Lupus Awareness

I think its wonderful that there is actual awareness for Lupus. I've never heard anyone talking about it on TV..But its a very serious condition My sister currently has it and I lost my cousin about 6 years ago from this horrible disease. The process is painful to watch and I wish I was about to document my cousins life before she passed to let everyone know that this is no joke.

For those who don't know what Lupus is...Lupus is a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disease in which the immune system, for unknown reasons, becomes hyperactive and attacks normal tissue. This attack results in inflammation and brings about symptoms. Literally it means immune activity directed against the self. The immune system fights the body itself (Auto=self). In autoimmune diseases, the immune system makes a mistake and reacts to the body's own tissues.Lupus can occur at any age, and in either sex. Nine out of ten people with lupus are women. During the childbearing years (ages 15-44) lupus strikes women 10-15 times more frequently than men.

People of all races can have lupus; however, African American women have a three times higher incidence (number of new cases) and mortality than Caucasian women. They tend to develop the disease at a younger age and to develop more serious complications. Lupus is also more common in women of Hispanic, Asian, and Native American descent.

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) has developed a strategic plan for reducing health disparities. Lupus is included as an area of research focus. Further information on disparities in lupus and the strategic plan is available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/an/stratplan/stratplan.htm

Symptoms of lupus vary widely depending on the individual case and the form of lupus present. Most people with lupus do not experience all of these symptoms. The list only serves to alert people to clues that might indicate the presence of lupus in an undiagnosed person.

* Achy or swollen joints
* Persistent fever over 100 degrees
* Prolonged, extreme fatigue
* Skin rashes, including a butterfly shaped rash across the cheeks and nose
* Pain in the chest on deep breathing
* Anemia
* Excessive protein in the urine
* Sensitivity to sun or ultraviolet light
* Hair loss
* Abnormal blood clotting problems
* Fingers turning white and/or blue in the cold
* Seizures
* Mouth or nose ulcers lasting longer than two weeks