Rheumatoid Arthritis Autoimmune Disease
Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the many types of arthritis that exist today. More than that, it is the most common type of arthritis according to medical experts. About 2.1 people in the US have this disease today. This autoimmune disease mainly affects people who are between 30 and 50 years old. However, anybody can get the disease at any age.
This chronic disease has many people's lives a living hell all over the world. The fact that it is an autoimmune disease means that it is triggered by the body's immune system. This means that the tissues of the body are attacked, by mistake, by the system's own immune system. The immune system makes use of complex antibodies and cells in order to fight foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses, which can harm the body.
The rheumatoid arthritis autoimmune disease effects result in inflammation of joints. Moreover, some crucial organs such as kidneys, heart and lungs can also be affected as well. In order for the condition to be diagnosed, there is need for combinations of many diagnosis procedures to be used. The course of rheumatoid arthritis is always difficult to predict since the disease can progress in two completely different ways.
Severe joint pain is a common problem among all rheumatoid arthritis sufferers. This is because the immune system affects the joints. Some patients can go through joint pain without undergoing any painful experiences at all. Therefore, in order for the best treatments to be achieved, many tests need to be carried out.
If you are found to be suffering from rheumatoid arthritis after the blood tests are carried out, you either have the seronegative or seropositive variety. The term 'sero' is derived from the medical term 'serum'. When blood tests show negative results even when you have the disease, then the variety of disease you are suffering from is seronegative rheumatoid arthritis. Conversely, if the serum tests show positive results, then you are suffering from seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. Eighty per cent of all rheumatoid arthritis diagnoses result in the seropositive variety.
Proper description of symptoms is important if patients with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis are to be diagnosed correctly. This is because it is risky to wait until complete joint damage has been done since it might be too late to do anything about the problem. The damage can even extend to muscles, organs and bones.
Showing posts with label autoimmune disorder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label autoimmune disorder. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Living Well With Autoimmune Disease
Living Well With Autoimmune Disease
The human body is not the epitome of perfection and just like any system, it is subject to mishaps here and there every once in a while. Our bodies have natural immunity which prevents disease by guarding our bodies against the agents of disease in the form of viruses and bacteria. The immune system senses the presence of bacteria and viruses in the body and destroys them. There is a catch however, in that the immune system may sense a threat in non-threatening agents and attack the body thereby causing auto immune diseases. An auto immune disease has no cure in medicine, and the only way of managing an auto immune disease is by minimizing the effects of the disease.
One of the commonest auto immune diseases is lupus which has increased its occurrence amongst the American population in the recent past. If lupus is not discovered in time, the effects are life threatening. People suffering from this auto immune disease are more likely to have kidney failure and extensive damage to the other organs of the body. Damage to the brain by lupus causes seizures and psychosis. The lack of proper diagnosis of lupus is the main reason why it has spread wildly over the last few years as patients will more often than not treat the symptoms of the disease than the disease itself. The lack of cure of auto immune diseases may bring with it depression amongst patients.
Other auto immune diseases include Rheumatoid arthritis; which leaves a good percentage of the sufferers disabled, Grave's syndrome, Addison's disease and the Guillain-Barre syndrome. Most of these auto-immune diseases are genetically passed from one generation to the other and so it is vital for you to know if you are genetically predisposed to any autoimmune disease.
Dealing with auto immune diseases is a challenge to many. The sufferer needs to take a lot of medication to reduce the effects of the symptoms of the disease. Most of them are over the counter medication like aspirin. Depending on the disease you have and the symptoms of it; you may need occupational therapy and physical therapist if you have rheumatoid arthritis. You will need to check all your internal organs every once in a while to see if they are functioning and if they need any medication. A counselor will also help you to live with the disease and minimize depression.
The human body is not the epitome of perfection and just like any system, it is subject to mishaps here and there every once in a while. Our bodies have natural immunity which prevents disease by guarding our bodies against the agents of disease in the form of viruses and bacteria. The immune system senses the presence of bacteria and viruses in the body and destroys them. There is a catch however, in that the immune system may sense a threat in non-threatening agents and attack the body thereby causing auto immune diseases. An auto immune disease has no cure in medicine, and the only way of managing an auto immune disease is by minimizing the effects of the disease.
One of the commonest auto immune diseases is lupus which has increased its occurrence amongst the American population in the recent past. If lupus is not discovered in time, the effects are life threatening. People suffering from this auto immune disease are more likely to have kidney failure and extensive damage to the other organs of the body. Damage to the brain by lupus causes seizures and psychosis. The lack of proper diagnosis of lupus is the main reason why it has spread wildly over the last few years as patients will more often than not treat the symptoms of the disease than the disease itself. The lack of cure of auto immune diseases may bring with it depression amongst patients.
