Autoimmune Disease: When the Immune System Gets Confused

The immune system is a mysterious force in the body. It is there to protect you from harms like infection or cancer. But it can also get confused and attack its own body. This leads to autoimmune disease, a diverse group of conditions – like psoriasis, Type 1 diabetes, or multiple sclerosis – that affect 1 in every 6 Americans. Why does this happen? Are these diseases getting more common? Why are women affected more often than men? We ask rheumatologist Dr. Christine Lee to shed some light on these questions. We also hear Jessica tell her story with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Curious for more? Check out Megan O’Rourke’s gripping narrative, “What’s Wrong With Me?”, from the New Yorker in 2013. For anyone seeking physician and patient resources, head to the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association website, www.aarda.org.