Lupus Awareness

"Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in different parts of the body. An autoimmune disease occurs when the body’s immune system attacks itself. Its symptoms can show up in many different ways, which sometimes makes it hard to diagnose. Lupus symptoms can range from mild to life threatening, so early diagnosis and treatment by a rheumatologist are important. A rheumatologist is a doctor who has additional training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis, lupus, and other diseases of the joints, muscles, and bones.

Lupus Health Disparities

Systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE, is a type of lupus that can affect multiple organs. SLE occurs more in women and minorities, especially blacks, and symptoms can range from mild to life threatening. In a study examining death rates among people with lupus, blacks had higher rates of death than whites, and had significantly higher rates of death from the time of diagnosis. Among those with SLE, blacks were significantly younger when they died than whites (average age of 52 vs. 64 years). Early diagnosis of SLE and proper treatment are critical to preventing long-term consequences of the disease.

Signs and Symptoms of Lupus

People with SLE can have many different symptoms, including:

• Fatigue or extreme exhaustion no matter how much they sleep.
• Joint pain or swelling.
• Skin rashes (in particular a butterfly-shaped face rash across the cheeks and nose).
• Hair loss.
• Recurring mouth sores..."
  Lupus