Ladies, I really think that you’ll be SHOCKED when we tell you that,
according to the Lupus Foundation of America, about 1.5 million
Americans have lupus and 9 out of 10 are women.
Both patients and specialists agree that this autoimmune disease is
“unpredictable”. It’s a disability that you cannot describe because the
whole thing about lupus is it’s so unpredictable. According to the
experts, this condition may affect anyone, regardless of their age,
race, or ethnic preference. And, one more thing – the severity of the
symptoms varies from patient to patient and the person often experiences
symptoms which could not be explained.
She said:
Dixon added:
“They do think with early prevention we can keep lupus from spreading to organs like the kidneys or in some cases, a patient’s heart or brain.”
And ladies, this is the main reason why she believes her most important mission is to “educate young women about what to look for.”
Lupus and The Effect It Can Have on Your Life
Most common symptoms:
- Abnormal blood clotting
- Fingers turning white and/or blue when cold
- Mouth or nose ulcers
- A butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and nose (in earlier times this common rash reminded physicians of a wolf’s bite hence the name “lupus,” Latin for “wolf”)
- Extreme tiredness
- Headaches
- Painful or swollen joints
- Fever
- Anemia
- Swelling in the feet, legs, hands, and/or around eyes
- Pain in chest when breathing deeply
- Sun- or light-sensitivity
- Hair loss
Dixon also said:
“Lupus does not run in my family. The only thing that does run in my family is psoriasis, which is another autoimmune disorder.”
This is very IMPORTANT for you to remember – due to the fact that many lupus patients are diagnosed with a second or third autoimmune disease, anyone who is diagnosed or has a family history of any of these diseases should be on watch. The most common autoimmune diseases are type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases, Hashimoto`s disease, Addison`s disease, vitiligo, reactive arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, psoriasis, Graves’ disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, and scleroderma.
Most Common Causes
YES, there’s a genetic component to lupus, but carrying the gene doesn’t necessarily mean that one will develop lupus. Environment and hormones have a critical role too, especially estrogen, due to the higher prevalence among women.
It is predominately diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 44, and that’s the time when women are most fertile. Unfortunately, many women are first diagnosed while pregnant or after giving birth, when their hormones are in flux.
BOTTOM LINE:
Most lupus patients live productive and happy lives. But still, they must observe their symptoms in order to stay healthy. Self-awareness is difficult to maintain in a busy world, meaning that one must make certain lifestyle changes.
