Understanding Autoimmune Disorders

Certain factors can increase one’s risk for many different autoimmune disorders. Across the board, autoimmune diseases are more common in women than men. Environmental events have been linked to many autoimmune conditions, including viral and bacterial infections. Additionally, certain conditions such as multiple sclerosis and lupus can run in families, so it is important to know your family’s medical history. Most autoimmune diseases appear in young and middle-aged adults; however, some conditions like rheumatoid arthritis are much more common in middle aged adults and seniors.