Are you a teenager or do you remember being one muttering how no one understood you? Have you ever experienced constant mood swings that are difficult to understand? Now that you have recalled that feeling, you can partially understand how patients with autoimmune diseases often feel. However, what exactly is an autoimmune disease?
An autoimmune disease is the result of a miswired immune system. Think of the immune system as your body’s security. When it is functioning properly, it attacks agents that cause harm to your body with the use of proteins called antibodies. These agents range from viruses and toxins to cancer cells. However, when the immune system is not working as it is supposed to, it does not differentiate between harmful substances and healthy cells.
The immune system is located in crucial areas such as the bone marrow and the lymphatic system. The bone marrow is a hematopoietic organ, an organ host of the formation of blood cells. It also produces plasma cells and antigens that contribute to the humoral immune responses, a stage of the immune system where fighting invasive agents is involved. The lymphatic system is also a crucial part of the immune system since it works as a drain to filter “the bad guys” and attack them. Because the lymphatic system is present as vessels throughout the body, the immune system can attack in different organs. Consequently, when the immune system is not functioning correctly, there is a high risk of any part of the body being attacked. According to the article titled Autoimmune disease: Why and Where it occurs, “There is an autoimmune disease specific for nearly every organ in the body, involving, usually, response to an antigen expressed only in that organ” (P Marrack, J Kappler, B L Kotzin, 2001).
According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, there are around 80 to 150 autoimmune diseases. Among this range of diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (also known as lupus), and type 1 diabetes are the most diagnosed autoimmune diseases. With all this information, you might be wondering what symptoms you should look for. There is no straightforward answer.
As a teenager, mood swings or skin problems are usually related to puberty. In a middle-aged woman, mood swings and hair loss are often related to menopause. And for an overweight man experiencing fatigue, rashes, stomach pain, and diseases related to obesity might be presented as a responsible factor. However, all these symptoms can also be considered indicators of an autoimmune disease. Does that mean that if you have rashes, you have an autoimmune disease? Not necessarily. How complicated! Individuals with autoimmune diseases experience this complexity every day of their life. Because these symptoms are usually general, a misdiagnosis can occur if no sophisticated tests are taken.
Unfortunately, many individuals discover they have an autoimmune disease only after they have already developed other complications. For example, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid gland, can lead to thyroid cancer. Yet, cancer is often detected first. It is only after extensive testing that the real cause emerges from the invisible world.
All things considered, autoimmune diseases along with its causes and symptoms are yet to be fully understood. It is important for individuals to be aware of their own bodies and the changes they experience, as well as to seek medical attention when needed. At the same time, it is of deep importance for society to understand the complexities of autoimmune diseases and the impact it has on the life of those who suffer from them. Knowledge of these “invisible conditions” helps encourage tolerance, empathy, and understanding towards patients fighting hidden battles.
References
Liao, S., & Padera, T. P. (2013). Lymphatic function and immune regulation in health and disease. Lymphatic Research and Biology, 11(3), 136–143. https://doi.org/10.1089/lrb.2013.0012
Marrack, P., Kappler, J., & Kotzin, B. L. (2001). Autoimmune disease: Why and where it occurs. Nature Medicine, 7(8), 899–905. https://doi.org/10.1038/90935
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. (2025, April 23). Autoimmune diseases. NIEHS. Retrieved August 7, 2025, from https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/conditions/autoimmune
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2023, June 12). Autoimmune disorders. MedlinePlus. Retrieved August 7, 2025, from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000816.htm
Zhao, E., Xu, H., Wang, L., Kryczek, I., Wu, K., Hu, Y., Wang, G., & Zou, W. (2012). Bone marrow and the control of immunity. Cellular & Molecular Immunology, 9(1), 11–19. https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2011.47