LUPUS CAN AFFECT
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What is Lupus?
Lupus is a chronic (long-lasting), incurable, autoimmune disease where the immune system, for unknown reasons, becomes hyperactive and attacks normal tissue. This attack results in inflammation and brings about symptoms.
What does autoimmune mean?
Literally it means immune activity directed against the self. The immune system fights the body itself (Auto=self). In autoimmune diseases, the immune system makes a mistake and reacts to the body's own tissues.
What is inflammation?
Literally it means setting on fire. It is a protective process our body uses when tissues are injured. Inflammation helps to eliminate a foreign body or organism (virus,bacteria) and prevent further injury. Signs of inflammation include; swelling, redness, pain and warmth. If the signs of inflammation are long-lasting, as they can be in lupus, then damage to the tissues can occur and normal function is impaired. This is why the treatment of lupus is aimed at reducing the inflammation.
Where can inflammation take place?
Lupus is a connective tissue disease because tissue that the body targets for the autoself attack is connective tissue. Connective tissue is everywhere in the body: the joints, the blood vessels, the linings of organs, etc.
So when a person has lupus - almost anything in the body could be affected.
When people die of lupus, what do they usually die of?
Overwhelming infection, kidney failure and heart problems are the three most common causes of death in people with lupus.
Is anyone listening?
On Thursday, May 2, 2002, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report, “Trends in Deaths from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus—United States, 1979-1998,” that revealed a 60-70 percent upsurge in lupus deaths over the past 20 years.
Make no mistake about it - your voice does make a difference!
Whether it's through a letter, an email message, a phone call or a face-to-face meeting, you can help get action on legislation that is important to people with lupus, other auto-immune diseases, and those with long term chronic illness. If you haven't already done so, we need you, your family, your friends, even your physicians, to contact your Government Representative urging them to become Aware and Support vital health care issues.
Please help by clicking the Support Lupus Button
Help light the way of awareness, education and hope.
Reference:
Lupus Foundation of America
The SLE(Lupus)Foundation
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