What is lupus?
Normally the body's immune system protects against viruses, bacteria and other foreign invaders. In an autoimmune disorder like lupus, the immune system cannot tell the difference between foreign substances and its own cells and tissues.
Balintfy: Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, heart, lungs, blood, kidneys, and brain. Frances Ashe-Goins, a deputy director, at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says many symptoms of lupus may be related to internal organs.
Ashe-Goins: One of the biggest things that people don’t pay much attention to is aches and pains, okay. So they'll think it’s just arthritis. But if you're 22 and you've got the aches and pains and you haven’t been running around or doing something extra strenuous, then perhaps there might be a symptom. But it wouldn’t be that by itself. There is another one and a person feels just so very, very tired and they can't — some days they can get up out of bed, other days they can't. And it's not laziness. It's not they've had too much activity. This tiredness comes from absolutely nowhere that they can put their fingers on.
Balintfy: She says other symptoms can be hair loss or memory loss. Ashe-Goins adds that if you recognize the symptoms of lupus in yourself or a family member, you should see a healthcare provider.
Ashe-Goins: We're not saying self-diagnose. What we're saying is if you see some of the symptoms, go to your healthcare provider and get further medical evaluation if needed.
Balintfy: It is estimated that more than 16-thousand Americans develop lupus each year; and it is more common among African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, and Native Americans than Caucasians. More than 90 percent of people with lupus are women between the ages of 15 and 45. Ashe-Goins also notes that a family history of lupus is a major risk factor, which is why she recommends completing a family medical history.
Ashe-Goins: If you've never done a family medical history before, you really need to do one. And if anybody in your family has had an autoimmune disease, lupus or anything else, then you need to take a closer look at what's happening in your family. And early diagnosis is much, much better.
Balintfy: For many people, lupus can be a manageable disease with relatively mild symptoms. For others, it may cause serious and even life-threatening problems. For more information on lupus, visit www.couldihavelupus.gov. And to hear an interview with Frances Ashe-Goins about lupus awareness, listen to the Pinnpoint on Women’s Health podcast at www.orwh.nih.gov. This is Joe Balintfy, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.