Lupus Symptoms In Females
Lupus signs and symptoms may vary from one person to another, or symptoms of lupus in men might vary from symptoms of lupus in women. In addition, some people suffer from just a few symptoms, while others suffer from many symptoms. The reason behind this is, that the symptoms vary due to the body part it has affected. Some of the most common Lupus Symptoms in Females are:- Joint pain
- Fever
- Arthritis
- Extreme or prolonged fatigue
- Rash
- Swollen ankle/ fluid accumulation
- Chest pain
- Butterfly rash on face
- Hair loss
- Sensitivity to direct light
- Snoring
- Seizures
- Purple or pale toes and fingers
What is Lupus?
Mostly known as Lupus Erythematosus, is an immune system disease. Your immune
system is set in place to help fight attacks on various parts of your body, but
during Lupus, the immune system itself starts to attack your body, which leads
to illness and tissue damage.
Is Lupus Common?
The Lupus Foundation of America claims that about 1.5 million people living in
the USA suffer from lupus. In addition, individuals of Asian, African, and
Native American backgrounds are more likely to develop the diseases. Lupus can
occur in both men and women, but 90% of the lupus patients are women. The most
effective age is 14 to 45 and can develop in 1 out of 250.
What Problems Do People With Lupus Face?
People who suffer from lupus generally have a fever, suffer from fatigue, and weight loss. In addition, with time the problem develops, so when the disease keeps on hitting the same part of their body. The most common lupus problems are:
Skin - one of the most common problems with lupus are red rashes. These are known as butterfly rashes due to their shape. In addition, some people face, hair loss and sore mouth. Moreover, Discoid Lupus is a type of lupus that causes large red rashes, that leave behind scars. These rashes are aggravated by direct sunlight and harsh light. Additionally, the situation can worsen with time. The rash impacts the torso, legs, and arms the most.
Joints - The pain can occur with or without any swelling around the joint. In addition, pain and stiffness will peak during the morning time. However, arthritis might only come up a few days, for a few weeks, or become a permanent issue.
Kidney - Half the people who suffer from lupus might face a serious threat to their kidney. Moreover, kidney failure is most common in lupus patients that suffer from other lupus symptoms. They include arthritis, fatigue, fever, weight loss, and rashes. There is a lower chance of kidney diseases when the symptoms of lupus are on the lower side.
Blood - A large number of red blood cells reduction might occur with or without the support of other symptoms. In addition, white blood cells, and platelets might decrease in number as well.
What Can Cause Lupus?
The cause of lupus is not yet discovered, it is just something that attacks your immune system; which results in your immune system attacking a certain part(s) of your body. Which is why one of the main treatments for lupus include suppressing your immune system. While researchers are still trying to identify the cause and early lupus symptoms. We do know the main contributing factors that lead to lupus development. These include, but are not limited to environmental chemicals, viruses, and genetics.
Women are more prone to lupus because the female hormone plays a huge role in the development of lupus. Which is why women who are at their peak of reproductive years must keep lupus symptoms in mind.
How Is Lupus Diagnosed?
Lupus is tested when a patient comes in with several symptoms of the disease. To help make matters easier, the American College of Rheumatology has listed down criteria to help doctors diagnose lupus. As the symptoms are so wide apart, and some of them might not occur at the same time lupus is hard to diagnose. In addition, the symptoms vary from one individual to another, making the matter even harder. Which is why, according to the statement from ACR each individual should have 11 checks in the listed criteria. These can be at the same time, or one can occur after the other one. The criteria to diagnose lupus includes:
However, these can range from a span of a week to a span of months. Which is why if you have some symptoms of lupus, and if your doctor feels you are on the track and might be diagnosed with lupus you should keep a close eye on the matter.
How Can Lupus Be Treated?
The treatment for lupus depends on a range of factors, which include the individual's age, overall health, the medication they are on, medical history, location, and severity. The reason there is no one treatment for lupus is that the condition can change over time, and as each individual shows different symptoms they have to be treated accordingly. So the treatment plan will depend on the areas of your body lupus have affected. Which is why lupus patients are asked to keep a regular appointment with their doctors, so they are kept up to speed with the treatment plan. Keep in mind that the treatment plan will keep on changing as the condition changes, and may vary at times.
