Lupus, The Silent Killer

SHIRLEY-ANN CHINONYE

What is lupus?

Lupus is a long-term autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissue. Symptoms include inflammation, swelling, and damage to the joints, skin, kidneys, blood, heart, and lungs. This is believed to be one of the major chronic diseases raving lives silently and fast.

The Lupus Foundation of America says that lupus affects women in particular, and it is most likely to appear between the ages of 15 and 44 years.

Lupus gained public attention in 2015 after the singer Selena Gomez announced she received a diagnosis in her late teens and underwent treatment for the condition.

Lupus is not a contagious disease. A person cannot transmit it sexually or in any other way to another person. However, in rare cases, women with lupus may give birth to children who develop a form of lupus. This is called neonatal lupus.

Types

There are different kinds of lupus. This article will focus mainly on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but other types may include discoid, drug-induced, and neonatal lupus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus

SLE is the most familiar type of lupus. It is a systemic condition. This means it has an impact throughout the body. The symptoms can range from mild to severe.

It is more severe than other types of lupus, such as discoid lupus, because it can affect any of the body’s organs or organ systems which causes health issues like inflammation on the skin, joints, lungs, kidneys, blood, heart, or a combination of these.

This condition typically goes through cycles. At times of remission, the person will have no symptoms. During a flare-up, the disease is active, and symptoms appear.

Discoid lupus erythematosus

In discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) — or cutaneous lupus — symptoms affect only the skin. A rash appears on the face, neck, and scalp.

The raised areas may become thick and scaly, and scarring may result. The rash may last from a number of days to several years, and it may recur.

DLE does not affect the internal organs, but it is believed that more than 10 percent of people with DLE will go on to develop SLE, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. It is not clear, however, if these individuals already had SLE and just showed clinical signs on the skin or if there is a progression from DLE or SLE.

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus refers to skin lesions that appear on parts of the body that are exposed to the sun. The lesions do not cause scarring.

Drug-induced lupus

More than or about 10 percent of people with SLE, symptoms occur because of a reaction to certain prescription drugs. According to Genetics Home Reference, some 80 drugs may cause the condition.

These include some of the drugs that people use to treat seizures and HPB High blood pressure. They also include some thyroid medications, antifungals, and oral contraceptive pills.

Causes

Lupus is an autoimmune condition, but the exact cause is unclear medical science claims, but it is important to know that the causes of Lupus or any other Autoimmune disorder are linked to the following:

• Toxins
• Infections
• Allergens
• Chronic stress
• Poor diet

What goes wrong?

The immune system protects the body and fights off antigens, such as viruses, bacteria, and germs.

It does this by producing proteins called antibodies. White blood cells, or B lymphocytes, produce these antibodies.

When a person has an autoimmune condition, such as lupus, the immune system cannot differentiate between unwanted substances, or antigens, and healthy tissue. As a result, the immune system directs antibodies against both the healthy tissue and the antigens. This causes swelling, pain, and tissue damage.

The most common type of autoantibody that develops in people with lupus is an antinuclear antibody (ANA). The ANA reacts with parts of the cell’s nucleus, the command center of the cell. These autoantibodies circulate in the blood, but some of the body’s cells have walls permeable enough to let some autoantibodies through. The autoantibodies can then attack the DNA in the nucleus of these cells. This is why lupus affects some organs and not others.

Risk factors: Hormones, genes, and environment

Lupus may develop in response to a number of factors. These may be hormonal, genetic, environmental, or a combination of these.

• Hormones
• Age
• Environment
• Family background.

Symptoms

The symptoms of lupus occur in times of flare-ups. Between flare-ups, people usually experience times of remission, when there are few or no symptoms.

Lupus has a wide range of symptoms, including:

• fatigue
• a loss of appetite and weight loss
• pain or swelling in joints and muscles
• swelling in the legs or around the eyes
• swollen glands, or lymph nodes
• skin rashes, due to bleeding under the skin
• mouth ulcers
• sensitivity to the sun
• fever
• chest pain upon deep breathing
• unusual pale or purple fingers or toes from cold or stress

Complications associated with Lupus

Having lupus increases the risk of a number of health problems:

Infections: Infection becomes more likely because both lupus and its treatments weaken the immune system. Common infections includes: respiratory infections, yeast infections, salmonella, (UTI) Urinary tract infection, herpes

Bone tissue death: This occurs when there is low blood supply to a bone. Tiny breaks can develop in the bone. Eventually, the bone may collapse. It most commonly affects the hip joint.

Pregnancy complications: Women with lupus have a higher risk of pregnancy loss, preterm birth, and a condition that includes high blood pressure called preeclampsia. To reduce the risk of these complications, doctors often recommend delaying pregnancy until lupus has been under control for at least 6 months.

Treatment and home remedies

Medical science claims there is currently no cure for lupus, but people can manage their symptoms and flares with lifestyle changes and medication.

Treatment aims to:

• prevent or manage flares
• reduce the risk of organ damage

Medications can help to:

• reduce pain and swelling
• regulate the activity of the immune system
• balance hormones
• reduce or prevent joint and organ damage
• manage high blood pressure
• reduce the risk of infection
• control bad cholesterol

Bear in mind that these medications also cause side effects that leads to more harm than good; the exact treatment will depend on how lupus affects the individual.

Alternative and home therapies

Exercise can help to reduce pain and relieve stress.

• Practicing hot towel scrub can help alleviate pains in the joints and knees.
• Participating in relaxation or meditation activities, including tai chi, reflexology and yoga.
• Minimizing sun exposures by using the parasol
• Avoiding diets full of white flour, processed rice, meat and sugar.
• Avoiding all forms of stress and toxic exposures as far as possible.

We join hands with every Lupus Warrior all over the world to mark this years’ World Lupus Day May 10. This killer disease is not celebrated but we are aimed at creating awareness to help people who might not even know they have these diseases.

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