About Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases are a group of disorders in which the immune system attacks the body and destroys or alters tissues. There are more than 80 serious chronic illnesses in this category, including lupus, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes.

According to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), about 75% of autoimmune diseases occur in women. By themselves, each disease appears to be uncommon except for diabetes, thyroid disease, and lupus but as a group, the disorders make up the fourth-largest cause of disability among American women.

Types of autoimmune diseases include: Alopecia areata, Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (aPL), Autoimmune hepatitis, Celiac disease, Diabetes type 1, Graves disease, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Hashimotos disease, Hemolytic anemia, Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, Multiple sclerosis, Myasthenia gravis, Primary biliary cirrhosis, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Scleroderma, Systemic lupus erythematosus and Vitiligo.