Symptoms of Lupus and Treatment Options…

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects people of different races, ages, ethnicities, and gender. Having said this there are some interesting studies that indicate that approximately 90% of people affected with lupus are women and Hispanics, Asians, Blacks, and Native Americans are more likely to have this condition.

The most common type of lupus is called Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
Systemic means that many different systems are affected at the same time. This disorder is characterized by episodes that come and go and different parts of your body suffer from chronic inflammation.

Blood cells, eyes, skin, muscles, joints, kidneys, lungs, heart, stomach, and even the brain can be affected.

Approximately fifty percent of people who suffer from lupus develop problems within their internal organs and the other fifty percent with their skin and joints.

Early Lupus Symptoms.

First of all, it’s important to note that not everyone suffering from this disease develops the same symptoms of lupus, however, the following are the most common:

• Muscle pain, fever, and fatigue – these are the common initial symptoms of lupus, however, they may be present in other autoimmune diseases and are not enough to determine if you have lupus disease or not.
• Rash – approximately 30% to 50% of patients suffer from malar or “butterfly” rash which appears on the cheeks and the bridge of the nose. Some people may also develop a scaly rash in the shape of a disc on the face, neck, ears, scalp or chest.
• Ulcers – in the mouth or vagina.
• Baldness (alopecia)
• Sunlight sensitivity – people with lupus frequently suffer from rashes, exhaustion, or sunburn easily.
• Serositis – this is inflammation of the lining of the organs such as lungs and heart that can cause breathing problems and chest pain.
• Arthritis – joint pain, stiffness, and swelling.
• Kidney problems – you may not know if you have problems due to the lack of symptoms or you may experience leg swelling (edema) and high blood pressure. If there are no signs, a blood test and urinalysis are needed to help determine if there are problems with your kidneys, such as inflammation.
• Neurological problems – these include headaches, vision problems, seizures, and dizziness.
• Low white blood cell count
• Anemia

Other symptoms of lupus that are not specific to this condition but can be present include:

• nausea
• diarrhea,
• abdominal pain,
• weight loss,
• lack of appetite,
• hair loss,
• chest pain with and without a cough,
• swollen glands,
• leg swelling and Raynaud’s disease (Raynaud’s is a condition where the fingers, toes, nose and ears change color when exposed to cold temperatures).

What is the Cause of Lupus?

As with other autoimmune diseases, it is still unknown why the body mistakenly attacks certain healthy cells and tissues, however, it is believed that a viral infection, inheritance, or hormones trigger the autoimmune response.

The Diagnosis.

It may take some time to diagnose the disease because the symptoms of lupus are similar to the signs and symptoms of other autoimmune disorders and not everyone experiences the same problems. You may need to have clinical and laboratory tests to help your doctor identify this condition. These may include:

• Blood test to spot anemia
• Urinalysis to determine protein and/or red blood cell levels in the urine and an ANA (Anti-nuclear antibody) test that can indicate a stimulated immune system. It should be noted that the ANA antibodies can be present in other autoimmune diseases and a positive ANA does not mean that a person has lupus.
• Chest X-ray to see if there is fluid or inflammation in the lungs.
• An electrocardiogram to identify irregular rhythms and either damage to or enlargement of the heart.

How are Fertility and Pregnancy Affected if You Have Lupus?

Women with lupus may be faced with a decline in fertility and there’s also a risk of miscarriage, especially in very early or very late stages of pregnancy.
Careful planning and treatment can minimize this risk and allow you to have a healthy baby.

Treatment of lupus.

The treatment of lupus is determined by the organs affected and the severity of the disease. As part of the treatment, Doctors may include Aspirin or non-steroidal medications to reduce joint and other tissue inflammation.

In more severe cases corticosteroids may be used to help with the inflammation, however, these can have serious side effects such as weight gain, easy bruising, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, diabetes, and an increased risk of infection.

Immuno-suppressive medications can be part of the treatment of lupus especially when the kidneys are at risk. They reduce the normal immune response and may have side effects such as anemia and a low white blood cell count. Please be aware that these medications can increase the risk of infection and cancer.

Herbal and Natural Treatment for Lupus.

Chronic inflammation, muscle and joint pain and stiffness are some of the common symptoms of lupus that people with this condition have to endure. Even though corticosteroids can relieve these problems its short and long-term side effects can be intimidating and complex.

If you are looking for a natural and, most importantly, safe natural way to fight inflammation and pain effectively, you may want to learn more about a comprehensive formula that features a unique blend of herbs that helps mediate inflammation and decrease pain and stiffness like no other.

A team of natural health experts has created this formula and many people suffering from muscle and joint pain due to autoimmune diseases such as lupus have greatly benefited from it. It contains key natural ingredients that are efficient in relieving pain and reducing autoimmune responses.

Discover what makes this natural product unparalleled in terms of quality and effectiveness.

 

 

Click here for more information on symptoms of lupus on our health conditions page

Wishing you balance and ease in your life,

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