Fatigue is Common This symptom of Lupus makes it difficult to
distinguish from other disorders including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and even Lyme Disease
(from a tick bite).
According to Healthline.com, about 90-percent of Lupus sufferers will experience fatigue.
The source notes that taking a nap can improve energy levels for those with Lupus (while
fatigue related to other diseases isn’t improved with rest).
In cases of “debilitating” fatigue from Lupus, a doctor may be able to administer
treatment to put more spring in your step.
2.
Hair Loss can Occur Because of the inflammation caused by Lupus,
hair often becomes a casualty, notes the Mayo Clinic.
The face and scalp are usually targets of skin inflammation related to the diseases,
adds the source.
This means aside from losing hair from the top of your head, you can even experience
eyebrow and beard loss.
The hair loss can be subtle and gradual, or can cause hair to fall out in clumps in some
cases, explains the clinic.
3.
Pain is a Marker Lupus can come with painful, swollen joints
that may confuse some medical professionals to consider arthritis as the cause.
With lupus related joint pain, apparently the stiffness is worse in the morning.
The pain itself starts off mild, then increases as the disease progresses.
HealthLine notes that over-the-counter pain medications can help reduce pain and swelling,
although doctors can likely offer a better treatment plan if that doesn’t help.
However, as mentioned before, your doctor first has to ensure it’s lupus you’re
dealing with.
4.
Lupus Can Cause Seizures Like another disease, Epilepsy, lupus can
trigger seizures in the sufferer.
In fact, information about lupus-induced seizures is posted on the Epilepsy Foundation website.
According to the foundation, up to 50 percent of lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus) sufferers
experience a seizure as a result of the disease.
Other neurological complications related to lupus can include strokes, dementia, psychosis
and peripheral neuropathy (weakness or numbness in hands or feet), notes the source.
5.
There’s Often a Telltale Rash While many symptoms of lupus tend to be in
common with other autoimmune diseases, there’s one that seems to stand out for lupus on its
own.
That’s a “butterfly” shaped rash that appears across the face.
These are called acute cutaneous lupus lesions according to Lupus.org, and the rash appears
when lupus is active.
Rashes associated with the disease can appear elsewhere on the body, which can be made worse
with sun exposure or even from sources of artificial light.
6.
Raynaud’s Disease The National Resource Center on Lupus by the
Lupus Foundation of America claims that nearly one third of people will also suffer from
Raynaud’s Disease (or Raynaud’s Phenomenon).
“Raynaud’s is a cardiovascular condition where the blood vessels contract, restricting
the flow of blood in the hands, feet or both.”
Oftentimes, the extremities that are affected by this phenomenon will turn red, blue or
purple.
It affects people differently where one person may feel numb or a tingling feeling, and others
may experience slight pain.
To avoid the triggering of Raynaud’s it is advised that people with this condition
avoid sudden temperature changes and wear mittens and warm socks/footwear in the colder
months.
7.
Depression Mental illness and chronic diseases often
go hand in hand.
WebMD notes that, “60% of people with a chronic illness will experience clinical depression”
at some point during their diagnosis.
This is due to the emotional, physical and financial strain of living with a chronic
illness.
Lupus is a condition that comes and goes which can frustrate a lot of patients because they
never really feel like they are out of the woods and long for the life they used to have.
The Lupus Foundation of America notes patients may have “feelings of helplessness, sadness,
insomnia or sleeping too much, feelings of anxiety, lack of energy and feel a lack of
interest in activities or things you normally enjoy” to name a few.
However, feelings of depression may not be brought on by the disease but potentially
from medication used to treat Lupus.
Corticosteroid medications such as prednisone could potentially trigger depression.
It is important to note that regardless of what triggers depression, patients should
consult their doctor about seeking psychotherapy or counselling.
8.
Genetics Play a Role Although it’s not a high percentage, Lupus.org
explains you have about a five to 13-percent chance of developing the disease if you have
relatives with it.
The higher number seems to indicate a solid link to family health history.
However, the same source notes that if only the mother of a child has lupus, then the
child only has a 5-percent chance of developing it.
That being said, more than 90-percent of lupus sufferers are female.
9.
Chemical Exposure may be a Trigger According to WebMD, one of the risk factors
of a “lupus attack” is exposure to chemicals, namely trichloroethylene found in well water,
and silica dust (an industrial material).
A lupus attack shows the disease can go into remission, but suddenly rear its ugly head.
A New York Times article from 2013 also notes other chemicals that may be linked to lupus
include chlorinated pesticides.
WebMD explains that at one time certain hair dyes and straighteners were suspected of being
lupus risks, but apparently research has shown otherwise.
10.
Photosensitivity While catching some rays does have its benefits,
such as vitamin D, it can actually trigger a lupus flare.
WebMD states that, “two thirds of people with Lupus are UV-light sensitive.”
This can be a cause for concern considering halogen and fluorescent lights give off UV
light.
Prolonged exposure to UV light will result in not only a butterfly shaped rash as mentioned
early, but also cause a fever, joint pain or other forms of inflammation.
11.
Other Infections Because Lupus is an autoimmune disease, any
form of infection not directly caused by lupus could bring on a lupus flare.
Since the body is already fighting off an infection, it may persist to fight against
itself even once the infection is no longer present in the body.
For individuals with lupus, fighting an infection is a lot more difficult than for someone without
lupus, and fighting any type of infection puts a strain and weakens the immune system,
allowing for a flare to occur.