Autoimmune diseases - when the body attacks itself

Autoimmune diseases - when the body attacks itself
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Autoimmune diseases Called autoimmune diseases characterized by the failure of the immune system, because of which it begins to attack healthy tissue. Symptoms of an autoimmune disease can be very different, depending on the type of disease.

To confirm the presence of autoimmune disorders in humans usually requires several blood tests. Autoimmune diseases are treated using drugs that suppress the immune system.

The immune system protects the body from what it perceives as foreign or dangerous substances. These include bacteria, parasites (e.g. worms), cancer cells, and even transplanted organs and tissues. Substances that can stimulate an immune response are called antigens. Antigens may be contained in the cells or on the surface of cells (e.g., bacteria, viruses or cancer cells). Some antigens, such as pollen or food molecules exist by themselves.

Even healthy tissue cells may be antigens.

Normally, the immune system responds only to foreign antigens or harmful substances, but as a result of certain disorders, it can begin to produce antibodies to the cells of normal tissues - autoantibodies.

An autoimmune response may lead to inflammation and tissue damage. Sometimes, however, autoantibodies are produced in such small amounts that do not develop autoimmune disease.

Expert opinion

Doctors still do not fully understand how the immune system works ... and what happens when it starts to work against us.

It is now known at least 80 autoimmune diseases - including lupus, multiple sclerosis, diabetes mellitus Diabetes - threatening and incurable disease Celiac disease and type 1 - but there are at least 40 or more other diseases associated with the dysfunction of the immune system.

In the immune system, there are mechanisms to prevent the emergence of an immune response to its own normal antigens. However, there always exists the probability that these mechanisms can be broken, and that the older individual, the higher the probability of a malfunction. When this occurs, the formed autoantibodies (antibodies capable of reacting with "their" antigens).

Unfortunately, few doctors can help - only to eliminate symptoms and help patients to identify risk factors in the future to avoid potentially life-threatening situations.

What we know

Environmental pollution is a risk factor for those who are genetically predisposed to an autoimmune disease.

Second-hand smoke, the chemicals contained in food or in the air, a pair of jet fuel, the effects of UV rays and other forms of pollution - that triggers that trigger the development of autoimmune diseases.

Vaccines All vaccines have immunosuppressive action, i.e. suppress immune function. The chemicals contained in the vaccines depress the immune system; they contain a virus suppresses the immune system and the foreign DNA / RNA from animal tissues suppresses immunity.

Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) causes atrophy of the thymus in the rats and can directly bind and activate leukocytes. Antibodies against anti-WGA in human sera cross-react with other proteins, which suggests that they may contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases.

All systems of the body depend on enzymes. Modifying enzymes under the action of fluoride can cause damage to the immune system.

Deformed enzymes (restructured) - a protein, but now they are foreign proteins (antigens), which, as we know, cause autoimmune diseases, including lupus, arthritis, asthma, and atherosclerosis.

Some nanoparticles are associated with autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis Arthritis - a variety of forms and complications .

