World Lupus Day

 If you have been on any social media sites today you may have noticed an explosion of purple ribbons and butterflies. That is because today is World Lupus Day, which was organized in order create awareness about the disease and to educate others. According to worldlupusday.org,  World Lupus Day began with a proclamation 10 years ago by an international steering committee representing lupus organizations from 13 different nations when they met in Eaton, United Kingdom to organize the first observance of World Lupus Day. The proclamation is a call to action for governments around the world to increase their financial support for lupus research, awareness and patient services. The Proclamation reflects the emerging issues that people with lupus around the world must face everyday. The proclamation serves to give a single voice to all individuals affected by by this devastating and debilitating chronic disease.  

The World Lupus Day Proclamation

Whereas, lupus is an autoimmune disease that can cause severe damage to the tissue and organs in the body and, in some cases, death; and

Whereas, more than five million people worldwide suffer the devastating effects of this disease and each year over a hundred thousand young women, men and children are newly diagnosed with lupus, the great majority of whom are women of childbearing age; and

Whereas, medical research efforts into lupus and the discovery of safer, more effective treatments for lupus patients are under-funded in comparison with diseases of comparable magnitude and severity; and

Whereas, many physicians worldwide are unaware of symptoms and health effects of lupus, causing people with lupus to suffer for many years before they obtain a correct diagnosis and medical treatment; and

Whereas, there is a deep, unmet need worldwide to educate and support individuals and families affected by lupus; and

Whereas, there is an urgent need to increase awareness in communities worldwide of the debilitating impact of lupus;

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved that 10 May 2014 is hereby designated as World Lupus Day on which lupus organizations around the globe call for increases in public and private sector funding for medical research on lupus, targeted education programs for health professionals, patients and the public, and worldwide recognition of lupus as a significant public health issue. www.worldlupusday.org

So, in recognition of World Lupus Day, I would like to explain a little bit about what lupus is and the impact it can have.

What is Lupus?

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissue. This results in symptoms such as inflammation, swelling, and damage to joints, skin, kidneys, blood, the heart, and lungs.

What are the Symptoms of Lupus?

While there are many symptoms ranging from mild to severe, the most common are:

• Extreme Fatigue

• Anemia

• Fever

• Skin Rashes

• Butterfly Rash on Face

• Joint and Muscle Pain & Swelling

• Swelling in feet, legs, hands, and/or around eyes

• Pain in Chest on Deep Breathing

• Fingers Turning White or Blue When Cold or Stressed

• Abnormal Blood Clotting

• Light Sensitivity

• Changes in Weight

• Mouth or Nose Ulcers

• Swollen Glands

• Headache

  Some Lupus Facts and Tidbits

• Ninety percent of the people who develop lupus are women.

• Most often, lupus develops between the ages 15 and 44.

• Lupus can affect any organ system of the body, including the heart,kidneys, blood, lungs, skin, joints

• African American, Hispanic/Latinas, Asians and Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans are diagnosed with lupus two or three times more frequently than Caucasians; however, lupus affects people of all races and ethnicities.

• Lupus is not contagious and cannot be “given” to another person.

• Lupus is not like or related to HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). In HIV or AIDS the immune system is underactive; in lupus, the immune system is overactive.

• First degree relatives of people living with lupus (parent, sibling, child) have six times the risk of developing the disease.

• Factors that may trigger a lupus flare include infections, ultraviolet light, stress, and some medications

• Successful treatment of lupus often requires a combination of medications.

• Because many symptoms of lupus imitate those of other illnesses, and may come and go over time, it may take three to five years or more to diagnose lupus.

• More than 16,000 new cases of lupus are reported annually across the country.

• It is believed that more than 5 million people throughout the world have a form of lupus.

• It is estimated that 1.5 million Americans are living with lupus.                                                                                             (www.lupus.org)

For more information please visit our lupus page.