Often-Missed Symptoms Pointing Towards Autoimmune Disease

35. Lightheadedness Upon Standing: The Autonomic Clue

If you regularly feel dizzy, faint, or foggy when you stand up—especially after sitting or lying down—you could be experiencing orthostatic intolerance, often linked to autoimmune conditions like lupus or autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy. This happens when your nervous system struggles to regulate blood pressure and heart rate, leading to reduced blood flow to the brain. It’s not just dehydration or “getting up too fast.” If this feeling is persistent or paired with palpitations, nausea, or fatigue, your immune system may be impacting your body’s internal regulation. These dizzy spells might be your earliest clue.

36. Chronic Sinus Congestion Without Allergy

Stuffed up but allergy tests come back clean? Chronic sinus congestion—especially when accompanied by facial pressure, post-nasal drip, or a dull headache—can point to autoimmune conditions like granulomatosis with polyangiitis or even lupus. These diseases can inflame the sinus lining and blood vessels, mimicking sinusitis without infection or seasonal triggers. If decongestants don’t work and symptoms drag on for weeks or months, it’s worth asking whether your immune system is causing the blockage. Your sinuses might be ground zero for a much larger inflammatory war—and catching it early can prevent systemic spread.