Often-Missed Symptoms Pointing Towards Autoimmune Disease

19. Difficulty Swallowing: More Than Just a Sore Throat

Struggling to swallow food, pills, or even water—without signs of a cold or reflux—can be an early indicator of autoimmune disease. Conditions like scleroderma, myasthenia gravis, and mixed connective tissue disease can cause the muscles or nerves in the esophagus to weaken or stiffen, leading to a sensation of choking, tightness, or food getting “stuck.” Over time, this symptom can escalate to nutritional deficiencies or weight loss. Because swallowing issues often present gradually and without pain, they’re easy to overlook. But if eating feels harder than it used to, especially with dry foods, it's time to dig deeper.

20. Burning Hands or Feet: Nerves Crying Out

That strange burning or stinging feeling in your hands or feet—especially at night—could be a sign of peripheral neuropathy tied to an autoimmune condition. Diseases like lupus, celiac disease, and Sjögren’s syndrome can inflame or damage nerves, leading to sensations that mimic frostbite or pins and needles. Often dismissed as circulation issues or “just getting older,” this type of nerve dysfunction can progress if ignored. It’s not just uncomfortable—it’s diagnostic. If you’ve ruled out diabetes or vitamin deficiencies and still experience these fiery jolts or numb patches, autoimmune inflammation might be the real culprit.