Discover the top five autoimmune diseases affecting individuals across different age groups. From rheumatoid arthritis to lupus and psoriasis, learn about symptoms, risk factors, and treatments of these common conditions that result from the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy tissues.

Common Autoimmune Diseases Affecting People of All Ages

The environment around us contains various factors that can influence our health, either positively or negatively. When harmful substances invade our body, our immune system acts as a defense mechanism to prevent infections. A healthy immune system helps keep us free from illness. However, in some cases, it malfunctions and mistakenly attacks healthy tissues, leading to autoimmune diseases.

Autoimmune conditions develop when the immune system targets the body's own cells instead of harmful pathogens.

According to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), around 50 million Americans are affected by one or more autoimmune disorders. Here are five prevalent autoimmune illnesses that impact many individuals.

Rheumatoid Arthritis- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease marked by intense joint pain and swelling. The immune system attacks joint tissues, causing inflammation. Women over 40 are most at risk. Treatments focus on reducing joint damage and preventing bone erosion.

Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)- Lupus is a multifaceted autoimmune condition with symptoms resembling other illnesses, making diagnosis difficult. It involves abnormal antibody production attacking tissues like skin, joints, lungs, kidneys, nerves, and blood vessels. A characteristic butterfly-shaped rash may appear on the face.

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis- Although RA usually affects adults over 40, children up to 16 can develop juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. It causes significant joint pain and, if untreated, may continue into adulthood.

Psoriasis- Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disorder caused by an overly active immune response. Excess T-cell activity speeds up skin cell growth, leading to thick, scaly, silver patches on the skin.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis)- This autoimmune disorder targets the intestinal lining, causing symptoms like stomach pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fever, and weight loss. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the primary types of inflammatory bowel disease.