Mayo Clinic Lupus

What is lupus? According to Mayo Clinic staff lupus is defined as “a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs. Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs”(Mayo clinic.org). With lupus your body’s immune system fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs, normally the immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these viruses. “Autoimmune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy cells and tissues and creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy cells and tissue. These autoantibodies

Since lupus differs from person to person signs and symptoms may overlap with many other diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, no one test can diagnose lupus. Lupus can range in series from mild to life-threatening from day to day and test to test. This disease should always be treated by a doctor and most people with lupus can lead a full life. Consulting in someone who specializes in diseases of the joints and muscles like a rheumatologist, generally treats people with lupus. A combination of primary doctor, dermatologist, cardiologist, nephrologist and rheumatologist will review all the signs and symptoms followed by family medical history and various laboratory test such as urine, blood and tissue biopsies. It is common for positive lab tests the first time and become negative the second time it’s tested. Unfortunately, no single lab test can determine whether or not a person has lupus. Once diagnosed a treatment plan will be developed for you with specific medications and regular massage

“Anti-inflammatory medications help to relieve many of the symptoms of lupus by reducing inflammation and pain. Anti-inflammatories are the most common drugs used to treat lupus, particularly symptoms such as fever, arthritis or pleurisy, which generally improve within several days of beginning treatment” (lupus.org). They may be bought without a prescription and can also be taken if currently experiencing joint pain and swelling in your fingers, wrist or knees. An antimalarial drug is also used to treat malaria can also be used to manage some symptoms of lupus. Antimalarial drug is “used to treat skin rashes, mouth sores and joint pain. While it protects against skin damage from ultraviolet rays in sunlight and may protect your body against organ damage linked to lupus” (webmd.com). Corticosteroids is another drug that is prescribed when the lupus disease has infected your heart, lungs, kidneys, brain or blood vessels. It is a more serious drug, which is why it can prevent long term organ damage. But like all strong prescriptions they have serious side effects. This is a stronger drug because it “makes part of your immune system overactive, so it attacks healthy tissue by mistake and weakens your immune response” (webmd.com). Immunosuppressive drugs are like corticosteroids, but they curve your immune system and