Page 7 - May 15

M i n i s t ry O p p o r t u n i t i e s

WELLNESS MINISTRY MINUTE

MAY is Lupus, Stroke, Speech and Hearing, and Mental Health Awareness Month

What is lupus?
Lupus is an autoimmune disease. This means that your immune system attacks healthy cells and tis-
sues by mistake. This can damage many parts of the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, heart,
lungs, blood vessels, and brain. There are several kinds of lupus. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
is the most common type. It can be mild or severe and can affect many parts of the body.

What causes lupus?
The cause of lupus is unknown.

Who is at risk for lupus?

Anyone can get lupus, but women are most at risk. Lupus is two to three times more common in African
American women than in white women. It's also more common in Hispanic, Asian, and Native American
women. African American and Hispanic women are more likely to have severe forms of lupus.
What are the symptoms of lupus?

Lupus can have many symptoms, and they differ from person to person. Symptoms may come and go.
Some of the more common ones are pain or swelling in joints, muscle pain, fever with no known cause,
red rashes most often on the face (also called the "butterfly rash"), hair loss, photosensitivity, and fa-
tigue.

How is lupus diagnosed?
There is no specific test for lupus, and it's often mistaken for other diseases. So it may take months or
years for a doctor to diagnose it. Your doctor may use many tools to make a diagnosis including medical
history, complete exam, blood tests, and skin biopsy.

What are the treatments for lupus?

There is no cure for lupus, but medicines and lifestyle changes can help control it. People with lupus
often need to see different doctors. You will have a primary care doctor and a rheumatologist (a doctor
who specializes in the diseases of joints and muscles), and others depending on how lupus affects your
body.

Your primary care doctor should coordinate care between your different health care providers and treat
other problems as they come up. Your doctor will develop a treatment plan to fit your needs. You and
your doctor should review the plan often to be sure it is working. You should report new symptoms to
your doctor right away so that your treatment plan can be changed if needed.

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