Autoimmune Diseases and Their 13 Known Triggers

5. Stress

Outside of infections, stress is the most commonly cited trigger of autoimmune disease. Stress wreaks havoc on your body, causing changes in nearly all of your systems. It creates inflammation, increases blood pressure, and even affects digestion. To avoid stress, try to make sure you have time for yourself each day, or at least several times per week. Make sure to get enough sleep, eat healthy meals, and limit the amount of responsibility you take on. If stress does trigger an autoimmune reaction, talk to your doctor about possible treatment plans to help prevent it from happening in the future.