Why are Autoimmune diseases becoming more Common?

Autoimmune diseases are becoming more prevalent and there are a few factors that could be leading to this trend. The first is that we have better diagnostic tools, so doctors are able to catch autoimmune diseases earlier than in the past. This means that people who have these diseases aren’t dying from them before they can be diagnosed, which makes it seem like there are more total cases than there used to be.

Additionally, we’re living longer lives than ever before, and as people age their immune systems naturally weaken which could lead to more autoimmune disease diagnoses than would have happened in the past. Finally, our diets and lifestyles have changed a lot over the last few decades and this has led to more autoimmune diseases as well.

What is Autoimmune Disease?

Autoimmune diseases are chronic inflammatory disorders that occur when the immune system attacks the body’s own cells and organs.

Autoimmune diseases are on the rise, but why?

As autoimmune diseases are becoming more commonly diagnosed, there are several key factors that play into this growing prevalence. One contributing factor is the increase in pollution from toxic chemicals and heavy metals in the environment. For example, a recent study showed that states with higher levels of pollution showed a higher incidence of lupus.

The prevalence of many autoimmune diseases is increasing rapidly worldwide and we don’t really know why. Some scientists believe that genetics may play a role in some cases because certain genes seem to be linked to some types of autoimmune diseases.

There are a few theories about why autoimmune diseases have become more common, including:

There are several theories as to why autoimmune disorders are becoming more prevalent in recent years, and the truth is that we just don’t know for sure.

– Modern living conditions are to blame. Some scientists theorize that our modern lifestyle is at fault. They believe that the rationale for autoimmune disorders and different inflammatory disorders (like allergies, asthma, and irritable gut syndrome) seem to air the increase is that we tend to square measure exposed to fewer infections in developed countries. Without these exposures, their theory goes, our immune systems turn their attention toward other targets like our own bodies.

– Changes in diet are to blame. Some researchers believe that changes in our diet may play a role in the increase of autoimmune diseases. The “hygiene hypothesis” discussed above also has a dietary component: many scientists think we aren’t exposed to enough bacteria through our food to train our immune systems properly. Other researchers point to the increased use of antibiotics and antacids as possible causes—antibiotics may kill helpful bacteria in our digestive tract, and antacids compromise the acidity of stomach acid, that is vital for breaking down food and interesting nutrients.

– A genetic predisposition may be at work. Some researchers have found changes in certain genes that make us more likely to develop autoimmune diseases.

According to the National Institute of Health, “The clarification for reaction diseases is unknown. Many factors may be involved, including environmental factors (such as toxins or viruses) that may trigger changes that confuse the immune system. Heredity (genetics), which make some people more prone to autoimmune disorders than others.”