The Health Nut Blog

The chronic pain of lupus can affect anyone from 15 to 50 and it does affect nearly 2 million Americans. Because people with this disease have an autoimmune system, the body of the people suffering from lupus is constantly under attack. The skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, the eyes, the nervous system and blood-making cells can all suddenly become targets. While currently there is no cure for lupus, the disease can be treated in different ways to minimize damage. For cases that are mild, your primary care doctor can monitor or recommend medication. If the lupus has progressed and affected other organs, a specialist like a Dermatologist, Cardiologist, Nephrologist or Neurologist may be needed.

There are five types of lupus: systemic lupus erythematosus, which affects the joints and organs; discoid lupus, which affects the skin; sub-acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, which is characterized by skin lesions; drug-induced lupus that develops after a drug reaction; and neonatal lupus that affects newborns. Some of the signs of Lupus include; fever, fatigue, joint pain/stiffness/swelling, weight loss/gain, butterfly rashes on a persons cheeks, lesions of skin that get worse when exposed to sunlight, sores in the mouth, both toes and finger that end up turning blue white in the cold, shortness of breath, eyes that are dry, pain in the chest, easy bruising, anxiety, depression and/or loss of memory. The Lupus Foundation says there are no two cases of lupus that are exactly alike. Signs of this type of illness might come our in a gradual manner or come on very suddenly, and can be either mild or severe. The majority of individuals have episodes of "flare-ups". To test for lupus, your doctor will ask you some questions, run a standard physical, take urine and blood samples and perform an electrocardiogram.

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) manifests itself by way of inflammation, whereby scarring on the face, ears as well as scalp, and rashes are pronounced. The lesions may be inflamed, scaling or crusty in appearance, with the centers lighter and the rims darker. A small percentage of these patients have internal organ failure too, but usually symptoms are primarily skin-related. Cortisone ointment or injections can be helpful in treating the flare-ups. Drugs like Plaquenil, Aralen, Imiquimod, Quinacrine, Accutane or Soriatane are sometimes prescribed but should be carefully monitored for side effects.

If you are found to have lupus, then it is significant that you get at least 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Remember that even small amounts of sunlight can hurt your skin, so wear protective clothing, such as long shirts and pants, use SPF 15+ sunscreen, avoid tanning beds and use plastic devices that block UV emissions from indoor lights. Getting regular exercise is also important in recovering from flare-ups, reducing heart attack risks and fighting depression. If you're a smoker, then doctors recommend that you quit because the risk of cardiovascular disease increases with the added vascular stress caused by nicotine. Lastly, eat a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. To maintain an elevated mood, there are educational programs offered by the Lupus Foundation as well as counseling, exercise group classes and community types of events such as "Walk For Lupus" to help to raise both money as well as awareness. Becoming an advocate is a great way to regain a sense of control.

To learn more go to Arthritis Medication and at Lumbar Arthritis

# posted by NeilG @ 10:09 AM