According to the Autoimmune Association, around 50 million Americans are living with autoimmune diseases and about 80% of these people are women. Autoimmune diseases happen when your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy parts of your body, and the symptoms can be hard to spot.
It is important to recognize the warning signs early so that you can get the right treatment and manage your health better.
1. If You Feel Constantly Tired, No Matter How Much You Rest
The immune system, when it’s out of balance, can use up your energy, making you feel drained. This tiredness might be different from regular exhaustion — it can last for days or even weeks, making it hard to do your usual activities.
2. There Is Thyroid Dysfunction
If it’s overactive (hyperthyroidism), you might feel jittery, lose weight quickly, or have trouble sleeping. If it’s underactive (hypothyroidism), you might feel tired, gain weight, or feel cold all the time.
Thyroid issues can make you feel like your body’s energy levels are out of control, either too high or too low, which can be challenging to manage daily.
3. You Might Often Feel Nauseous
This can be due to your immune system causing inflammation in your digestive tract, which can upset your stomach. Constant nausea can make it hard to eat, which may lead to weight loss or other health issues over time.
If you notice this happening a lot, it could be a sign that your immune system is affecting your gut.
4. Your Joints Are Sore, Swollen, or Even Hard to Move
Joint pain or stiffness is another common symptom. You could notice this pain in one or multiple joints, and it might come and go.
If it’s linked to an autoimmune disease, the pain could be more intense and last longer than typical joint discomfort.
5. Aching Muscles, Even after Rest
This could be another symptom of an autoimmune disease. You might feel like your muscles are sore or weak, and this can affect your daily activities.
The pain could appear in different parts of your body, and it might not improve with typical treatments like rest or painkillers.
6. Your Skin Might Show Signs of Irritation or Rashes That Don’t Go Away
Some autoimmune diseases can cause red, itchy patches, dry spots, or even sores. The rash could appear in certain areas, like your face, arms, or around your joints.
If the rash worsens or spreads, it’s important to check with your doctor.
7. You Become Sensitive to the Sun
For people with autoimmune diseases who have photosensitivity, their immune systems react abnormally to this UV light exposure. (ref) You might find that you burn easily or develop a rash after even a short time outdoors.
8. If Your Gut Is Affected, You Might Experience Frequent Stomachaches
Autoimmune diseases can disrupt the digestive system, causing inflammation in your intestines, which makes it harder for you to digest food properly. This can lead to discomfort after eating, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or even unintentional weight loss.
9. If You Experience Sudden Weight Gain or Loss
For example, some people with autoimmune diseases may gain weight because their metabolism slows down, while others may lose weight due to digestive issues or increased metabolism. If you notice unexplained changes in your weight, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor.
10. Fever That Won’t Go Away
A low-grade fever that comes and goes could be a sign that your immune system is active, even when you don’t have an obvious infection. Autoimmune diseases often cause your body to attack healthy tissue, leading to inflammation that results in fever.
If your temperature keeps rising without a clear reason, it could be a symptom worth noting.
11. Swollen Glands, Often Felt around Your Neck, Underarms, or Groin
If you have an autoimmune condition, your immune system can go into overdrive, leading to inflamed and swollen lymph nodes. This can make these areas feel tender or sore to the touch.
Unlike typical swelling from an infection, swelling due to autoimmune issues can last longer or appear frequently without other symptoms.
12. Hair Loss Can Be One of the Visible Signs of an Autoimmune Disease
In some cases, your immune system mistakenly attacks your hair follicles, leading to patches of hair falling out. You may notice thinning hair or bald spots, or your eyebrows and eyelashes might also become sparse. This kind of hair loss usually doesn’t improve with regular hair care and might come and go depending on how active the autoimmune disease is.
13. There Is Numbness or Tingling
If you feel a “pins and needles” sensation or a loss of feeling in your hands, feet, or other areas, it could be due to nerve damage caused by an autoimmune disease.
Your immune system may attack nerves, leading to this tingling or numbness. This symptom can be mild, or it can make it hard to move and sense things in affected areas.
14. You Have Dry Eyes or Mouth
You might feel like there’s grit in your eyes, or your mouth might feel parched, even after drinking water. This happens because your immune system may mistakenly target glands that produce moisture, making it difficult to keep your eyes and mouth comfortably moist.
