Autoimmune Diseases: A Serious Health Concern For All 20-Somethings

A person’s twenties are meant to be a fun decade with endless possibilities. No one wants to think about developing a chronic, incurable illness when they are supposed to be having the time of their life. Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues and organs. Recently, they have been targeting more young people than ever, which can quickly turn a person’s twenties into a time of uncertainty. Here is what all twenty-somethings need to know.

What Is Autoimmunity?

Autoimmune diseases, or autoimmunity, describe a group of chronic illnesses that are characterized by an overactive immune system. The immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues because it mistakes them as foreign invaders. Diseases are classified by the part of the body affected. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease affect the digestive system while Multiple Sclerosis targets the spinal cord and brain and rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints. Currently, there is no cure for autoimmune diseases and treatment is limited to managing symptoms.