Helpful Tips on How to Spot Autoimmune Disorders

Your body’s immune system is fighting a battle every day! It serves as your defense system that helps keep diseases at bay. But what if the immune system starts working against you?

Sometimes, the body’s immune system starts considering healthy cells to be the enemy and attacks them. This leads to autoimmune disorders. Often, autoimmune disorders go undetected for a long time. It can happen if the symptoms are too subtle, or you mistake them to be a routine health issue.

However, if you or someone you know has an autoimmune disorder, it helps to spot the symptoms early and get a diagnosis. This may help in taking the right steps for managing the condition.

Understanding the Triggers

Autoimmune diseases are of many types. Some common ones include Hashimoto’s, lupus, vasculitis, etc. Researchers have not been able to identify the exact causes of autoimmune conditions, but they have made significant progress in understanding what can trigger an autoimmune disorder. 

For instance, there are certain genes that put you at a higher risk of developing an autoimmune condition. While having a relevant gene does not mean you certainly have an autoimmune condition, it increases your risk of developing one. 

Similarly, external factors can also trigger a condition. This includes sun exposure, certain viruses, etc. Also, certain lifestyle habits put you at risk as well. These include smoking, weight gain, etc. Your age and sex may also play a role in this regard. 

Knowing your Family History

Knowing your family history takes you one step closer to your diagnosis. For instance, if someone in your family, including your immediate family, like your parents and siblings, has a condition, it puts you at risk. Similarly, extended family, including uncles, aunts, or cousins, must also be included in your research.

Since genetics does play a role in autoimmune diseases, it is important to learn about your family’s history. Take note of your family’s health issues to assess if there are any possibilities of autoimmune issues you may not be aware of. Once you have gathered information, you can consult your healthcare provider for a proper examination.

Tracking your Symptoms

Besides tracking your family’s health history or current issues, it is also important to document your symptoms. You may have some health issues that you may not think of much or are unable to find a connection to as they may seem unrelated. 

If you have been suffering from seemingly unrelated symptoms for quite some time, you need to get further investigation. Examples of such symptoms include inflammation in your joints, hands, or feet, abdominal discomfort, skin rashes or irritation, chronic fatigue, unexplained fever, etc.

Many of these symptoms often occur due to common issues so you may be unable to connect the dots. However, if your conditions develop out of nowhere and you suddenly start getting stiffness in the joints or get a fever or rash out of nowhere, it could be a sign of an underlying condition.

Make a list of your symptoms and keep track of their frequency of occurring and when they occur. This information will help you in explaining your condition to your healthcare provider more clearly. 

Getting Diagnosed

If you develop bone or muscular pain without an injury, talk to your healthcare provider. If you have had pain in a certain body part for a long time, you must seek help.

If your instincts tell you there is a problem, but you are unable to get a proper diagnosis, it is time to dig deeper. You can get autoimmune testing done from the comfort of your home to assess if there is something wrong with your body that you are unaware of. 

If the test indicates there is a problem, it is your sign to seek definitive guidance from your healthcare provider. It may confirm your suspicions and help you seek medical help with more confidence. You may be referred to a rheumatologist who deals with inflammation in the body. They may conduct blood tests to determine if there are antibodies in your system. 

Conclusion

Knowing and accepting you have a problem can help you seek the right medical advice and treatment to manage your condition. While autoimmune disorders do not necessarily have a cure, they can be managed effectively with a few lifestyle changes and medication.

However, for this, you must be able to spot the autoimmune disorders. Sometimes, it takes a bit of work to convince your physician that there is something wrong with your body. Hence, you must investigate properly so you can advocate for your health. Always listen to your body and do not ignore the signs that there may be a problem.