An autoimmune disease is a condition in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissues. Normally, the immune system's white blood cells help protect the body from harmful substances, such as bacteria, viruses, toxins, and cancer cells.
But in autoimmune disorders, the immune system mistakes some part of the body as a pathogen and attacks its own cells, tissues, and organs.
There are many different autoimmune diseases that can affect various parts of the body. Some common examples include:
1. Rheumatoid arthritis - Immune system attacks joints
2. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) - Attacks many tissues including skin, joints, kidneys, etc.
3. Multiple sclerosis (MS) - Immune system attacks myelin sheath around nerves 4. Type 1 diabetes - Immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas 5. Inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's and ulcerative colitis
6. Psoriasis - Causes overactive immune response that accelerates skin cell growth 7. Graves' disease - Attacks the thyroid gland
The exact causes of autoimmune disorders are not fully understood, but a combination of genetic and environmental factors are thought to play a role. Treatment depends on the specific condition but often involves medications to suppress or modulate the overactive immune response.
