Autoimmune Disorders in Women

As May is National Women’s Health Month, it’s a good time to be aware of autoimmune disorders and also how they can impact women.

• Autoimmune disorders appear to be on the rise in the U.S.
• Women make up an overwhelming majority of the diagnoses, surprisingly 80% of patients are female.

• Autoimmune disorders
  • Autoimmune disorders are any condition in which the immune system attacks the body.
  • There are no cures for autoimmune disorders, but treatments may be available, depending on the situation.
  • Some common autoimmune disorders include: Grave’s disease, Guillain-Barre syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis

• Diagnosing autoimmune disorders
  • Many autoimmune disorders have the same early symptoms, and they may flare up or go away during different times. Here are some common symptoms:

• Achy muscles
• Low-grade fever
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue
• Hair loss 

• Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet

• Skin rash
• Swelling or redness

• Health Care providers use these symptoms, in addition to tests and a physical exam, to aid in the diagnosis of an autoimmune disorder.
  • Since they’re very common, the symptoms alone are not specific enough to be diagnostic. While a professional examination is recommended, it’s important to remember there’s not a single test that can be used to diagnose any one autoimmune disorder.

• Women are more affected
  • There are no clear answers to why women are predominantly affected by autoimmune disorders, but scientists have some clues: genetics, hormones and pregnancy.

By Dr. Patricia Ferguson, M.D., physician consultant, Senior Health Services, Emergent Holdings, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Read more articles from A Healthier Michigan.