Autoimmune Diseases: Types, Symptoms, Causes, and More

Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which your immune system mistakenly damages healthy cells in your body. Types include rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and some thyroid conditions.Your immune system usually protects you from diseases and infections. When it senses these pathogens, it creates specific cells to target foreign cells.Usually, your immune system can tell the difference between foreign cells and your cells.But if you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system mistakes parts of your body, such as your joints or skin, as foreign. It releases proteins called autoantibodies that attack healthy cells.Some autoimmune diseases target only one organ. Type 1 diabetes damages your pancreas. Other conditions, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, or lupus, can affect your whole body.Below we provide an overview of some of the most common autoimmune diseases.What can cause autoimmune disease?Doctors don’t know exactly what causes the immune system to misfire. Yet some peo...