Autoimmune Diseases: Why Women Are Affected More? Hormonal Factors Hold Clues
New Delhi, June 12: Experts on Wednesday said that the reason women are disproportionately impacted by autoimmune disorders compared to males may be due to age, genetic, and hormonal factors. Autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system attacks the body’s tissues. Research indicates that the ailment impacts roughly 8% of individuals globally, with women accounting for 78% of those affected.
Dr Rajeev Gupta, Director of Internal Medicine at the CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, stated that hormonal influence and chromosomal differences are the two main reasons why autoimmune diseases are more common in women. New Approach Needed To Study Autoimmune Diseases Such As Type 1 Diabetes and Multiple Sclerosis.
“Women experience significant hormonal fluctuations throughout their lives, particularly during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. These changes, especially in oestrogen levels, may influence the immune system and make women more susceptible to mistakenly attacking healthy tissues (autoimmunity),” he added.
Further he said that women have two X chromosomes while men have one X and one Y chromosomes. “One theory suggests that the process of inactivating one X chromosome in each female cell might be incomplete sometimes. This could lead to an overabundance of certain genes on the active X chromosome, potentially triggering an overactive immune response and autoimmunity.”
On the other hand, Dr Yathish G C, Lead Consultant – Rheumatology at Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru said “Autoimmune disorders in women may be due to the silencing of their second X chromosome by molecules leading to a confusing immune system. This can explain why conditions like multiple sclerosis and lupus are more common in women than men.”
In women, autoimmune illnesses typically increase in frequency beyond the age of thirty, correlating with age-related hormonal shifts though autoimmune illnesses can strike anyone of any age. “Some like multiple sclerosis usually begin between the ages of 20 and 40 years whereas others such as rheumatoid arthritis start manifesting later in the 40s or early in 50s,” added Dr Yathish.
Dr Harman Singh, Consultant Rheumatologist at Fortis Hospital, Kalyan noted a dramatic rise in autoimmune illnesses, notably among women aged 50 and above. Type 2 Diabetes Medication May Be Used to Treat Autoimmune Disease.
Adopting healthy lifestyle habits, such as quitting smoking, abstaining from drinking, practicing stress management techniques, maintaining physical fitness and avoiding environmental toxins, was recommended by the experts.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 12, 2024 07:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
