What Are My Risk Factors?

Concerned that you have developed this disease? Here are five factors could put you at risk for AS.

You’re Male

Although AS strikes both males and females, it tends to strike men about three times as often as it does women. In men, symptom onset is fairly textbook, with initial pain most often taking place in the lower back, buttocks or hips. Women who develop AS are far more likely to experience atypical symptoms, such as having symptom onset occur in another part of the body, like the back.

You’re A Teenager Or In Your 20s

Symptoms usually occur during the teenage years or when a patient is in his or her 20s. According to Cleveland Clinic, the median age for symptom onset with AS patients is 23, and there is almost never a case with symptom onset past the age of 40. There can, however, be a delay in accurate diagnosis for a number of reasons. If you have symptoms that match up with AS, consult your physician, especially if you also have other risk factors for the disease.

You Have A Relative With AS

Because of the genetic component to AS, people who have relatives, specifically a parent or sibling, are more likely to carry the same gene that has been linked to the disease, the HLA-827 gene. Your risk of developing AS when you have a relative who has been diagnosed with the disease goes up between 5 and 16 times. If you have a relative who has AS, and you begin to experience early symptoms, it’s important to get yourself checked, and disclose your concerns to your doctor.