Autoimmune diseases take care of themselves. Hence the term “autoimmune”.
False
The term “autoimmune” does not in any way mean that these diseases are self-curing. In these conditions, the immune system actually attacks its own cells, making antibodies directly against them, as if they were foreign substances. Concretely what does that mean? That the organism “self-attacks”, in a partial way. Although research has made great progress, the causes of these diseases are still poorly understood.
Autoimmune diseases can be counted on the fingers of one hand
False
On the contrary, so-called autoimmune diseases are very numerous. Today, 80 autoimmune diseases have also been listed. Did you know, for example, that diabetes (type 1) is an autoimmune disease? Among them, we also count Goujerot-Sjögren syndrome, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Berger’s disease … or lupus, Dr. House’s preferred diagnosis! The list is long.
In addition, many diseases are also believed to be autoimmune conditions. Among them, certain sterilities would be linked, for example, to an autoimmune disease. This could also be the case with psoriasis or vitiligo.
Autoimmune diseases are rare conditions.
False
According to some scientific sources, autoimmune diseases affect between 5 and 6% of the world’s population. They would thus represent the 3rd post of medical care after cancer and cardiovascular diseases. That is to say ! This rate is said to be constantly increasing, especially in industrialized countries. Women would also be the most affected, without knowing exactly why.
Of course, some of these diseases are rare, such as atrophic polychondritis and others more common. This is for example the case of Gougerot Sjögren syndrome (about 0.1% of the population).
Autoimmune diseases are only genetic.
False
The causes of autoimmune diseases are largely unknown. The genetic factor is now clearly established but it is not for all that the only triggering factor of these affections. The latter are probably the result of multiple causes (we speak of multifactorial diseases), such as for example a hereditary predisposition linked to an infection. Vaccines have also been suspected for many years of promoting their development, as has exposure to certain environmental toxins, although nothing has been proven to date.
There is nothing you can do about autoimmune diseases.
False
There are different strategies for fighting autoimmune diseases, although each requires specific treatment. Immunosuppressants make it possible, for example, to reduce the activity of the failing immune system. It is also possible to correct deficiencies by replacing substances that the body stops producing. But these many treatments are often not without side effects, and patients usually cannot stop taking them.
Finally, a healthy lifestyle (and more particularly food) could also play a role in the treatment of these diseases. It must be taken into account.
