If you or a loved one has lupus, you know it’s difficult to describe and tough to treat. The symptoms range from mild rashes and fatigue to serious complications like damage to your kidneys, heart, lungs, or brain.
Perhaps the most mysterious part about lupus is why it does what it does. Regardless of how it manifests with different symptoms from person to person, lupus has the same underlying — and quite puzzling — aspect. It causes your body to attack itself. Your immune system is tricked into viewing your healthy cells and tissues as foreign bodies that need to be destroyed.
It seems there are more questions than answers about lupus, but when you want the straight facts, come see Jeffrey Miller, MD at Osteoporosis & Rheumatology Center of Tampa Bay, LLC.
While many unknowns surround lupus, there is also a lot we do know. Dr. Miller has compiled a list of common myths about lupus and the facts that set the record straight.
In fact, while most people affected by lupus are women (up to 90%), it also affects men. Both genders experience many of the same symptoms, such as fatigue, joint pain, digestion problems, and shortness of breath, but kidney and skin issues tend to be more prevalent in men.
In fact, both lupus and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are autoimmune disorders. That means they both cause your body to attack its own healthy tissues, but that’s where the similarities end.
Their causes, symptoms, and actions are different. If you have HIV, your immune system is sluggish and underactive; if you have lupus, your immune system is hyperactive.
In fact, although some of the medications for lupus that are designed to suppress your immune system are the same you might find in some chemotherapy treatments for cancer, the two conditions are completely different.
With cancer, you have malignant tissues that grow quickly and spread throughout your body. With lupus, your immune system attacks its own tissues and destroys them.
In fact, when you have lupus, you have a deficiency in your immune system. It’s not caused by bacteria or viruses, so it’s not contagious. You can still safely be in the same room with other people because it’s not airborne. You can also safely have sex without worrying about giving lupus to your partner, because it’s not passed through bodily fluids or skin-to-skin contact.
In fact, lupus is not a death sentence. However, different people respond differently to lupus. Some have only mild-to-moderate symptoms, and others face life-threatening complications. In some cases, lupus can affect your cardiovascular system, which may lead to:
In fact, you can have lupus and have a safe, full-term pregnancy. However, if you do get pregnant while you have lupus, you’ll be considered at high risk for complications, such as:
Because the symptoms of lupus are often serious and usually chronic, it’s important to see a medical professional who is trained to accurately diagnose your condition and effectively treat it. Dr. Miller is trusted throughout the Tampa area to help people manage their lupus symptoms and increase their quality of life.
Call us today to schedule a consultation to find out how Dr. Miller can relieve your lupus symptoms.
You Might Also Enjoy...
You’ve dieted, you’ve exercised, and you’ve lost the weight. But you’re still left with pockets of fat that just won’t go away. Forget about invasive surgery. WarmSculpting™ with SculpSure can banish fat and give you the sleek contours you’re looking for.
Bursitis can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness. Managing bursitis at home allows your joint to rest and heal, and in-office treatments like joint injections help combat pain and inflammation. Read on to learn more about managing bursitis.
As the season’s change, you might notice increased flare-ups of your arthritis symptoms. Read more to learn about natural ways to cope with your arthritis pain.
Getting sick during flu season doesn’t have to be an inevitable part of the fall and winter. Prepare to fight back against the flu by boosting your immune system by doing the following things.
A gout attack can stop you in your tracks. Luckily, changing your diet can help control the disease and reduce attacks. Here’s how.
Joint pain doesn’t have to limit your mobility or your quality of life. With joint injections, we can target your pain to provide fast, effective relief. Let’s take a look at how they work and what conditions they can treat.
