Autoimmune disease, a group of chronic diseases that can affect all systems of the body, is more common in women than it is in men. Clustering in families, they are among the top 10 causes of death in women younger than 65 years old and are on the rise in the United States and other parts of the world.

Each person has an immune system, a natural defense against illness. There are instances when immune cells attack the body rather than foreign invaders. This is normal and even harmless, according to research.

People with autoimmune diseases have an overactive immune response that damages their body. There are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases, including type-1 diabetes, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease and multiple sclerosis. Although all autoimmune diseases are caused by the immune system they can cause symptoms in any area of the body. Crohn’s disease, for example, affects the gut while rheumatoidarthritis affects the joints.

50 million Americans are affected by autoimmune diseases, but most Americans can’t name one. Many doctors fail to recognize autoimmune diseases.

A study done by the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Associations (AARDA), found that an average patient visits more than four doctors within four years of being diagnosed. Though autoimmune disease affects more women than men, President John F. Kennedy also suffered from the condition. AARDA also found that 44.6 percent of patients had been told by their doctors prior to diagnosis that they were not suffering from any real medical problems.

Autoimmune disease can be caused by genetic and environmental factors, according to researchers. Researchers also believe that autoimmune disorders worldwide are on the rise.

“Studies show that the incidence of multiple sclerosis in Padova, Italy, has risen from less than 100,000 cases in 1979 to over 400,000 in 1999,”Virginia T. Ladd (AARDA Executive Director) “In Finland, incidence of type-1 diabetes has more than doubled in children in the past 30 years. Additionally, celiac disease is more than four times more common today in the U.S. than it was 50 years ago.”

It’s vital that general practitioners, who are often the first to see patients with autoimmune disorders, become more familiar with their symptoms as they become more common. Women should also be aware of the potential problems that autoimmune diseases can cause.

Visit this site for more information www.aarda.orgOr call 1-800-598-4688