Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes your body’s immune system to begin attacking your own tissues and organs. There are a few variations of lupus, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) lupus and lupus nephritis. Lupus can result in inflammation in a multitude of body systems including skin, kidneys, joints, blood cells, lungs, brain, and heart. Many symptoms are similar to other diseases or illnesses, so it may be hard to diagnose, but a distinctive symptom is a red rash across the cheeks and nose. Some individuals are more at risk for lupus than others and this article will identify some major risk factors of lupus:

1. Your sex

Your sex is a risk factor of lupus as it is most commonly found in women. Lupus can affect anyone, but women are 9-10 times more likely than men to develop the disease. This is suspectedly due to the estrogen hormone as it is believed to encourage autoimmune disorder development—men have lower levels of estrogen, hence the tendency of lupus showing up in females.

2. Age

Lupus can affect people of any age; however, it is commonly diagnosed between the ages of 15-45. For women, this tends to follow childbearing ages, again reinforcing the belief that estrogen plays a role in the development of the autoimmune disorder—estrogen levels increase once women reach childbearing age and decrease after menopause, matching up with the ages of diagnosis.

3. Race

An African-American woman is 2-3 times more likely to develop lupus than a Caucasian woman. Lupus is also found more in Hispanic, Asian, and Native American individuals and symptoms are often more severe in African-Americans and Hispanics.

4. Family medical history

If you have a relative that has been diagnosed with lupus, you will be more likely to develop lupus as well. This isn’t the most significant risk factor, though. Just approximately 2% of children whose mothers have lupus also developed the disease. It is not inherited, rather genetic components play a role with more than 50 genes associated with lupus.

5. Medications

Certain blood-pressure, anti-seizure, and antibiotic medications can trigger lupus in some individuals. If an individual is diagnosed with drug-induced lupus, they often improve and symptoms end with the discontinuation of the intake of the drug. When taking a new medication, it is important to look into the potential side effects to make informed decisions and understand what can happen. If you experience any adverse side effects when taking a new medication, please talk to your doctor immediately.