March is Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month. Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues. There are more than 80 known autoimmune conditions, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, crohn’s disease and ankylosing spondylitis. Many autoimmune conditions are invisible. Symptoms such as pain, fatigue, inflammation and changes in mobility or functioning can be part of everyday life. Awareness helps