It’s not often that we have the opportunity to give the gift of encouragement and awareness about things that truly matter. This year, our birthday competition prize was a free article and image for one lucky winner. The winner was Shamaine Reddi, and she chose this topic for her free article, to help spread awareness on the disease.
If you or anyone you know is suffering from this disease, please share the article and let’s get the information out there!
Love and health to you!
And now, the article:
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Receiving any diagnosis can be a huge shock to the system. Receiving the diagnosis of SLE can mean the beginning of a lifelong struggle. What is SLE? And does it mean that you will be confined to misery and pain for the rest of your life? Not necessarily. Let’s learn about this disease, what it means and how you can still live your best life. Best of all, read about how you are not alone in this.
SLE in a nutshell
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, (SLE) affects 20 to 150 cases per 100 00 in the United States. It’s the most common type of lupus and is an autoimmune disease. It causes inflammation and tissue damage in the affected organs. There is no cure for lupus, however there are interventions that can be implemented.
SLE can range from mild to life-threatening, but regardless of your level of experience, should be treated by a medical professional. Patients that receive appropriate medical care tend to function higher and have a better quality of life.
Although SLE is not yet fully understood, there is a lot of information available on causes, treatments and symptoms. Let’s have a look at SLE in a little detail, to give us a clear picture of the disease.
Causes of SLE
The bad news is that we don’t know exactly what causes SLE. The good news is that we are narrowing down what it’s linked to. Some of the possible contributing factors include:
· The environment
· genetic factors
· hormonal factors
· viruses
· ultraviolet light
· drugs
Symptoms of SLE
Just like the possible causes, the symptoms of SLE are also varied. When symptoms occur, they are called flares. Flares can happen frequently or even years apart. The times between the flares are called periods of remission. Here is a list of common symptoms of SLE:
· skin rashes
· fever
· pain
· fatigue
· swelling of the joints
· sensitivity to the sun
· mouth ulcers
· lung problems
· kidney problems
· heart problems
· arthritis
· seizures
· psychosis
· blood cell abnormalities
· immunological abnormalities
Diagnosing SLE
SLE is diagnosed by physical examination, lab tests and x-rays. It is often misdiagnosed, because the early symptoms are so varied that they can look like other diseases. It is best to consult a Rheumatologist for a final diagnosis if you believe you may have SLE.
Treating SLE
SLE can affect a number of organs, and it’s for this reason that treatment is usually given by a team of doctors.
Treatment is usually immunosuppressive medication, like hydroxychloroquine and corticosteroids. These limit the activity of the immune system.
If you have SLE along with other conditions, like Sjogren’s syndrome, antiphospholipid syndrome, thyroiditis, hemolytic anemia or idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, then you may need additional treatments.
Am I at risk for SLE?
SLE can affect people of all ages, but the group most at risk are women aged around 15 – 44. In general, women are about 4-12 times more at risk than men.
In terms of race, minority racial and ethnic groups appear to be more at risk than Caucasians.
SLE does not seem to run in families. If you have an immediate family member with SLE, you are only very slightly more at risk of developing it.
What does having SLE mean for my body?
Getting diagnosed early on can mean substantially less damage to your body. SLE can affect your body both long and short-term, but with the proper diagnosis and intervention, you can reduce the amount of damage on your organs and allow yourself better function and quality of life.
SLE can limit your physical, mental and social functioning, which can seriously impact your quality of life. Fatigue is the most common complaint among patients with SLE, and on average, only 46% of people of a working age, who have SLE, report being employed.
Many patients have difficulty sticking to their treatment plans. The treatments require the use of strong immunosuppressive medications that usually have serious side effects. If a woman is pregnant or breastfeeding, she will not be able to take these medications.
You are not alone
Knowing you aren’t alone can mean the difference between just managing and actually thriving with this disease. Have a look at some or all of these groups to see which ones resonate with you.
Here are the 7 best Lupus support groups, according to Verywell Health:
1. Lupus Research Alliance
2. The Mighty
3. LupusConnect
4. Smart Patients
5. MyLupusTeam
6. Kaleidoscope Fighting Lupus
7. Lupus Warriors
So, to wrap it up…
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, (SLE) is a potentially fatal disease that affects a large number of people, especially women of minority ethnicity. The symptoms of SLE are varied and it usually requires a team of medical professionals to properly diagnose and treat the disease.
Although it can seem like a life sentence, having SLE does not have to result in death, or even serious loss of quality of life. Early diagnosis and intervention, and sticking to your treatment regime can ensure that you are affected as little as possible, and able to lead a full and relatively healthy life. Understanding your personal triggers can help you enjoy the times of remission between flares.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, know that you are not alone. There are thousands of other warriors out there, ready to take your hand and walk this journey with you.
