All over the world, people suffer more from pain due to the fact that their immune systems can't discern between healthy cells and invading microorganisms. Their organs and tissue are being attacked by defenses against disease which they had previously.
This issue is being tackled by major international research efforts. One such initiative is the London's Francis Crick Institute. Two world experts, James Lee (from the United States) and Carola Vinuesa (from Italy), have established separate research groups to pinpoint the precise causes.
Lee told the Observer how the number of autoimmune cases has increased over the past 40 years in the West. However, some cases are now occurring in countries that have never had such illnesses before.
The Middle East, East Asia and Africa have had the highest rise in the number of cases of inflammatory bowel disorders in recent years. Prior to that, they had never seen the disease.
Autoimmune disorders range from type 1 diabetes to rheumatoid arthritis inflammation of the bowel and multiple sclerosis. In all instances, the immune system is activated and begins to turn on healthy tissues.
The conditions have been identified by at least 4 million people in the UK. A few sufferers could be affected by multiple. Internationally, it is currently estimated that the incidence of autoimmune diseases is rising at a rate of between 3%-9% per annum. Many researchers believe that environmental factors play the major part in this increase.
Human genetics haven't changed over the last several decades, said Lee who was working at Cambridge University. There's a possibility that something is happening in the outside world which is increasing our vulnerability to autoimmune diseases.
Vinuesa supported the idea, she was a former employee at the Australian National University. She noted that there were changes in the diet when more people ate western meals, as well as more fast food.
Vinuesa indicated that the lack of important ingredients in fast food can result in a decrease in the intake of vital nutrients, like fiber.
These changes in microbiomes lead to autoimmune disorders. There are more than 100 kinds.
Both scientists highlighted the importance of individual susceptibilities in acquiring such diseases. Celiac disease and Lupus are two additional conditions that can trigger swelling and inflammation, which can lead to damage to various organs which includes your heart.
Vinuesa says that an individual who doesn't suffer from a genetic susceptibility will not get an autoimmune condition regardless of the amount of Big Macs they consume. We can't stop the spread of fast-food chains around the world. Instead, we are focusing on understanding the genetic causes that cause autoimmune diseases and how some people are susceptible while others are not. "We would like to tackle the issue on a fundamental level."
Modern techniques mean that scientists are now able to identify small genetic differences across a wide range of individuals. It allows us to discover the common genetic traits in people with autoimmune diseases.
Lee said that until very recently we didn't have the tools to analyze DNA. But now, we have this amazing power and it has transformed everything. When I started my research in the early 1990s, we knew only about 50% of the DNA variants that are involved in the development of an inflammatory intestinal condition. Today, we have more than 250.
Such work lies at the heart of Lee and Vinuesa's efforts, which aim to find out how the various genetic pathways operate and unravel the myriad of diseases doctors are looking at. Vinuesa explained that autoimmune diseases such as Lupus, for example, can be seen in a variety of forms and could have different genetic reasons. If you're trying find the most effective treatment for your condition, this can be an issue.
There are many potential new therapies being developed, but we don’t know which patients to give them. We don't know what type of disease the patient suffers from. That is the goal of autoimmune research. It is essential to learn how to classify and categorize patients to provide them the right therapy.
Lee said that the escalating instances of autoimmune diseases around the globe meant that innovative treatments and drugs were now required more than ever before. Lee also said that there's currently no cure for the autoimmune diseases. These often are seen in children as they try to finish their education, find work, and then start families.
This means that increasing numbers of people will need undergo surgery or receive regular injections. This can be extremely stressful for patients, and also a huge strain on the health services. Hence the urgent need to find new, effective treatments.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. This means that the immune system attacks healthy tissue. It is not known exactly what causes this.
Your immune system produces antibodies that fight against viruses and bacteria. This helps you fight infection.
If you suffer from Rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system mistakenly sends antibodies to the joint lining which attack the tissue surrounding the joint.
The delicate layer of cells (synovium) that covers your joints, becomes inflamed and sore.
bones
Cartilage is the connective tissue that connects bones and is made up of cartilage.
The tendons are the tissue that connects bone to muscle
Ligaments – The tissues that connect Click here cartilage and bone
If rheumatoid doesn't get treated it will cause the joint lose its shape. Then, eventually, it will ruin the joint completely.
While there are many theories on how the immune system attacks the joint, none has been proven.
Possible risk factors
You may be at a higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis If you have the following habits:
You could inherit it from your genes. Although there are some indications that rheumatoid arthritis could be passed down the generations however, the odds of getting it are very low since genes play a minor role in the condition.
The condition is more prevalent among women than males. This could be due to estrogen-related effects, Read More however this isn't confirmed.
smoking cigarettes - some research suggests that those who smoke have a higher chance of developing rheumatoid joint