What Is Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissue
There are many kinds of lupus. The most common type, systemic lupus erythematosus, affects many parts of the body. Other types of lupus are: Discoid lupus erythematosus – causes a skin rash that doesn’t go away, Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus – causes skin sores on parts of the body exposed to sun, Drug-induced lupus – can be caused by medications, Neonatal lupus – a rare type of lupus that affects newborns.
Some of the symptoms of Lupus include.
- Fever
- Swelling of legs and around the eyes
- Chest pain upon deep breathing
- Painful or swollen joints and muscle pain
- Unusual hair loss
- Sensitivity to the sunlight
- Skin rashes, most commonly on the face
- Changing color of fingers or toes from cold or stress
It is believed that 5 million people throughout the world have a form of lupus. Lupus strikes mostly women of childbearing age. However, men, children, and teenagers develop lupus, too. There is not a single diagnostic test for systemic lupus. A variety of laboratory tests are used to detect physical changes or conditions in your body that can occur with lupus. Each test result adds more information to the picture your doctor is forming of your illness.
One of the little known facts about lupus is its effect on heart disease. When you have lupus you are at increased risk for the main type of heart disease, called coronary artery disease (CAD). This is partly because people with lupus have more CAD risk factors, which may include: high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol levels, type 2 diabetes, and an inactive lifestyle due to fatigue, joint problems, and/or muscle pain. Heart disease is the number one killer of all women. But, women with lupus are 50 times more likely to have chest pain or a heart attack than other women of the same age.
It is also recommended to have regularly checkups for bone health if you have lupus particularly checking for osteoporosis. Women with lupus have more bone loss and breaks than other women. This is thought to happen because some medicines used to treat lupus cause bone loss. Bone loss also may occur as a direct result of the disease. Also, pain and fatigue can keep women with lupus from exercising. Keeping active is an important way to keep bones healthy and strong.
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