Other auto immune diseases include Rheumatoid arthritis; which leaves a good percentage of the sufferers disabled, Grave's syndrome, Addison's disease and the Guillain-Barre syndrome. Most of these auto-immune diseases are genetically passed from one generation to the other and so it is vital for you to know if you are genetically predisposed to any autoimmune disease.
Dealing with auto immune diseases is a challenge to many. The sufferer needs to take a lot of medication to reduce the effects of the symptoms of the disease. Most of them are over the counter medication like aspirin. Depending on the disease you have and the symptoms of it; you may need occupational therapy and physical therapist if you have rheumatoid arthritis. You will need to check all your internal organs every once in a while to see if they are functioning and if they need any medication. A counselor will also help you to live with the disease and minimize depression.
Monday, June 23, 2014
Autoimmune Disease Doctors
Autoimmune Disease Doctors
Autoimmune disease doctors are from different specialties. The term Auto immune disease is a much generalized term with many different diseases coming under its purview.
All disease caused due to an altered immune response of the human body against its own cells are called as Auto immune diseases. This altered response may be due to a variety of reasons. The general common thread running through all of these diseases is that there is a genetic factor or hereditary predisposition.
The altered response can be manifested in different systems of the body. The manifestations are also categorized in to Organ specific and non organ specific diseases. The Organ specific diseases are the disorders which are confined to a certain organ or a certain system of the body.
The non organ specific Auto immune diseases are the more dangerous diseases, and these diseases are spread across various systems, affecting various different organs at the same time.
The commonest example of an organ specific Auto immune disease is the Hashimoto's thyroiditis. There are other examples as listed below:
Primary myxedema, Thyrotoxicosis, Pernicious anemia,
Auto immune Addison's disease, Type I Diabetes Mellitus, Good Pasteur's syndrome,
Myasthenia gravis, Sympathetic opthalmia, Auto immune hemolytic anemia, Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, Primary biliary cirrhosis, Chronic active hepatitis, Sjogren's syndrome
By looking at the list it is quite clear that, since the organ specific auto immune diseases affect different organs, the doctors treating them would also be different.
The Thyrotoxicosis, Auto immune Addison's disease, Sjogren's syndrome and Type I diabetes mellitus will be treated by an Endocrinologist, as they are all involved with hormone producing organs.
Good Pasteur's syndrome will be treated by a Nephrologist as it is a Kidney disorder.
Myasthenia Gravis, Auto immune hemolytic anemia and Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura will be treated by an Internal and General Medicine consultant as they are internal disease.
The sympathetic opthalmia will be treated by an Ophthalmologist as it is an eye disorder.
Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis and Dermato myositis are the non organ specific or the generalized Auto immune disorders.
The Rheumatoid arthritis will be taken care of by an Osteopath as it is a bone and joint disorder.
Systemic Lupus erythematosus will be treated by an Internal medicine specialist, a Cardiologist, a Neurologist, a Nephrologists and Gastroenterologist as it involves wide spread effects in all the different organs of the body like the Kidneys, GIT, CNS, CVS, etc
Autoimmune disease doctors are from different specialties. The term Auto immune disease is a much generalized term with many different diseases coming under its purview.
All disease caused due to an altered immune response of the human body against its own cells are called as Auto immune diseases. This altered response may be due to a variety of reasons. The general common thread running through all of these diseases is that there is a genetic factor or hereditary predisposition.
The altered response can be manifested in different systems of the body. The manifestations are also categorized in to Organ specific and non organ specific diseases. The Organ specific diseases are the disorders which are confined to a certain organ or a certain system of the body.
The non organ specific Auto immune diseases are the more dangerous diseases, and these diseases are spread across various systems, affecting various different organs at the same time.
The commonest example of an organ specific Auto immune disease is the Hashimoto's thyroiditis. There are other examples as listed below:
Primary myxedema, Thyrotoxicosis, Pernicious anemia,
Auto immune Addison's disease, Type I Diabetes Mellitus, Good Pasteur's syndrome,
Myasthenia gravis, Sympathetic opthalmia, Auto immune hemolytic anemia, Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, Primary biliary cirrhosis, Chronic active hepatitis, Sjogren's syndrome
By looking at the list it is quite clear that, since the organ specific auto immune diseases affect different organs, the doctors treating them would also be different.
