1. Lupus Makes Your Body Attack Itself
Lupus is a chronic disease of the immune system that causes inflammation throughout the body's tissues and organs. Generally, lupus tricks your immune system into attacking the very tissues it's supposed to protect. The heart, lungs, skin, kidneys and joints are just a few of the systems lupus most commonly affects. Also, because lupus is chronic, sufferers have to deal with its effects for life, which can be both physically and emotionally exhausting.
2. No Two Cases of Lupus Are Alike
One aspect of lupus that makes it unique is how much its signs and symptoms vary from patient to patient. The list of symptoms itself is extensive and includes such diverse ailments as rashes, fatigue, shortness of breath, skin lesions and even depression. To make matters worse, the intensity and frequency of these symptoms change with each patient's condition, making diagnosis difficult.
3. The Four Faces of Lupus
By far, the most common form of lupus is systemic lupus erythematosus. Unfortunately, it's also the most serious and can damage nearly all of the major organs and tissues in your body. The other three types of lupus are less concerning, but are still serious illnesses. Discoid lupus affects the skin and produces reddish rashes on the face, neck and scalp, while drug-induced lupus and neonatal lupus are temporary conditions and only affect users of certain drugs and newborn babies, respectively.
4. Beating Lupus With Medication
Although lupus is chronic and incurable, it's definitely treatable. There are a wide variety of medications doctors prescribe to manage the symptoms of lupus. Because lupus causes inflammation, analgesics like Tylenol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen are often prescribed to manage the pain caused by the irritated tissues. Steroids, antimalarials and anticoagulants are also used to treat various symptoms of the disease, and immunomodulating drugs are helpful in calming the immune system. Each medication comes with the risk of side effects, however, so it's important to discuss the pros and cons of each with your doctor if you're considering treatment.
5. Live Relatively Normal With Lupus
Many of the symptoms of lupus can be controlled and moderated by living a clean, healthy lifestyle. Doctors often emphasize the importance of wellness for patients with lupus, including physical fitness, mental health and spiritual well-being. Regular exercise, healthy eating, relaxation and staying in touch with your doctor are all important pieces of the treatment puzzle and can help you live a relatively normal and fulfilling life. Learning to recognize flares by their warning signs and taking preventative measures to ward them off can also help reduce their severity and duration.
