Lupus : The Great Imitator

     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.

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause that can affect virtually any part of the body. The medical term for Lupus is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or better known as SLE. With Lupus there is a malfunction in some of the cells of the immune system. "In Lupus, the body overreacts to an unknown stimulus and makes to many antibodies, or proteins directed against body tissue. Thus, Lupus is called an autoimmune disease. ”#

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.

Lupus does not have a known cause, and because of that it has no known cure. The exact cause of lupus is unknown, but scientists suspect that it is likely to be a combination of factors, people who contract lupus are probably genetically predisposed to lupus, and know that environmental factors such as infections, antibodies, ultraviolet light, extreme stress and certain drugs play a critical role in

Szuda, Stephanie “Health: Life with Lupus.” The Times. 11 Jan 2008. 19 Nov 2010. <Mywebtimes.com>

Approximately 1.5 million americans (5 million worldwide) live with lupus, but lupus is more common in women of African American and Native American than Caucasian women. More than 16,000 people are diagnosed with lupus each year. Everyone can get lupus but it’s mostly common in women and the specific type of women is African American women. Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease driven by the inflammation in the immune system. Women of color are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop lupus than a Caucasian women. 90 percent of the people diagnosed with lupus are young women. Black women are diagnosed at much higher rates and are more likely to experience complications from the disease. There should me more research done, they should spend more

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.

For every case of Lupus there is always a different set of signs and symptoms. “ No two cases of Lupus are ever the same. Symptoms can have a very wide range.” (Mayo Clinic Staff)

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that affects your immune system. This means the body’s natural defense system attacks healthy tissues instead of attacking only bacteria/viruses, therefore leading to inflammation. Lupus is a lifelong disease, but with good medical care patients can lead a full life. It is estimated that 1.5 million Americans have this disease, and it strikes mostly women around the age of 15-44. However, men/teenagers can get this disease as well; the common age for getting Lupus is 15-44. This disease is not contagious! You can’t “catch,” or “give” Lupus to anyone, not even through sexual contact. Lupus is not related to cancer, HIV, or AIDS. In HIV/AIDS patients your immune system is underactive, and in Lupus your immune system is overactive. Some ways to inform others about Lupus is to know the causes, symptoms, and treatment.

The immune system is made up of trillions of specialised cells (white blood cells) that detect and destroy pathogens or their toxins. Some white blood cells, which are

Lupus is known as “the cruel mystery” in the world of disease/medicine. 1.5 million Americans are currently diagnosed with Lupus, with the number possibly being a lot higher since it is one of the most difficult diseases to diagnose in the WORLD (5 Million some form of Lupus)

In Lupus the immune system begins to attack the body’s own tissues. This odd situation is like “friendly fire” and causes inflammation in various parts of the body. It is important to realize that lupus affects diffeIn Lupus the immune system begins to attack the body’s own tissues. This odd situation is like “friendly fire” and causes inflammation in various parts of the body. It is important to realize that lupus affects different people in different ways. producing periods of intense symptoms.

For most people, Lupus is a mild disease affecting only a few organs. For others, it may cause serious and even life-threatening problems. People with Lupus are recommended to have regular medical appointments and take medications as prescribed. One of the most frustrating things for a Lupus patient is being sick. A person can look nice and healthy although they feel very bad inside. Another challenge is that there are no treatments for the most common complaint of Lupus patients: fatigue and memory loss.

Have you ever wondered how your body works? Did you ever think about how your body defends itself from outside invaders? Remember the last time you were sick. Did you know how your body fought and killed the sickness? All these questions can be answered by learning about one of the most important systems in your body, the immune system.

Our immune system is the second most complex system in our body. It is made up of organs, cells and proteins that work together to protect our bodies from harmful bacteria, viruses or other microorganisms that can cause diseases. Usually we don’t notice our immune system defending us against pathogens, but if the pathogen (harmful microorganism) is aggressive or if our body hasn’t ever come into contact with it, we can get sick. The jobs of our immune system are to recognise pathogens, as well as neutralise and remove them from our body. Our immune system also has to fight our own cells if they have changed due to an illness, for example, cancer. (1)