The Thyrotoxicosis, Auto immune Addison's disease, Sjogren's syndrome and Type I diabetes mellitus will be treated by an Endocrinologist, as they are all involved with hormone producing organs.
Good Pasteur's syndrome will be treated by a Nephrologist as it is a Kidney disorder.
Myasthenia Gravis, Auto immune hemolytic anemia and Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura will be treated by an Internal and General Medicine consultant as they are internal disease.
The sympathetic opthalmia will be treated by an Ophthalmologist as it is an eye disorder.
Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis and Dermato myositis are the non organ specific or the generalized Auto immune disorders.
The Rheumatoid arthritis will be taken care of by an Osteopath as it is a bone and joint disorder.
Systemic Lupus erythematosus will be treated by an Internal medicine specialist, a Cardiologist, a Neurologist, a Nephrologists and Gastroenterologist as it involves wide spread effects in all the different organs of the body like the Kidneys, GIT, CNS, CVS, etc
Autoimmune Disease Treatment
Autoimmune Disease Treatment
Autoimmunity is a medical condition whereby the immune system of the body attacks the body, thereby creating destruction and inflammation of the body system. This is a defect, since the immune system is only supposed to attack foreign and harmful organisms. In this case though, the system attacks the body mistakenly, in that there is no threat. The only threat to the body here is the immune system itself. There are several types of known autoimmune diseases, which include multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus among others. It has been argued that autism could be a condition due to autoimmunity, although this is yet to be fully and universally classified and accepted as an autoimmune disease.
Several factors are important in determining autoimmune disease treatment. Among them are the type of the disease, severity of the disease and the symptoms exhibited. The main aim of autoimmune disease treatment is to relieve symptoms and to maintain and preserve functions of vital organs. The other function of treatment is to target the disease mechanisms, and cushion the body from autoimmunity. The medical specialists commonly known for autoimmune disease treatment include rheumatologists, endocrinologists and neurologists.
Through autoimmune disease treatment, the patient is able to get some relief. To get relief from autoimmunity symptoms, treatment may involve ordinary medication, or even surgery. In preserving vital organ functions, treatment serves to mostly prevent organ damage. That is, in case the liver is involved, for instance, autoimmune disease treatment will help in reducing the rate and general action of liver damage. This is because if it is left unchecked, organ damage would most certainly only lead to more serious medical complications for the patient.
Autoimmune disease treatment may include medication to control inflammation in the organs such as the kidney, especially for cases of lupus. In diabetes, insulin injection is administered to regulate blood sugar.
However, it is important to note that autoimmune disease treatment is not meant for stopping the autoimmune disease. Since there is no known way to stop the immune system from fighting organisms it 'feels' are a threat, there is still no way to stop or cure this condition of autoimmune disease. Rather, treatment is useful in preserving the body organs, thereby saving crucial organ functions. This in turn goes a long way in helping people living with the diseases, and related complications to better cope with the condition.
Autoimmunity is a medical condition whereby the immune system of the body attacks the body, thereby creating destruction and inflammation of the body system. This is a defect, since the immune system is only supposed to attack foreign and harmful organisms. In this case though, the system attacks the body mistakenly, in that there is no threat. The only threat to the body here is the immune system itself. There are several types of known autoimmune diseases, which include multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus among others. It has been argued that autism could be a condition due to autoimmunity, although this is yet to be fully and universally classified and accepted as an autoimmune disease.
Several factors are important in determining autoimmune disease treatment. Among them are the type of the disease, severity of the disease and the symptoms exhibited. The main aim of autoimmune disease treatment is to relieve symptoms and to maintain and preserve functions of vital organs. The other function of treatment is to target the disease mechanisms, and cushion the body from autoimmunity. The medical specialists commonly known for autoimmune disease treatment include rheumatologists, endocrinologists and neurologists.
Through autoimmune disease treatment, the patient is able to get some relief. To get relief from autoimmunity symptoms, treatment may involve ordinary medication, or even surgery. In preserving vital organ functions, treatment serves to mostly prevent organ damage. That is, in case the liver is involved, for instance, autoimmune disease treatment will help in reducing the rate and general action of liver damage. This is because if it is left unchecked, organ damage would most certainly only lead to more serious medical complications for the patient.
Autoimmune disease treatment may include medication to control inflammation in the organs such as the kidney, especially for cases of lupus. In diabetes, insulin injection is administered to regulate blood sugar.
