The immune system guards our body against germs, viruses, and bacteria. However, in some people, a hormone imbalance could cause the immune system to confuse healthy cells with infected cells and start attacking the healthy ones. This problem is known as an autoimmune disease.
Autoimmune diseases have a substantial effect either on specific organs or on the whole body. Unfortunately, modern stressful lifestyles give rise to hormone imbalances in several people, triggering autoimmune disease. Understanding them is the first line of defense against them.
ScienceNewsForStudents | Autoimmune disease can be hard to identify. Understanding them is the first line of defense against them
One of the most commonly found autoimmune diseases is called "Lupus." Many call it "the disease with a thousand faces". Through this post, let's learn more about it.
Read – Common autoimmune diseases
What is Lupus?
Lupus is a chronic, systematic, autoimmune disease that leads to inflammation in any part of the body like joints, skin, blood cells, kidneys, heart brain, and lungs. The condition has many symptoms that are similar to other disorders. Therefore it isn't easy to diagnose.
How you can identify Lupus
While it has several symptoms, the most prominent one is a facial rash bearing a resemblance to the wings of a butterfly unfolding on both cheeks and nose. The same condition doesn't occur in every patient. As per medical experts, additional symptoms include joint stiffness and swelling, mouth sores, seizures, chest pain, fevers, swollen glands, and low blood count. Patients who have Lupus also complain of unbearable chronic pain.
MidaMericaOrtho | Joint stiffness and swelling is a common symptom of Lupus
What causes Lupus
According to medical research, there are no specific sources of Lupus. As it isn't an infectious disease, you can't exactly catch it. However, studies suggest that hormonal and environmental triggers, along with the following triggers, might develop Lupus in a body:
Genetics
Lupus often runs in families. Research also points out that a combination of susceptibility genes and the absence of protective genes simultaneously lead to the disease. Specific environmental exposures are the simulators.
Race
People of dark skin color are at a higher risk of developing Lupus. Additionally, particular racial or ethnic groups like African American, Asian American, Pacific Islanders, Hispanic/Latino, or Native Americans are also the sufferers.
Unsplash | Dask skinned people are more prone to having Lupus
Hormones
Women are more prone to Lupus. It is widely proven that women aged 15 to 44 are at a high risk of developing Lupus in their bodies. The science behind this is that hormones named estrogen and prolactin have a higher quantity in women than men. These hormones give birth to inflammation in body organs.
Read – How hormones trigger the development of Lupus?
Atmospheric simulations
Environmental changes like pollution, humidity, change in temperature, stress, etc. are few factors that stimulate the growth of Lupus in the body. The effects can be life-threatening like lung flares, joint flares, etc.
To Conclude
Although the treatment of Lupus is according to its severity, it is a tricky affliction to cure. Proper medical check-ups, apt diagnose, and relevant medicines are the only solution to come out of this long-term condition.