Women Autoimmune Diseases | The X Factor

Women autoimmune diseases are currently the fifth most common cause of death for women under 65. Women represent 78.8% of those with autoimmune diseases. 

Over 24 million Americans suffer from several distinct autoimmune diseases. Of those, up to four out of five are female.

It has been known for more than 100 years that women are more susceptible to autoimmune diseases, but attention to this issue has only recently become apparent. Consequently, in this article, we will talk about women autoimmune diseases. 

Women represent more than half of all people on Earth and thrive despite lacking Y chromosomes. So, having two X chromosomes increases the chance that every female cell will produce twice as many of the proteins that the X chromosome specifies but not the Y chromosome.

Producing so many proteins in such a large excess would be fatal. So, women autoimmune diseases have great attention to reduce chronic suffering and boost their quality of life. 

Some recent researches suggest that women's autoimmune diseases may be more critical because of a malfunctioning mechanism that should be able to silence one of a woman's two X chromosomes.

Normally, the immune system produces proteins known as antibodies to defend women against dangerous substances like viruses, cancer cells, and toxins. 

In women autoimmune diseases, some parts of the body such as skin and joints are mistakenly viewed as foreign substances by the immune system. 

Autoantibodies target healthy cells released by the immune system which cause over 80 different women autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and lupus. 

Women autoimmune diseases can impact almost every tissue type and organ in the body. They may result in various symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, rashes, pain, fatigue, and more according to the specific disease. 

Sex hormones were assumed to be the main cause of women autoimmune diseases since the majority of autoimmune diseases are diagnosed after puberty, more often in girls than in boys. 

For instance, women comprise 4 out of every 5 autoimmune disease patients. Women are affected by lupus 10 times more frequently than men. 

Furthermore, Sjögren's syndrome, which mostly results in dry mouth and eyes, hit 20 times more women than men.

Sex Hormones

While male hormones suppress and prevent autoimmunity, female estrogen hormones strengthen immunity. 

It was previously believed that the variations in sex hormones between men and women account for stronger immunity and increased susceptibility to women autoimmune diseases. 

It's even possible that women's higher risk of autoimmune disease is an evolutionary response meant to protect the lives of their children.

Through breastfeeding, women produce more antibodies than men to protect mothers and their babies.

Scientists noticed some exciting trends. One was the significant life transitions, some of these conditions arise in women. Women autoimmune diseases such as lupus and multiple sclerosis typically manifest during the reproductive years, otherwise, rheumatoid arthritis develops after menopause.

Women with multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Graves' disease typically experience a decrease in symptoms during pregnancy, while women with lupus experience an increase in symptoms. 

Major alterations in the hormones testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen occur during all these three transitions: puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. For example, estrogen levels rise during puberty and pregnancy. 

There is evidence linking the use of hormone replacement therapy and oral contraceptives, which both increase estrogen levels in the body, to a higher risk of developing lupus. 

Like the other sex hormones, estrogen directly affects the expression of several immune-related genes. For example, it binds to and activates the gene that codes for interferon gamma, an inflammatory mediator that triggers and modulates immune responses against pathogens. 

B cells, which make antibodies and proteins that identify and combat foreign substances, are also activated by estrogen. However, some, autoantibodies are produced and can destroy the body’s cells. 

Progesterone, a pregnancy-related hormones, has a profound impact on the immune system. The surface of many important immune cells, such as T cells and macrophages, has progesterone receptors. 

Progesterone stimulates the body's immune system to produce more antibodies and autoantibodies by binding to these receptors. 

Women produce testosterone in smaller amounts than men. Both B and T cells have receptors for testosterone, which has a strong immunosuppressive effect. 

Men may have a lower incidence of autoimmune disease because it reduces the responses of immune cells such as neutrophils, natural killer cells, and macrophages. 

If women's bodies pay a price for their dynamism in the form of autoimmune disease, at least it's a challenge that science may one day be able to remove.

The X Factor 

Sex hormones play a significant role, but they don't tell the whole story. Some autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and lupus, begin in childhood before the puberty hormone influx of progesterone and estrogen.

This implies that additional processes have to be engaged. To identify them, some scientists are examining a major before-birth difference between men and women: the existence or lack of a second X chromosome. 

The X chromosome has over 900 genes, while the Y chromosome only has roughly 100.

