Autoimmune Disorders

What is Autoimmune Disorders?

Autoimmune disorders happen when your immune system attacks your own healthy cells by mistake. Your immune system is designed to protect you from bacteria, viruses, and other threats. In autoimmune conditions, it gets confused and targets your own tissues instead.

There are more than 80 types of autoimmune disorders affecting different parts of the body. Common examples include rheumatoid arthritis, which affects the joints, lupus, which can affect many organs, type 1 diabetes, which attacks insulin-producing cells, and celiac disease, which damages the small intestine. Some autoimmune disorders affect one specific organ, while others can impact multiple body systems at once.

These conditions are often chronic, meaning they last a long time and require ongoing management. The good news is that early detection through blood testing can help you understand what is happening in your body. This allows you to work with your healthcare team to manage symptoms and protect your health.

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Symptoms

Persistent fatigue that does not improve with rest
Joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
Skin rashes or changes in skin appearance
Digestive problems including bloating, diarrhea, or stomach pain
Recurring low-grade fevers
Muscle weakness or aches
Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
Numbness or tingling in hands and feet
Hair loss or changes in hair texture
Unexplained weight changes

Many people with autoimmune disorders experience symptoms that come and go in cycles called flares. Some people have very mild symptoms for years before getting diagnosed. Others may feel generally unwell without one obvious symptom standing out.

Causes and risk factors

Autoimmune disorders develop from a combination of genetic factors and environmental triggers. If you have family members with autoimmune conditions, you have a higher risk of developing one yourself. Certain genes make your immune system more likely to misidentify your own cells as threats. Women are affected more often than men, with about 80 percent of autoimmune disorder cases occurring in women.

Environmental factors that may trigger autoimmune responses include infections, certain medications, exposure to toxins or chemicals, smoking, and chronic stress. Diet also plays a role, with some foods triggering inflammation or intestinal permeability, sometimes called leaky gut. This can allow particles to enter the bloodstream and activate the immune system. Other risk factors include vitamin D deficiency, obesity, and exposure to certain viruses or bacteria early in life.

How it's diagnosed

Autoimmune disorders are diagnosed through a combination of blood tests, symptom evaluation, and physical examination. Blood tests can detect specific antibodies that indicate your immune system is attacking your own tissues. For example, tissue transglutaminase antibodies help diagnose celiac disease, while elevated immunoglobulin G levels can point to conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

Rite Aid offers specialized antibody testing that can help identify markers of autoimmune activity. Our tests include gliadin antibodies for celiac disease screening, tissue transglutaminase antibodies, immunoglobulin G levels, and cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase 1A antibodies. Getting tested at one of our 2,000 Quest Diagnostics locations nationwide makes it easy to understand what is happening in your body. Early detection through blood work helps you and your doctor create a personalized treatment plan.

Treatment options

Anti-inflammatory diet focusing on whole foods, vegetables, healthy fats, and lean proteins
Elimination of potential food triggers such as gluten, dairy, or processed foods
Stress management through meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises
Regular moderate exercise to reduce inflammation and improve energy
Quality sleep of 7 to 9 hours per night to support immune regulation
Vitamin D supplementation if levels are low
Omega-3 fatty acids to help reduce inflammation
Immunosuppressive medications prescribed by your doctor to calm the immune response
Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation during flares
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis
Biologic medications that target specific parts of the immune system
Working with a functional medicine doctor to address root causes

Frequently asked questions

The most common autoimmune disorders include rheumatoid arthritis, which causes joint inflammation, and type 1 diabetes, which affects insulin production. Celiac disease, triggered by gluten, and lupus, which can affect many organs, are also widespread. Hashimoto's thyroiditis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease affect millions of people worldwide.

Most autoimmune disorders cannot be fully cured, but they can be managed effectively with the right approach. Many people achieve remission, meaning they have few or no symptoms for extended periods. Treatment focuses on reducing inflammation, managing symptoms, and preventing flares. A combination of medication, lifestyle changes, and stress management often produces the best results.

Blood tests detect specific antibodies that show your immune system is attacking your own tissues. Tests like tissue transglutaminase antibodies identify celiac disease, while elevated immunoglobulin G levels can indicate conditions like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Other markers include gliadin antibodies and cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase 1A antibodies. Your doctor may order multiple tests to get a clear picture of your immune activity.

Many people with autoimmune conditions benefit from avoiding gluten, dairy, processed sugars, and refined oils. Nightshade vegetables like tomatoes and peppers can trigger some people, though this varies by individual. An elimination diet can help you identify your personal triggers. Focus on eating anti-inflammatory foods like leafy greens, wild-caught fish, berries, and healthy fats from avocados and olive oil.

Women develop autoimmune disorders about three times more often than men due to hormonal and genetic factors. Estrogen can enhance immune responses, which may increase the risk of the immune system becoming overactive. X chromosome genes also play a role in immune function. Pregnancy, menstruation, and menopause can all trigger or worsen autoimmune symptoms due to hormonal fluctuations.

Chronic stress does not directly cause autoimmune disorders, but it can trigger their onset in people who are already genetically predisposed. Stress hormones like cortisol affect how your immune system functions and can increase inflammation. Many people report that their first autoimmune flare happened during or after a particularly stressful life event. Managing stress through relaxation techniques and lifestyle changes is an important part of treatment.

If you have symptoms or a family history of autoimmune disease, initial testing can help establish a baseline. Once diagnosed, your doctor may recommend testing every 3 to 6 months to monitor disease activity and treatment response. Regular testing helps catch flares early and allows your healthcare team to adjust your treatment plan. Rite Aid offers convenient testing at Quest Diagnostics locations nationwide.

Many people achieve significant symptom reduction or remission through diet and lifestyle changes, though results vary by condition and individual. An anti-inflammatory diet, stress management, quality sleep, and regular exercise can reduce immune system activation. Some people are able to reduce or eliminate medications with their doctor's guidance. However, you should never stop prescribed medications without consulting your healthcare provider.

About 70 percent of your immune system lives in your gut, making gut health critical for immune regulation. Intestinal permeability, sometimes called leaky gut, allows undigested food particles and toxins to enter the bloodstream. This can trigger immune responses and inflammation. Healing the gut through diet, probiotics, and removing inflammatory foods is a key strategy in functional medicine approaches to autoimmune disease.

Yes, having one autoimmune disorder increases your risk of developing others, a phenomenon called polyautoimmunity. For example, people with celiac disease have higher rates of thyroid disorders and type 1 diabetes. This happens because the underlying immune system dysfunction that causes one autoimmune condition can affect other body systems. Regular monitoring and testing help detect new autoimmune activity early.