Often-Missed Symptoms Pointing Towards Autoimmune Disease

Lisette Marie

11. Unexplained Weight Changes: The Metabolic Mystery

Feet of an Asian woman on a weight scale. Photo Credit: Envato @cait00sith

Unexplained weight changes, whether weight gain or loss, can be a subtle clue to an underlying autoimmune disease. Conditions like Hashimoto's thyroiditis can lead to weight gain due to decreased metabolism, while conditions like celiac disease or type 1 diabetes can result in weight loss due to malabsorption or insulin deficiency. These weight changes can occur despite maintaining a stable diet and exercise routine, indicating a potential metabolic imbalance.

12. Dry Eyes and Mouth: When Moisture Disappears

Concept of body care with mouth of young man. Photo Credit: Envato @AtlasComposer

Persistent dryness in the eyes and mouth may seem like a minor annoyance, but it could signal an autoimmune disorder like Sjögren’s syndrome. This condition causes the immune system to attack glands that produce tears and saliva, leading to gritty eyes, difficulty swallowing, and a constant thirst that water doesn’t fix. Left untreated, it can also affect the kidneys, lungs, and nerves. These symptoms are often brushed off as dehydration or aging, but chronic dryness deserves attention. If artificial tears and water aren’t helping, it may be time to ask your doctor about underlying autoimmune triggers.

BACK

(6 of 33)

<div class="ads ads-1 collapse-container group-display-adsense unit-2024-desktop-rail-336x600-long zone-slideshow-desktop-rail-bottom">
<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-6736552601239305"
     crossorigin="anonymous"></script>

<ins class="adsbygoogle"
     style="display:inline-block;width:300px;height:600px"
     data-ad-client="ca-pub-6736552601239305"
     data-ad-slot="7087745678"></ins>
<script>
     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<script>
  addBlurHandler('sdr-bottom', function (el, zone) {
    if (cf_utm_source === 'bing') {
        uetqApi('outbound_click', {
            'event_category': 'PPC',
            'event_label': 'Adsense',
            'event_value': '1'
        });
        console.log('Fired bing.');
    }
	
	if (cf_utm_source === 'google') {
		gtag('event', 'conversion', {
			'send_to': 'AW-17008664059/yUYKCMCtl7kaEPu7rq4_',
			'value': 0.0,
			'currency': 'USD'
		});
    	console.log('Fired Google Conversion.');
	}
	
    console.log('Fired pixel.');
});
</script>
</div>

OpenAI Playground 2025-05-13 at 10.55.45.png

<div class="ads ads-1 collapse-container group-display-adsense unit-2024-desktop-rail-336x280-sticky zone-slideshow-desktop-rail-sticky">
<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-6736552601239305"
     crossorigin="anonymous"></script>

<ins class="adsbygoogle"
     style="display:inline-block;width:300px;height:280px"
     data-ad-client="ca-pub-6736552601239305"
     data-ad-slot="9869999824"></ins>
<script>
     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>
<script>
  addBlurHandler('sdr-sticky', function (el, zone) {
    if (cf_utm_source === 'bing') {
        uetqApi('outbound_click', {
            'event_category': 'PPC',
            'event_label': 'Adsense',
            'event_value': '1'
        });
        console.log('Fired bing.');
    }
	
	if (cf_utm_source === 'google') {
	  gtag('event', 'conversion', {
		'send_to': 'AW-17008664059/yUYKCMCtl7kaEPu7rq4_',
		'value': 0.0,
		'currency': 'USD'
	  });
	  console.log('Fired Google Conversion.');
  	}

console.log('Fired pixel.');
});
</script>
</div>

11. Unexplained Weight Changes: The Metabolic Mystery

12. Dry Eyes and Mouth: When Moisture Disappears

MORE FROM HealthPrep