Five Autoimmune Disorder Symptoms You Should Not Ignore
Your immune system is one of your body’s most powerful assets, attacking invading bacteria and keeping you strong and healthy.
But what happens when the immune system stops working properly? Sometimes diseases and genetic conditions cause your immune system to begin attacking itself. This is known as an autoimmune disease.
Currently, doctors have identified over 100 autoimmune diseases. Some autoimmune disease symptoms involve the joints, skin, and muscles. Others affect you more internally and disrupt your digestion and nervous system.
Unfortunately, many autoimmune disorders are mis-diagnosed as other diseases and disorders. If your health is struggling and you feel fatigued, achy, and sick without a clear cause, then it’s imperative to realize that you may be experiencing autoimmune disorder symptoms.
The Top Five Autoimmune Disorder Symptoms
1. General Symptoms
Many autoimmune disorder symptoms are specific to certain body parts. However, autoimmune diseases like Type 1 diabetes, vasculitis, myasthenia gravis, and pernicious anemia affect the general body.
Here’s a list of general autoimmune disorder symptoms to look out for:
- Sensitivity to temperature
- Chest pain
- Difficulty catching your breath
- Weight gain or weight loss
- Pain
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Heart palpitations or other heartbeat irregularities
- Swollen glands
Many of these symptoms are common to other diseases or conditions, making it difficult to exactly pinpoint whether you’re suffering from an autoimmune disease or something else. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your doctor and remember that autoimmune diseases could be the culprit.
2. Skin Symptoms
Other autoimmune disorder symptoms manifest topically. They affect the skin, hair, and nails. Be mindful of the following symptoms:
- Dry eyes, mouth, or skin
- Inflammation
- Hair loss
- Rash
- Itching
If you experience any of these symptoms, you may be suffering from an autoimmune disease such as psoriasis and dermatomyositis.
3. Nerve Symptoms
Some autoimmune diseases specifically affect the nervous system and attack nerve cells, inhibiting their function. Multiple sclerosis (MS), myasthenia gravis, and Guillain-Barre syndrome are three types of autoimmune diseases targeting the nerves.
The following symptoms have been attributed to nervous system autoimmune diseases:
- Migraines or headaches
- Poor mental health
- Memory inhibition
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Brain fog
- Blurred vision
- Insomnia
- Numbness
- Tingling
Nerve symptoms are serious and should be reported immediately to a trusted healthcare provider, such as a functional medicine doctor.
4. Structural Symptoms
Many autoimmune disorder symptoms impact the body’s structural functions. Lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome, psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis affect the body in the following ways:
- Weak muscles
- Pain in muscles and joints
- Stiff or swollen joints
- Inflammation
Injury, aging, and poor lifestyle choices may also result in some of these symptoms. However, a healthcare provider can help identify if an autoimmune disease is affecting your body.
5. Digestion Symptoms
Many individuals experience gastrointestinal discomfort or pain due to food allergies, reactions to medication, or other forms of inflammation. However, autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease also impact the digestive system, resulting in the following symptoms:
- Food sensitivities or allergies
- Nausea
- Bloating
- Abdominal pain
- Acid reflux
- Constipation
- Stool containing blood or mucus
If you experience any of these symptoms, don’t hesitate to reach out to your functional medicine doctor for help.
Functional Medicine and Autoimmune Disorders
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms that might indicate an autoimmune disorder, don’t hesitate to reach out to a trusted functional medicine practice like True Life Medicine. While conventional doctors focus on treating symptoms, functional medicine doctors seek to identify and heal the root of the issue.
Functional medicine doctors believe there’s more to life than simply managing your symptoms. We want to help your body reach complete healing. Your functional medicine doctor is your healthcare partner, addressing the root cause behind your autoimmune disorder.
New True Life Medicine patients will first schedule a free, 15-minute Discovery Call. This gives our doctors a chance to assess your health status, concerns, and goals. We’ll also break down our treatment methods and pair you with a personalized treatment plan.
Next, a True Life Medicine patient meets with Dr. James for an in-depth health consultation. He will help you identify the key results you want to achieve while working with us.
After getting to know your history, health goals, and unique situation, we’ll get you started with a healthcare plan. We have innovative technology and testing facilities used to collect data about your health. All of these methods will help us pinpoint whether or not your symptoms are rooted in an autoimmune disorder.
Functional medicine doctors like the ones at True Life Medicine often address nutrition and activity levels to find the sources of your autoimmune disorder. Other holistic methods include acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, and massage to provide relief and help restore and balance your body’s immune system.
Next Steps for Treating Autoimmune Disorder Symptoms
The doctors at True Life Medicine are here to help you address your autoimmune disorder symptoms. Once we diagnose your health condition, we’ll devote attention and care to your unique situation. We may advise diet changes, prescribe supplements, or run lab testing. You can book a free 15-minute consult call to see if we’re a good fit for you.
