How Do You Know You Have Lupus
Lupus is a long-term autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is when your immune system, which usually helps protect the body and fight infections, attacks healthy tissues and organs instead.
This can cause swelling and pain in any function of your body. If you take lupus, y'all might have symptoms similar joint hurting, tiredness, fever, and pare rashes. Lupus can too cause organ damage and other serious wellness problems.
There are several types of lupus, but systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common. There is no cure for lupus, but there are different medicines that you lot can utilise to manage it. Medicines and lifestyle adjustments tin really improve your symptoms of lupus and reduce its impact on your life.
Anyone tin develop lupus only some people may be at higher run a risk. Some things that may put you at a higher risk for lupus are:
- Sex: Almost 9 out of ten people diagnosed with lupus are females.
- Age: People betwixt the ages of 14 to 45 are more likely to exist diagnosed with lupus. This is when symptoms commonly begin.
- Race: People from certain racial or ethnic groups may be at higher gamble of lupus. This includes Black or African American, Asian American, Hispanic or Latinx, Native American, or Pacific Islander populations.
- Family History: People with a family history of autoimmune disease are at higher hazard for lupus. This is true even though no single cistron has been identified as the cause of lupus.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Lupus?
Lupus can exist hard to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to other health weather. Also, no 2 cases of lupus are exactly akin. In some cases, balmy symptoms may develop slowly, coming on one at a time. In other cases, people may have sudden or severe symptoms.
The most common symptoms of lupus include:
- A rash on your cheeks and bridge of olfactory organ in the shape of a butterfly
- Skin rashes or lesions that appear or get worse with sun exposure
- Feeling actually tired no matter how much rest you go
- Pain or stiffness in your joints and muscles
- Fever
- Headaches
- Hair loss
Other possible symptoms of lupus may include:
- Swelling in your easily and feet
- Fingers and toes that plough white or blueish when you are cold and stressed
- Dry eyes
- Sores in your mouth and nose
- Shortness of breath
- Stomach pain
Nearly people with lupus experience flares or episodes. During flares your symptoms may get worse for a while before getting meliorate. They may even disappear altogether until the side by side flare happens.
Flares may be acquired past different things similar:
- Recent infections
- Reaction to a drug
- Exposure to sunlight
If you have any of the symptoms in this commodity, talk to your doctor. Your doctor will help decide the cause of your symptoms and brand a diagnosis. They may besides refer you to a specialist known as a rheumatologist who has boosted training and feel with health conditions that affect your joints, muscles, and bones.
What Are the Tests for Lupus?
At that place is no single test to diagnose lupus. Many unlike tests are used to get a better pic of your health condition. Role of this procedure is ruling out other potential causes of your symptoms such every bit diabetes and arthritis.
Lupus is typically diagnosed based on a combination of:
- Reviewing your personal and family medical history
- Evaluating your symptoms
- Getting a physical wellness exam
- Running some blood and urine tests
- Getting images taken by your doctor to look for anything out of the ordinary
Some laboratory tests used to diagnose lupus are:
- Urine tests are one of the most mutual and easiest ways to begin testing for lupus. The urine sample checks for high levels of red blood cells or proteins. This would mean your kidneys or liver are not working properly — which may be a sign of lupus.
- Complete claret count is a blood test that measures the amount of cerise blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin. If whatsoever of these are at different from typical levels, it may be a sign of lupus.
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate is a blood test that shows how fast crimson claret cells settle to the lesser of a exam tube. A faster charge per unit may be a sign of many different health weather condition, including lupus.
- Blood tests for kidney and liver function can tell if lupus is damaging these organs.
- Antinuclear antibiotic (ANA) test looks for a certain blazon of antibiotic that's more mutual in people with lupus. Antibodies are proteins in your claret that defend against germs and illnesses. But when y'all accept an autoimmune disease like lupus, you may have antibodies that attack healthy tissue instead. A positive ANA examination outcome doesn't necessarily mean you accept lupus, simply it's one sign your doctor can use as part of your diagnosis.
Finally, depending on your symptoms, your doctor may transport you to have some imaging tests done. This could include:
- Chest x-ray – this is washed to see if at that place is whatsoever inflammation or fluid in your lungs.
- Echocardiogram – this is used to bank check for any visible problems with your heart.
Adjacent Steps If Yous Are Diagnosed With Lupus?
If you are diagnosed with lupus, your doctor will advise you lot to have regular checkups including blood and urine tests to monitor your health and check for any other problems. They will may also recommend a course of medications to treat your symptoms.
In addition to taking medications, there are a number of things yous can do to assist manage your symptoms and prevent your condition from getting worse. Effort some of the following:
- Practice sunday safety — Avert directly sunlight by staying in the shade when possible. Use SPF 50+ sunscreen, and vesture a chapeau when y'all are in the sunday.
- Eat Healthy – Eat a good for you balanced diet with plenty of fruits, veggies, proteins and whole grains.
- Quit smoking – Smoking can make lupus symptoms worse. So if you smoke, brand a plan to quit.
- Move more – Try to stay active even on days when you don't feel well. Endeavor to pace yourself also, to avoid getting too tired.
- Practice self-intendance – Stress tin can make symptoms worse. Make time to exercise things that reduce stress.
- Get support – Don't be agape to ask for help from your family, friends and doctors. You may also want to allow your employer know about your condition so they tin can adjust your workload or provide flexible hours if yous need it.
Resource Links:
- "Understanding Lupus" via Lupus Foundation of America
- "Lupus" via Mayo Clinic
- "Lupus" via NHS
- "Lupus Systemic Lupus Erythematosus" via Cleveland Dispensary
- "Lupus" via MedlinePlus
- "Lupus Nuts" via CDC
- "Lupus" via American Higher of Rheumatology
- "Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus)" via NIH
Source: https://www.symptomfind.com/procedures-and-tests/symptoms-and-tests-of-lupus?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740013%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex