Autoimmune Disease

Typically, our immune system will fight against attacks from bad bacteria, germs, the flu, etc. because it can tell a difference between what should or shouldn’t be there. With autoimmune diseases, your immune system mistakenly attacks parts of your body or cells as the bad guys and ultimately attacks itself. This might make you more susceptible to infections.

Common Autoimmune Diseases Affecting Canadians

Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s tissues. These conditions might affect nearly every organ system and vary in severity. The most common autoimmune diseases in Canada include:

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in various body parts, including the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain.

• Approximately 90% of individuals diagnosed with lupus are women, most commonly between the ages of 15 and 45.
• Photosensitivity is common, with many patients experiencing flare-ups when exposed to sunlight.
• Symptoms vary but include fatigue, joint pain, skin rashes, and organ involvement.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

RA is a systemic autoimmune disease in which the immune system targets the synovial lining of joints, causing chronic inflammation and potential joint deformity.

• It might lead to permanent joint damage and disability if untreated.
• RA often presents between the ages of 30 and 60, with women being affected 2 to 3 times more frequently than men.
• Common symptoms include joint pain, stiffness (especially in the morning), fatigue, and swelling.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

MS is a chronic autoimmune condition affecting the central nervous system. In MS, the immune system attacks the myelin sheath that protects nerve fibres.

• It is most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40, with a higher prevalence in women.
• Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world.
• MS could impair mobility, vision, speech, memory, and coordination.

Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is an autoimmune-related form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

• It is most commonly diagnosed between ages 15 and 35.
• Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fatigue, and weight loss.
• Canada has among the highest incidence and prevalence of Crohn’s disease globally.

Sjögren’s Syndrome

Sjögren’s is an autoimmune disease primarily affecting the body’s moisture-producing glands, resulting in dry eyes and mouth.

• It often occurs with other autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
• It is most common in middle-aged women, and treatment often includes artificial tears and saliva substitutes.

Medical marijuana has the ability to help reduce inflammation and regulate the immune system. People with psoriasis for example have keratinocytes that aren’t doing their job properly. Keratinocytes are found in the immune system and prevent toxins from entering our body. They also keep moisture in the body which is why, if they aren’t doing their job, psoriasis sufferers have very dry, flaky, inflamed, painful skin. Medical marijuana could send signals to your cells to reduce inflammation, and even slow cell growth (as people with psoriasis may produce skin cells too quickly), and reduce itching and discomfort.

People with asthma might also benefits of medical marijuana. When you have asthma, your immune system is being triggered by an overreaction. But since medical marijuana could help reduce symptoms and inflammation in your immune system, it could help you breathe better.

You may be tired of trying different prescription drugs that have little, or no effect, but are curious as to if medical marijuana might help. Unfortunately, there is no cure for Crohn’s disease, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis, but there are ways to control the pain and improve quality of life. Medical marijuana acts as an anti-inflammatory which is the main cause of discomfort in the diseases listed above. It could also work as a relaxant, which will ease your pain while improving your sleep cycle.