X-chromosome inactivation is a clever, if complicated and confusing, workaround that nature has created. During the initial stages of embryogenesis, every cell in the developing female mammal independently chooses to stop the activity of one or the other of its two X chromosomes. 

In this manner, a female cell produces the same amount of each protein that is specific to an X chromosome as a male cell does. 

According to a Stanford University study, a molecule known as Xist (pronounced "exist") can cause a rogue immune response by silencing one copy of the X chromosome in each female cell. If the two chromosomes persist active, the cell will die.

However, recent research has shown that X inactivation is not as straightforward as previously believed. 

Research indicates that a minimum of 15% of the genes on the X chromosome, which is thought to have been inactivated, are still active. 

This implies that those genes essentially instruct women's bodies to produce twice as much of a specific protein as do men's bodies. 

However, these disorders can also be caused by other factors, which explains why men can also develop them.

What Reasons Can Develop Women Autoimmune Diseases?

The main reason for women autoimmune diseases is unknown. Since autoimmune diseases tend to run in families, some people may be predisposed to a problem by specific genes. 

Women autoimmune diseases may be brought on by viruses, specific chemicals, or other environmental factors if you already carry the corresponding genes.

The following are some factors that could make you more likely to get an autoimmune disease:

Your sex

Women autoimmune diseases are more common. Between the ages of 15 and 44, females have a higher risk of developing an autoimmune disease compared to males.

Your lineage back

Genes that are inherited may increase the risk of developing women autoimmune diseases.

Environmental factors

Certain bacterial and viral infections, sunlight, mercury exposure, chemicals used in agriculture or solvents, cigarette smoke, and other exposures may raise the risk of developing women autoimmune diseases.

Ethnicity 

Members of particular groups are more likely to suffer from women autoimmune diseases. For instance, autoimmune muscle disease may be more common in White individuals from Europe and the United States, whereas lupus is more common in African Americans, Hispanics, and Latinos.

Nutrition

The nutrients and foods you eat can affect the severity and risk of women autoimmune diseases.

Other medical conditions

Women may be more susceptible to developing an autoimmune disease if they have certain medical conditions, such as obesity and other women autoimmune diseases.

Symptoms Of Women's Autoimmune Diseases

Women autoimmune disease symptoms vary depending on which body part is impacted. These symptoms such as fatigue, low-grade fever, dizziness or lightheadedness, muscle aches, swelling, difficulty concentrating, tingling and numbness in women's hands and feet, skin rash, and hair loss.

Women autoimmune disease symptoms can come and go. These symptoms might get worse for a while during a flare-up. Women might experience symptom relief later on, in which case their symptoms improve or go away temporarily. 

Types Of Women Autoimmune Diseases 

Some of the women autoimmune diseases are listed below

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Antibodies produced by women's immune system adhere to the linings of their joints. The cells in their immune system then target the joints, resulting in pain, swelling, and inflammation. 

If RA is not treated, it will eventually lead to irreversible joint damage. Various drugs that lessen the overactivity of the immune system are used as treatments. 

Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus)

Autoimmune antibodies can attach to tissues all over women's bodies when they have lupus. The joints, lungs, blood cells, nerves, and kidneys are the organs most commonly affected by this illness. 

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

With inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the lining of the intestines is attacked by the immune system, leading to episodes of diarrhea, rectal bleeding, frequent bowel movements, fever, abdominal pain, and weight loss. IBD primarily manifests as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. 

Multiple sclerosis (MS)

Women's immune system targets nerve cells, resulting in symptoms like pain, weakness, blindness, poor coordination, and spasms in muscles. 

Type 1 diabetes

Women's pancreatic cells that produce insulin are attacked and destroyed by their antibodies. 

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)

The nerves that regulate the muscles in women's legs, and occasionally the muscles in women's arms and upper body, are attacked by their immune system. This results in weakness, which can occasionally be quite dangerous. 

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)

This women autoimmune disease, like Guillain-Barre, is characterized by the immune system attacking the nerves. Yet the symptoms persist for a lot longer. About 30% of those with this condition will eventually require a wheelchair if treatment is delayed. 

Psoriasis

T-cells, which are immune system blood cells, accumulate in the skin of people with psoriasis. Women's skin develops silvery, scaly plaques as a result of their immune system stimulating skin cells to proliferate quickly.

