Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month

There are approximately 23.5 million Americans living with an autoimmune disease. Many professionals have referred to this increasing number as an “invisible epidemic.” Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s natural defense system can no longer tell the difference between your body’s own cells and foreign cells, causing your body to attack normal cells. Examples of autoimmune diseases include lupus, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes and alopecia. Symptoms of these diseases can be moderate or severe. They can be treatable or untreatable. Most autoimmune diseases typically come in pairs, so if someone is diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, there is a chance they’re living with a second, undiagnosed one. What I’m trying to say is that autoimmune diseases can be very unpredictable in nature, and they affect everyone who has them differently.

What concerns me the most about autoimmune diseases is the lack of public attention toward these diseases and finding better treatments, or maybe even cures. More and more people are being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, and it seems like few people are talking about it. Chances are many of you know someone living with an autoimmune disease whether they or you know it or not. Some people are open about their struggle, or you can notice some of their physical symptoms. Others may be fighting their daily battle quietly and may appear perfectly healthy, even though they’re struggling with a serious threat to their health.

The month of March has been designated as the National Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month, which coincidentally coincides with Women’s History Month. Women are two times more likely than men to develop an autoimmune disease in their lifetime. I encourage anyone reading this to do your own research into autoimmune diseases so that you can learn more about an issue that’s becoming more and more prevalent in our society. 

If you have an autoimmune disease, you’re not going through this alone. If you are struggling with your daily battle, please consider joining a support group that can connect you with other patients and families and friends of patients and caregivers. If you know someone with an autoimmune disease or just want a way you can help, please consider making a donation to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) this month. You can help the AARDA in their goal to eradicate autoimmune diseases and to alleviate the suffering and socioeconomic impact of autoimmune diseases.

By Evan Majors