| Lupus. Hashimotos. Celiac Disease. IBS, or Irritable | | | | Lupus is surprisingly common, no matter what Dr. |
| Bowel Syndrome. Addison's Disease. MS, or | | | | Greg House says on House, MD ("It's never |
| Multiple Sclerosis. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. | | | | Lupus"). Those who do have lupus experience it |
| Fibromyalgia. | | | | differently than others - it's one of those |
| Am I naming random diseases picked out of a | | | | disorders that's unique to the person. |
| hat, or do these things have something serious in | | | | One of the most common symptoms are joints |
| common? Well, they do have something in | | | | that are swollen and painful (Similar to arthritis, so |
| common - they're all autoimmune diseases, and | | | | don't confuse the two - one is very serious, and |
| they affect millions of people each year. | | | | one happens to millions of people each year). |
| Autoimmune disease isn't discriminatory, either - a | | | | Another common symptom is a fever that you |
| millionaire can easily get the same autoimmune | | | | can't explain - the fever is actually there because |
| disease that a poor family's child can, and there's | | | | your immune system is working hard, just not |
| no limits on what it can do to the body. | | | | against a virus. |
| Some of these disease can be very serious - like | | | | Swollen glands is another symptom, along with |
| lupus - while some are less harmful, but still hurt - | | | | extreme fatigue most of the time (Because your |
| like fibromyalgia. All of them affect us, however, | | | | body's working), unexplained hair loss, a butterfly |
| and very few of us who are not affected know | | | | rash and unusual sensitivity to the sun. |
| about them. | | | | Other possible symptoms are chest pain, pale |
| By basic definition, an autoimmune disease isn't | | | | fingers or toes, swelling in the legs, and mouth |
| when a foreign thing, like a virus, bacteria, or | | | | ulcers. Lupus presents in a variety of ways, and if |
| fungus enters the blood stream, and then attacks | | | | you suspect that you might have it, check with |
| the body like crazy. An autoimmune disease is a | | | | your doctor. |
| bit more complicated. | | | | Celiac Disease |
| Why? Well, an autoimmune disease is when the | | | | Many people have celiac disease and not even |
| body's own defenses - the immune system - | | | | realize it - It is an intestinal disorder where a |
| actually attacks the body itself. It's as if it gets | | | | person has an issue with digesting gluten. |
| confused with what it's supposed to do, where it | | | | Gluten is in foods like bread, noodles, muffins... |
| sees the body as something foreign and starts | | | | think of doughy foods, and you'll find gluten - you |
| attacking it. | | | | can also find it in surprising things, like sausage, |
| When you have an autoimmune disease, it literally | | | | cereal or even oats. |
| is your own body working against itself. There are | | | | In order to prevent the symptoms of celiac |
| numerous treatments available for autoimmune | | | | disease and begin the healing process, you need |
| disorders as well as natural and nutritional support | | | | to live a gluten-free life. That means eating |
| to try and help keep the symptoms at bay. | | | | specialized foods that are gluten-free. |
| Many autoimmune diseases share the same | | | | Some symptoms of celiac disease include anemia, |
| symptoms - while the body is attacking different | | | | bloody stool, pain in your stomach, weakness, |
| parts in different ways, it still boils down to the | | | | joint pain, bone pain, diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, |
| body attacking. | | | | stool that is greasy, bleeding tendency, and even |
| Here are the most common autoimmune | | | | changes in your dental enamel. |
| diseases, and their associated symptoms. Look | | | | Ignoring celiac disease can have serious, long term |
| through them and see what fits, or search out a | | | | effects. If you have any of the above symptoms |
| specific autoimmune disorder to see if it fits your | | | | it is important to address them with your health |
| symptoms. | | | | care practitioner. |
| Lupus | | | | |