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Help make a difference in the lives of those with autoimmune disease.

What is Autoimmune Disease?
- AUTOIMMUNE VS AUTOINFLAMMATORY DISEASE
  
  A Comparative Look
  
  Autoimmune disease (AD) and autoinflammatory disease (AIF) are two categories of illnesses that occur when the immune system mistakenly damages healthy cells. Although these inflammatory disorders share many commonalities, there are key features that make them unique.
  Read Our Article
  Autoimmune diseases (AD) occur when the immune system attacks the body’s own healthy cells. There are 80-100 known autoimmune diseases and counting, affecting more than 14 million Americans.
  AUTOIMMUNE VS AUTOINFLAMMATORY DISEASE
  
  A Comparative Look
  
  Autoimmune disease (AD) and autoinflammatory disease (AIF) are two categories of illnesses that occur when the immune system mistakenly damages healthy cells. Although these inflammatory disorders share many commonalities, there are key features that make them unique.
  
  Read Our Article
Resources & Support
- FREE RESOURCE
  
  Find Hope in Your Health Journey
  
  The Autoimmune & Chronic Illness Toolkit includes journal templates, resource lists, guidance for doctor appointments, tips on communication, and many more tools to support and empower you throughout your experience.
  Get Our Guide
  Browse our resource lists and information via the links below.
  FREE RESOURCE
  
  Find Hope in Your Health Journey
  
  The Autoimmune & Chronic Illness Toolkit includes journal templates, resource lists, guidance for doctor appointments, tips on communication, and many more tools to support and empower you throughout your experience.
  
  Get Our Guide
Education & Research
- HIGHLIGHTED PARTNERSHIP
  
  An audio series hosted by the Celiac Program at Children’s National Hospital, in partnership with GAI
  
  Each episode has a featured hot topic in celiac disease including an interview with an expert, a nutritional discussion, and an update on news stories relating to the gluten-free community.
  View Gluten-Free Radio Podcast
  We support autoimmune disease education and research by funding grants for scientific investigations, holding live talks with experts, and partnering with the Celiac Disease Program to create educational resources.
  HIGHLIGHTED PARTNERSHIP
  
  An audio series hosted by the Celiac Program at Children’s National Hospital, in partnership with GAI
  
  Each episode has a featured hot topic in celiac disease including an interview with an expert, a nutritional discussion, and an update on news stories relating to the gluten-free community.
  
  View Gluten-Free Radio Podcast
About Us
- SPREADING AWARENESS
  
  We were proud to sponsor Nature Magazine’s July 2021 Outlook on Autoimmune Disease
  
  Learn more about GAI's work, autoimmune risk factors, research advances, and more!
  Read Our Feature
  The Global Autoimmune Institute is empowering solutions in the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune disease (AD) through research, education, and community, while supporting multidisciplinary approaches to wellness.
  SPREADING AWARENESS
  
  We were proud to sponsor Nature Magazine’s July 2021 Outlook on Autoimmune Disease
  
  Learn more about GAI’s work, autoimmune risk factors, research advances, and more!
  
  Read Our Feature
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About Autoimmune Disease

Comorbidities in Autoimmune Disease & Multiple Autoimmune Syndrome

Some autoimmune diseases come with a higher risk of developing additional autoimmune diseases, and there are groups that tend to cluster together. Scientists are narrowing in on patterns but have yet to learn why it happens.

Read Here

What You Need to Know

COVID News & Research Updates

Check out our ongoing timeline summarizing key COVID-19 scientific developments, especially as it pertains to autoimmune disease.

Read More

Autoimmune & Chronic Illness Toolkit

Have a diagnosis? Still seeking answers for unexplained symptoms? Dealing with chronic health issues? It is hard to know where to start, or where to go when you feel stuck. The Autoimmune & Chronic Illness Toolkit is here to help!

Download Toolkit

Episode 2: The Intersection of Celiac Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Body Regions Commonly Affected by Autoimmunity

Aashika's Story: Finding Hope and Gratitude in the Journey to Healing

Find the Resources You Need

Explore our growing lists of related organizations, medical institutions, books, blogs, podcasts, and more on autoimmune disease. Head to our resources page or use the links below to help locate the resources and information you need.

A-Z Disease List

Browse our extensive list of verified and suspected autoimmune diseases.

COVID-19 Information

An overview of COVID-19 news as it relates to autoimmune disease.

Read Our Articles

Peruse GAI's library of articles.

Download Our Free Guide

Journal templates, resource lists, guidance for appointments, communication tips, and more.

U.S. Medical Institutions

Find institutions that specialize in various autoimmune diseases.

