Lupus: what everyone should know about this serious disease
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which body’s immune goes awry and attacks its own healthy tissues and cells including those of the skin, joints, heart, lung, kidneys and brain.
What causes lupus is not clearly known; it is believed that certain environmental factors such as exposure to sunlight, stress, and smoking.
Since lupus is most common among women, researchers think female hormone estrogen may contribute to the development of the disease.
In addition some genetic factors are also believed to be associated with lupus development.
Forms of lupus
There are different forms of lupus; however Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common, accounting for 70% of all cases. In 80% cases of SLE affects skin, though it may affect any other parts of the body.
Lupus symptoms get worse with ‘flare-ups’ for period of time before improving or disappearing completely.
The complications of lupus vary with what part of body is affected. For example, people with inflammation in the brain may experience headaches, memory loss and confusion. Around 40% of individuals with lupus experience severe kidney damage and it’s among one of leading causes of death among people with lupus.
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| Researchers believe estrogen is linked with lupus development among women |
Heart attack and other cardiovascular disease may result from inflammation of blood vessels. People with lupus are twice likely to develop cardiovascular complications than those without the condition.
Lupus: a great imitator
Diagnosis of lupus is not straightforward because symptoms of the disease are so similar to other conditions. Both patients and doctors often mistake the disease for other illnesses.
According to one of survey conducted by Lupus Foundation of America and Eli Lilly, it takes an average of 6 years for someone with lupus to receive a diagnosis from when symptoms first present themselves.
The fact that every patient has a very individual set of symptoms makes its diagnosis very trickier. No single test can identify the disease; usually lupus is identified through a combination of blood and urine tests, physical examination and biopsies.
Living with lupus
Lupus is a difficult disease to live with. Though treatments may alleviate certain symptoms, there will still be times when symptoms are too painful to get out of bed.
"One day, I washed my face and brushed the washcloth across my eyelashes," 36-year-old Sharon Harris, president and founder of Lupus Detroit - who was diagnosed with lupus aged 23 - recently told
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| Many people may experience a flare-up of symptoms |
Apart from physical toll, lupus can have negative impact on mental health. According to a survey, around 90% of people with lupus experience anxiety as a result of the condition and around 85% feel depressed.
Lupus can make individuals feel isolated due to withdrawal from social activities. The largest challenge people with lupus face is it’s invisible which make it hard for other people to understand what individuals with the condition are going through.
"You may face many who doubt the veracity of your illness, believing it is all in your head. This can be extremely painful, frustrating, causing anger and resentment," notes non-profit foundation Molly's Fund: Fighting Lupus.
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| Diagnosis of lupus is trickier and may take years. |
Serious nature of lupus
Lack of knowledge and awareness about lupus is a major challenge to treatment and finding support for people living with lupus. According to a survey conducted by Lupus Foundation of America and Eli Lilly more than 70% of people in the US aged 18-34 have never heard of lupus or do not know anything about it other than the name.
"There is widespread confusion surrounding lupus, and the American public does not understand the serious nature of the disease," notes Sandra C. Raymond, president and CEO of the Lupus Foundation of America.
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