Autoimmune Diseases
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There are over 100 autoimmune diseases known to the medical community. While many of them seem to be very different, and can affect any part of the body, the cause is the same. Autoimmune disease is a condition that results from an anomalous response of the immune system. It mistakenly targets and attacks healthy, functioning parts of the body as if they were foreign organisms. Autoimmune diseases are becoming more prevalent, and on June 23, 2023, the Lancet published the results of a recent study stating, "Autoimmune diseases affect approximately one in ten individuals, and their burden continues to increase over time at varying rates across individual diseases. The socioeconomic, seasonal, and regional disparities observed among several autoimmune disorders in our study suggest environmental factors in disease pathogenesis. The inter-relations between autoimmune diseases are commensurate with shared pathogenetic mechanisms or predisposing factors, particularly among connective tissue diseases and among endocrine diseases." Patients with one autoimmune disease are much more likely than the general population to be diagnosed with an additional autoimmune condition. While there are many treatments and medications which can assist symptoms, there is no cure at this time for autoimmune diseases. The treating specialist type will vary depending on the autoimmune disease being treated. Your primary care doctor will be able to direct you to the proper specialist.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes is a condition where the body is not able to make insulin. Insulin assists blood sugar in entering into cells for energy. Without enough insulin, sugar in the blood builds up and causes damage to the body. Contrary to some reports, Type 1 Diabetes can begin at any age. This is also true of type 2 Diabetes, although type 2 is not an autoimmune disease. Like many autoimmune diseases, type 1 diabetes is not easy to diagnose. It may take years to diagnose because damage to one's body may take a while to build up. Confirmation of the diagnosis is fairly simple; a blood sugar test and a test for autoantibodies will confirm the diagnosis. Type 1 Diabetes is managed by supplementing insulin. It's also important to eat healthy, remain active and physically fit, control blood pressure, and maintain a healthy cholesterol level. If you have type 1 diabetes, you're not alone. Here are some celebrities with type 1 diabetes: 1. Nick Jonas 2. Sonia Sotomayor 3. Jean Smart 4. Victor Garber 5. Brett Michaels
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Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis, like other autoimmune diseases, is a result of the body mistakenly attacking itself. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), damage is most commonly found in the joints, but it can also cause damage to the organs. Symptoms of RA include painful and swollen joints, fatigue, low-grade fever, and loss of appetite. RA is diagnosed by taking a medical history, performing a physical exam, doing imaging studies, and taking lab tests. One of the things tested for is Rheumatoid factor (RF). RF is an antibody present in most, but not all, cases of RA. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you're not alone. Here are some celebrities with RA: 1. Kathleen Turner 2. James Coburn 3. Tatum O'Neal 4.Terry Bradshaw 5. Glenn Frey
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Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are diseases which affect the skin, joints, and other organs. Plaque psoriasis causes dry skin lesions on any part of the body. Although the disease often begins with skin lesions, it may progress in a matter of years to include psoriatic arthritis. There are instances in which either may exist without the other. Plaque psoriasis presents as a skin condition with a rash the is found on any part of the body as an often red, scaly rash that often has a silvery or gray scale. The most common symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include swollen and painful joints, particularly in fingers and toes, and lower back pain. It also may cause fingernail and toenail damage and eye inflammation. See a doctor if these symptoms persist. Although there is no cure for this condition there are medications which can help. If you have psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis, you're not alone. Here are some celebrities with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis: 1. Jonathan Van Ness 2. Kim Kardashian 3. Ted Danson 4. Stacy London 5. Phil Mickelson
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Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease which usually presents itself between the ages of 20-40, however it can appear at any age. MS is a disease which causes the immune system to eat away at the protective covering of nerves. While some people with MS have severe symptoms, there are those who only show mild impairment. Some symptoms which may indicate MS include fatigue, numbness and tingling, loss of balance with dizziness, stiffness and spasms, bladder problems, and difficulty with memory and thinking. As with other autoimmune diseases, there is no cure. However, there are treatments to help speed the recovery from attacks, modify the course of the disease and manage symptoms. If you have multiple sclerosis, you're not alone. Here are some celebrities with MS: 1. Christina Applegate 2. Jack Osbourne 3. Terri Garr 4. Exene Cervenka 5. Richard Pryor
