What are the factors that cause acquired disease?

September 27, 2025 •

2 min read

According to the World Health Organization, environmental risk factors are linked to millions of deaths each year. Many health conditions are not present at birth but are developed over a lifetime, leading to the crucial question: What are the factors that cause acquired disease? Understanding these influences is the first step toward prevention and overall wellness.

Quick Summary

Acquired diseases are not genetic but result from infectious agents like viruses, environmental exposures, individual lifestyle choices, and complex interactions with our genetic makeup that manifest later in life.

Key Points

Infectious Causes: Diseases can be acquired through pathogens like viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, which are transmitted through various means.
Environmental Impact: Exposure to toxins, pollutants, and radiation in your surroundings can lead to the development of chronic illnesses, including respiratory diseases and cancer.
Lifestyle Choices: Personal habits such as diet, exercise, smoking, and alcohol use are significant modifiable factors influencing the risk of acquired conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
Genetic Susceptibility: A genetic predisposition does not guarantee a disease but increases vulnerability, often triggered by environmental or lifestyle factors.
Prevention is Multifactorial: Effective disease prevention requires a comprehensive approach, addressing all contributing factors from your immediate environment and personal habits to your genetic makeup.

Introduction to Acquired Disease

Unlike inherited genetic disorders, acquired diseases arise from a multitude of factors throughout an individual's life. These conditions range from common infections to complex chronic illnesses, and their causes are rarely straightforward. Instead, they often result from a combination of external and internal influences, a dynamic interplay that determines our health trajectory.

Infectious Agents

Acquired diseases can be caused by infectious agents, which are microscopic organisms that invade the body and multiply. These include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Infectious diseases can spread through air, direct contact, contaminated surfaces, bug bites, or contaminated food and water.

Environmental Factors

Our environment significantly influences acquired diseases through exposure to harmful elements. Air pollution, chemical exposure, water contamination, and radiation are all sources of environmental risk linked to various chronic illnesses and cancers.

Lifestyle Choices

Personal habits are major modifiable factors in developing acquired diseases, especially chronic non-communicable diseases. Poor diet, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, and chronic stress all increase the risk of conditions like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers.

Genetic Predisposition and Age

While not directly inherited, genetic makeup can increase susceptibility to certain acquired diseases, particularly in conjunction with other factors. This genetic predisposition doesn't guarantee illness but raises the likelihood under specific environmental or lifestyle conditions. Aging also contributes, as the body's natural defenses and functions decline, making individuals more vulnerable.

Comparison of Causal Factors


Factor Type	Mechanism	Examples of Acquired Diseases
Infectious	Pathogen invasion and multiplication.	COVID-19, Tuberculosis, Malaria
Environmental	Exposure to external toxins and pollutants.	Mesothelioma (from asbestos), Lead poisoning
Lifestyle	Modifiable personal behaviors over time.	Type 2 Diabetes, Heart Disease, COPD (from smoking)
Genetic Predisposition	Increased susceptibility triggered by other factors.	Some types of cancer, Autoimmune disorders

The Holistic Picture

Acquired disease often results from multiple factors. Effective prevention and management require addressing infectious agents, environmental risks, lifestyle choices, and genetic predispositions. A holistic view, combining public health efforts to improve environmental quality with personal commitments to healthy habits, is crucial for preventing acquired diseases.

For more information on the interaction between environmental factors and non-communicable diseases, see the World Health Organization's fact sheet: Environmental risk factors and noncommunicable diseases.

Conclusion

Acquired diseases stem from diverse and complex factors, including infectious agents, environmental toxins, lifestyle choices, and genetic predispositions. Recognizing this interconnectedness is key to protecting ourselves and building healthier communities. Understanding these risk factors empowers individuals towards a more proactive approach to health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not all acquired diseases are entirely preventable, but many are. By managing lifestyle factors, reducing environmental exposures, and taking precautions against infectious agents, you can significantly lower your risk of developing many conditions.

Environmental toxins can damage cells, disrupt normal bodily functions, and weaken the immune system over time. This chronic exposure can lead to the development of illnesses like certain cancers or respiratory problems.

An inherited disease is caused by a genetic mutation passed down from your parents and is present at birth. An acquired disease develops later in life due to external factors, though genetic predispositions can influence susceptibility.

Yes, chronic stress is a significant factor. It can lead to mental health disorders and encourages unhealthy coping mechanisms like poor diet or substance use, which, in turn, increase the risk of physical illness.

Absolutely. A weakened or compromised immune system, due to factors like illness, medication, or age, increases your susceptibility to infections and other acquired diseases.

Lifestyle choices are major modifiable risk factors. Unhealthy habits such as a poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, and excessive alcohol use can contribute directly to the development of chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

The curability of an acquired disease depends on the specific condition. Some, like a bacterial infection, can be cured with treatment. Others, particularly chronic illnesses, can be managed and controlled but may not have a cure.