Close to 4% of the global population are battling one of over 80 different autoimmune diseases. Notable autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and lupus are among the top three causes of chronic illnesses in the US. Despite being relatively rare, these diseases affect between 5-8% of the US population according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Strikingly, the occurrence of these diseases seems to be on an unexplained rise.
The human body is equipped with an immune system, a complex amalgamation of specific cells and organs, assigned the task of defending the body from germs and other alien invaders. One of the fundamental features of the immune system is the capacity to differentiate between ‘self’ and ‘nonself’ – discerning what’s part of you and what’s foreign. A malfunction in this system can lead to the body not being able to make this crucial distinction. This failure triggers the production of autoantibodies that wrongly target and attack healthy cells. Meanwhile, special cells known as regulatory T cells fail in their role of maintaining immune system balance, leading to an erroneous attack on the body. The resulting damage is the characteristic manifestation of an autoimmune disease. The specific body parts affected vary according to the type of autoimmune disease.
Approximately 4% of the global population suffers from one of over 80 distinct autoimmune diseases. The list of most prevalent ones includes type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, and scleroderma. These autoimmune diseases are the third most common cause of chronic disease in the US. While most autoimmune diseases are rare, they are estimated by the NIH to collectively affect 5-8% of the U.S. population. The prevalence of autoimmune diseases is mysteriously increasing for reasons yet unknown.
Autoimmune diseases disproportionately affect women, striking them three times more often than men. Consequently, the Office of Research on Women’s Health at the NIH has declared autoimmunity a significant women’s health issue. The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) estimates that as many as 50 million Americans live with an autoimmune disease, costing an estimated $86 billion per annum. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), these diseases represent the fourth largest cause of disability among women in the United States and rank eighth as the cause of death for women aged 15 to 64.
Normally, the immune system serves as a shield, protecting the body from infections and diseases. The emergence of an autoimmune disease, however, signifies a grave error where the immune system incorrectly identifies itself as a threat and proceeds to attack the organs, tissues, and cells it was designed to protect. Some of these diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, target specific organs. Others, like lupus, launch attacks on multiple organs. Nearly any organ system in the body can be affected by autoimmunity.
The diagnosis and treatment of these diseases may involve various medical specialties, including neurology, rheumatology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, dermatology, and hematology. Due to the often ambiguous and fluctuating initial symptoms, achieving a diagnosis can be challenging. It is not rare for the correct diagnosis to take months or even years to finalize.
Autoimmunity exhibits a tendency to be inherited, with more than one autoimmune disease often appearing in a single extended family. Women of African American, Native American, and Hispanic descent are more prone to certain autoimmune diseases than the broader population.
The most frequently encountered Autoimmune Disorders are: