Systemic Health Disorders

Health conditions affecting one or more of the body’s systems, including but not limited to the respiratory, immunological, neurological, circulatory, or digestive systems.

Systemic Health Disorders and Diseases

Autoimmune Disease

Autoimmune diseases present when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, tissues or organs. Symptoms often come and go and can be mild or severe, and include fatigue, fever, muscle aches, joint pain and swelling, skin problems, abdominal pain, digestion problems, and swollen glands.

There are over 100 autoimmune diseases and are distinguished as either systemic or organ-specific.

Systemic autoimmune diseases are those which autoantigens are found in almost any type of cell in the body and include rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, and dermatomyositis.

Organ-specific autoimmune diseases affect a particular organ or tissue that is targeted by the immune system and include Graves disease, vitiligo skin disease.

Learn more from the Autoimmune Association.

Diabetes

A condition where the body’s blood glucose (blood sugar) levels are higher than normal (hyperglycemia) resulting from the body’s inability to use or store blood glucose for energy.

In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas no longer makes insulin and blood glucose can’t enter the cells to be used for energy. In type 2 diabetes, either the pancreas does not make enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it does produce effectively.

Visit the American Diabetes Association.

Epilepsy

A neurological disorder that causes recurrent, unprovoked seizures or convulsions.

Learn more from the Epilepsy Foundation.

Lupus

A chronic autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation and pain in any part of your body. Most commonly lupus affects one’s skin, joints, kidneys, and heart and presents as a variety of symptoms including extreme fatigue, joint pain, or a butterfly rash.

Visit the Lupus Foundation of America to learn more.