What Are Autoimmune Triggers?

What Are Autoimmune Triggers?

Autoimmune conditions tend to ebb and flow. When symptoms increase, they can happen suddenly and severely. When this occurs, it is considered a flare-up. Flare-ups occur when something triggers your immune system to attack your own body. Understanding your triggers can help you avoid and manage your autoimmune flare-ups.

COMMON AUTOIMMUNE TRIGGERS

Triggers can vary depending on the autoimmune condition and individual person. If you have been recently diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, it is important to pay attention to your environment, physical, and mental well-being to determine the circumstances that cause your flare-ups. Make note of possible triggers so that you can be better prepared for one in the future. Knowing your triggers can make managing your autoimmune condition easier.


Some of the most common triggers include the following:

The hormones involved in stress responses are believed to contribute to autoimmune dysfunction; however, researchers are still studying how this works. What is clear is that mental stress is associated with flare-ups of many types of autoimmune disorders.

Stress

Immune Disorders - Stress
Seasonal changes contribute to a variety of different circumstances that may trigger your condition. For example, pollen production in the spring and summer, lower vitamin D levels in the winter, and an overall increase of infectious diseases circulating the population during the winter can affect the level of disease.

Changes in the Seasons

Immune Disorders- Changes in the Seasons
Triggers related to diet can come from a variety of things like gluten, soy, grains, coffee, eggs, and etc. One of the best ways to manage an autoimmune disorder is to consume an anti-inflammatory diet as much as possible.

Diet

Immune Disorders - Diet
Catching an infectious disease can cause your body’s immune system to flare up and attack your body and not just the infection. Common infections that cause flare-ups include mononucleosis, pneumonia, and the flu. Viral infections are particularly associated with enhancing autoimmune activity.

Infections

Immune Disorders - Infections
Medications such as antibiotics that are known to alter the bacteria in your body’s microbiome are thought to contribute to flare-ups. Poor gut health is a very well-known cause of autoimmune conditions and flare-ups.

Medications

Immune Disorders - Medications
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Dr. Meredith Warner, Orthopedic Surgeon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Meredith Warner is the creator of Well Theory and The Healing Sole. She is a board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon and Air Force Veteran.


She is on a mission to disrupt traditional medicine practices and promote betterment physically, spiritually and mentally to many more people. She advocates for wellness and functional health over big pharma so more people can age vibrantly with more function and less pain.


At Well Theory, Our surgeon-designed products are FDA Registered and formulated to help people:


  • Manage the symptoms of musculoskeletal pain
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