Books We Love

A list of books we love and essential reading for better understanding autoimmune disease.

Connect With Us

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September 7th is Still’s Disease Awareness Day!⁣
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Still’s disease is a rare inflammatory disease that can affect the joints and numerous other parts of the body.⁣
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Still’s can be diagnosed at any age. When it is diagnosed in adults it is referred to as adult-onset Still’s disease and when it is diagnosed in childhood, it is known as systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.⁣
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The main symptoms are joint pain, recurrent high fevers, skin rash, muscle pain, and sore throat. Some people only experience one episode of Still’s disease that never returns, but for others, the disease can cause chronic progressive illness.⁣
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The cause of Still’s disease is unknown, though several different treatments are available to help manage symptoms. As symptoms, progression, and severity differ widely amongst individuals with Still’s, the disease can be challenging to diagnose and treat. That’s just one reason why awareness is so critical!⁣
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How are you raising awareness today? Let us know! 💬👇⁣
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#stillsdisease #stillsdiseaseawareness #stillsdiseasewarrior #raredisease #rarediseaseawareness #autoimmune #inflammatorydisease #autoimmunedisease #chronicillness #chronicillnessawareness #chronicillnesscommunity #invisibleillness #arthritis #systemicjuvenileidiopathicarthritis #aosd

Why are more and more people developing autoimmune

Why are more and more people developing autoimmune disease?⁣⁣
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With autoimmune biomarkers (substances in the body that can be measured in order to help determine the intensity of a disease or other physiological state) such as antinuclear antibodies (ANA) increasing in prevalence in the general population, some researchers are looking at the association between autoimmunity and environmental factors like microplastics to explain this trend.⁣⁣
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The best guess that current research literature has is that an estimated 4% of the world’s population has at least one autoimmune disease. In the United States, that number may be closer to 8% —and those rates aren’t static or all-encompassing. Experts say they’ve been increasing for decades. ⁣⁣
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A 2020 study found a steady rise over time in the frequency of ANA, proteins that occur in autoimmune diseases like lupus, scleroderma, and Sjögren’s. These findings further suggest that autoimmune diseases are becoming more prevalent. Now, researchers are beginning to zero in on why this is happening.⁣⁣
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Click the link in our bio to learn more!

#AutoimmuneStory spotlight 💡⁣ ⠀⁣ Meet Mes

#AutoimmuneStory spotlight 💡⁣
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Meet Meshach! 💙⁣
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For many with #autoimmunedisease, the biggest obstacle is just getting a diagnosis. A combination of the complexity of most autoimmune diseases and the tendency for patients’ concerns to be dismissed play a large role in this. Whether you are visiting a doctor for the first time since your health issues started, transitioning to a new practitioner, or getting a second or fifth opinion, the process can feel daunting and many leave feeling dismissed or unseen. ⁣
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Read Meshach’s story where she shares her experience with misdiagnosis, her steps to becoming her own health advocate, receiving her Neuromyelitis Optica #NMO diagnosis, and finding gratitude throughout the journey.⁣
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Tap the link in bio to read Meshach’s story!⁣
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Want to tell us your story? Send us a DM!⁣
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#Devics #DevicsDisease #NeuromyelitisOptica #MS #Misdiagnosis #Autoimmune #AutoimmuneAwareness #AutoimmuneCommunity #ChronicIllnessAwareness #ChronicPain #SpooniesUnite #SpoonieCommunity #ChronicIllnessCommunity #ChronicIllnessWarriors #InvisibleIllnessAwareness

Our next virtual support group meeting is this Sat

Our next virtual support group meeting is this Saturday, August 27th at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. Join us on Zoom to meet others living with autoimmune disease and chronic illness 🤝🫶💙⁣⁣
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Hosted by Jessica Ulmer (dr.ulmer), this support group is a space to chat about anything from symptom management and doctor appointments to relationships and nutrition. Share, learn, and connect with others who are in the same boat, and know that you are not in this alone!⁣⁣
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Tap the link in bio to learn more about the Autoimmune Aware Support Group and to RSVP for our upcoming gathering.⁣⁣
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See you there! 💻⁣⁣
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#supportgroup #autoimmuneawareness⁣⁣
#autoimmunedisease #chronicillness⁣⁣
#spooniecommunity #spooniesunite

#AutoimmuneStory spotlight 💡⁣ ⠀⁣ Meet Han

#AutoimmuneStory spotlight 💡⁣
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Meet Hannah! 💙⁣
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Sometimes, #autoimmunedisease completely alters the timeline that you had envisioned for your life. When Hannah was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at just 15 years old, her whole life changed. ⁣
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In the beginning, Hannah’s illness drained her of health, social activities, and time. As she navigated these challenges, Hannah began to work out a new timeline for her life. Hannah’s story is a reminder that progress is worth celebrating, even when chronic illness slows you down.⁣
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Tap the link in bio to read Hannah’s story!⁣
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Want to tell us your story? Send us a DM!⁣
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#crohns #crohnsdisease #crohnsandcolitis #ibd #ibdawareness #crohnsawareness #ulcerativecolitis #inflammatoryboweldisease #autoimmune #autoimmuneawareness #chronicillnessawareness #chronicpain #spooniesunite #spooniecommunity #ChronicIllnessCommunity #ChronicIllnessWarriors #InvisibleIllnessAwareness #wellness #wellnessjourney

#AutoimmuneStory spotlight 💡⁣ ⠀⁣ Meet Ash

#AutoimmuneStory spotlight 💡⁣
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Meet Ashley! 💙⁣
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Chronic illness can change your life in the blink of an eye. That’s what happened to Ashley, who was enjoying a carefree vacation when she began to suffer numbness and blackouts out of nowhere. After a complicated and frightening journey, she was finally diagnosed with primary Raynaud’s disease. ⁣
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While battling the physical and emotional effects of her illness, Ashley began looking for ways to turn things around. In her autoimmune story, Ashley reflects on her struggles, her growth, and how she is now giving back to the Raynaud’s community.⁣
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Tap the link in bio to read Ashley’s story!⁣
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Want to tell us your story? Send us a DM!⁣
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#autoimmunedisease #autoimmuneawareness #chronicillnessawareness #chronicpain #raynauds #spooniesunite #spooniecommunity #ChronicIllnessCommunity #ChronicIllnessWarriors #InvisibleIllnessAwareness

Autoimmune story spotlight: ⠀ Meet Morgan! 💖

Autoimmune story spotlight:
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Meet Morgan! 💖 mightymorganl
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The ups and downs of chronic illness life can be staggering. Morgan has experienced many of these extremes while battling Crohn’s disease- then she was diagnosed with two more diseases.
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When you have multiple chronic illnesses, a new diagnosis often brings new waves of frustration, fear, and grief.
Through overwhelming struggles, Morgan was eventually able to achieve one of her greatest dreams. Now, she wants to remind others that it gets better 💝
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In this update to her first autoimmune story, Morgan shares the latest developments in her life and health journey. Tap the link in bio to read it! 💙
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Want others to hear your autoimmune story? Send us a DM to be featured on our website!

July is Graves’ Disease Awareness Month! 💙
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Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid, a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland that is located in the neck. Graves’ causes the thyroid to produce and release excessive amounts of thyroid hormones (this condition is known as hyperthyroidism).
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Symptoms vary between individuals and can include weight loss, muscle weakness, hand tremors, and rapid heartbeat. Additionally, eye and skin conditions can occur. Like other autoimmune diseases, the causes of Graves’ disease are unknown. Rarely, Graves’ disease can lead to heart disease and osteoporosis.
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Graves’ disease is usually diagnosed by physical exam and testing for thyroid hormone levels. Due to its range of possible symptoms, diagnosis is often delayed.
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There is no cure for Graves’ disease. In many cases, the most effective treatment is antithyroid medication to moderate the production of thyroid hormones. In other cases, treatment with radioactive iodine or surgery will be necessary.
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Graves’ is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, and it can impact anyone at any age.
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How are you raising awareness this month? Let us know!👇🏽💬💕

Autoimmune disease spotlight 💡 ⠀ Meet Daanya!

Autoimmune disease spotlight 💡
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Meet Daanya! 💖
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Daanya is a University student and Crohn’s Disease advocate who lives in Malaysia. As a newly diagnosed patient, she felt alone in her community, where inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is considered taboo. Fed up with the silence and stigma around her illness, Daanya turned to social media.
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Daanya found solace in the online chronic illness community. Now, she is determined to help others and fight back against the stigma of IBD 💜
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In her autoimmune story, Daanya opens up about the many ways that Crohn’s has impacted her life and her future plans. Tap the link in bio to read Daanya’s autoimmune story!
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#crohns #crohnsdisease #ibd #ibdawareness #crohnsawareness #autoimmunedisease #chronicillnessadvocate #spooniesunite
Send us a message if you’d like us to feature your story 💙

Join Our Support Group

Our next meeting is Saturday, January 28th at 1PM EST/10AM PST

Autoimmune Aware is a dynamic support group initiative focused on creating an inclusive space for the autoimmune disease and chronic illness community.

Join Support Group

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