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Lupus is a disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs (autoimmune disease). Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems — including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.
How does a person with lupus feel?
Lupus is a disease of flares (the symptoms worsen and you feel ill) and remissions (the symptoms improve and you feel better). Lupus symptoms include: Muscle and joint pain. You may experience pain and stiffness, with or without swelling.
What are the four signs of lupus?
You may have lupus if you have at least four of these symptoms: Butterfly-shaped rash. Raised red patches on your skin. You’re sensitive to light. Ulcers in your mouth or nose. Arthritis in two or more joints, plus swelling or tenderness. Inflammation in the lining of your heart or lungs. Seizures or other nerve problems.
Can you be cured of lupus?
Lupus is a chronic disease with no cure. This means that you can manage it with treatment, but it will not go away. Treatment can help improve your symptoms, prevent flares, and prevent other health problems often caused by lupus.
Does lupus mean death?
In severe cases, organs damage and failure can occur. Over 90 percent of people with lupus are women between the ages of 15 and 45. Historically, lupus caused people to die young, primarily from kidney failure. Today, with careful treatment, 80 to 90 percent of people with lupus can expect to live a normal lifespan.
Is lupus a disability?
For Social Security’s purposes, lupus qualifies as a disability when it meets these conditions: It involves two or more organs or body systems. It includes at least two major signs or symptoms, such as severe fatigue, fever, malaise, and involuntary weight loss.
How much sleep do lupus patients need?
3. Get Enough Rest to Prevent Fatigue. Most people do best with at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night.
How does a person get lupus?
It’s likely that lupus results from a combination of your genetics and your environment. It appears that people with an inherited predisposition for lupus may develop the disease when they come into contact with something in the environment that can trigger lupus. The cause of lupus in most cases, however, is unknown.
What is the root cause of lupus?
While the environmental elements that can trigger lupus and cause flares aren’t fully known, the most commonly cited are ultraviolet light (UVA and UVB); infections (including the effects of the Epstein-Barr virus), and exposure to silica dust in agricultural or industrial settings.
How long do lupus patients live?
For people with lupus, some treatments can increase the risk of developing potentially fatal infections. However, the majority of people with lupus can expect a normal or near-normal life expectancy. Research has shown that many people with a lupus diagnosis have been living with the disease for up to 40 years.
What should you not say to someone with lupus?
10 Things Not to Say to Someone with Lupus But you look so good. You are too young to have such an illness. I’m sure things will get better. Do you really need to take all these meds? Have you tried this diet? Have you tried meditation? You need to get more exercise. I know how you feel, I am tired all the time.
What should lupus patients avoid?
Heart attack risk is 50 times higher in people with lupus, so patients with lupus should be extra vigilant against foods with known links to heart disease, such as red meat, fried foods, and dairy.
What is lupus pain like?
Lupus can also cause inflammation in the joints, which doctors call “inflammatory arthritis.” It can make your joints hurt and feel stiff, tender, warm, and swollen. Lupus arthritis most often affects joints that are farther from the middle of your body, like your fingers, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, and toes.
Can you drink alcohol with lupus?
Am I allowed to drink alcohol? Most people with lupus who are old enough to drink alcohol can do so in moderation. Be aware, however, that alcohol can change the way the body uses or metabolizes certain medications, rushing them into the bloodstream.
Does lupus shorten your life?
With close follow-up and treatment, 80-90% of people with lupus can expect to live a normal life span. It is true that medical science has not yet developed a method for curing lupus, and some people do die from the disease. However, for the majority of people living with the disease today, it will not be fatal.
What does a lupus headache feel like?
In fact, the headaches you have are sometimes simply called “lupus headaches” or “lupus fog.” These headaches may appear along with other brain problems caused by lupus. These include fatigue, confusion, memory issues, or trouble concentrating.
What jobs can I do with lupus?
7 Most Popular Jobs for People With Lupus Career Options That Balance Work and Health. Living with ongoing lupus symptoms can affect physical, mental and emotional health. Freelance Writer. Graphic Designer. Bookkeeping. Social Media Manager. Pet Sitter. Translator. Customer Service Representative.
Why does lupus make you tired?
Inflammation: Any time your body is experiencing excess inflammation, such as during a lupus flare, you will feel more tired. Anemia: Anemia occurs when your red blood cell count gets low. This means that the amount of oxygen going to your organs will decrease, which can increase your level of fatigue.
Does lupus get worse with age?
With age, symptom activity with lupus often declines, but symptoms you already have may grow more severe. The accumulation of damage over years may result in the need for joint replacements or other treatments.
Is sleeping good for lupus?
Sleep can make a big difference in how you feel — and healthy sleep habits are especially important for people with lupus. Getting enough sleep can help you prevent lupus flares, manage fatigue, and keep your body’s immune system healthy.
Does lupus make you gain weight?
Weight changes — Lupus can sometimes cause weight loss or weight gain. Weight loss may be unintentional and due to decreased appetite or problems with the digestive system (see ‘Digestive system’ below). It can also be a side effect of some medications used to treat lupus.
Is coffee good for lupus?
Coffee and other caffeine-containing foods are a mixed bag – both good and bad – for people with lupus. Fatigue is a common symptom of , and it can come along with brain fog and . These feelings of malaise and tiredness are some of the neuropsychiatric symptoms of lupus.
