Lupus: Learn About Symptoms, Risk Factors And How To Cope
Have you ever heard of a disease like lupus ? If this disease is unfamiliar to you, learn more about it! We will tell you more about this disease and how to treat it.
There is an endless list of diseases all over the world. Some of them are more disturbing than others. Consequently, they are better known, more dangerous and accompanied by a detailed list of symptoms. However, these diseases pale in comparison to other, lesser-known, ailments. Lupus is a perfect example .
You may have come across this name on our website once. Or maybe you suffer from this disease and still don’t realize it.
What is lupus?
Lupus is considered to be one of the most dangerous and unstable diseases affecting the human body. This is because of its main feature: it is an autoimmune disease.
The symptoms of this disease vary greatly from case to case and are unpredictable. Remember that this is because it is a disease that affects the immune system. Lupus attacks and affects important cells in this system.
Lupus destroys the body’s defenses. This makes the body unable to fight bacteria and toxic substances.
Your immune system and lupus
Starting off with what we’ve already said, the above symptoms are largely related. Let’s talk a bit about the immune system and its importance to the body.
- It consists of, inter alia, special organs, cells, tissues and proteins.
- All of them together play the main role of protecting the whole organism against harmful external factors.
- These harmful external factors include, for example, bacteria, germs and microorganisms. And yet they are practically everywhere.
In summary, the immune system is a combination of basic functions that protect the body. But what does this have to do with a disease like lupus?
Although it is not contagious, it affects all of the body’s defenses. This explains the close connection between lupus and the immune system. Little by little, it attacks your cells and tissues.
Types
This disease is classified into three types. We will discuss them below
1. Systemic lupus erythematosus
Also known as “SLE”. It is the most common type of lupus. Specialists simply call it “Lupus” without adding the rest of its name.
- It affects the most important systems of the body on an ongoing basis. This is especially true for organs such as the heart, brain and kidneys .
- Its symptoms are extremely varied. Some people may have extreme symptoms, while others may not have as strong a response to the disease.
2. Chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus
As the name “cutaneous” implies, this disease mainly affects the tissues of the skin. Don’t forget that the skin covers 100% of the body surface. Any part of the skin can be affected by this disease. This means that its symptoms can appear on the face and scalp.
The main symptoms of the disease are reddening of the skin or a change in skin tone.
3. Drug-induced systemic lupus erythematosus
Symptoms of drug-induced systemic lupus erythematosus are rather less severe than that of systemic lupus.
Can lupus be diagnosed?
Lupus is a complicated disease, not only for those who suffer from it, but also for healthcare professionals. Sometimes it is difficult to make a good diagnosis.
Even so, there are some signs by which lupus can be diagnosed. Below are the most common ones:
- Arthralgia
- Arthritis
- Swelling of the thyroid glands
- Excessive fatigue for no reason
- Hair loss
- Fatigue and excessive anxiety
- Facial skin problems
- Pain in the chest
What should be remembered
The appearance of these symptoms is described by doctors as an “outbreak” of the disease. Symptoms can come and go. A visit to a trusted doctor is recommended. This disease can affect anyone. We do not know its origin, but we do know that it is related to hereditary factors.
Despite the fact that there is no cure for it, there are many ways to treat lupus as an emergency. To use them, please contact a specialist. Talking to other patients with this condition can help you cope better with it.
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