Autoimmune diseases are disorders in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body and destroys them. More than 80 autoimmune diseases affect individuals, and the diseases classify by organ-specific and non-organ-specific types, according to Medline Plus. These diseases can affect almost every bodily system and present similar symptoms. Common autoimmune diseases include Hashimoto’s disease, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Hashimoto’s Disease
Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disease that causes damage to the thyroid gland. The immune system attacks the thyroid cells and progressively worsens. When the thyroid gland damages, functions of the body slow down, including brain functioning and heart rate.
The National Women’s Health Information Center states that Hashimoto’s disease affects women seven times more frequently than men and is the most common cause of an underactive thyroid, otherwise known as hypothyroidism. An enlarged thyroid is the most common symptom of the disease and symptoms associated with an underactive thyroid, which include joint and muscle pain, weight gain, fatigue, slowed heart rate and depression.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that inflames the joints. The disease is systemic, meaning it can affect many parts of the body and has many symptoms. The Arthritis Foundation states that rheumatoid arthritis progresses in stages that include swelling of the joints followed by rapid growth of cells and inflamed cell release. The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, but similar to other autoimmune diseases, antibodies in the body mistakenly attack body tissues. Approximately 1.3 million people have the disease, and symptoms depend on degree of tissue inflammation, according to the Arthritis Foundation.
Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can damage many parts of the body, including the heart, joints, blood vessels, kidneys and skin. The most common type of lupus is systemic lupus erythematosus, which affects many parts of the body at once, according to Medline Plus. Other types of lupus include drug-induced lupus, subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, discoid lupus erythematosus and neonatal lupus.
Types of lupus depend on symptoms and parts of the body that associate with the disease. Symptoms of lupus include swollen glands and joints, hair loss, chest pain and sensitivity to the sun. The cause of the disease is unknown.
