Why is lupus important

Genes play an important role in lupus, but other factors are also involved. Learning to recognize the warning signs of a flare can help with reducing or preventing the flares. If you have lupus you will have periods of illness flares and periods of wellness remission.

What Happens in Lupus? Blood Vessels. What Causes Lupus? Lupus Symptoms. Unexplained fever. Extreme fatigue. Red rashes, most often on the face. Chest pain upon deep breathing. Hair loss. Sensitivity to the sun. Mouth sores. Pale or purple fingers and toes from cold and stress. Swollen glands. Swelling in the legs or around the eyes. Kidney inflammation, which typically requires drug treatment to prevent permanent damage.

Headaches, dizziness, depression, confusion, or seizures if the disease affects the central nervous system. Lupus often flares up relapses and symptoms become worse for a few weeks, sometimes longer. Symptoms then settle down remission. The reason why symptoms flare up or settle down is not known.

Two medicines, rituximab and belimumab, are sometimes used to treat severe lupus. These work on the immune system to reduce the number of antibodies in the blood. Versus Arthritis has more information on the treatments for lupus. Get advice about coronavirus and lupus from Lupus UK. Although medicines are important in controlling lupus, you can help manage your symptoms and reduce the risk of it getting worse. Lupus UK has support, advice and information for people with the condition.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease. Although there is no cure for lupus, it can be managed with proper treatment, and people with lupus can go on to live long, happy lives.

The goals of treatment are to manage current symptoms, prevent future flares, and prevent damage to joints and organs by calming the immune system. Seeing a doctor regularly and following the prescribed course of treatments is important.

Beyond that, adopting healthy behaviors and learning skills to manage the disease can also be beneficial. Self-management education workshops, such as the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, can help people with lupus learn how to manage daily life, medications, and interactions with doctors, as well as improve energy and pain management.

Visit Learn More. Feel Better. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Lupus Awareness. Minus Related Pages. Lupus is a disease that can affect people of all ages, races, and ethnicities. The signs and symptoms mimic those of other diseases, making it hard to diagnose. Learn more.