In addition, people who only suffer from mild symptoms of lupus do not require any treatment at all. Which is why the treatment is only reserved for people who suffer from serious lupus symptoms. For instance, people who suffer from kidney complications might need to take strong medication to help control the symptoms. The medication and its intensity depending on a number of things, that can only be prescribed by a licensed doctor that specializes in Lupus and its treatment.
People who suffer from lupus generally have a fever, suffer from fatigue, and weight loss. In addition, with time the problem develops, so when the disease keeps on hitting the same part of their body. The most common lupus problems are:
Skin - one of the most common problems with lupus are red rashes. These are known as butterfly rashes due to their shape. In addition, some people face, hair loss and sore mouth. Moreover, Discoid Lupus is a type of lupus that causes large red rashes, that leave behind scars. These rashes are aggravated by direct sunlight and harsh light. Additionally, the situation can worsen with time. The rash impacts the torso, legs, and arms the most.
Joints - The pain can occur with or without any swelling around the joint. In addition, pain and stiffness will peak during the morning time. However, arthritis might only come up a few days, for a few weeks, or become a permanent issue.
Kidney - Half the people who suffer from lupus might face a serious threat to their kidney. Moreover, kidney failure is most common in lupus patients that suffer from other lupus symptoms. They include arthritis, fatigue, fever, weight loss, and rashes. There is a lower chance of kidney diseases when the symptoms of lupus are on the lower side.
Blood - A large number of red blood cells reduction might occur with or without the support of other symptoms. In addition, white blood cells, and platelets might decrease in number as well.
What Can Cause Lupus?
The cause of lupus is not yet discovered, it is just something that attacks your immune system; which results in your immune system attacking a certain part(s) of your body. Which is why one of the main treatments for lupus include suppressing your immune system. While researchers are still trying to identify the cause and early lupus symptoms. We do know the main contributing factors that lead to lupus development. These include, but are not limited to environmental chemicals, viruses, and genetics.
Women are more prone to lupus because the female hormone plays a huge role in the development of lupus. Which is why women who are at their peak of reproductive years must keep lupus symptoms in mind.
How Is Lupus Diagnosed?
Lupus is tested when a patient comes in with several symptoms of the disease. To help make matters easier, the American College of Rheumatology has listed down criteria to help doctors diagnose lupus. As the symptoms are so wide apart, and some of them might not occur at the same time lupus is hard to diagnose. In addition, the symptoms vary from one individual to another, making the matter even harder. Which is why, according to the statement from ACR each individual should have 11 checks in the listed criteria. These can be at the same time, or one can occur after the other one. The criteria to diagnose lupus includes:
- Malar rash
- Discoid rash
- Photosensitivity
- Oral ulcers
- Arthritis
- Kidney disorder
- Neurological disorder
- Inflammation around heart or lungs
- Blood disorder
- Immunologic disorder
- Abnormal blood work
However, these can range from a span of a week to a span of months. Which is why if you have some symptoms of lupus, and if your doctor feels you are on the track and might be diagnosed with lupus you should keep a close eye on the matter.
How Can Lupus Be Treated?
The treatment for lupus depends on a range of factors, which include the individual's age, overall health, the medication they are on, medical history, location, and severity. The reason there is no one treatment for lupus is that the condition can change over time, and as each individual shows different symptoms they have to be treated accordingly. So the treatment plan will depend on the areas of your body lupus have affected. Which is why lupus patients are asked to keep a regular appointment with their doctors, so they are kept up to speed with the treatment plan. Keep in mind that the treatment plan will keep on changing as the condition changes, and may vary at times.
In addition, people who only suffer from mild symptoms of lupus do not require any treatment at all. Which is why the treatment is only reserved for people who suffer from serious lupus symptoms. For instance, people who suffer from kidney complications might need to take strong medication to help control the symptoms. The medication and its intensity depending on a number of things, that can only be prescribed by a licensed doctor that specializes in Lupus and its treatment.