Wednesday, February 6th
I continue to learn about DM...
What does autoimmune mean?
Literally it means immune activity directed against the self. The Immune system fights the body itself (Auto==self). In autoimmune diseases, the immune system makes a mistake and reacts to the body’s own tissues.
What is inflammation?
Literally it means setting on fire. It is a protective process our body uses when tissues are injured. Inflammation helps to eliminate a foreign body or organism (virus, bacteria) and prevent further injury. Signs of inflammation include; swelling, redness, pain and warmth. If the signs of inflammation are long lasting, as they can be in lupus, then damage to the tissues can occur and normal function is impaired. This is why the treatment of most autoimmune diseases are aimed at reducing the inflammation.
What happens with Dermatomyositis?
This is a class of autoimmune diseases called myopathies. With this one in particular, there is such an immune system response, that the skin develops redish purple rashes and patches. They particularly are abundant in the eyelids, armpits, elbows, wrists, fingers, knees, ankles and toes. They are found mostly where major joints are located and where muscles work to extend or flex a joint.There is not much research to show why this happens...
Autoimmune diseases are so chronic, that it is the accumulation of many stressors that are creating disease. The goal is to pull things away from the body to so call “put out the fire."
Another great day!
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