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Autoimmune Support and Awareness Foundation

@autoimmuneawarenessfoundation

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Supporting, transforming and saving the lives of those affected by Auto Immune Disease
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As The festive season approaches #costofliving for many become over whelming.

The bills. The uncertainty. The pressure to keep going. Your body feels it too.

When social and economic pressures persist, worry can follow us into bed, disrupt our sleep and leave us struggling through the day.

For someone already living with chronic illness, that extra burden can make everyday life harder.

“Just relax” won’t pay the bills, secure a job or make healthcare accessible. Listening, practical support and timely care can help. 💗

At the Autoimmune Support and Awareness Foundation, we believe people deserve to be heard before they reach breaking point.

What’s one pressure you wish others understood? Share only what feels comfortable—and save this for a day when you need reminding that asking for support is a strength.

#ChronicStress #MentalHealthMatters #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneAwareness by @autoimmuneawarenessfoundation

Autoimmune disease deserves greater attention across the Gulf.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar have some of the world’s highest rates of childhood type 1 diabetes. School screening in Riyadh has uncovered coeliac disease in children, while Kuwait’s registry has documented increasing numbers of people living with MS.

Behind every statistic is someone who needs recognition, answers and support.

The picture varies across GCC countries. Greater awareness can help people recognise symptoms, ask informed questions and seek appropriate care.

At the Autoimmune Support and Awareness Foundation, we believe education empowers people—and every patient deserves to be heard. 💗

Living in the GCC? Which autoimmune condition do you wish more people understood?

Tell us below. Save this post and share it to help start that conversation.

#AutoimmuneAwareness #uaelife #gcc #SaudiArabia #qatar by @autoimmuneawarenessfoundation

Signature Moon 🌙✨

Just as the moon illuminates the sky, let your unique radiance light up the world. With the brilliance of diamonds and the magic of the crescent moon, Shine as You Are. 💎✨

#SolitaJewels #Jewelry #Moon #Diamond #gold by @autoimmuneawarenessfoundation

🧠 What if a sudden change in someone’s memory, behaviour or personality was a sign that their brain was inflamed?

Autoimmune encephalitis is a serious condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the brain. Symptoms can develop over days or weeks, and recognising them early can make a difference.

Signs may include:

💗 New or worsening confusion or memory problems
💗 Changes in behaviour or personality
💗 Seizures or unusual movements
💗 Difficulty speaking or weakness

These symptoms can have other causes, but they should never be ignored.

🚨 New confusion, seizures, difficulty speaking or weakness? Call 999 immediately.

At the Autoimmune Support and Awareness Foundation, we believe that awareness and early recognition can help people reach the care they need sooner.

Please share this post. You never know who may need to recognise the signs. 💗

#AutoimmuneEncephalitis #encephalitis #AutoimmuneAwareness #BrainHealth #brain by @autoimmuneawarenessfoundation

“Just stress” can have real consequences for the body. 🩷

When stress becomes prolonged, the signals connecting your brain, hormones and immune system can change. Some immune cells become less responsive to the signals that normally help switch inflammation off.

For people already susceptible to autoimmunity, this may contribute to disease developing or trigger a flare.

That does not mean you caused your illness. It means you deserve support.

Telling someone to “relax” does not address trauma, financial pressure, caring responsibilities or the daily burden of living with chronic illness.

Stress support belongs alongside proper investigation, treatment and compassionate care. And new symptoms should never be dismissed as “just stress”.

At the Autoimmune Support and Awareness Foundation, we believe understanding these connections helps people feel heard, recognise patterns and seek the care they need.

💬 Have you noticed a connection between prolonged stress and your symptoms? Share only what feels comfortable.

Save this post and share it with someone who needs to feel understood.

#AutoimmuneAwareness #ChronicStress #AutoimmuneDisease #ChronicIllness #stress by @autoimmuneawarenessfoundation

❤️ You can look well, smile—and still need your symptoms taken seriously.

I’m wearing a portable heart monitor to investigate the palpitations I’ve been experiencing. Sharing this is a reminder that so much of living with chronic illness happens beneath the surface.

What does a heart monitor do? It records the heart’s electrical activity as you go about your day, helping doctors identify extra beats or other rhythm changes that a brief ECG might miss. Recording when symptoms occur helps doctors connect what you feel with the tracing.

Palpitations can feel like racing, pounding, fluttering or skipped beats. They are often harmless, but symptoms that keep returning, last longer or become worse deserve medical assessment. You don’t have to wait until you feel desperately unwell to speak up.

🚨 Palpitations with chest pain, shortness of breath, feeling faint or fainting require emergency help—call 999.

Living with autoimmune conditions has taught me how important it is to notice changes, ask questions and keep advocating for appropriate care.

A smile is not a measure of someone’s health. Listening matters.

Have you experienced palpitations or worn a heart monitor? Share your experience below—and save this reminder for someone who needs it. ❤️

Autoimmune Support & Awareness Foundation @autoimmuneawarenessfoundation

#HeartHealth #invisibleillness #heart #AutoimmuneAwareness #autoimmunedisease by @autoimmuneawarenessfoundation

🤍 Vitiligo & Our Hands 🤍

Vitiligo can often affects our hands, and these areas are extremely difficult to repigment.

