Autoimmune diseases develop when the immune system decides your healthy cells are foreign. Your immune system then attacks your healthy cells. There are as many as 80 different types of autoimmune diseases and they can affect one or many different types of body tissues and may also cause abnormal organ growth and changes in organ function. The symptoms of many autoimmune diseases are similar, making them difficult to diagnose. It is possible to have more than one at a time. Autoimmune diseases often run in the family and about 75% of those affected are women. Currently, treatment for autoimmune diseases focuses on relieving symptoms because there is no curative therapy. No one is exactly sure what causes autoimmune diseases, but there are many theories about what triggers them. These triggers include – There are many symptoms that could indicate that you have an autoimmune disease. Here are the most common symptoms of autoimmune diseases include – Tissues and organs that are commonly affected by autoimmune diseases include – In order to diagnose an autoimmune disease, the doctor needs to run one of the various tests that are used to diagnose autoimmune diseases or a combination of the tests. The various tests include – Autoimmune diseases are chronic conditions with no cure. The treatment involves attempts to control the process of the disease and to decrease the symptoms, especially during flare-ups. Below is a list of things you can do to alleviate symptoms – If the symptoms persist after you have tried to alleviate them, make an appointment to see your doctor. The doctor can then diagnose your autoimmune disease and prescribe the best course of treatment. Treatment could include – Common Autoimmune diseases –