The Link Between Inflammation and Autoimmune Disorders
One of the things I have come to discover is the fact that the human body is constructed in a way that safeguards it. What do I mean by that? Once a virus gets into the bloodstream or a wound occurs on the skin, the immune system reacts quickly, transmitting signals and cells to combat the effects of the virus. Whenever something like that happens, it brings up something we always call the Inflammation.
Many years ago, I always think inflammation is a disease but as time goes on, I discovered it is not. Inflammation is not a disease, but the way of healing of the body. However, when it becomes not right, it is one of the most harmful forces within the human body. And with autoimmune disorders, autoimmune inflammation does not simply fail, but instead it attacks the very body it is intended to defend.
In order to know this relationship according to the topic today, I believe we should in the first place know what inflammation actually is. Responding to the presence of something harmful, the immune cells secrete chemical signals known as cytokines. These cytokines cause the enlargement of the blood vessels, which permits the inflow of more immune cells to go to the damaged region.
Most of the time, that particular region will turn red, hot, and swollen, this is the evidence that the immune system is active and functional. This is referred to as acute inflammation and it normally disappears when the threat has disappeared. But in the situation where the inflammation remains without a genuine danger, or it becomes chronic, it causes serious issues.
Many people tell me that chronic inflammation is not a mere medical term, but a slow fire that goes on in the body. The study conducted by The National Institutes of Health that I make research on makes me understand that chronic inflammation is currently associated with a plethora of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases.
Autoimmune diseases occur due to an error in the immunity. Rather than attacking the foreign intruders such as bacteria or viruses, it begins to attack the healthy tissues and organs. Autoimmune diseases are more than 80 in number, and they include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and Crohns disease and even many more.
The conditions are experienced by millions of individuals across the world and most of them have a single commonality, which is chronic, uncontrolled inflammation. I think it is impressive that the system that was created to support us in our life can cause so much pain in a wrong situation.
Genetics also plays a role. Some types of the genes, in particular the HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) region on chromosome 6, have a strong correlation with the increased susceptibility to autoimmune disorders. These genes assist the immune system to differentiate between the self and non-self. In case they are mutated or changed, the immune system may lose this ability and start attacking the body itself.
However, it is worth mentioning that genetics cannot be considered the only part of the story. The autoimmune responses can be triggered by environmental factors in people with genetic predisposition, e.g., infections, stress, bad dieting, and toxins. These are some of the factors that people didn't pay attention to actually. It is this interaction between the environment and the genes that makes autoimmune diseases so cumbersome and impossible to predict.
The most dangerous thing about the chronic inflammation in relation to autoimmune conditions is that it is self-feeding. The inflammatory signals recruit additional immune cells to the area which generate additional cytokines which cause more inflammation. It is the reason that many autoimmune diseases are progressive in nature, they become more and more severe unless they are suitably controlled.
I have witnessed the effects of this silent accumulation of harm that can go undetected over the years before one is eventually discovered and hence the importance of early knowledge and periodic health check-ups. The harm that is caused to the tissues and organs builds up unobtrusively until it is manifest.
Current day treatment is more of managing this inflammation. The life of most individuals with autoimmune diseases has been changed with the invention of anti-inflammatory medications, immunosuppressants, and biologic drugs.
The lifestyle modifications have also had quantifiable effects on lowering the levels of inflammatory markers in the blood, especially the use of the anti-inflammatory diet that is high in omega-3 fatty acids, fruits and vegetables. The immune system is controlled by exercise, proper sleep and stress management which in turn reduces the level of inflammation naturally.
The association between inflammation and autoimmune diseases is one of the most researched fields of contemporary medicine, and rightfully so. The knowledge about it provides the scientists and doctors with the tools to develop more effective methods of treatment, earlier diagnosis, and even preventive measures. Below I have attached some of the sources where I get the facts in this post I just wrote.
Thank you for reading.
Source
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41577-019-0131-x/cytokine-dysregulation-autoimmunity-review
https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(19)30000-7/gut-microbiome-autoimmune-disease-link