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Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks its own tissues. SLE can affect the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels. As with other autoimmune diseases, there is no cure at this point, but there are medications and other treatments that will improve quality of life. SLE symptoms vary, but can include fatigue, joint pain, rash, and fever. Symptoms may periodically get worse (called a Flare), and then improve. The most common symptom is a red facial rash that resembles the wings of a butterfly across both cheeks. This rash is present in many, but not all, cases of lupus. If you have systemic lupus erythematosus, you're not alone. Here are some celebrities with SLE: 1. Selena Gomez 2. Nick Cannon 3. Seal 4. Lady Gaga 5. Toni Braxton
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) describes the presence of Crohn's disease and/or ulcerative colitis. Both conditions cause by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract which may cause permanent damage to the digestive system. Although uncommon, it is possible to have both Chron's and ulcerative colitis. A) Crohn's disease affects the entire digestive system and can cause abdominal pain and cramping, diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, fatigue, and diarrhea. Although Chron's primarily affects the digestive system, there may be additional symptoms such as joint pain, eye inflammation, and skin inflammation. B) Ulcerative colitis (UC) affects the lining of the large intestine. UC causes abnormal reactions of the immune system, creating inflammation and ulcers on the inner lining of the large intestine. The most common symptoms of IBD are Abdominal pain, diarrhea sometimes with blood), bowel urgency with possible, fecal incontinence, rectal bleeding, weight loss, fever, anemia, and malnutrition for patients who develop IBD as children. If you have inflammatory bowel disease, you're not alone. Here are some celebrities with IBS: 1. Shannen Doherty 2. Amy Brenneman 3. Pete Davidson 4. Audra McDonald 5. Dan Reynolds
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Addison's Disease
Addison's Disease if one of the rarer autoimmune diseases. It primarily affects the adrenal glands. This autoimmune disease causes damage to the adrenal glands which, as a result, produce insufficient amounts of the hormone cortisol and sometimes, aldosterone. Addison's manifests itself particularly when the body is under stress. Under stress, the deficiency of cortisol can result in a life-threatening Addisonian crisis characterized by low blood pressure. Symptoms of Addison's tend to be non-specific and include fatigue, nausea, darkening of the skin, and dizziness upon standing. There is no cure for Addison's, but symptoms can be treated with medication. If you have Addison's disease, you're not alone. Here are some celebrities with Addison's: 1. John F. Kennedy 2. Sushmita Sen 3. Helen Reddy 4. Jane Austen
Graves' Disease
Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease which affects the thyroid and creates overactivity of that gland (hyperthyroidism). While there are many causes of hyperthyroidism, Grave's is a common cause. Because thyroid hormones affect many bodily systems, the symptoms can vary widely. The list of symptoms includes anxiety and irritability, fine tremor of the hands or fingers, heat sensitivity with an increase in perspiration or warm moist skin, weight loss despite normal eating habits, enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter), a change in menstrual cycle, erectile dysfunction or reduced libido, frequent bowel movements, bulging eyes, fatigue, thick red skin usually on the shins or tops of the feet, rapid or irregular heartbeat, and sleep disturbance. Treatment of Graves' aims to reduce the amount of thyroid hormones that the body produces and lessen the severity of symptoms. If you have Grave's disease, you're not alone. Here are some celebrities with Graves: 1. Missy Elliot 2. George HW Bush 3. Marty Feldman 4. Sia Furler
Sjögren’s disease
Sjogren's disease, also called Sjögren’s syndrome, predominantly affects women. It affects the bodily glands that produce and control bodily moisture. Women are diagnosed more commonly than men. Sjögren’s usually occurs between ages 45 and 55. The primary symptoms of Sjögren’s disease are dry eyes and mouth. Additional symptoms may include Joint pain, swollen salivary glands, skin rashes or dry skin, vaginal dryness, persistent dry cough, and prolonged fatigue. To diagnose Sjögren’s, your doctor will do blood tests and test your eyes and salivary glands. As with other autoimmune diseases, treatment is aimed towards alleviating symptoms because there is no cure, something that is true of all autoimmune diseases. If you have Sjögren’s disease, you're not alone. Here are some celebrities with Sjögren’s: 1. Venus Williams 2. Shannon Boxx 3. Nina Rawls
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Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune disorder which affects the thyroid gland. Hashimoto's disease is also known as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, and chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland on the front of the neck under the voice box. It produces hormones that help regulate many functions in the body. It affects mostly women, although men have been diagnosed. It can begin at any age. For many, symptoms of Hashimoto's start with development of a goiter, a swelling of the thyroid gland that makes the neck look enlarged. Other symptoms that develop may include fatigue, lethargy and excessive sleeping, mild weight gain, constipation, dry skin, feeling cold, a slow heart rate, joint stiffness and muscle pain, dry, brittle hair; slow hair growth; or hair loss, and low or depressed mood. In Hashimoto's disease, immune-system cells lead to the death of the thyroid's hormone-producing cells. It is diagnosed through thyroid function and and antibody tests. Treatment consists of hormone replacement therapy. If you have Hashimoto's disease, you're not alone. Here are some celebrities with Hashimoto's 1. Zoe Saldana 2. Oprah Winfrey 3. Kelly Clarkson 4. Missy Elliott 5. Leona Lewis