Aroundtown Magazine July/August 2022

HEALTH & BEAUTY
You&your
health
With Good Measure Pharmacy
Why is my body
attacking itself?
In the UK, there are four million people living
with an autoimmune condition, whereby the
immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s
healthy tissues.
Normally, the immune system
guards against germs such as
bacteria and viruses. When it
senses an invader, it sends out
an army of fighter cells, aka
the immune response. With an
autoimmune condition, healthy cells
and tissues get caught up in the
response, affecting the joints, skin
or organs.
Medics still don’t know for sure
why the body attacks itself, but
genetic and environmental factors
are thought to contribute to a
person’s likelihood of developing an
autoimmune condition.
A higher number of women have
an autoimmune condition, possibly
due to increased hormone levels
during childbearing years. Ethnicity
can also play a part in someone
having an increased risk of certain
autoimmune conditions; lupus, for
example, is more common in black
and Asian backgrounds. Genetics
can play a part, for instance if a
close family member has multiple
sclerosis, your risk will increase.
Lifestyle can also impact a person’s
risk; being overweight is linked to
rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis.
There are more than 80
autoimmune conditions that all
impact a person’s life differently.
They can be difficult to diagnose,
and some people can develop more
than one.
Symptoms can flare up due to
certain triggers, followed by periods
of remission.
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General symptoms include:
• Fatigue
• Joint pain/swelling
• Skin problems
• Abdominal pain and
digestive issues
• Recurring fever
• Swollen glands
• Muscle aches
• Pins and needles
• Hair loss
• Lack of concentration
People with autoimmune
conditions may need
immunosuppressants or antiinflammatory
medication to
control the immune system and
inflammation. They may also
be referred to a specialist to
monitor their condition, such as a
rheumatologist or endocrinologist.
Autoimmune disorders aren’t
contagious and they don’t affect
life expectancy, but chronic
inflammation can increase the risk
of conditions such as heart disease.
Here we look at some common
autoimmune conditions:
Coeliac Disease
This is where the bowel’s surface
becomes damaged from an adverse
reaction to gluten found in wheat,
barley and rye. It usually develops
between eight and 12 months or
aged 40-60. Overtime, people with
coeliac don’t get enough nutrients,
increasing the risk of osteoporosis
and anaemia.
Inflammatory Bowel
Disease (IBD)
Conditions such as Crohn’s
or ulcerative colitis that cause
inflammation to the gastrointestinal
tract. Usually starts before age 35
and symptoms can be abdominal
pain, bloody diarrhoea, weight
loss and anaemia. If symptoms
are severe and don’t improve
with medication, surgery may be
necessary to remove or repair
parts of the gut. There is also an
increased risk of bowel cancer and
people with IBD should undergo
regular endoscopic surveillance.
Lupus
This affects the whole body
including the joints, skin, blood
vessels and organs. A rash on the
cheeks and nose is a common
symptom, as are joint pain, extreme
fatigue and blood clotting issues.
Some people with lupus may get
recurring headaches, mouth ulcers
and be sensitive to light. In most
severe cases, inflammation can
cause life-threatening damage to
the heart, lungs, brain or kidneys, so
regular check-ups are advised.
Multiple Sclerosis
(MS)
MS damages the myelin sheath
which protects the nerve cells
in the central nervous system.
Damage to the nerves in the brain
and spinal cord slows down the
brain’s messages to the body.
Symptoms can be mild or severe,
short or long lasting, and are usually
neurological including numbness,
muscle weakness, loss of balance
and movement, and problems with
vision and speech.
Psoriasis
This is where skin cells grow too
quickly, leading to red and inflamed
or silver scaly patches commonly
found on the scalp, elbows, knees,
torso or limbs. Topical ointments
and shampoos can help, as too
can controlled exposure to UV
light. People with psoriasis can also
develop psoriatic arthritis which is
swelling and stiffness in the joints.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
This is where joints are attacked,
leading to redness, warmth,
soreness, stiffness and hard bumps
over joints. Usually starts in the
30s and can affect any joint, but
most commonly hands, wrists, feet,
ankles, knees and elbows. Makes
daily living harder as fine and gross
motor skills can be impacted.
Sjogren’s Syndrome
This attacks the glands that
lubricate the eyes and mouth,
leading to main symptoms of
dry eyes and dry mouth which
can be alleviated with eye drops,
mouth sprays and lozenges. Other
symptoms may be pain or swelling
in the salivary glands, rashes, or
muscle and joint pain.
Type 1 Diabetes
Unlike type 2 diabetes which is
usually caused by lifestyle factors,
type 1 is an autoimmune condition
that cannot be prevented. The body
attacks the cells in the pancreas
which make insulin; the hormone
which regulates blood sugar levels.
. It comes on very quickly over a
few weeks, usually in childhood,
adolescence or early adulthood,
and requires lifelong insulin
injections.
Andrew Watson
If you have any specific health
concerns, please feel free to
contact me at Good Measure
or email me at
andy@thewatsons.co.uk