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Lupus
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What is Lupus?
Lupus (LOO-puhss), commonly called systemic lupus erythematosus (ur-uh-thee-muh-TOH-suhss), or SLE, is a * chronic, * autoimmune (aw-toh-ih-MYOON) disease that can damage any part of the body, including the skin, joints, kidneys, lungs, heart, nervous system, and blood vessels.
In lupus, something goes wrong with the immune system. Normally the immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect our body against cancers, viruses, bacteria, and other germs such as foreign invaders like the flu. In lupus, the immune system is over active and produces increased amounts of abnormal antibodies that attack and destroy the body's healthy tissues and organs. This causes inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.
Although lupus can affect almost any organ system, the disease, for most people, affects only a few parts of the body. For example, one person with lupus may have swollen knees and fever. Another person may be tired all the time or have kidney trouble. Someone else may have rashes.
Who Can Get Lupus?
It is estimated that between 161,000 and 322,000 adults in the United States have Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).
Anyone can get lupus. But 9 out of 10 people who have lupus are women. African American women are three times more likely to get lupus than white women. Lupus is also more common in Hispanic/Latina, Asian, and Native American women.
African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos tend to get lupus at a younger age and have more symptoms, including kidney problems. Lupus also tends to be more severe in these ethnic groups. For example, African Americans with lupus have more problems with seizures and strokes. Hispanic/Latino patients have more heart problems. Scientists believe that genes play a role in how lupus affects these ethnic groups.
Why Lupus is a Concern For Women
Having lupus increases your risk of developing other health problems that are common in women.
Lupus can cause these diseases to occur earlier in life:
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Heart Disease. When you have lupus you are at increased risk for the main type of heart disease, called coronary artery disease (CAD). This is partly because people with lupus have more CAD risk factors, which may include:
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- High cholesterol levels
- Type 2 diabetes
- Inactive lifestyle due to fatigue, joint problems, and/or muscle pain
Heart disease is the number one killer of all women. But, women with lupus are 50 times more likely to have chest pain or a heart attack than other women of the same age.
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Osteoporosis (OSS-tee-oh-puh-ROH-suhss). Women with lupus have more bone loss and breaks than other women. This is thought to happen because some medicines used to treat lupus cause bone loss. Bone loss also may occur as a direct result of the disease. Also, pain and fatigue can keep women with lupus from exercising. Keeping active is an important way to keep bones healthy and strong.
Definitions For This Page - In Alphabetical Order
* Autoimmune
Autoimmune means the immune system cannot tell the difference between foreign invaders and the body's healthy tissues ("auto" means self).
* Chronic
Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years.
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References:
1) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
February 2007
www.ninds.nih.gov
2) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
March 2009
www.womenshealth.gov
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