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Top 5 subtle signs of autoimmune diseases

The immune system comprises various organs and cells that aim to protect the body from viruses, parasites, bacteria, and cancer cells. However, when one has an autoimmune disorder, the immune system attacks the body instead of protecting it. Today, there are over a hundred autoimmune diseases, including lupus, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. Keep reading the article to learn more about autoimmune diseases, their symptoms, and management techniques.

Symptoms of autoimmune diseases
In most cases, the early signs of autoimmune diseases can be very similar and are relatively easy to ignore, and here are some early symptoms to look out for.

Body pain
Usually, persistent pain in the muscle and joints that cannot be explained is a sign of multiple autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. So, if one experiences pain all over the body, one should not ignore it as an effect of a workout. Instead, they must focus on blood tests and X-rays to diagnose the underlying condition.

Unexplained rashes on the skin
In most cases, the skin mirrors the inflammation inside the body. So, when the level of inflammation increases, it can lead to red blotchy, itchy, and even scaly skin rashes on the body. These patches are lesser-known signs of autoimmune diseases such as lupus and psoriasis. Sometimes, eczema and acne could also indicate underlying immune system hyperactivity. The most common triggers of such conditions are gluten, dairy, and sugar.

Abdominal pain
Sometimes people experiencing abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, and bloating may believe these symptoms to be the effect of consuming takeout meals regularly. However, frequent abdominal pain is a lesser-known sign of autoimmune diseases like Crohn’s disease and Celiac disease. Hence, people experiencing such signs should consult a healthcare professional immediately. This ensures that the autoimmune disease does not cause more damage to the digestive tract.

Brain fog and fatigue
One may have an underlying autoimmune disease if one regularly experiences exhaustion or fogginess despite getting a restful 8 hours of sleep. Moreover, fatigue could be a lesser-known symptom of anemia of chronic disease – a type of low blood count that develops due to chronic inflammation in the body. Hence, in cases where brain fog and fatigue persist for a long time, one should seek medical attention at the earliest.

Hair loss
Brittle hair and hair loss are often telltale signs of an ignored underlying condition. This could also include autoimmune diseases like Alopecia areata and Graves’ disease. Furthermore, in the case of the latter, brittle hair is often accompanied by insomnia, irritability, and shaky hands. However, autoimmune diseases like Alopecia areata are conditions that strictly impact the health of the hair follicles resulting in decreased hair growth and patchy hair loss.

Parting words
Hence, people experiencing the above-mentioned lesser-known symptoms of autoimmune diseases should consult a healthcare professional. A timely intervention with a sound treatment plan and suggestive lifestyle alterations will be beneficial.

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