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| http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091302214000466 |
It has been estimated that approximately 23.5 million Americans currently live with hidden autoimmune diseases according to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) and spend approximately $200 billion on healthcare annually. This daunting number of people live daily with their immune systems attacking their own bodies. Autoimmune diseases essentially occur when the immune system�the line of defense that your body uses to combat viruses, bacteria, and other diseases, fails. This failure comes from our immune cells being unable to distinguish between the self and foreign invaders ultimately causing systemic inflammation.
So why is this important? Because interestingly enough, of the 23.5 million Americans, 75% of those diagnosed with autoimmune diseases are women over the age of 50. The reasoning behind this has in the past been attributed to hormonal, genetic and epigenetic susceptibility, or chromosomal differences. These diseases ultimately impact various organ systems such as kidneys, GI tract, skin, etc.
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| http://www.genengnews.com/gen-exclusives/infographic-fighting-autoimmune-diseases/77900347 |
It appears that there are still certain lifestyle choices that one may begin with to prevent the occurrence of autoimmune diseases. These include keeping up with constant check ups for hidden infections and knowing food allergies. Getting tested and making sure to take probiotics and exercise regularly is said to help as well. Moreover, leading a stress-free life is essential for keeping a healthy and functioning immune system.
Give a shout out to someone you know who is combating these autoimmune diseases and how they are living a complete life for our readers!