RDAU_2026-ISSUE0809_DIGITAL MAGAZINE

double vision, choking episodes and muscle weakness. A farmer in the Aus- tin, Texas, area, he was having trouble managing his livestock and machinery. Chelsea H. of Lakeland, Florida, was in high school when she started feeling bloated and uncomfortable after eating common foods like pizza and pasta. As she began her career in marketing, the bloating became painful and more frequent. She was constantly exhausted, barely scraping together the energy she needed for work. Each of these people would visit doc- tor after doctor, take test after test, before finally getting a diagnosis. Heidi learned she has rheumatoid arthritis, when the immune system attacks the lining of the joints. Albert has myasthe- nia gravis, which occurs when the immune system’s antibodies interfere with communication between nerves and muscles, leading to muscle weak- ness that worsens with activity. And Chelsea is dealing with celiac disease, in which eating gluten—a protein found in wheat, barley and rye—prompts an immune attack on the lining of the small intestine, leading to bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain and fatigue. All are autoimmune diseases. They occur when the immune system, which is supposed to defend the body from illness, mistakenly attacks it instead. While the exact cause is unknown, there are different theories about why the immune system suddenly malfunc- tions, including genetics, hormones, physical stress, injury or other illness. According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are over 100 types of autoimmune diseases. Although they target different organs and tissues, all result in chronic inflammation from a misdirected immune response. And while the early symptoms of autoimmune diseases can be subtle, if they’re left unchecked, the chronic inflammation can eventually cause irreparable damage. This bodily “glitch” is surprisingly common. ADecember 2024 study pub- lished in the Journal of Clinical Investi- gation found that about 15million peo- ple in the U.S. have an autoimmune disease, and a third of those have more than one. Some experts believe the true number is closer to 50 million, since many people remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years. About 80% of those with autoimmune diseases are women (63% to 95%, depending on the disease). Researchers say this likely stems from a combination of hormonal and genetic factors: Estrogen boosts the immune response, and the X chromo- some carries more immune-related genes than the Y chromosome. Concerningly, the rates of auto- immune diseases are on the rise. Experts suspect that this surge is linked to a combination of environmental exposures such as pollution and chem- icals, gut microbiome changes, viral infections, and lifestyle factors such as stress, diet and sleep. Some other common autoimmune diseases include Hashimoto’s thyroid- itis, Sjögren’s syndrome, psoriasis, reader ’ s digest 50   August/september 2026 control over their symptoms. In some cases, patients may receive infusions of antibodies from donated plasma, or, in severe cases, have a bonemarrow trans- plant. Scientists are also studying CAR-T cell therapy—where the immune sys- tem’s T cells are reprogrammed to elim- inate its B cells, which causemany auto- immune diseases—as a new treatment. HEIDI, CHELSEA AND ALBERT each found a way to manage their condi- tions. Heidi finally found relief with a biologic drug called adalimumab (brand name Humira and others), physical therapy and an anti- inflammatory diet. Chelsea follows a strictly gluten-free diet and takes a daily multivitamin to make sure her body gets the nutrients it needs. While she admits that there are lots of foods she misses, she also says she’ll take how she feels now any day over how she felt when she was eating gluten. As for Albert, it took a year and a half and visits to seven different neurologists before he finally got his diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. Even then, the first treatments he tried weren’t very help- ful. But then in 2020 he entered a clini- cal trial for zilucoplan (brand name Zilbrysq), a drug that targets a specific part of the immune system that affects myasthenia gravis symptoms. That, he says, was like spotting a light at the end of a dark tunnel. Today, his symptoms are under control, he says, and he can once again enjoy time with his family and handle his daily tasks. lupus, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclero- sis, vitiligo, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, Graves’ disease and alopecia areata. Treatment varies depending on which organs or tissues are affected. Autoimmune conditions can not yet be definitely cured, and so far only limited preventive strategies exist for high-risk individuals. Therapy generally focuses on controlling symptoms and limiting damage, often with a combination of medications and lifestyle changes such as diet, stress management, physical therapy and exercise. A variety of drugs work by suppress- ing the entire immune system, leaving those taking them vulnerable to infec- tions and other illnesses. But newer bio- logic therapies—treatments made from living cells—are able to target specific parts of the immune system, giving patients fewer side effects and better readersdigest.com.au     51 The Healthy