15. There Are Recurrent Sores in Your Mouth
This may be painful or slow to heal and can be another symptom of an autoimmune disease. These ulcers might pop up on your gums, tongue, or the inside of your cheeks.
They’re different from regular canker sores and may be larger, more frequent, or more painful. These mouth ulcers are a sign of inflammation and can make it hard to eat or drink comfortably.
16. You Experience Cognitive Problems, or “Brain Fog”
This can make it harder to focus, remember things, or process information. You might feel forgetful or find it challenging to concentrate on tasks you used to handle easily. This isn’t just regular tiredness; it’s a symptom that can make daily life harder, affecting your memory, thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
17. You Suddenly Have Anemia
Anemia, which happens when your body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells, can be another sign of an autoimmune disease. (ref) Without enough red blood cells, your body struggles to get oxygen to where it’s needed, leaving you feeling weak and tired.
Symptoms of anemia can include pale skin, shortness of breath, dizziness, and headaches.
18. You Feel out of Breath
Feeling short of breath, especially if you’re not exerting yourself, could be a sign that something is affecting your lungs or heart. Autoimmune diseases can cause inflammation in the lungs or other organs, making it harder for you to breathe comfortably.
If you notice that breathlessness happens often or gets worse, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor.
19. You Get Palpitations
You might notice this when you’re at rest or during light activities. A study found that people with autoimmune diseases have a higher risk of abnormal heart rhythm problems (also called Ventricular Arrhythmia) than those without autoimmune diseases. (ref)
If you’re frequently feeling this sensation, it’s something to mention to your doctor.
20. You Experience Unexplained Chest Pain
This pain might feel sharp or like a heavy pressure in your chest. Autoimmune conditions can cause inflammation around the heart or lungs, leading to this discomfort.
If you feel chest pain, especially if it’s new or persistent, it’s important to seek medical advice to find the cause.
21. You Get Regular Headaches or Migraines
Headaches are more common in people with autoimmune diseases; in some autoimmune conditions, headaches may be a symptom or even a risk factor.(ref) If your headaches seem different from regular tension headaches or keep coming back, they might be related to your immune system’s activity.
22. Raynaud’s Phenomenon
With Raynaud’s, you might notice that your fingers, toes, or other extremities turn white, blue, or red, especially in cold weather or during stress. This happens because blood flow to those areas is restricted.
It’s a common symptom in some autoimmune diseases and shows how your immune system might be affecting your blood vessels. (ref)
23. More Prone to Infections, Like Colds, Sinus Infections, or Urinary Tract Infections
Instead of just fighting off infections, it might be attacking healthy cells, making it harder to keep you fully protected. If you’re frequently getting sick or taking longer to recover, it could be a sign that your immune system is overactive or weakened.
24. Have Trouble Falling Asleep or Staying Asleep
You might feel tired but find it difficult to get restful sleep, waking up throughout the night or too early. Pain, discomfort, and even anxiety from dealing with symptoms can keep you from sleeping well.
Over time, this lack of quality sleep can worsen your fatigue and make other symptoms feel even harder to handle.
25. You Get Mood Swings
The physical and mental stress of managing symptoms can contribute to depression, and the inflammation caused by your immune system can also affect your brain chemistry.
You might experience mood swings, feeling down one moment and then anxious or irritable the next, which can be exhausting and impact your quality of life.
26. You Might Feel Lightheaded, Dizzy, or About to Faint
This can happen if autoimmune diseases affect your blood pressure or the parts of your nervous system that control balance. You may notice it more when you stand up quickly or when you’re tired.
Frequent dizziness can make everyday tasks challenging and increase your risk of falls. If fainting or dizziness becomes common, talk to a doctor to understand why.
27. Feel Nerve Pain in Certain Areas of Your Body
This is because your immune system might mistakenly attack the protective covering around your nerves. You may feel this pain in your hands, feet, or other areas, and it can make things like walking, typing, or even holding objects uncomfortable.
Nerve pain can be difficult to manage and may come and go without warning.
28. Changes in Menstrual Cycle
If you have a menstrual cycle, you might notice changes like irregular periods, heavier or lighter flow, or more cramping than usual. Autoimmune diseases can affect the endocrine system, which influences the immune system. (ref)
If you’re experiencing big changes in your menstrual cycle, it’s a good idea to have it checked, as it could be connected to your immune system.
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to talk to a doctor who can help you get a proper diagnosis and treatment.
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Nancy Maffia
Nancy received a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.