Skip to main content

8 Common Causes of Immune Disorders

min read

By Emily Lockhart

Your body’s immune system protects you from disease and infection, but when you suffer from an immune disorder; your immune system becomes dysfunctional and leaves the body prone to attack by invading germs and infection—typically by become over- or under-active.

The most commonly known immune disorders are Lupus, Type one diabetes , Rheumatoid arthritis, and Multiple sclerosis.

There are over 80 different types of immune disorders, and even though direct causes are still a medical mystery, doctors consider the following links as increased risk factors…

1. Heredity

Studies link heredity to a higher chance of developing an immune disorder. For instance, if one parent has an immune disease (i.e., type one diabetes) their children’s risk for inheriting that same disorder increases significantly.


2. Age

Immune disorders typically show themselves during childhood and teen years.  Take Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, a type of rheumatoid arthritis, primarily affects those under the age of 18.


3. Hormones

Medical research has also found a link between the levels of certain naturally occurring hormones (i.e., certain sex hormones) within the body, and the risk of developing certain immune illnesses.


4. Genetic Mutations

In addition to your family history increasing your risk of developing an immune disorder, your specific genetic make-up can also have an effect. Studies suspect that your genes count for raising the risk of immune disorders by one-third.


5. Environment

The idea that immune diseases can be triggered by the surrounding environment has always been speculated.  Many scientists point to the onset of an infection or certain toxins as the initiator.


6. Race

Race can also predispose you to certain immune diseases, particularly for those of African-Americans (i.e., for lupus and scleroderma), and Caucasians (i.e., for type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis).


7. Related Illnesses

It’s known that individuals who have an existing immune disorder are prone to developing multiple related illnesses. Take for example patients with Type 1 Diabetes being at greater risk of Celiac Disease (which affects the small intestine).


8. Gender

Your sex (along with related factors) may also predispose you to an immune disease, with adolescent girls and females in their early 20s being 3 times more likely to develop an immune disease compared to males in the same age group.

Emily Lockhart

Contributor

Emily Lockhart is a certified yoga instructor and personal trainer. She believes that being healthy is a lifestyle choice, not a punishment or temporary fix to attain a desired fitness or body image goal. Anna helps her clients take responsibility for their own health and wellness through her classes and articles on ActiveBeat.

Children

Explore

Parenting With ADHD: 7 Practical Tips For Success
By Joanne Park, André Plamondon, and Sheri Madigan Children

Parenting With ADHD: 7 Practical Tips For Success

Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often goes undiagnosed in adults — including parents — but it has a significant impact on family life. A parent with ADHD may struggle with time management and staying focused. They may appear to be in control, but their daily life can be chaotic with missed appointments, trouble remembering and enforcing rules […]

Read More about Parenting With ADHD: 7 Practical Tips For Success

5 min read

Screen Time Is Contributing to Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Tweens and Teens — A Pediatric Sleep Expert Explains How Critical Sleep Is to Kids’ Mental Health
By Maida Lynn Chen Children

Screen Time Is Contributing to Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Tweens and Teens — A Pediatric Sleep Expert Explains How Critical Sleep Is to Kids’ Mental Health

With the start of a new school year comes the inevitable battle to get kids back into a healthy bedtime routine. In many cases, this likely means resetting boundaries on screen use, especially late in the evenings. But imposing and enforcing those rules can be easier said than done. A growing body of research is […]

Read More about Screen Time Is Contributing to Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Tweens and Teens — A Pediatric Sleep Expert Explains How Critical Sleep Is to Kids’ Mental Health

5 min read

Positive Parenting Can Help Protect Against the Effects of Stress in Childhood and Adolescence, New Study Shows
By Jamie Hanson and Isabella Kahhalé Children

Positive Parenting Can Help Protect Against the Effects of Stress in Childhood and Adolescence, New Study Shows

The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Warm and supportive parenting may buffer against the effects of stress during childhood and adolescence. That is the key takeaway of our recent study, published in the journal PNAS Nexus. Some children and adolescents who experience stressful events such as physical […]

Read More about Positive Parenting Can Help Protect Against the Effects of Stress in Childhood and Adolescence, New Study Shows

3 min read