The progression of lupus
over time varies within individuals. Some patients have more severe onset of
the disease early on and then the disease will slowly become dormant. Other patients can have a mild form of lupus
early on and eventually gets worse.
Early on in the disease the problems of the autoimmune disease are that
it attacks the body’s healthy tissue these attacks can lead to irreversible damage
to orangs such as the kidney and heart. About
half of patients have a milder form that is confined to the skin and musculoskeletal
system. The other half will have a more severe form of lupus generally the type
that attacks the internal organs.
Going through the body by
system there are signs and symptoms that will help determine lupus. In the
brain and nervous system if you have frequent headaches, confusion or memory
loss. In your lungs, if you have
pleurisy and inflammation such as pneumonitis or pulmonary emboli causing
shortness of breath and pain while breathing. In the renal system the kidneys
can become inflamed and cause lupus nephritis. The inflammation can most likely
cause kidney failure and you will have symptoms associated with that such as
blood in the urine, swelling of your feet and legs, and a high blood
pressure. Lupus also effects the eyes as
well causing nerve and blood vessel damage, dry, puffy eyes. Someone with lupus
might get sores in their mouth. On the skin there may be rashes such as a
butterfly rash on the face. These rashes can be further irritated by the sun.
Some may also experience hives or sores that worsen with sun exposure. If your fingers and toes turn blue with
exposure to cold or during stressful situations this is because your blood
vessels are constricting a condition called Raynaud´s phenomenon which is
associated with having lupus. In the stomach lupus can increase ulcerative
colitis, liver disease, and pancreatitis. This can cause vomiting, abdominal
pain, bladder infections, and blood in the urine. The legs and joints will
swell and be painful like rheumatoid arthritis and disease that exits in
conjunctions with lupus.
References:
http://www.mollysfund.org/2013/01/lupus-symptoms-and-signs/?gclid=CNSEwq3K5cgCFYlafgod4bkItg
http://www.everydayhealth.com/lupus/living/battling-lupus.aspx
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