Lupus is a chronic, auto immune disease that occurs commonly in women and is ten times more likely to affect women compared to men. As a systemic autoimmune disease, instead of the immune system immunity cells and antibodies fighting against illness and infection, the immune system does not differentiate germs from normal cells of the body. Thus, the body’s immune system attacks normal cells, causing damage to the body systemically. The immune system then reacts by producing auto antibodies that hit the body’s healthy cells and organs. These auto antibodies mistakenly act upon the normal system making this disease autoimmune which happens to any organ in the body. Most health insurance policies will cover treatment as well as testing.
Not one singular cause of lupus is known. That said, there are environmental triggers as well as genetic susceptibilities, infection and medications that can also trigger lupus. There is also a genetic predisposition to developing autoimmune diseases such as lupus. Because there are so many factors, the specific trigger for an individual patient is hard to identify.
Among the symptoms of lupus are: muscle pain, joint pain, joint inflammation, the “butterfly” facial rash along with other red rashes on the body, fever without a known cause, hair loss, sensitivity to the sun, pain when taking a deep breath, swelling around eyes or in the legs, pale or purple fingers, mouth ulcers, fatigue and swollen glands. Other symptoms are confusion, anemia, headaches, depression, dizzy spells, and seizures.
Lupus symptoms can appear slowly. Sometimes the symptoms come and go. It is called a “flare” when symptoms are present and these flares can range from mild to severe. There is not an exact test to diagnose lupus so diagnosis sometimes takes time as doctors work through trial and error process to reach a diagnosis. While there is not an exact cure for lupus, lifestyle changes and medications can help reduce symptoms. The treatment objective for lupus is to avoid flares, take care of the flares when they occur and to reduce damage to organs, along with other problems.