How Lupus Discriminates Against African-American Women

Lupus is a rare and crippleing disease. This disease is as rare as it is hard to undertand. Lupus being a not well known disease is hard to pinpoint. This disease causes insufferable pain and body problems. Such a terrible disease causes syptoms like swelling muscles, joint pains, general inflamations, organ failures, and overall fatigue. Lupus is an autoimmune disease ( AKA the autoimmune sytem attacking itself). This autoimmune disease is most common in youge woman in birth bearing age. With little known reason

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) also referred to lupus dates back to the middle ages and has made an explosion in the past 60 years. Even though more than 1.5 million Americans have lupus and 90% of lupus sufferers are women, between the ages of 15 to 44 (Lupus Research Institute), there is little awareness about the disease. 72% of Americans aged 18-34 have either not heard of the disease or know nothing about it (Medical News Today). However, researchers continue on working to have a better understanding of SLE factors, pathophysiology, current treatment and new prospects for treatment.

Facial redness or a rash on the face appears in the shape of a butterfly. This rash is flat, patchy lesions can also occur on the face; these lesions are raised and rough to the touch. Some Lupus patients may lose their hair, and scarring on the scalp may be related to this. Lupus patients also experience photosensitivity, a harmful reaction to sunlight. Rashes can occur due to exposure to sunlight. People that have Lupus bruise easily. Ulcers may occur in the mouth, nose and throat ." #

It is not rare for individuals with lupus to undergo muscle throbs and discomfort or have inflammation of certain muscle groups, which causes faintness and loss of intensity. More than 90 percent of people with lupus will encounter joint and/or muscle pain at some time during the path of their illness. In lupus, the immune system of the body raids its own cells and tissues. Precisely, the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, nervous system, and other organs of the body are affected. Lupus affects generally 10 times as many women as men. Most often, lupus develops in people 18 to 45 years old. (Lahita) Though lupus is most dominant among women, it also may affect men and children, as well as individuals of all ages. Lupus effects each person

A butterfly to many individuals may speak of love, trust, or opportunity yet to some a butterfly could speak of trouble, pain, and vacancy. The butterfly, now attached to a sickening infection, has turned into the image of a rising disease known as Lupus. For many the fight to cure Lupus has taken a major role in their lives.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that attacks women between the ages of 15 and 40. It occurs less often in men than in women. The people affected by lupus vary depending on the country or region. In the US alone, the prevalence rate is highest among Asians of Hawaii, blacks of Caribbean origin, and Native Americans of the Sioux, Arapahoe, and Crow tribes. Lupus is a disease that affects the immune system. We can think of the immune system as an army within the body with hundreds of defenders (known as antibodies). They defend the body from attack by germs and viruses. In lupus, however, the immune system becomes overactive and creates antibodies that attack healthy tissues in the body, such as: the skin, kidneys, lungs, heart and brain.

Fatigue is the most common symptom of lupus. If you feel an excessive tiredness, especially during daytime, and if you are incapable of performing your usual daily activities, you should consult your doctor.

The attacking and confused immune system has an assortment of organ systems to choose from and hate on, some common victims are the kidneys, skin, heart, central nervous system, the opportunities are many. Therefore, the symptoms of Lupus vary accordingly. If your stupid Lupus attacks your kidneys, you have kidney problems. If it 's your skin in the crosshairs, you have terrible rashes. If it 's your brain, you have headaches that make you want to poke your eyes out. It 's a real picnic.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease. The body makes autoantibodies and initiates the immune response against itself. There is no known cause or origin. It is seven times more common in females than males. (Ball, Bindler, & Cowen, 2015, p. 631) There is a suspicion that there is a genetic factor that causes a person to be predisposed to having Lupus. There is also a belief that it may be caused by an environmental factor that causes the immune system to respond to its own tissues. Lupus affects African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, and Native Americans more than Caucasians. (Brescia, 2014) Lupus can affect multiple organ systems and mimic many other diseases. The patient

Transition to 2nd main point: Now that we’ve talked about what Lupus is and its different types, now we’re going to talk about its causes and symptoms. (Point #2)

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body. The skin, joints, or organs inside the body can be affected by this. Chronic means that the symptoms tend to last weeks and sometimes for many years. With lupus, the immune system makes autoantibodies instead of creating antibodies, which protect the body from bacteria and viruses. Autoantibodies do more work than antibodies by attacking the viruses as well as healthy tissue. When this happens inflammation, pain, and damage occurs to many parts of the body. Lupus is not a contagious disease that people should be afraid of. With some people, no visual changes happen, which means it is not noticeable to see someone with Lupus ("What is lupus?", 2016).

Lupus is a very complex disease, therefore many who have this illness don’t know they

Did you know that the word Lupus means “wolf” in Latin? This disease got its name because the rash that appeared on people’s faces caused by this disease looked like a wolf scratch or bite. In 1948 an LE cell was first discovered by Malcolm Hargraves, who was a hematologist from the Mayo Clinic. Ninety percent of the people that are diagnosed with this disease are females from ages 15-45.

It’s an honor to write this article and unite with her goal of wanting to help others who might be experiencing similar early and perplexing symptoms but are not yet sure if lupus is the cause.

     In conclusion Lupus is definitely a very serious disease that we must learn more about. My great aunt had Lupus for over ten years and during that time suffered in ways no person should have to. She would fall down constantly and break bones. Near the end of her life, she would break bones doing stuff as simple as getting out of bed.