An autoimmune disease develops when the body mistakenly attacks its healthy tissue or cells. This happens for various reasons, but it’s not entirely understood.
Your body fires up an immune response, which naturally happens when it perceives a threat like a virus or an infection, except there’s no threat. As a result, your immune system is in overdrive and creates the conditions for chronic illness, such as inflammation, hormonal imbalance, or gastrointestinal malfunction.
Symptoms of the disease vary, depending on the specific condition. For example, sufferers of celiac disease often experience gastrointestinal disturbances while people with rheumatoid arthritis have joint pain.
Many autoimmune conditions, however, share overlapping symptoms, including:
- Widespread inflammation
- Pain or tightness in the muscles or joints
- Chronic fatigue
- Frequent colds or infections
- Mood issues
- Weight gain or loss
If you’re experiencing symptoms of autoimmune disease, call Dr. Jennifer Kessmann or book a consultation online.
