Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's healthy cells, organs, and tissues. There are more than 80 autoimmune diseases. Examples include multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and scleroderma. Almost 80% of people with autoimmune diseases are women, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
What are common types of autoimmune disease?
Common autoimmune diseases include alopecia areata, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, Sjögren disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, and vitiligo. There are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases, each with its own symptoms and treatments. Learn more about the types of autoimmune diseases.
How do autoimmune diseases impact the immune system?
Autoimmune diseases cause the immune system to mistakenly attack the body. It can affect healthy cells, tissues, and organs. It is unclear what causes this, but it may run in families. This may be due to a combination of shared environmental factors, immune responses, and genetics.
What is the life expectancy of someone with an autoimmune disease?
As there are many autoimmune diseases, each one may affect life expectancy differently. However, they typically do not affect life expectancy, and people can usually live a full life. A person's doctor can provide more information about their outlook based on their individual circumstances.
