So what does AARDA want Americans to be aware of during "National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month"?

1. Be aware that autoimmune diseases target women; 75% of patients are women. 2. Know that autoimmune diseases tend to cluster in families. If your mother had rheumatoid arthritis and your sister had Crohn's disease, you could be at higher risk than usual. 3. Autoimmune diseases are on the rise in the U.S. and around the world, celiac disease has tripled in the past 10 years in Minnesota alone.4. Because of lack of early diagnosis and onset of treatment, healthcare costs for autoimmune diseases are overwhelming for patients and the healthcare system. 5. Everyone should know the facts about autoimmune disease.

For more information on autoimmune diseases and to learn more about what you need to know about autoimmune diseases, visit the AARDA Website at aarda.

To view the archived Web cast of the "Autoimmune Diseases Summit: The Global State of Autoimmunity, find the link on the homepage of the AARDA Website at aarda .

SOURCE American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association