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HEALTH & BEAUTY


You&Your health What is an


With expert Pharmacist Andrew Watson of Good Measure Pharmacy


Our immune systems are designed to protect us from attacks by bacteria and viruses which cause us to become ill.


When an attack occurs defence mechanisms such as white blood corpuscles are mobilised to destroy them.


Sometimes, however, immune systems become faulty and mistakenly attack healthy tissues and organs resulting in disease. The reason for this is not fully clear although there is often a family link. Women are twice as likely as men to suffer. The onset is frequently between puberty and menopause. Perhaps we are not exposing ourselves to enough relatively harmless germs for our immune systems to attack by the use of antiseptics and cleaning agents, so they start attacking healthy cells.


Pollutants in the atmosphere have also been blamed and of course an unhealthy high fat and sugar diet with too much processed food may play a part.


‘‘These diseases although not curable at the moment often have periods of remission when the symptoms become milder.’’


The first symptoms which can be common to many autoimmune diseases can be aches, redness, swelling, numbness in the feet and hands also a mild fever.


Each disease has its own characteristics. For example Psoriasis affects the skin and red, scaly patches appear because too many skin cells are produced. Sjogren’s Syndrome attacks glands in the eyes and mouth causing dryness. These symptoms of course can be typical of other diseases and blood tests are required for a positive diagnosis.


12 aroundtownmagazine.co.uk


Psoriasis Autoimmune Disease?


Common autoimmune diseases include:


Rheumatoid Arthritis The joints are attacked causing pain,


stiffness and redness. It appears much earlier in life than osteoarthritis which can occur in later life due to wear in the joints. Although very painful osteoarthritis is not an autoimmune disease.


Rheumatoid Arthritis is a lifelong disease. Medication such as methotrexate can be given to slow down its progress by blocking the chemicals attacking the joints. Paracetamol or Co-codamol and Ibuprofen help with pain relief. Your doctor may prescribe steroids also to help with inflammation.


Type 1 Diabetes


The immune system targets the pancreas and it stops producing insulin which is essential for regulating blood sugar levels. It usually occurs before the age of 20 and has to be treated with insulin injections. The symptoms are weight loss, excessive thirst and urination.


Type 2 diabetes is not an autoimmune disease. It appears usually in midlife and is mainly caused by a diet high in sugar and fat. Sometimes it can be reversed by losing weight and eating a healthier diet.


Sjogren’s Syndrome


This is a condition that affects the parts of the body that produce fluid and the main symptoms are dry eyes, dry mouth, swollen glands or stiff and painful joints. The symptoms of this disease can be managed effectively but at the moment there is no cure.


Lubricant eye drops, artificial saliva sprays or lozenges and emollient skin creams are available on prescription and can help to reduce symptoms. A disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug called hydroxychloroquine is sometimes recommended by Sjögren’s syndrome specialists as a way to reduce inflammation and so could reduce pain, swelling and joint stiffness.


Plaques form on the skin which are covered with silvery scales usually on the elbow, knees and scalp. The joints may be affected and become arthritic. The plaques may be treated with a vitamin D cream such as Dovonex, available on prescription. A corticosteroid cream such as Betnovate RD may help especially during flare ups. Phototherapy using ultraviolet can be beneficial.


Grave’s Disease


The thyroid gland in the neck is attacked causing it to produce too many hormones. This results in over activity causing nervousness, weight loss, thirst, diarrhoea and eye problems. Treatment involves destroying part of the gland. One way of doing this is by having a carefully measured dose of radioiodine. This is absorbed by the thyroid and kills part of it. Medication such as carbimazole or propylthiouracil are an alternative treatment Surgery to physically reduce the size of


the gland can be performed if other options don’t work.


Ulcerative Colitis


The targets in this condition are the lower bowel and rectum. The good bacteria are attacked and the walls of the bowel are injured. The symptoms are diarrhoea often with blood or pus present from the ulcers in the bowel. This causes tummy pain and fatigue. The main treatment is medication called aminosalicylates these include sulphasalazine and mesalazine which stop inflammation. Corticosteroids such as prednisolone can be given in short courses


These diseases although not curable at the moment often have periods of remission when the symptoms become milder. New treatments are becoming available to prolong these and the future looks brighter.


Andrew Watson


If you have any specific health concerns, please feel free to contact me at


Good Measure or email me at andy@thewatsons.co.uk. In future editions of Around Town l hope to address your concerns.


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