There are different types of Lupus; the most common form of Lupus is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Other types of lupus includes Cutaneous Lupus and Drug-induced Lupus.
Some of the main symptoms of Lupus include fatigue, pain or swelling in joints, skin rashes, and fevers - symptoms vary in severity...
Severity
Today World Lupus Day and May is Lupus Awareness Month.
So, what is Lupus?
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects all parts of the body inside and out. Currently it has no cure and it's thought to be genetic in origin. More than 5 million people worldwide are affected by Lupus and its more common in women than in men.
"In Lupus, something goes 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." - About Lupus, World Lupus Day
How it affects the body
| |
|---|---|
| Mild | joint and skin problems, tiredness |
| Moderate | inflammation of other parts of the skin and body, including your lungs, heart and kidneys |
| Severe | inflammation causing severe damage to the heart, lungs, brain or kidneys can be life threatening |
Lupus symptoms can flare-up and down and flare-ups can last weeks; sometimes longer. Individuals can them go into remission with their symptoms yet it is not yet know why the condition goes up and down. For some individuals the symptoms are constant are their are nor flare-ups and remissions.
Treatment options for Lupus:
"You may need to see different kinds of doctors to treat the many symptoms of lupus. Once you’re diagnosed, your primary physician for lupus is usually a rheumatologist, who treats arthritis and other diseases that cause swelling in the joints. The rheumatologist may then send you to a clinical immunologist for treating immune system disorders; a nephrologist (kidney disease); a hematologist (blood disorders); a dermatologist (skin diseases); a neurologist (the nervous system); a cardiologist (heart and blood vessel problems), and an endocrinologist (glands and hormones).
A treatment plan may aim to:
- Prevent or treat flares
- Prevent or reduce organ and joint damage
- Reduce swelling and pain
- Help the immune system
- Balance hormones"
For more info check out:
- http://www.worldlupusday.org
- https://www.lupusuk.org.uk
- https://www.lupusresearch.org
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lupus/
- http://www.lupus.org
