Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that triggers inflammation in different tissues of the body.
Autoimmune disease occur when your immune system cannot tell the difference between foreign invaders (like the cold and flu viruses) and your body’s healthy tissues and it attacks the healthy tissue. This causes inflammation (redness and swelling) and pain.
While Lupus has no cure, a doctor or health care provider can provide a treatment plan for you.
Causes
The causes of lupus are not known. But they may be linked to a person’s environment, family history (genetics), or hormonal factors.
Symptoms
Lupus symptoms vary from one person to another. For some, symptoms may come and go periodically. Various symptoms may also appear at different times over the course of the disease. The most common signs and symptoms of Lupus include the following:
- Butterfly-shaped rash across cheeks and nose
- Extreme fatigue
- Headaches
- Painful or swollen joints
- Fever
- Anemia
- Swelling (edema) in feet, legs, hands and/or around eyes
- Chest pain during deep breathing
- Sun or light sensitivity
- Hair loss
- Abnormal blood clotting
Many of these symptoms may mimic those of other connective tissue diseases, please see a doctor or healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Risk Factors
If you have a close family member with lupus, your risk of getting it may be slightly higher than others.
- Some people with lupus have relatives with lupus. But most people with lupus do not have family members who also have the disease.
Types of Lupus
There are several forms of Lupus:
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is the most common and serious form of Lupus. SLE is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks its own tissues and causes widespread inflammation and tissue damage in the affected areas. SLE affects the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels.
Drug-Induced Lupus Erythematosus (DILE) is similar to SLE, but occurs as the result of an overreaction to certain medications. Symptoms usually occur 3 to 6 months after starting a medication, and disappear once the medicine is stopped.
Cutaneous Lupus is Lupus that affects the skin in the form of a rash or lesions. This type of Lupus can occur on any part of the body, but usually appears where the skin is exposed to sunlight.
Neonatal Lupus occurs when an infant passively acquires auto-antibodies from a mother with SLE. The skin, liver, and blood problems resolve by 6 months, but the most serious sign—congenital heart block—requires a pacemaker and has a mortality rate of about 20%.
Diagnosis
Lupus can be hard to diagnose since its symptoms are often mistaken for symptoms of other diseases. A rheumatologist can diagnose lupus, a doctor who specializes in painful conditions affecting the body’s joints, muscles, or connective tissues—like lupus.
Your health care provider will discuss your symptoms, do physical exams, and may take X-rays.
Treatment and Management
The best way to keep your Lupus under control is by following your treatment plan and taking care of yourself. These steps can help:
- Be physically active to help ease the pain
- Eat a variety of nutritious foods including fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains
- Avoid smoking
- Know your family history
- Take medications as directed – even if you don’t feel sick
- Limit exposure to sun – wear sunscreen
- Get plenty of sleep
- See your doctors regularly
Lupus Flare-up
The times when your symptoms get worse and you feel sick are called flares. Lupus flares most often have warning signs. You can help prevent flares or make them less severe if you can spot the warning signs and get treatment quickly. Common triggers include:
- Overwork and not enough rest
- Stress
- Being out in the sun or having close exposure to fluorescent or halogen light
- Infection
- Injury
- Stopping your Lupus medicines
- Other types of medicines