mLupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part

of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body).

mLupus affects several parts of the body including:

mCardiopulmonary system
mGastrointestinal
mMusculoskeletal
mNervous
mKidney
mSkin
mOral
mLupus weakens the immune system so it isn·t able to fight off:
mBacteria
mGerms
mViruses
mIt may also cause:
mOsteoporosis
mOverlap disease
mSjorgens syndrome
mVasculitis
mIt is estimated that between 161,000 and 322,000 adults in the U.S.
have SLE.

mNine out of 10 people who have lupus are women.

mAfrican American, Latina, Asian, and Native American women

are at greater risk of getting lupus than white women.
mGenes
mAlthough Lupus is not Genetic, it is found in some family lines where lupus
was once diagnosed.
mFor example, Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, develop
lupus more than Caucasians which may be a form of a genetic
development.

mHormones
mMany women have more lupus symptoms before menstrual periods
and/or during pregnancy, when estrogen production is high. This may
indicate that estrogen somehow regulates the severity of lupus.

mEnvironment
multraviolet rays from the sun
multraviolet rays from fluorescent light bulbs
msulfa drugs, which make a person more sensitive to the sun;
diuretics
msun-sensitizing drugs
mpenicillin or other antibiotic drugs
man infection
ma cold or a viral illness
mexhaustion
man injury
memotional stress, such as a divorce, illness, death in the family, or
other life complications
manything that causes stress to the body, such as surgery, physical
harm, pregnancy, or giving birth
mMost common physical symptoms:
mAchy joints with swelling
mExtreme fatigue
mUnexplained rashes
mUnexplained rashes that turn to sores, then scar
mButterfly (malar) rash across nose and cheeks
mAnemia
mPleurisy (pain in the chest when deep breathing)
mUlcers inside the mouth and nose
mCardiopulmonary disorders (heart/lung)

mMost common emotional symptoms:

mDepression
mAnxiety
 m Thefirst step would be to go to the doctor if you have any
symptoms. You may want to ask your regular doctor for a referral to a
rheumatologist. A Rheumatologist is a doctor who specializes in
treating diseases that affect the joints and muscles, like lupus.

mIn some cases, a dermatologist, a doctor who specializes in treating

diseases that affect the skin, may be involved in diagnosis and
treatment. No single test can show that you have lupus. Your doctor
may have to run several tests and study your medical history. It may
take time for the doctor to diagnose lupus.

mCommon blood tests:

mThe
he anti
anti--nuclear antibody test (ANA) to determine if autoantibodies to cell
nuclei are present in the blood
mThe anti-
anti-DNA antibody test to determine if there are antibodies to the genetic
material in the cell
mThe anti-
anti-Sm antibody test to determine if there are antibodies to Sm
Sm,, which is a
ribonucleoprotein found in the cell nucleus
mTests to examine the total level of serum (blood) complement (a group of
proteins which can be consumed in immune reactions), and specific levels of
complement proteins C3 and C4
 mMedical science has not yet developed a method for curing
lupus. And some people do die from the disease.

mAlthough some people with lupus have severe recurrent attacks

and are frequently hospitalized, most people with lupus rarely
require hospitalization.

mCareful treatment with how a lupus patient lives increases the

lifespan possibility. By doing the following:
mfollow the instructions of their physician,
mtake their medication(s) as prescribed, and
mknow when to seek help for unexpected side effects of a medication
or a new manifestation of their lupus.

Question 7, 8
 m4 e basic necessity w en living wit lupus is to keep a good nutritious diet.

mPain in t e joints and bones comes along wit lupus, pain medicines are very
elpful, if not necessary to calm pain down.

mMemory loss may also be living conditions a lupus patient may experience. If
you are experiencing suc symptoms, you may benefit from t e skills of a
cognitive t erapist, eit er a psyc ologist or speec
language pat ologist. 4 ese
professionals can elp you develop coping tec niques and strategies to improve
concentration and overcome t ese difficulties.

mIn many cases, anti
depressant medication can elp ease t e effects of

depression. Anti
anxiety medicines are also available to reduce worry and fearful
feelings. As wit all medicines, t ese types of drugs ave side effects, some of
w ic can be confused wit symptoms associated wit lupus.

mKeeping up to date wit t e following is crucial for a lupus patient due to t e

susceptibility to arming t e immune system:
mFlue and pneumonia vaccines
mInfluenza vaccine
m2010-2011 Flu Vaccine


 
 

 ttp://www.lupus.org/newsite/index. tml
ttp://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_aboutaff
ects.aspx?articleid=103&zoneid=17
ttp://www. opkins
art ritis.org/art ritis
info/lupus/
ttp://www.niams.ni .gov/Healt _Info/Lupus/do_i_ ave_lupus.asp#i
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