What is Lupus?

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Lupus is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is when the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. The immune sysyem is suppose to attack foreign substances like bacteria and viruses. With Lupus the immune system does not attack bacteria and viruses. That will cause swelling, pain and tissue damage throughout the body. Severe lupus causes problems with major organs in the body such as kidneys, heart, lungs, nervous system, and the bloodcells. Lupus is the name commonly used for SLE, or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Some people experience mild symptoms, but the disease is a lifelong disease and can become severe as it progresses. People who have been diagnosed with Lupus can control their symptoms and prevent major damage to their organs by keeping their appointments wth the doctor and getting rest and taking their prescribed medications. There are five types of Lupus. The first that I have described is the most serious. The other four are: discoid lupus, drug-induced systemic lupus, neonatal lupus,  and subacute cutaneous lupus. Experts that study the disease say the cause is not really known. Some believe that people may be born with a certain gene that affects how the immune system works. There are many factors that can cause lupus attacks and they are viral infections and often sunlight. The symptoms of lupus are extreme tiredness and fatigue, joint swelling and pain, arthritis, fever, and skin rashes. One thing I found disturbing to me is that lupus is very hard to diagnose and there is no single test for diagnosis of lupus. A doctor diagnosing lupus asks questions abot the common symptoms, and he tests the blood for for proteins called antinuclear antibodies, and a combination of other tests to determine if you have this disease. Lupus is treated by corticosteroid cream, anti-inflammatory drugs, and antimalarial medications. Lupus is managed by getting a lot of rest, avoiding the sun, quitting smoking for those who smoke, and exercise. There are different types of doctors that will treat lupus depending on what lupus is effecting in your body. If lupus efects the kidneys then a nephrologist would be who you see. They specialize in the diseases of the renal system. Lupus can cause damage to any part of your body, even the brain. If you would like to learn more about Lupus there are places that provide information such as The Lupus Foundation of America. Below I have listed place to contact that may be of help to people and familys with those of Lupus.