Autoimmune diseases are often tricky to diagnose because their symptoms vary widely. If you’re dealing with unexplained fatigue, joint pain, digestive issues, or other ongoing health concerns, this guide can help. Discover how autoimmune diseases affect the body, key warning signs to watch for, and when to seek medical care.
Are you experiencing achiness, feverishness, and constant fatigue? Do you find yourself frequently wondering about the cause of these symptoms? Have you ever questioned whether they might be due to an autoimmune disease or simply a result of your hectic and stressful lifestyle? Wouldn’t it be helpful to have a convenient tool like an autoimmune disease symptom checker to guide you toward better health?
Here’s all you need to know about autoimmune diseases and a comprehensive autoimmune disease symptom checklist that can guide you in better understanding your symptoms. This will empower you to make informed health decisions and be in control of your well-being.
What is an Autoimmune Disorder?
The terms “autoimmune disease” and “autoimmune disorder” are often used interchangeably. This is because the term “autoimmune disorder” serves as an umbrella category that encompasses different diseases sharing common characteristics.
- Autoimmune diseases occur when your body’s immune system becomes unable to distinguish between its own cells and foreign cells. As a result, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own cells, leading to illness and health complications.
- The symptoms and severity of autoimmune diseases are influenced by several factors, including genetics, environmental factors, chronic stress, and diet/lifestyle choices.
- There’s usually no single test to diagnose autoimmune disease. Your doctor considers your symptoms and specific blood markers, and sometimes even a biopsy to diagnose an autoimmune disease.
- Autoimmune diseases share similar symptoms commonly experienced as symptoms of other diseases or symptoms influenced by lifestyle choices.
Autoimmune Disease List
The Autoimmune Registry lists the following as the top 10 most common autoimmune diseases.
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroiditis
- Celiac disease
- Graves’ disease
- Diabetes mellitus, type 1
- Vitiligo
- Rheumatic fever
- Pernicious anemia/atrophic gastritis
- Alopecia areata
- Immune thrombocytopenic purpura
As you can see, there’s an extensive range of diseases on this list. However, they all fall under the immune disorder umbrella because they all flare up because of your body attacking itself.
Currently, there are 80 to 100 recognized autoimmune diseases that impact approximately 23.5 million Americans. However, the actual number of people affected by autoimmune diseases is likely higher since many cases go undiagnosed. Despite their somewhat mysterious nature, autoimmune diseases are surprisingly common.
Autoimmune Disease Symptom Checker
Autoimmune diseases can affect various organs, muscles, joints, and other tissues. They also affect more than one part of the body, and your symptoms will depend on the body part(s) affected. Common symptoms of autoimmune disease symptoms include:
Fatigue
Do you wake up tired, force yourself through your day feeling tired, and have trouble concentrating or remembering things? Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of autoimmune disease.
We aren’t talking about the late afternoon naptime crash. We’re talking about profound and debilitating fatigue that prevents you from doing the simplest everyday tasks. Autoimmune diseases like type I diabetes, anemia, pernicious anemia, silent celiac, Addison’s disease, and myocarditis can all knock you out for days or confine you to your bed when not attended to.
Joint pain and swelling
Do you have joint pain or swelling unrelated to any injury or known cause? Joint pain and swelling occur when your body’s immune system attacks itself. The attack causes inflammation, which causes your joint linings to thicken, leading to pain and swelling. Joints usually affected are:
- wrists
- fingers
- knees
- feet
- ankles
Joint pain and swelling associated with autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis come on slowly over time and move around from joint to joint with no rhyme or reason.
Skin disease
Is your skin itchy, red, or swollen for no apparent reason? These can all be signs of autoimmune disorders, including psoriasis, scleroderma, epidermolysis bullosa, dermatomyositis, and bullous pemphigoid.
Abdominal pain or digestive problems
Are you plagued by gut problems? Bloating, acid reflux, cramping, constipation, diarrhea, and frequent blood in the stool are all common symptoms of autoimmune disease.
Gut damage is often a result of food allergies, intolerances, exposure to harmful chemicals, and medication side effects. Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and lupus are all autoimmune disorders that have been linked to abdominal pain and digestive issues.
Recurring low-grade fevers
Does it seem like you always have a low-grade fever, but there seems to be no reason for it? Intermittent low-grade fevers with no known origin are a symptom of many autoimmune diseases because your body uses a fever to fight off infection or allergy.
Swollen glands or nodes
Do you get a lump on the side of your throat, have swollen salivary glands, or have signs of other swollen glands? Swollen glands and nodes don’t necessarily mean that something is wrong with you, but they do mean that your immune system is on high alert and in combat. If you don’t have an obvious sign of infection like a cold or virus, but you have swollen glands, there’s likely an underlying condition that should be uprooted.
