7 DEADLY Signs of Autoimmune Diseases

When is an autoimmune disease attacking your organs — and which warning signs should you never ignore? Double board-certified rheumatologist Dr. Diana Girnita reveals 7 serious signs that lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's, or vasculitis may be damaging your brain, lungs, heart, or kidneys, and what to do about it. Autoimmune diseases can quietly affect vital organs long before you feel truly sick. In this video, Dr. Girnita explains how symptoms like crushing fatigue, brain fog, vision changes, trouble swallowing, shortness of breath, chest pain, and swollen or foamy urine can signal serious internal damage — and why catching them early matters. QUESTIONS THIS VIDEO ANSWERS: ❓ What are the dangerous signs of autoimmune disease? → Brain fog, shortness of breath, chest pain, vision loss, trouble swallowing, and foamy or swollen urine can signal organ involvement. ❓ Can autoimmune disease damage organs? → Yes — lupus, RA, Sjögren's, and vasculitis can affect the lungs, heart, kidneys, and nervous system. ❓ When should you see a rheumatologist urgently? → Any new breathing, heart, vision, or kidney symptom with a known or suspected autoimmune disease. ❓ Which diseases cause these signs? → Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, and vasculitis are common causes. 7 SIGNS COVERED: crushing fatigue • brain fog • vision loss • trouble swallowing • shortness of breath • chest pain • swelling or foamy urine. 🩺 Book a consultation: https://rheumatologistoncall.com/ Chapters: 0:00 - 0:47 What are autoimmune diseases? 0:47 - 1:56 #1 Crushing Fatigue 1:57 - 3:43 #2 Not Yourself Lately (Brain Fog) 3:44 - 5:03 #3 Trouble Swallowing (Choking) 5:04 - 6:53 #4 Vision Loss 6:54 - 8:25 #5 Breathing Issues 8:26 - 10:57 #6 Heart Attack 10:58 - 12:49 #7 Kidney Damage 12:50 - 13:52 Outro CONNECT WITH DR. GIRNITA & THE COMMUNITY: 👥 Facebook Group — Autoimmune Disease & Arthritis Support Group: Facebook: 3685130571554200 ✏️ Blog: https://rheumatologistoncall.com/blog/ 🤳 Instagram: @rheumatologistoncall 📧 Contact: [email protected] 🔔 Subscribe: @rheumatologistoncall BUY MY BOOKS: ➡️ Thriving with Rheumatoid Arthritis: https://amzn.to/4gyHPfn ➡️ The Complete Gout Management and Nutrition Guide: https://amzn.to/3ZSFt5K ➡️ Rheumatoid Arthritis Journal: https://amzn.to/3SQfisK ABOUT DR. DIANA GIRNITA, MD, PhD Dr. Diana Girnita is a double board-certified physician in rheumatology and internal medicine. She earned a PhD in immunology and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University, an immunology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh, and a rheumatology fellowship at the University of Cincinnati. She also completed Nutrition Science training at Stanford University and a Mindfulness course at the University of Massachusetts. Dr. Girnita is the founder & CEO of Rheumatologist OnCall, a telemedicine practice focused on broadening access to rheumatology care and offering patients an integrative-medicine approach. She helps patients understand autoimmune disease and arthritis and builds personalized treatment plans that combine the right medication with proper nutrition, exercise, and stress management. As she reminds her patients: "You have a disease, but YOU are not the disease." MEDICAL DISCLAIMER The information in this video is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content — including text, graphics, images, and information — is for general educational purposes only and does not replace a medical consultation. Any comments or recommendations made in the comment section by anyone other than Rheumatologist OnCall do not reflect our opinion or recommendation. #autoimmunedisease #lupus #rheumatoidarthritis #Sjogrens #vasculitis #rheumatologist #autoimmune