Our hands are always on show and every patch tells part of our story, my skin doesn't define my worth or should it yours. Be proud every patch, it's part of what makes you... uniquely you!

Let’s raise awareness, break the stigma and embrace every shade of ourselves. ✨
Different skin, same beauty. 🤍

FOLLOW @luxshereewithlove

#VitiligoAwareness #VitiligoWarrior #HandsAndVitiligo #SkinPositivity #autoimmunediseaseawareness by @autoimmuneawarenessfoundation

Vitiligo treatment has moved forward. Has anyone told you? 💗

There’s still no cure—but there are more options to discuss with your dermatologist.

🧴 Ruxolitinib cream (Opzelura) targets immune signals that attack the cells responsible for skin colour, helping pigment gradually return.

It is now recommended for NHS use in England for eligible people aged 12+ with non-segmental vitiligo affecting the face, when standard topical treatments haven’t worked or aren’t suitable.

⏳ Progress takes months. Results vary, and colour loss can return after treatment stops.

Access to treatment matters. So does understanding.

Vitiligo is not contagious. Choosing treatment—or choosing to embrace your patches—is personal. Everyone deserves support.

💬 What’s the ONE thing you wish people understood about vitiligo?

Save this for your next dermatology appointment. Share it to help someone discover their options.

💗 Autoimmune Support and Awareness Foundation Connect • Understand • Raise Awareness • Educate

#Vitiligo #autoimmunedisease #AutoimmuneAwareness #SkinHealth #skin by @autoimmuneawarenessfoundation

The appointment ends. You walk outside. And suddenly remember everything you meant to say.

Sound familiar? 💗

Brain fog can make it difficult to explain what you’re experiencing—especially when you’re tired, anxious or overwhelmed.

Forgetting the words doesn’t make your symptoms less real.

Before your next appointment, jot down: 📝 Your symptoms 📝 When they happen 📝 How they affect your daily life 📝 The questions you want answered

We created ASAL to help you keep your health story organised and prepare for conversations with your healthcare team.

💗 Try ASAL Essential for FREE. Visit www.asalhealthapp.com — link in bio.

Supports awareness and organisation. Does not diagnose.

Have you ever remembered your most important question on the way home?

Save this for your next appointment. Send it to someone who will understand.

#BrainFog #AutoimmuneAwareness #InvisibleIllness #ChronicIllness #ASALHealth by @autoimmuneawarenessfoundation

🫁 Living with asthma? You could help shape the future of asthma care.

ASA Foundation is sharing Trialmed’s invitation to take part in clinical research exploring asthma care with a lower environmental impact.

You may be eligible if you:

✅ Are aged 18–75
✅ Have mild to moderate asthma that is currently well controlled
✅ Regularly use prescribed inhaled asthma medication

The advert lists compensation for your time, travel reimbursement and flexible visits.

💬 Interested? Ask Trialmed about the treatment being studied, potential risks and what participation involves. Eligibility is assessed by the study team, and taking part is voluntary.

📲 Scan the QR code or visit www.trialmed.co.uk to find out more.

Please continue your prescribed asthma treatment unless your treating clinician advises otherwise.

💗 Connect. Understand. Raise Awareness. Educate.

#Asthma #AsthmaAwareness #ClinicalTrials #AsthmaResearch by @autoimmuneawarenessfoundation

Women are more likely to develop many autoimmune conditions because their immune systems work differently, influenced by their genes and hormones.
The immune system normally protects us from infections. In autoimmune disease, it mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues. Women often produce stronger immune responses, which can help fight infections but may also increase the chance of this happening.

The X chromosome is one important clue. Most women have two X chromosomes, which carry genes involved in immunity. Although much of one X is switched off, some immune genes remain active on both copies. This can make certain immune cells more reactive.

Researchers are also studying XIST, a molecule that helps switch off one X chromosome. Proteins attached to it can become targets for the immune system. Research published in 2026 strengthened this possible link, including findings in people with scleroderma.

Hormones help control the immune response too. Their effects are complex: they can increase inflammation or help keep it under control. Recent research in mice found that one oestrogen receptor acts like a brake on inflammatory immune cells.

These findings help explain women’s greater susceptibility, but there is no single cause or explanation that applies to everyone, and the research has not yet produced a treatment that prevents women from developing autoimmune disease.
#women #womensupportingwomen #autoimmunedisease #female by @autoimmuneawarenessfoundation

💙 Living with high blood pressure? You could help shape future treatment.

ASA Foundation is sharing Trialmed’s invitation to take part in clinical trials at participating clinics.

You may be eligible if you meet both of these criteria:

✅ Take two or more blood pressure medicines, including a water tablet (diuretic).

✅ Have a history of heart or circulation problems, such as a heart attack, stroke, stent, bypass surgery or narrowed arteries.

The advert states that eligible participants will receive reimbursement for study-related time and travel.

💬 Interested? Ask Trialmed about the treatment being studied, potential risks and what participation involves. The study team will assess eligibility, and taking part is voluntary.

📲 Scan the QR code or visit www.trialmed.co.uk to find out more.

Continue taking your prescribed medicines unless your treating clinician advises otherwise.

💗 Connect. Understand. Raise Awareness. Educate.

#HighBloodPressure #Hypertension #HeartHealth #ClinicalTrials #HealthResearch by @autoimmuneawarenessfoundation