AIIMS Expert Warns of Lifestyle and Environmental Factors Driving a Surge in Autoimmune Diseases
According to senior AIIMS physician Dr Uma Kumar, nearly 60 different conditions fall under autoimmune disorders
Experts at AIIMS have raised serious concerns over the rising number of autoimmune disease cases in India. According to senior AIIMS physician Dr Uma Kumar, changing lifestyles and environmental factors are playing a major role in this worrying trend.
Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system, instead of protecting against infections, mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells and tissues. Dr Kumar explains that nearly 60 different conditions fall under autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, type 1 diabetes, thyroid-related disorders, and multiple sclerosis.
One of the biggest challenges with autoimmune diseases is delayed diagnosis. Symptoms often appear gradually and may seem common or harmless at first. Persistent joint pain, fatigue, skin rashes, hair loss, recurring infections, or unexplained weakness are frequently ignored. By the time patients seek medical help, the disease may already be at an advanced stage. In many cases, individuals need lifelong medication to manage the condition.
Dr Kumar points out that several factors are contributing to the rising burden of autoimmune disorders. These include increasing air pollution, exposure to chemical pesticides, unhealthy eating habits, chronic stress, lack of sleep, and reduced physical activity. Another major contributor is vitamin D deficiency, which has become widespread across both urban and rural populations.
She also highlighted a lesser-known but important factor — the growing practice of giving children fully filtered water from a very young age. While clean water is essential, excessive filtration may limit natural exposure to microbes that help strengthen the immune system during early development. This, experts believe, could make individuals more prone to immune-related disorders later in life.
Environmental pressure combined with modern lifestyle habits is putting constant stress on the immune system. While infectious diseases are increasingly under control due to medical advances, non-communicable diseases like autoimmune disorders are steadily rising, largely due to lack of awareness and late detection.
Health experts emphasise that awareness and early diagnosis are key to managing autoimmune diseases effectively. Simple lifestyle changes such as eating a balanced diet, maintaining adequate vitamin D levels, exercising regularly, managing stress, and seeking medical advice for persistent symptoms can significantly reduce the risk.
As AIIMS experts warn, understanding autoimmune diseases and taking preventive steps today could help avoid long-term health complications tomorrow.