However, it is important to note that autoimmune disease treatment is not meant for stopping the autoimmune disease. Since there is no known way to stop the immune system from fighting organisms it 'feels' are a threat, there is still no way to stop or cure this condition of autoimmune disease. Rather, treatment is useful in preserving the body organs, thereby saving crucial organ functions. This in turn goes a long way in helping people living with the diseases, and related complications to better cope with the condition.
Autoimmune Disease Symptoms
Autoimmune Disease Symptoms
Autoimmune disease is a broad term to describe a variety of different diseases. The only common thing among all of these diseases is the immunological response of the patients. The disease may be manifested in a myriad of different ways, but the basic mechanism is always same, with altered immunity or altered immunological system response.
Depending upon the disease manifestation of Auto immunity the symptoms can vary widely. If the Auto immune disease is organ specific then the symptoms are also organ specific. If the Auto immune disease is non organ specific then the symptoms will also be in the same manner.
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis:
The usual patients are between 20 and 60 years of age. They visit the doctor with a small or moderately sized goiter, which is firm or rubbery to touch. About 25 5 of these patients are Hypothyroid and present with symptoms of Hypothyroidism. Sudden gain of weight, dryness of the skin and hair, brittleness of the hair, excessive fatigue, easy tiredness, palpitations, constipation, distension of the abdomen, menstrual irregularities or even amenorrhea, etc are the various symptoms of hypothyroidism. The remaining 75 % of the patients may be having normal or slightly raised serum TSH, with normal T4. But they are at a risk of developing Hypothyroidism in the future.
Rheumatoid Arthritis:
RA or rheumatoid arthritis is another common manifestation of Auto immune diseases. Here the major involvement is of the joints of the body. The involvement of the joints is typically symmetrical, destructive and deformative. It is characterized by various episodes of remissions and exacerbations, and is typically prolonged and chronic in nature. The disability caused by Rheumatoid arthritis can be very much extensive. There is wide spread tissue and muscle wasting, bone erosions, loss of cartilage and fibrositis and tendinitis of the joints. The joints can be rendered totally useless with spindling of the joints and hands are typically seen like the neck of a swan.
Good Pasture's Syndrome
Good Pasture's syndrome is another Auto immune disorder affecting the Kidneys. This disease involves proliferative glomerulo nephritis. The usual presenting picture is that of acute renal failure. There may be associated bleeding inside the lungs, (intrapulmonary hemorrhage) and this can lead to spitting of blood or haemoptysis.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
This is a type of generalized Auto immune disease. Here the symptoms are a trio of arthritis, arthralgia and fever. The arthritis may be very short in duration and may shift from one joint to another joint
Autoimmune disease is a broad term to describe a variety of different diseases. The only common thing among all of these diseases is the immunological response of the patients. The disease may be manifested in a myriad of different ways, but the basic mechanism is always same, with altered immunity or altered immunological system response.
Depending upon the disease manifestation of Auto immunity the symptoms can vary widely. If the Auto immune disease is organ specific then the symptoms are also organ specific. If the Auto immune disease is non organ specific then the symptoms will also be in the same manner.
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis:
The usual patients are between 20 and 60 years of age. They visit the doctor with a small or moderately sized goiter, which is firm or rubbery to touch. About 25 5 of these patients are Hypothyroid and present with symptoms of Hypothyroidism. Sudden gain of weight, dryness of the skin and hair, brittleness of the hair, excessive fatigue, easy tiredness, palpitations, constipation, distension of the abdomen, menstrual irregularities or even amenorrhea, etc are the various symptoms of hypothyroidism. The remaining 75 % of the patients may be having normal or slightly raised serum TSH, with normal T4. But they are at a risk of developing Hypothyroidism in the future.
Rheumatoid Arthritis:
RA or rheumatoid arthritis is another common manifestation of Auto immune diseases. Here the major involvement is of the joints of the body. The involvement of the joints is typically symmetrical, destructive and deformative. It is characterized by various episodes of remissions and exacerbations, and is typically prolonged and chronic in nature. The disability caused by Rheumatoid arthritis can be very much extensive. There is wide spread tissue and muscle wasting, bone erosions, loss of cartilage and fibrositis and tendinitis of the joints. The joints can be rendered totally useless with spindling of the joints and hands are typically seen like the neck of a swan.
Good Pasture's Syndrome
Good Pasture's syndrome is another Auto immune disorder affecting the Kidneys. This disease involves proliferative glomerulo nephritis. The usual presenting picture is that of acute renal failure. There may be associated bleeding inside the lungs, (intrapulmonary hemorrhage) and this can lead to spitting of blood or haemoptysis.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
This is a type of generalized Auto immune disease. Here the symptoms are a trio of arthritis, arthralgia and fever. The arthritis may be very short in duration and may shift from one joint to another joint
Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune Diseases
Auto immune diseases are those diseases which are caused due to altered immune response of the body against itself.