Some autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune disease	Fabrics, which produced autoantibodies	Effects
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia	Red blood cells	Anemia (a decrease in the level of red blood cells in the blood), fatigue, weakness, dizziness. Possible enlargement of the spleen. Anemia can occur in a very severe and sometimes results in death of the patient.
Bullous pemphigoid	Skin	Large blisters surrounded by reddened, inflamed skin; itching. With proper treatment, the prognosis is favorable.
Goodpasture's syndrome	Lungs and Kidney	Symptoms: shortness of breath, coughing up phlegm with blood, weakness, swelling and itching. Forecast favorable if treatment is started before there was serious damage to the lungs and kidneys.
Graves' disease	Thyroid gland	Increase or overstimulation of the thyroid gland, which may result in increased levels of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism). Among the symptoms: high temperature intolerance, tremor, weight reduction, nervousness. The favorable prognosis with proper treatment.
Hashimoto's Disease	Thyroid gland	The inflammation and damage to the thyroid gland, resulting in a decrease in thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism). Among the symptoms: weight gain, rough skin, cold intolerance, drowsiness. In order to facilitate the patient's condition often requires treatment throughout life.
Multiple sclerosis	Axion	Damage to the shell of the affected nerve cells. As a result, cells can not properly transmit signals. Symptoms: weakness, abnormal sensations, blurred vision, dizziness, muscle cramping. Symptoms can sometimes disappear and return.
Myasthenia	Neuromuscular junction	Muscles, especially eye weaken and tire quickly; the intensity of the symptoms and progression of the disease varies greatly from patient to patient. The symptoms may be controlled by special preparations
Pemphigus	Skin	The appearance of large blisters on the skin. Violation can be life-threatening.
Pernicious anemia	The cells are the inner lining of the stomach wall	Damage to the cell membrane of the stomach, which is characteristic for this autoimmune disorder, hampers the absorption of vitamin B12 is necessary for the maturation of blood cells and maintain nerve cells. The result is anemia, as well as weakness and loss of sensation caused by damage to nerve tissue. Untreated disorder can result in damage to the spinal cord; increases the risk of stomach cancer. With timely treatment, however, the prognosis is favorable.
Rheumatoid arthritis	Joints and other tissues, such as lung tissue, nerves, skin and heart	Rheumatoid arthritis can cause a variety of symptoms including fever, weakness, joint pain Joint pain - how to understand what is going on? , Numbness in the joints and / or deformation, loss of sensation, chest pain Chest pain is one symptom - a lot of diseases , Edema.
Lupus	Joints, kidneys, skin, lungs, heart, brain and blood cells	The disease causes symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, itching, pain in the heart, rash. Most patients with this disorder continue an active life, although not recurrent exacerbation.
Diabetes first type	Beta-cells of the pancreas (which make insulin)	Among the symptoms: extreme thirst, frequent urination, increased appetite, and a variety of long-term complications. To monitor the condition of the patient must be treated with insulin throughout their lives.
Vasculitis	Blood vessels	Vasculitis can affect blood vessels in one or more parts of the body. The prognosis depends on the type of vasculitis and the extent of tissue damage that he has caused.

Autoimmune reactions can be triggered in several ways:

The substance, which is normally present in only certain parts of the body, into the bloodstream. For example, a blow to the eye can cause intraocular fluid getting into the blood; the immune system recognizes the intraocular fluid as foreign and attacks it.
Normal to change the substance of the body, such as viruses, drugs, sunlight or radiation. These modified substances the immune system can take over the foreign substance.
The foreign substances penetrate into the body, have a great similarity to natural substances the body. The immune system may mistakenly attack not only the first but also the second. For example, antigens of the bacteria that cause strep throat, like the cells of the heart tissue. In rare cases, as a result of acute pharyngitis, the immune system begins to attack the heart of man (this reaction develops with rheumatic fever).
The cells that control antibody production - for example, B-lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) - may not function properly and produce abnormal antibodies directed against the body's healthy cells.
The predisposition to the development of autoimmune disorders may be inherited. People having such a predisposition, any virus can cause this disorder. Hormonal factors may also affect the development of this type of the disease - is not accidental autoimmune disorders are most common in women.

Treatment

Vitamin D
sunlight
Organic Green Tea
Normalization of personal hygiene habits (do not fanatically monitor the cleanliness)
Reducing the use of perfumes
Reducing the consumption of aspartame
A diet that reduces inflammation

For treating autoimmune disorders using drugs that suppress the immune system. However, many of these drugs disrupt the body's ability to fight disease.

Immunosuppressants, such as azathioprine, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporin, methotrexate, mycophenolate, and often need to be taken for a long time. During this treatment increases the risk of many diseases, including - cancer.

Corticosteroids not only suppress the immune system, and reduce inflammation. The course of corticosteroids should be as brief as possible - long-term use, they cause many side effects.

Etanercept, infliximab and adalimubab block the activity of tumor necrosis factor, a substance that may cause inflammation in the body. These drugs are highly effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, but they can cause harm if used to treat certain other autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Sometimes the treatment of autoimmune diseases using plasmapheresis: from the blood of the abnormal antibodies are then removed, after which the blood is transfused back to the person.

Some auto-immune diseases for some time to pass as suddenly as it starts. However, in most cases, they are chronic and often require treatments throughout their lives.