You may have heard about autoimmune diseases. Maybe like several other people around the world, you suffer from one of them. Autoimmune Health is concerned with all conditions where the body’s immune system turns against itself. The immune system protects the body against foreign invaders by detecting and fighting them. But in an autoimmune disorder the immune system indiscriminately invades the body cells causing over-activity or inactivity.
Examples of autoimmune diseases
There are several autoimmune disorders, but the most common include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, celiac disease, type 1 diabetes, and alopecia areata. What is common in all these conditions is that the body’s immune system is responsible.
What causes autoimmune diseases?
The true cause of autoimmune disease is unknown. The only theory that attempts to explain is the genetic background. Some autoimmune diseases run in families. Sclerosis and lupus are such genetic autoimmune diseases.
Whereas not all members of the family will have the disorder, they remain susceptible to the condition.
Nonetheless, autoimmune diseases have been on the increase. Researchers claim that environmental factors and exposure to harmful chemicals are responsible for this increase. This article will primarily dwell on Lupus.
What is Lupus?
Lupus is a long-term disorder where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks normal, healthy, and functional tissues instead of fighting foreign infections. Lupus commonly affects the skin, joints, internal organs, such as the kidney, liver, and heart. Lupus presents itself with symptoms of other diseases. As such, it is often difficult to pinpoint it.
Types of Lupus
There are four types of lupus, namely:
- Drug-induced lupus -This type is induced where a particular medication is used on a patient.
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)- This is the most common type of lupus.
- Neonatal lupus- This is a rare type of lupus and mostly affects newborn babies.
- Cutaneous lupus- This type only affects the skin.
Risk Factors
Anyone can have lupus. However, certain people are more susceptible than others. They include;
- Women ranging from 15 to 44 years
- People of a particular ethnic background such as Asians and American Americans
- People with a family history of lupus or other autoimmune diseases
Are there Early Symptoms of Lupus?
Because lupus affects several parts of the body, it is difficult to tell its initial signs and symptoms. However, some of the symptoms are;
- Extreme exhaustion
- Swelling in the hands, feet, and around the eyes
- Swelling and pain in the joints
- Sensitivity to fluorescent or natural lighting
Most of the people with lupus have issues with their hair and skin like;
- Hair loss around the temple and some parts of the head
- Toes and fingers turning bluish or whitish
- Feeling numb when stressed or cold
- Sores in the nose and mouth
These symptoms can come and go or can change every other time they appear.
Are There Symptoms that are Exclusive to Lupus?
Lupus shares some symptoms with diabetes and arthritis. So, it does not mean that anyone with the above-mentioned symptoms has lupus.
Therefore, it is advisable to seek the doctor’s attention if you have most of these symptoms. Only then can you determine if you have lupus or a different health issue.
Diagnosing Lupus
There’s no one test to diagnose lupus. It could take several months of diagnosis before the doctor conclusively gives you a report.
Several factors have to be studied,including family history, lab tests, medical history symptoms.
Commonly asked Questions By the doctor
When you seek the doctor’s help, you’ll answer several questions that will help the doctor give you the best treatment. Such questions include:
- What symptoms have you been having?
- How often do you have symptoms?
- How long have you had the symptoms?
- Is there anything that alleviates or worsens the condition?
- Are the symptoms persistent or intermittent?
- Do the symptoms interfere with your normal routine?
Additionally, the doctor may want to know if your family has a history of lupus or other autoimmune diseases. This is because such conditions predispose one to lupus.
Lupus in Children
Lupus can also have lupus. It is even more challenging because young children cannot pinpoint the actual symptoms they’ve been experiencing. Whereas some symptoms may be visible, others are not. Symptoms that come and go can be upsetting. Some of the signs to look out for include:
- Swelling in the face, and neck
- Weight gain
- Hair thinning and hair loss
- Easily bruised skin
If treatment begins immediately, some of the signs can diminish entirely. Other symptoms can reduce depending on the dosage of medications. Expect the following symptoms to diminish with time:
- Memory loss
- Chest pain muscle aches
- Persistent fatigue
- Challenge in processing information
Treatment Regimen for Lupus
While there may be no cure for this autoimmune disease, various medications are available to manage symptoms and prevent flares.
Before you’re given a specific treatment plan, the health care provider must consider all the symptoms and their range of severity.
It is also crucial to attend all the review clinics for proper follow-up. This allows the doctor to monitor your improvement and determine the success or failure of the treatment regimen.
Additionally, lupus symptoms change over time. As such, the doctor may need to change the drugs or adjust the dosage of your medication.The health care provider may recommend lifestyle adjustments to assist in managing the symptoms. These changes could be:
- Including or excluding particular food items in your meals
- Avoiding direct glare or exposure
- Taking supplements such as calcium, vitamin D, and fish oil that can help reduce lupus symptoms
- Engaging in regular exercises
- Quitting smoking or alcohol, if you do any of them
Lupus Medication
Some of the medication used to manage lupus are;
Anti-malarial medication- These drugs were used to treat infectious malaria but not anymore because the malaria-causing organism developed resistance to the drug. So, today, newer drugs are used to treat malaria.
Research reveals that anti-malarial can reduce some lupus problems such as joint, rashes, and persistent fatigue. These drugs can also prevent flares. Additionally, they’re recommended for pregnant women to reduce complications and minimize the risk of lupus getting serious in the mother.
- Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)- These are used to reduce pain and swelling. Over-the-counter drugs include ibuprofen and naproxen.
- Corticosteroids- These drugs are effective in calming the immune system. They can also reduce swelling and pain. Corticosteroids come in the form of injections, tablets, and creams. A common example of corticosteroids is prednisone. It is recommended the duration of use and minimize the dosage of these drugs because they can have adverse side effects such as osteoporosis and other infections.
- Immuno-suppressive medication-These drugs suppress the body’s immune system. They’re used only when symptoms are severe, or many organs are affected. This is because they’re very strong and can leave the body’s defense system prone to infections. Examples of immuno-suppressive medication include mycophenolic acid, azathioprine, and mycophenolate mofetil.
- Biologics- These are drugs with a biological origin. An example of biologics for treating lupus is Belimumab. Benlysta is an antibody that blocks a specific protein in the body that is crucial for the immune response.
Can one be cured of Lupus?
Various kinds of treatment regimen help manage the symptoms because lupus cannot be cured. The treatment plan focuses on:
- Treating the prevailing symptoms
- Managing the recurrence associated with lupus
- Lowering the damage on vital organs and joints.
In conclusion, if you’re managing lupus, let your doctor know your progress regularly. This will help the caregiver to know if the treatment is working.
Laila Azzahra is a professional writer and blogger that loves to write about technology, business, entertainment, science, and health.