on reproducing the autoimmune disease while experimenting
with animals.
If there is a circumstantial evidence based on
clinical clues.
Causes Responsible For Autoimmunity
The white blood cells of the immune system are the fighting agents
responsible for protecting the human body from diseases and
pathogens, also referred to as antigens. Viruses, bacteria, cancer
cells, toxins as well as tissues and blood from other people also
fall under the category of antigens. Production of antibodies by the
immune system ensures that such harmful substances are destroyed and
flushed out of the body.
However, in patients suffering from an autoimmune
disease, the immune system is unable to detect the difference
between these harmful antigens and the healthy tissues and cells of
the person’s own body. Hence such a response from the immune system
destroys the normal tissues of the body which is similar to a
hypersensitivity reaction such as the case with allergic reactions.
Hence an autoimmune disease might cause:
Growth in an organ abnormally
Functional changes of the organ
One or more body tissues getting destroyed
The tissues and organs normally affected by an autoimmune disease
are:
Connective tissues
Blood vessels
Muscles
Joints
Skin
Red blood cells
Endocrine glands, like thyroid or pancreas
Symptoms of Autoimmune Diseases and the
Treatment Associated
The signs and symptoms of an autoimmune disease will usually vary
depending on the kind of disease and the location of the healthy
body organ or tissue that gets affected by the immune system
abnormally. Common symptoms however include fatigue, fever and
general feeling of illness.
Generally the goal of treating an autoimmune disease is reduction in
the symptoms exhibited, controlling of the autoimmunity process and
maintaining a healthier state in the body to enhance its capability
to fight against disease. The treatment might vary from disease to
disease and symptoms.
Some alternative therapies can be given but only with your doctors
consent and approval to possibly reduce or control the effects of
autoimmunity on the body such as Endosterol. Such \natural
substances such as Ellagic acid, beta sitosteral, saw palmetto, as
well as pumpkin seed extracts which are highly beneficial in
relieving the effects of an autoimmune disease.
A Brief About Alopecia Areata- an
Autoimmune Disorder!
Losing of hair from some or most parts of the body in patches
usually affecting the scalp is Alopecia Areata. It is an autoimmune
disease, sometimes referred to as spot baldness. A condition may
arise when the baldness may cover the whole scalp or the whole
epidermis making the situation even worse.
Hair is lost in mostly round or oval shapes from the scalp in bold
patches. Being a non contagious disease, Alopecia Areata can be
considered as a hereditary disease or may occur in people who have
family members suffering from autoimmune system disorders.
In this condition, the immune system attacks its own hair follicles
and suppresses their growth. In the early stages of the disorder, it
might be regressed and treated and hair might also grow back.
Intake of natural herbs like saw palmetto or antioxidant phenol like
Ellagic acid usually found in Endosterol can possibly help you in
relieving the symptoms of hair fall and BPH.
