LEARN MORE ABOUT LUPUS

LEARN MORE ABOUT LUPUS

Our bodies have an immune system that functions to fight attacks/infections from outside that threaten them, for example bacteria, viruses, or fungi. However, in some conditions this system is redundant and unable to distinguish normal body cells from pathogenic cells, so that it actually endangers the body itself.

Lupus disease is an autoimmune disease, which is a condition when the body's immune system produces antibodies that actually attack healthy tissue in the person itself as if it were a foreign object, such as a virus or bacteria. Normally, the immune system will detect and fight foreign objects or antigens that enter and can harm the body, so it will protect the body from infection.

The medical term for lupus is systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE. Lupus is a complex health problem and affects people differently. This disease can affect the joints and skin, blood vessels to the internal organs.

Symptom

• Extreme fatigue
• Prolonged fever
• Joint pain, stiffness and swelling
• Recurrent canker sores
• A butterfly-shaped rash on the face covering the cheeks and bridge of the nose
• Skin lesions that occur due to sun exposure
• Fingers and toes turn white or turn blue when exposed to cold or during periods of stress
• Hard to breathe
• Chest pain especially when taking deep breaths and lying down
• Dry eyes
• Hair loss
• Headache
• Confusion
• Seizures
• Memory loss

Reason

The exact cause of lupus is not known. However, there are several potential triggers, such as:

• Genetics : a family history of lupus predisposes people to the disease

• Infection : certain infections can cause lupus or make lupus flare

• Sunlight : sun exposure can trigger lupus and cause skin lesions

• Hormones : it is suspected that estrogen may be a trigger for lupus because many women experience lupus symptoms before their menstrual period and/or during pregnancy when estrogen production is high

• Medications : certain drugs, such as anti-seizure drugs and antibiotics, can trigger lupus symptoms

Lupus is not contagious and is not cancer. Lupus can attack various organs so that the symptoms vary. Lupus can be controlled. Most of the time, lupus often affects women of reproductive age.

Lupus Disease Prevention

There are various things you can do to prevent yourself from developing lupus by avoiding risk factors that can increase your symptoms. Some ways to prevent this include:

• Limit sun exposure, especially during the day.
• Avoid stress and take some medicines.
• Be sure to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
• Quit smoking.
• Exercise regularly.
• Go on a nutritional diet.
• Develop stress management techniques, such as meditation and yoga.
• Get enough rest every night, approximately seven to nine hours.

Lupus Disease Treatment

SLE cannot be cured, treatment is done to reduce the level of symptoms and prevent organ damage in people with SLE. Several decades ago this disease was even seen as a terminal illness or had no hope of recovery so that it could lead to death.

This fear was caused by the large number of sufferers at that time who died from complications within 10 years after being diagnosed with SLE. However, now drugs for SLE continue to develop, so that they can help almost all sufferers live a normal life, or at least approach a normal stage.

In addition, help and support from family, friends, and medical staff also play an important role in helping people with SLE deal with this disease.