Health Tip: Understanding Autoimmune Disorders

(HealthDay News) -- Autoimmune diseases occur when the body's immune system destroys its own healthy tissues instead of the foreign, harmful substances it was designed to fend off. The immune system typically defends the body from germs and toxins.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) says autoimmune disorders can affect organs and tissues including red blood cells, blood vessels, the thyroid, pancreas, muscles, joints and skin.

Common autoimmune diseases include type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, Grave's disease and Celiac disease.

Most of these diseases are chronic, but depending on the condition, many can be controlled with treatment, the NLM says.

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