pathoscribe

Written by Danielle Jayme | Art by Mollyann Caulfield

According to the Mayo Clinic, approximately 15 million people in the United States are estimated to have one or more of the 105 autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases are prevalent in society, but how many people truly know what they are? Although there is no set number of people who understand or do not understand autoimmune diseases, this article aims to educate those who want to learn more. 

What are autoimmune diseases? Autoimmune diseases are health conditions that happen when your immune system attacks your body instead of defending it (as per the Cleveland Clinic). Usually, your immune system helps detect substances (bacteria, viruses, or toxins) that shouldn’t be in your body; in this process, white blood cells are sent out to exterminate harmful substances. However, if you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system is more active than it should be, causing your body to turn on itself and attack healthy tissue. 

Are autoimmune diseases fatal? Yes, some of them are fatal. If not managed properly, autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes can fall under this category. Some conditions have more complications than others, but do not fear! While certain conditions increase the risks of fatality, there are plenty of ways to fight off these diseases. 

Is there a cure, and if not, what are ways to combat them? Unfortunately, there is no perfect panacea to cure autoimmune diseases; they’re long-term conditions that usually last someone’s entire life. However, there are ways to suppress or combat these health issues. Of course, medicine for each person and autoimmune disease will differ, but somehere are different ways that help fight off the diseases include: pain relievers, anti-inflammatory medication, immunosuppressants, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and IVIG infusions. Again, each medicine will be different for each person, since each condition and person is different.

There are 105 autoimmune diseases, and a person can have more than one,; so, what are the common ones? Well, you may have heard of tType 1 diabetes or ulcerative colitis, and while they are both well-known health conditions, I will shed some light on other common diseases. 

Autoimmune diseases affect more than one body system. These body areas and systems include: joints, muscles, skin, blood vessels, digestive system, endocrine system, and nervous system (Cleveland Clinic). For joints and muscles, common autoimmune diseases are rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and myositis. Some autoimmune diseases that affect the skin and blood vessels are Sjögren’s syndrome, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, dermatomyositis, scleroderma, vasculitis, rheumatoid vasculitis, urticarial vasculitis, and vitiligo. The digestive system can be affected by Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, and autoimmune gastritis. For the endocrine system, some autoimmune diseases are tType 1 diabetes, Addison’s disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and Graves’ disease. Finally, for the nervous system, common autoimmune diseases are multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, Gullian-barré syndrome, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.

The Mayo Clinic discovered that 15 million people, or 4.5% of the United States population, have been diagnosed with at least one autoimmune disease. 34% of those individuals were diagnosed with more than one. 

But what groups are affected more than others? The answer: females. Females, 63% of the 15 million, are twice as likely to have an autoimmune disease compared to men, 37% of the 15 million. Gender, however, isn’t the only factor that affects who has autoimmune diseases. The article from the Global Autoimmune Institute says that, “Our review continues with three additional risk factor categories, including age, ethnicity, and diseases that are not related to autoimmune diseases.” 

Specific autoimmune diseases occur at different age ranges. For example, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile dermatomyositis, type 1 diabetes, and scleroderma are diagnosed during early childhood, but Raynaud syndrome is usually only diagnosed from ages 15 to 30.

Race and ethnicity also play a part in what autoimmune disease someone can contract. Lupus and nephritis have been reported to be prevalent in African Americans. Multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and celiac disease are commonly found in people of Caucasian origin. Autoimmune hepatitis, although known to affect people of any racial or ethnic background, iswas seen mostly inaround Latino, Black, and Asian/Pacific Islander communities.

Certain pre-existing health conditions also increase the risk of someone developing an autoimmune disease. For instance, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high CRP levels are all conditions that increase the risk for autoimmune diseases.

What are ways someone can support or raise awareness for people who have autoimmune diseases? There are plenty of organizations that support and help raise awareness for autoimmune diseases. In this section of the article, I will list the organizations that help fund research and raise awareness for people who have autoimmune diseases. 

“The Autoimmune Association is the world’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to autoimmune awareness, advocacy, education, and research.” This small excerpt is the organization’s message of what they do. If you’re willing to help the Autoimmune Association, they have a section on their website that tells you how to get involved! There are opportunities for groups, individuals, and donations for those who are willing to support their mission in aiding people who have autoimmune diseases.

“The mission of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation is to cure Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases.” This is the mission statement that Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation has put on their website! The most important takeaway from this is that they support the individuals, not just adults but also children, who have been affected by Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Much like the Autoimmune Association, Crohn’s & Colitis also has a ‘Get Involved’ page for those who are interested in raising awareness or donating!

A large demographic of the U.S. has to battle autoimmune diseases. The importance of this, however, is to inform those who want to be educated and support the patients suffering from autoimmune diseases. It is vital for you, as an individual, to understand and sympathize with patients who are affected by these health conditions for the rest of their lives. Educate yourself and others, raise awareness for the people affected by autoimmune diseases, and, most importantly, support the individuals with these health conditions who need it the most.

Works Cited:

Autoimmune Association: Autoimmune Disease Awareness, Advocacy, Education & Research, https://autoimmune.org/about-us/. Accessed 28 May 2025.

“Autoimmune Diseases: Types, Symptoms & Treatments.” Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21624-autoimmune-diseases. Accessed 28 May 2025.

Chiavolini, Damiana. “Age, Ethnicity, and Unexpected Conditions in Autoimmune Risk Factors.” Global Autoimmune Institute, 31 May 2024, http://www.autoimmuneinstitute.org/articles/age-ethnicity-and-unexpected-connections-in-autoimmune-risk-factors/. Accessed 28 May 2025.

De Widt, Lynda. “New study calculates autoimmune disease prevalence in U.S.” Mayo Clinic News Network, 6 January 2025, http://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/new-study-calculates-autoimmune-disease-prevalence-in-u-s/. Accessed 28 May 2025.

“Our Mission and Core Values.” Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/about/mission. Accessed 28 May 2025.