Learning about lupus
With autoimmune diseases, your body is under attack…essentially from itself. Your immune system is your best defense against sickness, but if it suddenly turns against you, it can turn into your worst enemy. With autoimmune diseases, rather than fighting illness and infections as your immune system should, it starts fighting healthy tissue, which causes inflammation and damage in different parts of the body. This results in swelling, soreness, and pain. This is what happens when you develop a chronic autoimmune disease like lupus. The causes of lupus and other autoimmune diseases continue to be a mystery. Read on to learn more about lupus, its prevalence, the most common risk factors, and the typical symptoms as well as the right remedy to fight this chronic enemy.
Attack lupus head on
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease occurs when your immune system begins to attack itself by mistake. This attack produces inflammation in other parts of the body that breaks down your tissues and organs. There are four main types of lupus that affect your body in different ways, including:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus – Also known as SLE, this is the most common kind of lupus, affecting 70% of sufferers. It’s distinguished by the damage it does to many tissues and organs in your body, such as your joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, and brain.
- Cutaneous lupus – This type of lupus looks like a rash on your skin.
- Neonatal lupus – This rare kind of lupus affects infants when certain autoimmune antibodies are transmitted from the parent to the newborn.
- Drug-induced lupus – This is the result of a reaction to certain medications.
An inflaming concern
Anyone can develop lupus, meaning no one is immune from this autoimmune disease. Today, approximately 1.5 million Americans and at least five million people around the world are living with some type of lupus, according to the Lupus Foundation of America.
Break down the reasons and risk factors
While there’s no clear cause of lupus, it’s believed to be the complex result of a combination of factors ranging from your family to your environment. Some potential triggers include genetics, hormones, environmental toxins, sunlight, health history, medications, infections, smoking, and stress. Certain people are more likely to develop lupus, with the following factors affecting your risk, including:
- Gender – Anyone can develop lupus, but women are 90% more likely than men, children, and teens.
- Age – Lupus can appear at any age, but it’s typically diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 44.
- Race – Lupus is more than twice as common in people who are African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, and Pacific Islanders.
An outbreak of symptoms
Lupus looks different for everyone because each person experiences their own combination of triggers and range of symptoms. These symptoms usually come and go, but when they appear it’s called a flare, which can be subtle or severe. And, some people don’t experience any symptoms at all. When symptoms do appear, they can affect your health, well-being, and quality of life. Reach out to your SignatureMD-affiliated doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms of lupus:
- Red rashes
- Fatigue
- Joint pain and stiffness
- Fever
- Chest pains
- Shortness of breath
- Dry eyes
- Headaches
- Sudden dizziness
- Memory problems
- General confusion
Treatments for living with lupus
Just like there isn’t only one type of lupus, there isn’t just one test to diagnose it. Making a diagnosis is difficult because the symptoms can change over time and often mimic other conditions. After a physical exam, lab tests, and a discussion of your symptoms, your SignatureMD-affiliated doctor will be able to make a diagnosis. While there’s no cure for lupus, there are ways to cope with it and control it. The goals of treatment are to prevent future flares, reduce your symptoms, stop your immune system from attacking your body, protect your organs from damage, and enhance your quality of life. There are several ways to live with lupus including medications and lifestyle changes, such as:
- Taking medicines to manage your symptoms and reduce inflammation
- Eating a balanced, healthy diet
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Getting exercise on a regular basis
- Learning ways to reduce stress
- Avoiding excess exposure to UV light with sunscreen and protective clothing
- Getting enough rest, especially during a flare
- Avoiding smoking
If you’re diagnosed with lupus, keep these healthy insights in mind to attack lupus and stop it from attacking you.