EDS is not an autoimmune condition/disease. More than 200 connective tissue diseases, which are inflammatory disorders of the muscles, joints, and skin, have recently been discovered.
Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus are the two most common connective tissue diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis affects two million people in the United States, and lupus affects 1.5 million more.
What is an autoimmune disease?
When your body’s natural defense mechanism can’t tell the difference between your cells and foreign cells, it attacks normal cells, triggering autoimmune disease. There are over 80-90 different types of autoimmune diseases that affect different parts of the body.
The following are the most common autoimmune diseases in women:
- Rheumatoid arthritis: It is inflammatory arthritis that affects the joints.
- Psoriasis: A skin disease characterized by dense, scaly patches
- Psoriatic arthritis: A form of arthritis that affects people living with certain psoriasis.
- Lupus: It is a disease that affects the joints, skin, and organs of the body.
- Thyroid disorders: Such as Graves’ disease, in which the body produces too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism), and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, in which the body produces insufficient thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism).
Autoimmune disease symptoms can range from extreme to moderate in some people. There are various degrees of autoimmune disease. A person’s symptoms are likely related to several factors, including biology, climate, and personal health.
Symptoms of Autoimmune Disease
Even though there are many different autoimmune diseases, many of them have the same symptoms. The following are some of the most common autoimmune disease symptoms:
- Tiredness
- Swelling and discomfort in joints
- Issues with the skin
- Digestion problems or abdominal pain
- Fever
- Inflamed glands
Is Ehlers-Danlos syndrome a form of autoimmune disorder?
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a much rarer subset of connective tissue disorders. Unlike the diseases described above, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is an inherited disorder rather than an autoimmune disease.
What is Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and how does it affect you?
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can manifest itself in various ways, and it is estimated that 1.5 million people worldwide suffer from it. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a hereditary condition that is passed on from one generation to the next.
Your body has difficulty processing collagen if you have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, leaving your connective tissues weaker than they should be.
How do you know if you have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome?
Your neurologist will begin by taking a personal and family medical history and performing a physical examination. To confirm the diagnosis, your neurologist can perform the following tests:
- Autonomic monitoring, which assesses how the body responds to various stresses.
- A blood test
- An electromyogram (EMG), a test that determines the health of muscles and the nerves that regulate them.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome causes and risk factors
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is caused by inheriting the disease’s genes from your parents. Ehlers-Danlos syndromes have been related to mutations in at least 19 genes. There are no additional dangers.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome treatment options
Medication and physical therapy are sometimes used in treatment. While there is no cure for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, there are treatments available for its symptoms. Most patients have a normal life expectancy, even though certain unusual types of the disease are potentially fatal.
