What is SLE?
Systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE), is the most common type of lupus. SLE is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks its own tissues, causing widespread inflammation and tissue damage in the affected organs. It can affect the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels.
How does a person get lupus?
It’s likely that lupus
results from a combination of your genetics and your environment
. It appears that people with an inherited predisposition for lupus may develop the disease when they come into contact with something in the environment that can trigger lupus. The cause of lupus in most cases, however, is unknown.
Why is it called SLE?
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. In this disease,
the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue
. It can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other organs.
What is the difference between lupus and SLE?
When people use the term “lupus,” they usually refer to systemic lupus erythematosus, or “SLE.” Throughout this website, the term “lupus” is used to signal systemic lupus, since SLE constitutes the most common form of the disease. Systemic lupus is so-named because it affects many different organ systems in the body.
What are the 11 symptoms of lupus?
- Butterfly-shaped rash.
- Raised red patches on your skin.
- You’re sensitive to light.
- Ulcers in your mouth or nose.
- Arthritis in two or more joints, plus swelling or tenderness.
- Inflammation in the lining of your heart or lungs.
- Seizures or other nerve problems.
- Too much protein in your urine.
How long do lupus patients live?
For people with lupus, some treatments can increase the risk of developing potentially fatal infections. However, the majority of people with lupus can expect a normal or near-normal life expectancy. Research has shown that many people with a lupus diagnosis have
been living with the disease for up to 40 years
.
What should lupus patients avoid?
Heart
attack risk is 50 times higher in people with lupus, so patients with lupus should be extra vigilant against foods with known links to heart disease, such as red meat, fried foods, and dairy.
Does lupus go away?
There’s currently no cure for lupus
. Treatment of lupus is focused on controlling your symptoms and limiting the amount of the damage the disease does to your body. The condition can be managed to minimize the impact lupus has on your life, but it will never go away.
How do I know I have lupus?
Symptoms of lupus vary from person to person, from severity to the body parts affected. Some of the most common signs of lupus are a
rash and joint pain
, says Konstantinos Loupasakis, MD, a rheumatologist with MedStar Washington Hospital Center, but symptoms can also include fatigue, hair loss, mouth sores, and fever.
What are the 4 types of lupus?
When people talk about lupus, they may be referring to the most common form—systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, there are actually four kinds. Click or scroll to read more about each of them:
SLE, cutaneous lupus, drug-induced lupus, and neonatal lupus.
Is Chicken Good for lupus?
Still, good nutrition is an important part of an overall treatment plan for the disease. In general, people with lupus should aim for a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. It should also include
moderate amounts of meats, poultry, and oily fish
.
Does lupus run in families?
While the survey of nearly 6,000 participants did not find new genetic factors causing lupus as hoped, the study confirmed that
lupus can run in many families
.
Is lupus a serious illness?
Lupus is
an autoimmune disease
that causes the immune system to attack the body’s organs. In severe cases, organs damage and failure can occur. Over 90 percent of people with lupus are women between the ages of 15 and 45. Historically, lupus caused people to die young, primarily from kidney failure.
Is lupus a disability?
For Social Security’s purposes, lupus
qualifies as a disability
when it meets these conditions: It involves two or more organs or body systems. It includes at least two major signs or symptoms, such as severe fatigue, fever, malaise, and involuntary weight loss.
How does lupus make you feel?
Lupus is a disease
of flares
(the symptoms worsen and you feel ill) and remissions (the symptoms improve and you feel better). Lupus symptoms include: Muscle and joint pain. You may experience pain and stiffness, with or without swelling.
What does a lupus headache feel like?
In fact, the headaches you have are sometimes simply called “lupus headaches” or “lupus fog.” These headaches may appear along with other brain problems caused by lupus. These include
fatigue, confusion, memory issues
, or trouble concentrating.