Graves' disease

In this women autoimmune disease, the thyroid gland releases excessive amounts of thyroid hormone into the bloodstream (hyperthyroidism) as a result of antibodies produced by the immune system. 

Bulging eyes, weight loss, anxiety, agitation, fast heartbeat, weakness, and brittle hair are some of the symptoms. Usually, your doctor will need to use medication or surgery to remove or destroy the thyroid gland. 

Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Women's immune system's antibodies target the thyroid gland, gradually killing the cells that make thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism, or low thyroid hormone, typically develops over months to years. 

Fatigue, constipation, weight gain, depression, dry skin, and cold sensitivity are some of the symptoms. 

Myasthenia gravis

Women's nerves become attached to antibodies, which prevents them from effectively stimulating the muscles. Weakness is the primary symptom, and it worsens with movement.

Scleroderma

This chronic connective disease, also called systemic sclerosis, results in inflammation in various parts of the body, including the skin. Thus, women's body produces an excessive amount of collagen. 

This causes harm to the blood vessels and organs, including the heart, lungs, and kidneys, as well as noticeable skin hardening. There's no way to recover. The goals of treatment are to lessen symptoms and prevent the illness from getting worse.

Vasculitis

Within this category, blood vessels are attacked and damaged by the immune system. Vasculitis symptoms can occur almost anywhere in the body and can impact any organ. Reducing immune system activity is the mainstay of treatment.

Diagnosis Of Women Autoimmune Diseases

It could take some time and various tests to confirm a diagnosis. It can take months or even years to receive the correct diagnosis because the symptoms of many women autoimmune diseases are similar to those of other illnesses.

The symptoms and medical history may be the first things your doctor asks you about. They might then do a few tests that are frequently used to assist in the diagnosis of autoimmune disorders.

An autoantibody screen is a popular blood test that searches for autoantibodies. 

Your doctor might also order the following blood tests:

- Antinuclear antibody test (ANA)

- Complete blood count (CBC)

- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

- Comprehensive metabolic panel

- C-reactive protein (CRP)

- Urinalysis

Women Autoimmune Diseases Treatment

Although women autoimmune diseases have no known cure, numerous treatment options can help manage their symptoms and regulate the immune system's reaction.

Drugs

Depending on the kind of autoimmune disease you have, how severe it is, and how you are feeling, your doctor may recommend several drugs:

- Steroids: Since corticosteroids reduce your immune system's hyperactive response quickly and effectively, they are frequently used as the initial line of treatment. However, these have the potential to cause major side effects as they weaken your immune system as a whole.

- Some medications have fewer side effects and only target a portion of your immune system. These can target immune system cells that produce particular antibodies or eliminate particular proteins.

- Anti-inflammatory drugs: These drugs support organ function while also assisting in immune system regulation. These are used to treat psoriasis and certain types of autoimmune arthritis. Moreover, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) lessen stiffness, pain, and swelling. 

Your doctor may prescribe medications to supplement nutrients your body is deficient in as a result of your autoimmune disease, such as insulin, thyroid hormone, or vitamin B12, 

They might also administer blood transfusions if the condition affects your blood.

Then there are medications and therapies to assist with symptom management, such as:

- Pain killers

- Anxiety and depression medications

- Insulin injections

- Drugs for sleep

- Plasma exchanges: A machine takes a small amount of your blood, filters out any unwanted antibodies, and then puts the blood back into your body

- Tablets and creams for rashes

- Intravenous immune globulin (IVIg) is a blood product that contains antibodies and can help your immune system function normally while making corrections. 

Modifications in lifestyle

Doctors frequently recommend changes in personal habits in addition to medication as part of treatment. 

For women autoimmune diseases that affect their muscles, like myositis and multiple sclerosis, physical therapy or exercise are commonplace. 

Giving up smoking can be beneficial for people with women autoimmune diseases that impact blood vessels.

Summary

Over 24 million Americans suffer from several distinct autoimmune diseases. Four out of five are female. 

The X chromosome and women's sex hormones participate in the production of autoantibodies and the induction of women autoimmune diseases. 

Major alterations in women's sex hormones testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen occur during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause.

Yet there is no cure for women autoimmune diseases, otherwise, the available treatments and drugs used to manage the symptoms and regulate the action of the immune system.

Women sacrifice their bodies in the form of women autoimmune diseases to survive and protect their babies.