Arthritis and Other Immune Diseases
Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the immune system attacks healthy cells in the body. Inflammation is a common symptom of autoimmune diseases and can cause heat intolerance. Autoimmunity is more common in women than men, but anyone can develop an autoimmune disease at any age.
A prime example of a common autoimmune illness is rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This inflammatory type of arthritis causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of function in joints. RA affects 1 out of every 100 Americans and tends to affect women more than men. The symptoms usually come on gradually over time. However, they can also appear suddenly if a flare-up occurs due to an injury or infection.
Some people may have periods where their symptoms improve or go away completely. However, others will experience continuous pain and stiffness throughout life with occasional flare-ups. These are triggered by stress or injuries like sprained ankles or stubbed toes during exercise routines such as jogging on concrete surfaces outdoors during hot summer afternoons when temperatures reach around 85 degrees Fahrenheit outside (29 degrees Celsius).
