What is Lupus?
- Lupus is a chronic, auto-immune disease where the immune system attacks healthy tissue like a foreign invader essentially seeing all good things as bad.
- Lupus patients have an overactive immune system where there is an overproduction of antibodies causing inflammation and various symptoms.
- Lupus can affect any part of the body, including various and multiple different systems and organs.
- However, severity in patients ranges from person to person because no two Lupus cases are the same.
Different Types of Lupus
There are four kinds of Lupus
Systemic Lupus erythematosus (SLE) (70% of cases) – the most common form of Lupus. Can affect any part of the body and varies from person to person.
Drug-induced Lupus (10% of cases) – Lupus like disease caused by certain prescription drugs and usually goes away once the certain medication is stopped.
Discoid/Cutaneous Lupus (10% of cases) – Lupus that affects the skin by a rash or change in color in appearance. Named “discoid” because of the common disc like shape lesions, marks, or sores it makes on the body. Usually, a rash or lesion is brought on by light (UV or fluorescent).
Neonatal Lupus – a rare type that affects the mother and their infants. Symptoms usually go away after a few months with no lasting effects.
Common Symptoms of Lupus
- Extreme fatigue
- Painful and swollen joints
- Headaches
- Low grade fevers
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Malar rash – a butterfly shaped rash that spreads from one cheek to another bridging across the nose
- Photosensitivity – sensitivity to sunlight or fluorescent light
- Hair loss
- Mouth and nose sores/ulcers
- Brain fog (affecting memory and concentration)
- Organ involvement
- Swollen glands
- Hair loss
- Anemia (low numbers of blood counts)
- Changes in blood counts (a variety of many different tests and many different ranges)
- Weight changes (either because of the disease itself or because of medication)
- Blood clots
- Raynaud’s – poor circulation in fingers and toes turning them white, blue, or purple and causing them to feel numb
The Different Aspects of Lupus
Why is the Butterfly the Symbol for Lupus?
- The butterfly became the symbol for Lupus because of the malar rash that occurs for some Lupus patients.
- The Malar Rash is a rash covering from cheek to cheek, bridging across the nose often in the shape of a butterfly (AKA a butterfly rash).
- Another reason for the butterfly being the symbol for Lupus is because it is a symbol for hope.
- There are around 17,500 species of butterflies in the whole world.
- Just like how each butterfly has its own special characteristics and markings making it unique, this is true when it comes comparing two Lupus warriors.
- No two Lupus warriors are the same when it comes to their disease, their symptoms, and their battle.
- We are all unique and have our own story to tell.
What is the Meaning Behind the Word Lupus?
- In Latin, the word Lupus means wolf.
- A thirteenth century physician used a way to describe facial lesions among Lupus patients, reminiscent to a wolf’s bite – now called Discoid Lupus.
What Causes Lupus?
- No one knows exactly what causes Lupus.
- There is a genetic aspect that can make you more prone to developing Lupus.
- Environmental triggers can be another aspect.
- Hormones can be a factor to developing Lupus as well.
- Especially estrogen. Both men and women produce estrogen.
- So, remember both men and women can develop Lupus.
What is the Meaning Behind Lupus and the Color Purple?
- If you are a Lupus warrior, you have come to love the color purple!
- We wear the color purple as a sense of pride and awareness for our disease.
- However, do you know why purple is the color for Lupus and Lupus awareness?!
- The color purple comes from the many symptoms of Lupus.
- Purplish/red spots on the skin called purpura. Purpura – is when small blood vessels leak blood beneath the skin.
- Depending on size they can be called petechiae or ecchymoses.
- The Malar Rash is a common symptom that can also be a purplish/red color.
- Raynaud’s, a related disease when it comes to Lupus, will turn the fingers or toes purple, blue, and/or white.
- Livedo Reticularis – a lattice-or-lace-like pattern or purplish discoloration under the skin.
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