Lupus, also called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s immune system attacks the person’s own body tissue, with symptoms and severity varying from patient to patient.
In simple terms, your immune system is doing exactly what it is not supposed to do, which can cause disease of the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and nervous system. 90% of Lupus patients are women.
Although the disease can affect anybody, 90% of lupus patients are often women between the ages of 15 and 45 years old. For some, it’s life-threatening, and for others, it’s entirely manageable.
The symptoms may mimic those of other conditions, making it difficult to diagnose, but here are some common symptoms every woman can recognize easily.
1. Fatigue
Nearly 90% of people experience fatigue or tiredness, even after getting enough sleep, making it one of the major symptoms of lupus. It may be prolonged or extreme.
2. Joint swelling and pain
Joint pains, joint swelling, and stiffness in the morning are all classic signs of lupus. It most commonly presents in the wrists, knuckles, and fingers. Swelling can also come and go with lupus and doesn’t get progressively worse; it tends to occur more in younger patients.
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3. Shortness of Breath
There are manifestations of lupus where the disease attacks the lining of the lungs, causing fluid to leak out and surround the lungs. This can make it feel painful to breathe.
4. Skin rashes
Lupus is sometimes marked by a distinctive “butterfly rash” forming over the bridge of the nose and cheeks, which is exacerbated by sun exposure.
5. Hair loss
Lupus also causes women to lose their hair, especially when combing. It can also cause sores in the scalp and lead to baldness. If you present with this symptom, you should also have your thyroid evaluated because hair loss is a classic symptom of hypothyroidism.
6. Ulcers of the mouth and nose
Unlike typical sores that develop on the sides of the mouth or gums, ulcers triggered by lupus usually develop on the roof of the mouth as raised white patches with red lines (often painless) or as red, crater-like lesions (often painful). Lupus-related ulcers can also appear inside the nose.
7. Fever
Frequent unexplained fevers without an underlying infection are said to be an early symptom of lupus.
Causes
The exact cause of lupus is not known, but experts believe a combination of factors like genes, hormones, infections, and medications, together with factors in the environment, usually trigger lupus.
Treatment
Unfortunately, there is no known cure for lupus. The only way to manage it is through medication and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
