Blurbal Perspective

When someone has Raynaud's, it means that they are experiencing an issue with blood flow. A person's body is not sending adequate amounts of blood flow to the feet and hands. These body parts start to feel extremely cold and numb. This phenomenon typically lasts for only a short time, but in some cases may last for an hour or more. Raynaud's Phenomenon is not necessarily an autoimmune disease itself, but it could be a precursor to (or a symptom of) several autoimmune diseases, such as: Lupus , Scleroderma , Rheumatoid Arthritis , or Atherosclerosis. What causes Raynaud's? There is no actual cause, due to there being so many causes. One of the causes is one I mentioned above: other autoimmune diseases. Some medications could also trigger Raynaud's . Individuals who work with vibrating power tools may end up with this phenomenon. Smoking and frostbite are other possible reasons one may have Raynaud's. The main thing that causes an attack is exposure to c...

Scleroderma describes a cluster of rare autoimmune diseases that involve the tightening and hardening of connective tissues (fibers that provide the support and framework for your body) and skin. This complex disease affects not only the skin, but also your internal organs, blood vessels, and your GI tract. This disease affects women more than men, and the onset for symptoms typically happens between the ages of 30 and 50. What causes Scleroderma? Scleroderma occurs due to an increased accumulation of collagen in your body's tissue. The immune system plays a role in this disease due to the immune system waging a war against your body. This is what produces the overproduction of collagen and inflammation. Symptoms of Scleroderma vary based on what parts of the body are afflicted with the disease. Symptoms of Scleroderma On the skin: -Skin tightening and hardening (in patches) -Patches on skin might be oval in shape, or in straight lines. -Shiny skin in the affected...

Psoriasis affects 6.7 million Americans. When one thinks about Psoriasis, they don't automatically think that it is considered an autoimmune disorder. However, with the way Psoriasis impacts your system, it shows the characteristics of an autoimmune disorder. Here's how: When you have Psoriasis, your T-cells (specialized white blood cells) incorrectly identify the cells on your skin as invaders, and lodge an attack on them. This causes extensive damage to the skin cells, which causes a number of responses in your immune system. As a result, people with Psoriasis end up with visible damage on the skin, in the form of swelling, scaling, and reddening. In an attempt to heal the damage, the skin begins to rapidly reduce new skin cells. These skin cells try to push their way to the surface of the skin. Because the older skin cells aren't shed fast enough, they pile onto a person's skin surface. That's where you may see red, thick silvery scales on the surface of the...

Multiple Sclerosis ( MS ) is a chronic autoimmune illness that affects the brain, spinal cord, and the nerves in your eyes. It can create issues with one's balance, muscle control, vision, and many other basic functions of the human body. MS occurs when the immune system wages an attack on a mineral called Myelin. Myelin is wrapped around nerve fibers in order to protect them. Without Myelin to protect the nerve fibers, scar tissue develops and the nerve fibers become damaged. Because of the damage, the brain cannot properly send signals throughout the body. Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis -Numbness -Pain -Blurred vision -Double vision -Fatigue -Difficulties with walking -Tingling -Incontinence -Difficulty with focus and memory -Sexual dysfunction The onset of symptoms occur between the ages of 20 and 40. Those with MS may experience periods of attacks (symptoms worsen), and periods of recovery (symptoms improving). For some patients, the illness may...

More than 1.5 million individuals in the United States have been diagnosed with Lupus , with a reported 16,000 cases being diagnosed each year. Women of childbearing age (15-44) are more likely to develop Lupus.  Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can cause damage to any body part (internal organs, joints, skin, etc). It is considered a chronic illness due to the fact that symptoms can last anywhere from 6 weeks to several years. When an individual has Lupus, the immune system malfunctions. With autoimmune disease such as Lupus, the immune system can't differentiate between foreign germ invaders, and healthy tissue. The immune system creates autoantibodies that power through the body, destroying healthy tissue. This can cause inflammation, increase pain, and cause damage in any area of the body. When you hear about Lupus, you also hear about "Lupus flares." Lupus flares occur when your body is experiencing increased amount of symptoms, and you feel more ill. When...

Ulcerative Colitis is a common type of inflammatory bowel disease that affects the rectum and colon. The disease produces ulcers and causes inflammation in the lining of the large intestine. While the disease may only affect the lower part of the colon, it can affect the entire colon. Basically, the more of the colon that is affected by Ulcerative Colitis , the worse the symptoms are for the sufferer. This disease does not discriminate against age, however, most individuals are diagnosed with UC before age 30. It is unclear what causes Ulcerative Colitis, but specialists theorize that the immune system has something to do with it. They believe that the immune system overreacts to normal bacteria in the GI tract, which causes the symptoms. Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis -Bleeding from the rectum -Stomach cramping -Abdominal pain -Diarrhea (up to 20 times a day) -Fever -Loss of appetite -Joint pain These symptoms can come and go whenever they want. When symptoms are n...

Today, I want to bring awareness to a disorder that a second generation family member of mine is currently suffering from: Rheumatoid Arthritis ( RA ). This chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder affects the small joints in your feet and hands. What makes this disorder different from other arthritic disorders is that it affects the lining of the joints. This causes swelling and bone erosion. In many cases, it leads to the joints becoming deformed. Rheumatoid Arthritis is classified as an autoimmune disorder because the disorder makes the immune system attack your body's tissues. It's basically a battle of the titans in your body. Every tissue, every molecule, every fiber in your body is the enemy. Your body is fighting against itself. It is not unheard of for Rheumatoid Arthritis to affect various organs of the body, including the lungs, skin, blood vessels, and eyes. Individuals are typically diagnosed after age 40, and the disorder affects women more than men. ...

The following illness is one that holds a deeper wound in me than any other. Celiac Disease is an inherited autoimmune disease affecting 1 in every 100 Americans. This condition damages the lining of the small bowel, preventing it from absorbing nutrients from foods. When an individual with Celiac Disease eats food that contains gluten (wheat, barley, and rye), the immune system has an abnormal reaction to it. This reaction destroys the villi in the small intestine, making it difficult for sufferers to get the nutrients they need to stay healthy. Symptoms of Celiac Disease -Gas -Bloating -Diarrhea -Weight loss -Fatigue -Nausea/Vomiting Getting a diagnosis Your doctor will gather a medical history and examine you. They will also send you for blood work. If the blood test comes back positive for Celiac Disease, your doctor will recommend a biopsy in order to confirm the diagnosis. These tests for Celiac Disease must be done BEFORE eliminating gluten from your diet. If y...

Raynaud's is a very rare disorder that affects one's arteries, or blood vessels. These blood vessels carry blood from one end of the body to the other, and all places in between. In individuals who suffer from Raynaud's disease, or Raynaud's phenomenon, the blood vessels experience a vasospasm (in laymen's terms, it means that the blood vessels are narrowed). When blood vessels narrow, there is a reduction of blood flow to a person's toes and fingers (the phenomenon is primarily seen in the fingers). In about 40% of individuals with Raynaud's affected areas can include the toes, nose, nipples, lips, and ears. Raynaud's is categorized into two main types: primary and secondary. The primary type is known as Raynaud's disease. The cause of this disease is unknown, but it is not as severe as secondary Raynaud's. Secondary Raynaud's is known as Raynaud's phenomenon. It is caused by other factors or underlying diseases. Whether you...