Often-Missed Symptoms Pointing Towards Autoimmune Disease

49. Chronic Muscle Weakness Without Exercise

While fatigue and muscle aches are common, a distinct, persistent feeling of muscle weakness without any change in your exercise routine is a red flag. Conditions like myositis, a group of autoimmune diseases that cause muscle inflammation, can lead to a gradual loss of strength. Simple tasks like getting out of a chair, climbing stairs, or lifting objects may become increasingly difficult. This muscle weakness is often symmetrical, affecting both sides of the body equally. This symptom is often dismissed as simple aging, but when it appears suddenly and without explanation, it is a sign that your muscles may be under attack by your own immune system.

50. Anemia Without a Clear Cause

If you’ve been diagnosed with anemia and traditional iron supplements aren't helping, an autoimmune condition might be the root cause. Autoimmune diseases can cause a type of anemia where your body either struggles to produce enough red blood cells or attacks and destroys existing ones. Conditions like lupus, celiac disease, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia are known to cause this type of iron-resistant anemia. This symptom is often a quiet clue that your immune system is interfering with your body's most basic functions, like carrying oxygen.