Autoimmune Diseases: What Happens When the Immune System Is Overactive

In some people, the immune system is too active; it attacks the body’s own cells and tissues, says Starnbach. This is what happens in the case of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease.

Lupus is another example of an autoimmune disease. When people have lupus, the antibodies can’t distinguish between foreign invaders and the body’s own cells and tissues. The mistaken immune response can cause inflammation, which can contribute to arthritis, lupus rash, kidney damage, and other symptoms and health problems, according to the Lupus Foundation of America.

Experts don’t know why autoimmune diseases occur; they aren’t contagious. There is a hereditary link for many autoimmune conditions, and it may be that a virus or an environmental factor triggers the disease if a person already has the genes for it.

The symptoms of autoimmune diseases can come and go. When the immune system is acting up, it’s called a flare-up, and the symptoms get worse. Remission is when the symptoms improve or even disappear altogether.

When the immune system attacks the body, the result can be multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, or a dozen other diseases.

There are more than 80 autoimmune disorders, and for a handful – such as type 1 diabetes, Crohn’s disease, Graves’ disease (hyperthyroidism), and ankylosing spondylitis – unintended weight loss occurs when the disorder is not under control. But for some autoimmune disorder patients, excess weight may be at issue. Weight gain or loss may also be a side effect of the medications you take. For these reasons, it's important to medically manage your condition to keep your weight at a healthy level. 

Autoimmune Disorders and Exercise

“Get out there and do as much as you can,” advises Dr. Shaffer. Diagnosed in 2002 with multiple sclerosis, Shaffer understand the difficulties of being physically active. If it is appropriate for the patient, he recommends flexibility exercises, such as yoga, Pilates, and stretching (modified as needed) in addition to whatever level of cardio exercise you can manage — whether it’s swimming, walking, biking, or dancing.

As your autoimmune disorder progresses, you may find that you need to work with a physical therapist to learn how to move and exercise comfortably.

Autoimmune Disorders and Diet

Unfortunately, as autoimmune disorders progress, patients face a loss of mobility due to pain or muscle spasms. That’s when changing your diet becomes a high priority, says Shaffer — although you should already be eating a nutritious, balanced diet.

It is important for people with autoimmune disorders not to fall for fad diets, he warns. “You’re going to see on the Internet all these books about the MS diet or whatever. A healthy diet is what everybody should be having,” he says. Work on developing a balanced diet that includes a lot of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean meats, and low-fat dairy. Sweets and treats are okay in moderation (as long as they fit into your weight management plan) — and it may help reduce cravings if you know you will be able to have a little bit of whatever you love without hurting your body or your weight management plan.

Work closely with a specialist who has experience treating your specific autoimmune disorder. Even within the same type of autoimmune disorder, different patients will have a different experience — which means that patients and doctors alike must be willing to try and try again as they work as a team to solve problems like weight gain or loss.

Your medical team may also include a dietitian or nutritionist who can help you create an eating plan that will address your nutrition and weight management concerns. These professionals can also help you work around the specific disorder considerations, such as finding replacements for bulky grains in your diet during a flare-up of Crohn’s disorder.