What Is Lupus?
Lupus is classified as a chronic autoimmune disease that causes damage to any part of the body. Lupus symptoms last more than 6 weeks, which make it a chronic disease. The disease can last for years or a lifetime. The immune system is responsible for fighting harmful organisms by producing antibodies against them. But when something goes wrong with this process, the body can start fighting itself such that antibodies attach to healthy cells and tissues, because they cannot tell the difference between them and foreign organisms. These attacks can cause pain, inflammation, and damage in any part of the body.
Lupus is not contagious and therefore it cannot be transferred from a person to another, even via sex. In addition, it is not like cancer in nature. However, treating lupus is somehow like cancer because immunosuppressant drugs used in the treatment of lupus are also used in chemotherapy. Lupus is also different from HIV or AIDS. In fact it is somehow the opposite of HIV because the immune system is hyperactive in lupus while underactive in HIV and AIDS.
1. Symptoms of Lupus
There are no specific symptoms of lupus because symptoms differ from one person to another depending on the affected part of the body. The duration and progress of the symptoms also vary. In some cases, they are permanent or keep flaring-up, while in others, they disappear suddenly.
Still, there are some common signs such as fever, fatigue, body aches, joint pain, and rashes, especially a butterfly rash on the face, skin lesions, dyspnea, dry eyes, chest pain, headaches, confusion, and memory loss.
2. Causes of Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease. However, the exact cause is unknown. The immune system protects the body against foreign invaders by producing proteins called antibodies. However, when someone has lupus, the body cannot differentiate between body tissues and foreign invaders. The antibodies start attacking the person’s own healthy tissues, leading to swelling, pain, and tissue damage.
Antinuclear antibody (ANA) is the most common autoantibody that is known to lead to lupus. The antibodies circulate in blood and enter the cells that have permeable cell walls and ultimately attack the cell’s DNA. This can explain why lupus spares some organs and attacks other organs.
3. Genetic Factors
Some research suggests that genetic factors are responsible for the development of lupus. The function of the immune system depends on some genes. Alterations in these genes may lead to abnormalities in the function of the immune system. Other research studies suggest that cell death may be the reason behind lupus.
Cell death is a natural process occurring in our bodies to renew itself. Some genetic alterations may prevent the ability of the body to get rid of these dead cells, which may end up releasing inflammatory substances leading to lupus.
4. Lupus and Chronic Diseases
Lupus is usually a chronic condition that doesn’t quite get cured. But it is also associated with other more common chronic diseases. Studies indicate that lupus increases the risk of coronary artery disease.
Treatment with steroid medication can accelerate osteoporosis, especially where high doses of the steroids are required. Lupus is also linked to fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that presents with general pain in many parts of the body.
5. Complications of Lupus
Lupus causes inflammation throughout the body. It affects many organs including kidneys, brain, lungs, and heart. If left untreated, the symptoms will progress and lead to serious complications. Lupus nephritis may lead to kidney failure, which is one of the most common causes of death among people with lupus.
It can also lead to brain problems including dizziness, confusion, depression, vision issues, strokes, memory loss, seizures, and headaches.
Other complications such as cardiovascular problems, anemia, blood clotting problems, inflammation of blood vessels also known as vasculitis, pericarditis and pleurisy are also common.
6. Disease Process
As earlier mentioned, lupus is an autoimmune disease that usually arises due to a combination of genetic and environmental causes. In other words, when someone with alterations in the genes is exposed to an environmental factor, the condition can develop. For example, sunlight is a potential trigger of lupus.
It triggers skin lesions or internal inflammations in susceptible persons. Infections may initiate the symptoms of lupus and/or cause relapses in some patients. In addition, some medications such as hypertension medicines, anti-seizure drugs, and antibiotics can lead to lupus. This condition is called drug-induced lupus. It improves once the affected person discontinues the medication.
7. Can Diet and Lifestyle Changes Ease Lupus?
There is no specific diet for lupus patients. However, it is better to avoid some foods because they interact with the lupus medications. For example, alcohol interacts with nonsteroidal anti-Inflammatory drugs, leading to bleeding in the gut. This is why it is essential to quit alcohol if you have lupus.
Additionally, it is better to avoid foods containing high levels of salt and cholesterol. They are bad for your general health and cause bloating when they interact with corticosteroids. It is highly recommended to eat foods containing omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel, and calcium-rich foods like low-fat dairy products. Eating whole grain foods and colorful fruits and vegetables is also recommended.
8. Diagnosis
There are no specific blood tests or imaging that can diagnose lupus. Most cases are diagnosed clinically depending on the signs and symptoms of the patient. The approach is to exclude the other causes that may have similar symptoms.
In this respect, tests performed include complete blood count, CBC in short, which determine the amounts of platelets, white blood cells, and red blood cells in the patient’s blood. Other tests such as Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, also known as ESR, ANA, and protein levels may also be done. Chest x-ray and echocardiograms may also be needed to determine the extent of the disease on the heart and chest. Tissue biopsies including kidney biopsy are important to determine the severity of tissue damage.
9. Treatment
Unfortunately, there is no definite cure for lupus. Treatment is symptomatic only and includes NSAIDs, antimalarial medications, DHEA, which is a hormone that reduces some lupus symptoms such as hair loss, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressive drugs. The condition must be evaluated clinically before taking any medications and treatments given depending on the patient’s symptoms, extent, and severity.
Lifestyle changes are essential in the treatment of lupus. The patient must avoid sunlight exposure, stop certain medications, and increase the intake of some foods. Some supplements and foods containing calcium and omega-3 fatty acids are recommended. It is best to stop taking alcohol if you are going to take NSAIDs.
10. Long-Term Outlook
The innovations made in the diagnosis and treatment of lupus have helped to extend the life span of people with this condition. In fact, about 90 percent of lupus patients live a full life.
Most cases do not even have flare-ups or suffer from severe symptoms in their lives when they follow the guidelines. Lupus can cause severe damages to a person’s health. However, taking medications and focusing on what is appropriate for the condition helps patients live longer without any major alterations in their quality of life. Finding support groups and reading about people with lupus will raise your spirit and help you to fight for your life.
