More than 60,000 people are diagnosed with leukemia every year. The risk of developing the disease only grows with age. However, studies prove that even people below the age of 20 might get this disease. Sadly, the cause of leukemia isn’t known, yet certain risk factors are linked to it.

Risk factors for leukemia
Anything that heightens the risk of acquiring the disease could be classified under a risk factor. It could be a condition, a behavior, or a substance. Usually, cancer occurs as a result of different risk factors. However, surprisingly, it has been found that leukemia developed even in people who didn’t have any risk factors. 

There are different categories for the risk factors for leukemia. These include:

Gender
In comparison to women, men are more likely to develop leukemia.

Age
Unfortunately, the risk of developing leukemia only grows with age. Be it chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), or acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the median age of a patient diagnosed with leukemia is 65 years or older. However, this does not negate the fact that there have been cases of leukemia in almost all age groups.

Blood disorders
Some blood disorders such as chronic myeloproliferative disorders, like idiopathic myelofibrosis, polycythemia vera, and essential thrombocytopenia, increase the chances of leukemia, irrespective of age or sex.

Family history
In a lot of cases related to leukemia, there has been no concrete familial link. However, if you have an identical twin who had or has ALL or AML, or if you are a first-relative of a CLL patient, then your chances of developing leukemia increase.

Congenital syndromes
There are a few congenital conditions that can aggravate your chances of getting leukemia due to a change of gene or an inherited gene mutation. These conditions are known as inherited cancer syndromes or family cancer syndromes. Usually, this risk factor for leukemia is rare but can happen in both adults and children. Some congenital syndromes include:

• Bloom syndrome
• Ataxia-telangiectasia
• Down syndrome
• Fanconi anemia

Lifestyle

• Smoking
  Smoking might increase your risk of developing leukemia. About 20% of the cases related to AML are found amongst regular smokers.

Other conditions

• Radiations
  Coming in contact with high-energy radiation; for instance, the radiation produced as a result of nuclear reactor accidents might have a severe effect on your health. It would put you at risk of severe conditions like leukemia.

• Chemicals
  Exposure to pesticides, such as benzene, can also increase the risk of leukemia.

• Electromagnetic fields
  Prolonged exposure to the radiation produced in the electromagnetic fields or low emissions of the power lines can increase your risk of developing leukemia.

• Previous history of therapy
  It can put you at risk of developing leukemia if you have a history of radiation therapy or chemotherapy for any other type of cancer.