Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which your immune system attacks your body. The immune system usually fights off bacteria and viruses. An army of fighter cells is sent out to attack these foreign invaders when it detects them. The immune system can usually distinguish foreign cells from your own cells. A person with an autoimmune disease has the immune system mistakenly deems certain parts of their body as foreign. Healthy cells are attacked by proteins called autoantibodies.
It is possible for some autoimmune diseases to affect only one organ at a time. A person with type 1 diabetes damages their pancreas. Similarly, lupus, or systemic lupus erythematosus, can affect the entire body. Some ethnic groups are more prone to autoimmune diseases than others. African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to suffer from Lupus than white people. Autoimmune disease may cause symptoms like fatigue, muscle pain, swelling, and redness. There may be changes in symptoms over time.