Ever since I?ve read this article about the signs of lupus, I can?t stop thinking about it. I immediately scheduled an appointment with my doctor to confirm that nothing is wrong with me.
According to a study conducted by the Lupus Foundation of America, 1.5 million Americans are suffering from the condition, but they are not aware of it. Every 9 of 10 women are ?victims? of this autoimmune disease that causes pain, inflammation, and swelling throughout the body. However, if you are well equipped with the knowledge and understanding of this disease, you won?t have a problem noticing it in its early stages. Only like that, you are going to be able to treat it while the Lupus is weak and undeveloped.
Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years.
The conditions causes something to go wrong with your immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs (“foreign invaders,” like the flu). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. Autoimmune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body?s healthy tissues (“auto” means “self”) and creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.
These are some additional facts about the disease that you should know:
- It is not contagious, not even through sexual contact. You cannot “catch” it from someone or “give” it to someone.
- It is not like or related to cancer. Cancer is a condition of malignant, abnormal tissues that grow rapidly and spread into surrounding tissues. Lupus is an autoimmune disease, as described above. However, some treatments may include immunosuppressant drugs?that are also used in chemotherapy.
- Lupus is not like or related to HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). In HIV or AIDS the immune system is underactive; in lupus, the immune system is overactive.
- Lupus can range from mild to life-threatening and should always be treated by a doctor. With good medical care, most people with lupus can lead a full life.
- Our research estimates that at least 1.5 million Americans have lupus. The actual number may be higher; however, there have been no large-scale studies to show the actual number of people in the U.S. living with lupus.
- More than 16,000 new cases of lupus are reported annually across the country.
- It is believed that 5 million people throughout the world have a form of lupus.
- Lupus strikes mostly women of childbearing age (15-44). However, men, children, and teenagers develop lupus, too. Most people with?lupus develop the disease between the ages of 15-44.
- Women of color are two to three times more likely to develop lupus than Caucasians.
- People of all races and ethnic groups can develop lupus.
Here are the signs and symptoms you need to watch out for:
- Severe drowsiness
- Skin rashes (butterfly rashes on face)
- High fever
- Achy muscles and joints
- Sensitivity to sunlight
- Hair loss
- Mouth ulcers
- Abnormal blood clotting
If you are experiencing all or some of these symptoms we all ignore, you should check with your doctor and confirm everything is in the right order.
Check this video out. It will give you important information about Lupus.
Don?t forget to share this with all of your friends and raise awareness about the dangers of this disease.
