AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES IN WOMEN
Our bodies have an immune system which is a complex network of special cells and organs that defends the body from germs and other foreign invaders. Many diseases of the immune system, also known as autoimmune diseases, are more common in women than in men. The majority of people living with autoimmune disorders are women, usually those who are of childbearing age. In fact, autoimmune diseases are among the leading causes of death and disability in girls and women 65 years of age and younger. There are dozens of different types of autoimmune diseases, which occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own organs and tissues. The majority of these diseases are far more common in women than in men — an estimated 75 percent of those living with autoimmune diseases are female. Who gets Autoimmune Diseases? Autoimmune diseases can affect anyone. Yet certain people are at greater risk, including: Women of childbearing age — More w...