Lupus is an autoimmune disease. It affects your entire body.
In some cases, this disease is deadly. After all, it damages the lungs and kidneys. Lupus also has an effect on your blood vessels and your brain.
So where does lupus come from? Can you do anything to prevent it?
Risk Factors for Lupus
You can inherit a predisposition for lupus. If one of your parents suffered from this disease, you’re much likelier to develop it as well.
However, doctors say there are other factors involved. These include race, sex, and age. For example, women are more at risk of lupus. It’s also likelier to get diagnosed before the age of 45.
But what about other factors? Clearly, it is very important to identify all the risk factors for lupus. Is there a way you can prevent developing this disease?
Stress and Lupus
Research shows that stress might be one of the risk factors for lupus. This is a groundbreaking new finding.
Scientists studied data about people with PTSD. So what did they find? Post-traumatic stress disorder makes you three times as likely to develop lupus.
Stress changes some of the hormones in the body. Hence, it can cause changes in the immune system. This is why it causes autoimmune diseases.
Prevention and Treatment
Medical science is now one step closer to finding treatment for lupus. Additionally, people who have PTSD will get diagnosed more easily now that we know about this link.
Unfortunately, prevention isn’t possible yet. However, there are ways you can delay or prevent this disease getting triggered. Infections and some medications can set it off, so avoiding those could help you stay healthy.