Normally the human body recognizes its own cells and does not pose a problem for them. But in these Auto immune diseases the body fails to recognize its own cells and unleashes an antigen antibody reaction against its own cells.
Types:
There are two major types of Auto immune diseases. One of the types is an organ specific antigen antibody reaction. The other one is non organ specific antigen antibody reaction.
Causes:
The exact cause remains to be found out. Yet there is a definite genetic factor involved. Auto immune responses can either occur spontaneously without any prior stimulus in a genetically predisposed individual. Or the Auto immune response may follow the occurrence of some acute illness, usually a virus infection, but again it does so only in genetically predisposed individuals.
Common Auto immune disease:
Organ specific
Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Primary myxedema
Thyrotoxicosis
Pernicious anemia
Auto immune Addison's disease
Type I Diabetes Mellitus
Good pasteur's syndrome
Myasthenia gravis
Sympathetic opthalmia
Auto immune hemolytic anemia
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
Primary biliary cirrhosis
Chronic active hepatitis
Sjogren's syndrome
Non-organ specific
Rheumatoid arthritis
Dermato myositis
Systemic sclerosis
Systemic Lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Mechanisms of Auto immune diseases:
There is some relation of the Auto immune response with the advancing age, because it is usually found in people with advanced age. Though it has not yet been proved, but there is a suggestion or a theory put forward that with advancing age, the Ts cells or the suppressor cells lose their control over the Th cells or the T helper cells.
Sequestrated antigen:
There are certain antigens which remain isolated all through the human life, and hence do not have any chance to develop contact with the normal immunological system, and hence the body does not get a chance to develop self recognition.The best example is of human sperm. It remains inside the vas deferens and if in case it spills out into the surrounding tissue, can excite an Auto immune response.
Infection:
The infections are caused by micro organisms and they also have certain antigens in their system. These antigens can cross react with the antigen of the tissue in the humans. For example the streptococci has a similar antigen as that of the human heart, hence the when the body starts an immune response or attack on the streptococcal antigen; it also affects the muscles of the heart in the human body.
Drugs:
Certain drugs like methyldopa used in treatment, can trigger an Auto immune response.
Auto immune diseases are those diseases which are caused due to altered immune response of the body against itself.
Normally the human body recognizes its own cells and does not pose a problem for them. But in these Auto immune diseases the body fails to recognize its own cells and unleashes an antigen antibody reaction against its own cells.
Types:
There are two major types of Auto immune diseases. One of the types is an organ specific antigen antibody reaction. The other one is non organ specific antigen antibody reaction.
Causes:
The exact cause remains to be found out. Yet there is a definite genetic factor involved. Auto immune responses can either occur spontaneously without any prior stimulus in a genetically predisposed individual. Or the Auto immune response may follow the occurrence of some acute illness, usually a virus infection, but again it does so only in genetically predisposed individuals.
Common Auto immune disease:
Organ specific
Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Primary myxedema
Thyrotoxicosis
Pernicious anemia
Auto immune Addison's disease
Type I Diabetes Mellitus
Good pasteur's syndrome
Myasthenia gravis
Sympathetic opthalmia
Auto immune hemolytic anemia
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
Primary biliary cirrhosis
Chronic active hepatitis
Sjogren's syndrome
Non-organ specific
Rheumatoid arthritis
Dermato myositis
Systemic sclerosis
Systemic Lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Mechanisms of Auto immune diseases:
There is some relation of the Auto immune response with the advancing age, because it is usually found in people with advanced age. Though it has not yet been proved, but there is a suggestion or a theory put forward that with advancing age, the Ts cells or the suppressor cells lose their control over the Th cells or the T helper cells.
Sequestrated antigen:
There are certain antigens which remain isolated all through the human life, and hence do not have any chance to develop contact with the normal immunological system, and hence the body does not get a chance to develop self recognition.The best example is of human sperm. It remains inside the vas deferens and if in case it spills out into the surrounding tissue, can excite an Auto immune response.
Infection:
The infections are caused by micro organisms and they also have certain antigens in their system. These antigens can cross react with the antigen of the tissue in the humans. For example the streptococci has a similar antigen as that of the human heart, hence the when the body starts an immune response or attack on the streptococcal antigen; it also affects the muscles of the heart in the human body.
Drugs:
Certain drugs like methyldopa used in treatment, can trigger an Auto immune response.
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