Neuropathy
Have you been experiencing unexplained pain or numbness, particularly in the extremities? Shooting pain, nerve pain, numbness, muscle weakness, muscle loss, and hypersensitivity to touch are all signs of neuropathy, which is a common symptom of autoimmune disease.
Neuropathy can also affect your brain, spinal cord, and muscles with symptoms that can manifest as brain fog, dizziness, vertigo, poor coordination, and ringing in the ears. Autoimmune diseases of the nervous system include:
- GBS
- multiple sclerosis
- cerebellar ataxia
- ALS
- Restless Leg Syndrome
- Polyneuropathy
Cold Intolerance
Do you feel cold, even when everyone else is perfectly comfortable, or even hot? People who are cold intolerant are extremely sensitive to cold temperatures. Cold intolerance is a common symptom that can indicate an autoimmune disease like Raynaud’s disease and hypothyroidism.
Autoimmune Disease Symptom Checker by Nava Health
As you can see from the above autoimmune symptom checklist, you can easily be confused with a whole host of other symptoms. As a result, the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases often require the expertise of an autoimmune disease specialist or a functional medicine approach.
At Nava Center, we specialize in a functional and integrative approach to healthcare. Our focus is on preventing, restoring, and optimizing your health. By identifying the underlying cause of your symptoms, we create a personalized vitality plan tailored to your needs, enabling you to live life to the fullest.
Reach out to us today to schedule your autoimmune consultation and start your journey toward optimal well-being!
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Can Autoimmune Diseases Be Prevented With Lifestyle Changes?
While autoimmune diseases cannot always be prevented, certain lifestyle choices may help lower the risk or reduce symptom severity. Maintaining a balanced diet, managing stress, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep can support immune health. Avoiding known triggers, such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, may also be beneficial.
Reducing exposure to environmental toxins, managing gut health through probiotics, and incorporating anti-inflammatory foods like leafy greens and omega-3-rich fish may also contribute to a healthier immune response. Though these steps cannot eliminate the risk entirely, they can play a role in overall well-being and symptom management.
How Are Autoimmune Diseases Diagnosed in Children or Infants?
Diagnosing autoimmune diseases in children can be challenging because symptoms often overlap with common childhood illnesses. Pediatricians may use a combination of medical history, physical exams, blood tests, and imaging studies to assess immune function and identify potential autoimmune conditions.
Early detection is key to managing symptoms and preventing complications. Parents should monitor symptoms such as persistent joint pain, unexplained rashes, chronic fatigue, or digestive issues and discuss them with a healthcare provider. In some cases, a pediatric rheumatologist or immunologist may be needed for further evaluation. Prompt diagnosis and intervention can improve long-term health outcomes and quality of life.
How Do Autoimmune Diseases Affect Pregnancy and Fertility?
Autoimmune diseases can impact fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and maternal health. Conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and thyroid disease may increase the risk of pregnancy complications, including miscarriage, preterm birth, and preeclampsia. However, with proper management, many women with autoimmune diseases can have successful pregnancies.
Consulting a healthcare provider for preconception planning and ongoing monitoring is essential. Certain medications used to manage autoimmune conditions may need to be adjusted before conception to ensure the safety of both the mother and baby. Regular prenatal care, a well-balanced diet, and close monitoring of immune activity can help improve pregnancy outcomes and maternal health.
How Do Autoimmune Diseases Impact Mental Health and Emotions?
Living with an autoimmune disease can take a toll on mental health, leading to stress, anxiety, or depression. Chronic pain, fatigue, and uncertainty about symptoms can contribute to emotional distress. Support groups, therapy, and mindfulness practices can help individuals manage the psychological aspects of their condition and improve overall well-being.
The connection between autoimmune diseases and mental health is complex, as inflammation in the body can also affect brain function, contributing to mood disorders. Engaging in stress-reducing activities such as yoga, deep breathing exercises, and creative outlets can provide relief. Seeking professional support from therapists or counselors who specialize in chronic illness can also help individuals develop coping strategies and enhance emotional resilience.
What Foods Should People With Autoimmune Diseases Avoid?
Certain foods may trigger inflammation and worsen symptoms in individuals with autoimmune conditions. Processed foods, refined sugars, gluten, dairy, and nightshade vegetables (such as tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants) are common culprits. An anti-inflammatory diet rich in whole foods, healthy fats, and lean proteins may help manage symptoms. Working with a nutritionist can provide personalized dietary guidance.
Identifying food sensitivities through elimination diets or food allergy testing can also help individuals pinpoint specific triggers. Some people with autoimmune diseases find relief by following specialized diets such as the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet, which eliminates potential inflammatory foods and gradually reintroduces them to determine tolerance levels. Hydration and gut health support through fiber-rich foods and probiotics can also play a significant role in reducing inflammation and maintaining immune balance.
For a tailored approach to managing autoimmune symptoms, reach out to Nava Health. Our team offers expert support and personalized wellness strategies to help you regain control of your health.