Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that causes joint pain in many parts of the body. This pain is typically seen or felt in the small joints of the wrists, fingers and feet. Because it is an inflammatory disease with body wide...
There are more than 80 known autoimmune disorders--diseases that occur when a person's immune system turns against itself. Some of these diseases include Type 1 diabetes, Graves disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Although there is a genetic...
Autoimmune liver disease, or autoimmune hepatitis disease, causes your body's immune system to attack your liver cells and your bile duct cells. Your liver becomes inflamed, called hepatitis. If your doctor diagnosis you with autoimmune liver...
Normally, there is a balance between the formation of clots and their destruction. But there are times when that balance is not maintained. Cancer, infections, atherosclerosis, certain medications and injury can all cause blood clots to be formed....
Food intolerance describes non-immune related reactions to food. For instance, if you produce too little or no lactase enzyme, you cannot properly digest lactose-containing food. This makes you lactose intolerant. Food intolerance is relatively...
Gluten, a dietary protein, is problematic for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Celiac disease is a genetically determined lifelong and incurable condition affecting the intestines. Gluten sensitivity is not as severe but may...
Melatonin is a neurohormone produced by the pineal gland at the base of your brain. Its release is enhanced when you are in darkness and suppressed when you are exposed to bright light. By stimulating receptors in specific areas of your brain,...
The immune system has been described as an army of white blood cells that protect our bodies from antigens. Antigens are harmful substances like bacteria, viruses, cancer cells, toxins, or foreign blood or tissue. In people who have an autoimmune...
One of the many factors involved in a woman's ability to become pregnant as well as to maintain a pregnancy is a healthy and properly functioning immune system. The Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) test is given to help doctors identify problems with...
Hashimoto's disease, or Hashimoto's thyroiditis, is a chronic inflammation of your thyroid gland caused by the production of antibodies within your body that injure the cells of your thyroid, leading to hypothyroidism. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is...
Addison's disease is primarily an autoimmune disease whereby the immune system attacks the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys. As a result of a decrease in the hormones released by the adrenal glands, the kidneys hold onto potassium....
Melatonin is a hormone which is secreted by the pineal gland of the brain. It regulates the "sleep-wake" cycle, also known as the "internal clock," which lets the body know when it is time to sleep and when it is time to awaken. Some scientists...
Hypothyroidism is a common disease. It has been diagnosed in more than 1 percent of the American population. Approximately 5 percent of people older than 60 years of age suffer from this disorder. Hypothyroid diseases occur when the body is not...
Spider veins smaller versions of varicose veins and appear red or blue near the surface of the skin. Spider veins are named for the pattern they portray, much like spider webs and are found on the legs or face. Essentially, this condition weakens...
Overactive thyroid, also known as hyperthyroidism, is the condition wherein abnormally elevated levels of thyroid hormones are present in the circulation. Thyroid hormones control the metabolic rate or activity level of the body's cells....
Hip pain is caused by conditions that affect the joint, bone, and muscles or by autoimmune or inflammatory damage to cartilage and tendons. Accurate diagnosis of these conditions is necessary in order for treatment to be properly prescribed and...
Hair loss, also known as alopecia, occurs when follicles in the scalp stop producing hair, according to Dr. James F. Balch, author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." Both men and women can experience hair loss. For men, hair loss typically...
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the more than 100 known forms of arthritis. This type of arthritis is an autoimmune disease, in which the body mistakes itself for a foreign invader and initiates an attack. It usually affects the synovium,...
A diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease, means the body's immune system is attacking and damaging parts of the body itself. Because of this rheumatoid arthritis treatment is more complex than treatment for osteoarthritis,...
Low cortisol levels, which result in Addison's disease, occur when the adrenal glands are damaged and insufficient amounts of human cortisol are produced. The adrenal glands are small glands located above the kidneys that secrete hormones...
Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme that is found in several organs of the body. The enzyme is primarily found in the liver, placenta, bone, kidneys and intestines. Thus, alkaline phosphatase will have elevated levels whenever there is an increase...
The thyroid gland uses iodine to make the thyroid hormone. This hormone affects almost every cell in the body. Thyroid disease can, therefore, have wide-reaching effects. Thyroid disease can be malignant or it can be benign. It can also cause the...
The term dementia identifies a classification of symptoms used to describe the irreversible degeneration of cognitive function. Loss of memory, mood changes and difficulties with communication are symptomatic of all forms of dementia. However, in...
Graves' disease, an autoimmune disease, is the main cause for a high level of the thyroid hormone. This hormone has several effects on your metabolism and as such, if you have Graves', you may have diarrhea, tremors, a fast heartbeat, weight loss...
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a chronic disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. MS destroys a substance called myelin, which surrounds nerve fibers and is necessary for transmission of nerve impulses. Many other diseases and disorders...
If you experience unexplained pain when you are breathing, it may be a sign of a serious medical condition. You may have this symptom temporarily if you have a chest cold or the flu but f it is ongoing, you need to be evaluated by your physician....
A primary immunodeficiency occurs when part of the immune system is malfunctioning or missing. As discussed by the National Institutes of Health, there are more than 70 kinds of immunodeficiency diseases and they range in severity from mild to...
Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is an autoimmune disease. The antibodies of people with this disorder attack their own system. People develop recurring blood clots and may have cardiovascular attacks, pulmonary emboli, deep vein thrombosis and...
You may feel tired after eating for several reasons, including being an undiagnosed diabetic. Keep a food and activity journal to help you and your doctor identify the cause of your fatigue. Implementing dietary and other lifestyle changes may...
