| Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that manifests | | | | may be transient with fluctuating periods of the |
| when the body's immune system starts to attack its | | | | associated symptoms or permanent. Most people |
| own tissues and organs. The inflammation that results | | | | affected by lupus have a mild form of the disease |
| from lupus can affect several areas throughout the | | | | characterized by episodes which are deemed flares |
| body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart | | | | when signs and symptoms are worsened for a short |
| and lungs. | | | | period, then improve or even disappear entirely for |
| Lupus is far more often observed in women than in | | | | some time. |
| men but no clear connection for this observation has | | | | The signs and symptoms of lupus that an individual will |
| been discerned. There are four types of lupus in | | | | experience will greatly depend on the areas of the |
| existence these are: systemic lupus erythematosus, | | | | body that are affected by the condition. However the |
| discoid lupus erythematosus, drug-induced lupus | | | | more regular signs and symptoms may include any of |
| erythematosus and neonatal lupus. Of the types | | | | the following: |
| mentioned, systemic lupus erythematosus is by far the | | | | • Anxiety |
| most prevalent and serious form of lupus. | | | | • Depression |
| The prognosis for people with this disease was very | | | | • Memory loss |
| poor in the past however improvements in the | | | | • Fatigue |
| diagnosis and treatment methods implemented for | | | | • Fever |
| lupus has significantly enhanced the likelihood of | | | | • Weight loss or gain |
| surviving with the condition. Once the disease is | | | | • Fingers and toes that turn white or blue |
| treated most people with the disease can lead regular | | | | during exposure to cold or during stressful periods. This |
| lives. | | | | is called Raynaud's phenomenon. |
| Because it is an autoimmune disease, it not only | | | | • Joint pain, stiffness and swelling |
| attacks foreign substances that may enter the body, | | | | • Butterfly-shaped rash or malar rash on the |
| such as bacteria and viruses, but also triggers the | | | | face that covers sections of the cheeks and the |
| immune system to attack healthy tissue. As said | | | | bridge of the nose |
| before this brings about inflammation and consequential | | | | • Skin lesions that appear and are actually |
| injury to different sections of the body, including the | | | | worsened by sun exposure |
| joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels and brain. | | | | • Mouth sores |
| It is not yet known what causes the disease, like other | | | | • Hair loss (alopecia) |
| autoimmune diseases it is a mystery. It is theorized that | | | | • Shortness of breath |
| it is the result of a combination of factors, most | | | | • Chest pain |
| notably, the patient's genes and the environment. Some | | | | • Dry eyes |
| experts also believe that a person may inherit a | | | | • Easy bruising |
| predisposition to lupus, but not the actual disease itself. | | | | Once an individual develops an unexplained rash, |
| Instead, people with this probable inherited | | | | ongoing fever, persistent aching or fatigue, he or she |
| predisposition for the disease may only develop the | | | | should consult a doctor to rule out the possibility that it |
| condition when they make some form of contact with | | | | could be lupus. |
| something in the environment that may induce lupus, | | | | Once a person has been diagnosed with lupus, he or |
| including some types of medication or a virus. | | | | she should have regular consultations with a doctor so |
| The disease does not always develop in the same | | | | that the condition can be treated and monitored |
| way for all individuals who are plagued by the disease . | | | | effectively. Also any new symptoms should be looked |
| Signs and symptoms may materialize suddenly or | | | | on immediately. |
| develop over time. They may be mild or severe, and | | | | |