Although many specific lupus causes are not known, certain factors are known to be involved. Low cortisol levels, one of the possible lupus causes, has received a great amount of scrutiny. There also appears to be a correlation between lupus and a Vitamin B 1 deficiency. Genetic factors as well as environmental factors are suspect. There may not be  singular lupus causes, but instead, various things may interact with one another which result in the disease.

The genetic factors that may be one of the lupus causes are a gene on chromosome 1 and genes on chromosome 6, which are associated with the disease. There is not one single gene that is known to be the cause of lupus. Several different genes may increase a person's risk for lupus. About ten percent of people with lupus have a close relative with the disease and about 5% of children born to people with lupus will get the disease. Studies have shown that two identical twins are more likely to both have lupus than two fraternal twins or siblings. This shows that genes do play a role in lupus causes since identical twins have the exact same genetic makeup.

The lupus causes have to do not only with genetics but also with environment. Even with genetic predisposition, a person may never contract lupus signs and symptoms. It takes other cofactors such as toxin accumulation, an unhealthy lifestyle, negative thoughts, poor diet, hormones and exposure to viruses, bacteria, sunlight, yeast and parasitic animals to cause lupus. Lupus causes have nothing to do with the acquiring a virus or bacteria. Lupus is not contagious.

Other lupus causes have to do with a malfunctioning immune system. The body's immune system is there to fight invading bacteria, viruses and other foreign substances from overtaking the body. The body produces antibodies to these substances which attack and destroy these foreign invaders. When considering what causes lupus, this has to do with the immune system creating auto antibodies which attack healthy tissues in the body.

This attack on healthy tissues causes inflammation wherever the tissues are being targeted. It may cause damage to the skin, joints, muscles, as well as causing damage to organs and other tissues. Also, lupus causes have to do with these auto antibodies combining with certain substances in the body to form what is known as immune complexes. These immune complexes build up in the body and cause these areas that have been damaged to also become inflamed. The inflammation is what is causing most of the symptoms that lupus patient's experience.

Although we cannot change the genes that we are born with, and lupus causes are still widely unknown, the good news is that we can be proactive and study how to have a more healthy lifestyle such as eating a balanced diet, avoiding too much sun, avoiding harmful habits such as cigarette smoking and drinking to excess, avoiding certain drugs, keeping a positive attitude, avoiding environmental toxins, and taking vitamin and mineral supplements that may prevent the onset of the disease. Lupus causes are associated with stress so when we run ourselves ragged with too much work, too much stress, and not taking care of ourselves we increase the risk of getting lupus disease. Now that you are aware of what is known about lupus causes, you can take steps to decrease your chances of ever developing the disease. It would be wise to also help fund studies so lupus causes can be determined once and for all.

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