Lupus Facts: what you should know

Dr Dzifa Dey • May 2, 2018

May is Lupus awareness month.

Systemic lupus erythematosus, commonly called lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disease. Lupus causes inflammation which affects the skin, joints, kidneys and other organs. Patients with the disease have to receive treatment from a medical specialist like a rheumatologist. In severe cases, lupus can cause kidney failure, heart attack and stroke.

Lupus is more common than many people realize. It affects over 5 million people worldwide which is much more than many other diseases that get more attention.

I will share some facts about lupus to help us know more about this complex condition.

LUPUS FACT 1

Lupus is an unpredictable, chronic autoimmune disease that ravages different parts of the body.

LUPUS FACT 2

In lupus, something goes wrong with the immune system, the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs becomes hyperactive. This results in the production of autoantibodies and immune complexes that cause inflammation.

LUPUS FACT 3

Ninety percent of the people who develop lupus are women, though men can also develop lupus and their disease can affect some organs more severely.

LUPUS FACT 4

Lupus commonly develops between ages 15 and 44. However, between 10 and 20 percent of cases develop during childhood and these tend to have serious health complications.

LUPUS FACT 5

People of African descent, Hispanics/Latinos, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans are diagnosed with lupus two or three times more frequently than Caucasians; however, lupus can affect people of all races and ethnicities.

LUPUS FACT 6

Lupus is not contagious and cannot be “given” to another person.

LUPUS FACT 7

To diagnose lupus, doctors evaluate a patient’s current symptoms, lab test results, personal medical history and family medical history.

LUPUS FACT 8

Lupus can affect any organ system of the body, including the heart, kidneys, lungs, blood, joints and skin.

LUPUS FACT 9

The malar, or “butterfly” rash on the face is present in about one-third of people with lupus. This is a flat rash across the bridge of the nose and cheeks.

LUPUS FACT 10

Pregnancies in lupus are considered “high risk”, but advancing technology and a better understanding of the disease have improved pregnancy outcomes.

LUPUS FACT 11

Today, 80 percent of women with lupus symptoms that are not active can have successful pregnancies.

LUPUS FACT 12

Lupus is not a form of arthritis, but many people with lupus do suffer from joint and/or muscle pain.

LUPUS FACT 13

People with lupus are encouraged to engage in appropriate daily exercise to maintain muscle and bone strength, but this must be paced with rest.

LUPUS FACT 14

People with lupus have two times the risk of developing cardiovascular disease than people without lupus.

LUPUS FACT 15

Nearly 3 in 4 people with lupus surveyed (76 %) said fatigue limits their ability to participate in social activities.

LUPUS FACT 16

Factors that may trigger a lupus flare include infections, ultraviolet light, stress, some medications, and some unknown environmental factors.

LUPUS FACT 17

Many symptoms of lupus imitate those of other illnesses, and can come and go over time, making diagnosis difficult.

LUPUS FACT 18

Based on a recent study, it takes an average of six years for people with lupus to be diagnosed from the time they first notice their symptoms.

LUPUS FACT 19

A majority of people with lupus surveyed (63 %) report being incorrectly diagnosed at a point. Of these, more than half of them (55 percent) report seeing four or more doctors for their symptoms before being accurately diagnosed.

LUPUS FACT 20

First degree relatives of people with lupus (parent, sibling or child) have six times higher risk of developing the disease.

LUPUS FACT 21

Sensitivity to ultraviolet light (present in both sunlight and artificial light) affects as many as 2/3 of individuals with lupus, and may cause fever, debilitating fatigue, joint pain, rashes and other symptoms.

LUPUS FACT 22

40% of adults with lupus and as many as 66% of all children with lupus will develop kidney complications.

LUPUS FACT 23

In one survey, more than half (55%) of people with lupus were working part-time, intermittently or are unemployed because of lupus.

LUPUS FACT 24

On average, the annual cost of lupus, including expenses related to treatment and loss of productivity, exceed $20,000, and can increase to $63,000 if the kidneys are involved.

LUPUS FACT 25

People with lupus take on average nearly eight prescription medications to manage all of their medical conditions including lupus.

LUPUS FACT 26

About half of all people with lupus will experience a serious infection during the course of their disease.

LUPUS FACT 27

As many as 60% of people with lupus experience some type of memory problem, such as recalling names, dates and appointments or balancing a check-book.

LUPUS FACT 28

With current methods of therapy, 80 to 90% of people with no organ involved lupus can look forward to having the same lifespan as people without lupus.

LUPUS FACT 29

Early detection and treatment is the key to a better health outcome and can usually lessen the progression and severity of the disease.

Now you know. Tell someone.

Kindly drop by our car wash event at Auto Dash Teshie from 7am to 5pm on the 19th of May 2018 and help us raise funds to support people with financial challenges. There will be free health screening.

Let us be bearers of this Light of Hope for Lupus.

#LupusAwarenessInGhana #WearPurple4Lupus #tRiPurple4Lupus #PutOnPurple

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