Can an autoimmune person experience other autoimmune diseases?

Autoimmune is defined as a condition in which the immune system fails to perform its normal function. This autoimmune disorder can cause various diseases, which are then known as autoimmune diseases. When a person has one type of autoimmune disease, is there a higher tendency to develop other types of autoimmune disease?

Do autoimmune diseases have a tendency to cause other autoimmune conditions?

Autoimmune disease still feels foreign to the ear and is not "as popular as" other diseases. Take for example, such as flu, dengue fever, diarrhea, and so on.

But in fact, there are more than 80 types of autoimmune diseases with various symptoms that are different from one another. Beforehand, it should be noted that autoimmune diseases can be broadly grouped into two categories.

First, specific organ autoimmune diseases, and second, systemic autoimmune diseases. As the name implies, specific organ autoimmune diseases attack exactly one organ of the body, for example vitiligo on the skin.

Conversely, systemic autoimmune diseases can attack all parts of the body's organs, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and ankylosing spondylitis.

Usually, one person only has one type of autoimmune disease. However, if you have an autoimmune disease, you are more likely than normal people to develop other types of autoimmune disease.

For example, types of autoimmune diseases that can occur together are rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with Sjogren's Syndrome, or Sjo¨gren's Syndrome with lupus.

As for the cause of an autoimmune disease, the risk of causing other autoimmune diseases is not certain. The main cause is thought to be due to genetic factors, accompanied by environmental factors such as viral infections, bacteria, smoking, and exposure to certain chemicals that also play a role.

Is there any autoimmune disease whose symptoms are more severe?

Indeed, someone who has autoimmune disease has a higher tendency than normal people to experience other types of autoimmune diseases. However, these cases may come together, or separately.

In a sense, one type of autoimmune disease may present first, then make you experience another autoimmune disease. On the other hand, the two can appear close together or almost simultaneously, but with a different set of symptoms.

Likewise, the severity of the symptoms can be both severe and one disease is more dominant. Again, as I have previously mentioned.

Someone who has experienced one type of autoimmune disease has a higher tendency than normal people to develop other autoimmune diseases.

Well, here are the different symptoms of RA autoimmune disease, lupus, and Sjogren's Syndrome:

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Early symptoms of RA include the appearance of pain and stiffness in the fingers, especially in the morning. These complaints will usually improve on their own after finishing physical activity.

However, if not treated immediately, RA can damage joints throughout the body. In addition, bones can also be damaged. Over time, this condition can cause disruption and deformity in the joints.

Symptoms of lupus

Early symptoms of lupus are characterized by chronic pain in the joints, mouth sores, hair loss, facial redness, skin abnormalities, pale face, and fever.

The longer it is treated, lupus risks causing damage to vital organs of the body. For example the heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain.

Symptoms of Sjogren's Syndrome

Early symptoms of Sjogren's Syndrome include joint pain, weakness, and dry eyes and mouth. This autoimmune disease must also be treated immediately.

Because if not, it can result in damage to the eyes and teeth, to disturbances in other organs, for example the lungs and kidneys.

Can this autoimmune disease be cured?

After knowing that someone who has an autoimmune disease has a higher tendency to develop other autoimmune diseases, you may wonder about the possibility of a cure.

Well, in principle, there is no cure for autoimmune disease. It's just that, you can breathe easier because autoimmune diseases can still be controlled with medication.

This treatment process aims to prevent further damage to the organs of the body, as well as to help you reach the remission phase.

The remission phase is a condition when the symptoms of an autoimmune disease are in a stable state. This means that you don't experience the various symptoms that you normally experience.

But again, this doesn't mean you are healed. Because this treatment is in charge of controlling the progress of the disease, and not completely restoring it.

Well, treatment when you experience an autoimmune disease can be divided into two types, namely:

• Medication to relieve symptoms. For example, painkillers or steroid drugs in small doses.
• Medicines to affect or slow the progression of the disease. For example, the drug methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, sulfasalcin, cyclophosphamide, and biological agents.

Unfortunately, I often encounter cases of autoimmune disease patients whose conditions are quite severe. This usually occurs because the patient is getting the second type of drug late and is only getting symptom relief medication.

In fact, the second type of drug is no less important because it works to slow the progression of the disease.

Is there any taboo if you have two types of autoimmune diseases?

So far, not all types of autoimmune diseases can be prevented. The action you can take is in the form of early detection, which can then help prevent the progression of the disease from getting worse in the future.

What you can and shouldn't do after being diagnosed with two types of autoimmune diseases at once usually depends on the type of disease you have.

In essence, adopting a healthy lifestyle, eating regularly, eating less meat and fatty foods, eating more vegetables, can help maintain the condition of your body.

Don't forget to exercise regularly, control stress, and take regular medication while adhering to the recommendations of your rheumatologist. All of these ways at least can help inhibit disease progression.

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