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Autoimmune diseases are illinesses where your own body starts producing natural chemicals that attack your body by mistake. It is thought that there is a genetic factor in all autoimmune diseases, although the same disease may not be passed down.
For example, my father had a very severe and rare autoimmune disease called Polymyocytis where a natural occuring enzyme was attacking and distroying his muscles, rendering him unable to walk or care for himself. My autoimmune disease was Grave's Disease which develops in the thyroid. Graves causes your thyroid (which regulates metabolism) to overproduce the thyroid hormone and can lead to severe heart problems, eye problems and a host of other diseases.
My Father's disease was not diagnosed in time to stop it's onslaught. Mine was and was treated by killing my thyroid with radioactive iodine. There is an un-proven coorelation between Grave's Disease and Breast Cancer (which I had both at the same time).
Most autoimmune diseases effect women.
Other autoimmune diseases include:
Fibro Myalgia
Lupus
Chronic Fatigue Syndrom
Multiple Sclerosis
Rheumatoid arthritis
But there are many, many more.
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