It has been a common belief that women who suffer from lupus cannot become pregnant due to their health condition. This, however, is not completely true.  It is now thought that approximately 50% of all women with lupus who become pregnant can go ahead and have a normal pregnancy and deliver healthy babies. There are, however, the remaining women who may face complications and even lose their babies in the early stages of their pregnancy.

It is really important that pregnant women who have lupus should be carefully supervised by an obstetrician until the pregnancy ends to ensure that  the mother’s health is not diminished in any way and normal, healthy babies can be borne. Their doctors may advise them to adopt a special diet and lifestyle for the duration of the pregnancy, and very importantly, delivery must take place in a hospital, home births should not be considered.

Even though women in remission generally tend to have less health issues than women with active lupus, there are some golden rules that a pregnant woman with lupus should pay close attention to, including regular visits to their doctor, continuing with the proper medication, a healthy diet, no smoking or drinking, plenty of rest and also avoiding any over-the-counter medications that might endanger the baby.

Pregnant women with lupus may face certain symptoms during their pregnancy such as a lupus flare, rashes which can appear due to an increased blood flow in the skin, new hair growth during pregnancy and also severe loss of hair after delivery. Other serious complications that may occur to lupus pregnancies is the presence of antibodies which interfere with the function of the placenta with the possibility of blood clots hence exposing the placenta to high risks. Many lupus patients have an antibody known as anti-ro or anti-SSA which in some cases can affect the unborn babies, exposing them to a syndrome known as neonatal lupus. Moreover, in many cases women who suffer from a severe form of lupus have to pass through a caesarean section in order to save the baby.

It has been considered that most medications taken by SLE  patients are safe to use during the pregnancy due to the fact that they don t pass through the placenta and therefore the baby is not in danger.  If you would like to find more about lupus symptoms or more details about lupus treatments there are many good books on lupus and the latest findings regarding the disease can be viewed at the Lupus Foundation Of America.

Technorati Tags: disease, get pregnant, lupus, pregnancy, pregnant, risks, women

Like any other women, black women have their concerns when it comes to health issues. These particular issues, however, can be averted if they will take good care of themselves by observing and following a healthy lifestyle.  However, no matter how well they take care of themselves, there a just some diseases that are more common in black women than in white women.

Take lupus for example – As many as 1 in 250 young black women will get the lupus disease.

Some of the main health conditions that will affect black women’s health other than Lupus include breast cancer, hypertension, diabetes and stroke among  others. It is important to note that most of these health conditions are as a result of excess weight.  The ability they have to steer away from weight related problems will be a #1 step towards their accomplishment of a disease free lifestyle.

Obesity is undoubtedly the major course of certain health conditions. Black women are not an exception. According to various studies that have been conducted by various health institutions, the health of black women is susceptible to various conditions.

All women, not just black women, must remain conscious of their body weight. Restraint from emotional eating is very important.  Emotional eating refers to eating in excess due to stressful conditions that you may be facing. Losing weight is fairly easy as long as you can set your mind to it. This can be achieved through adopting a new lifestyle that cuts out junk food that may have high calorie content and high sugar contents. By doing this, it’s possible to limit your chances of contracting some of the above listed diseases.

Regarding Lupus in particular, African American women are 3 times as likely as white women to get lupus. Also, African American women tend to develop lupus at a much younger age and tend to have more severe symptoms than white women.

Thankfully, the outlook for lupus patients has greatly improved over the years. Research doctors supported by the National Institutes of Health are studying many aspects of lupus, such as finding out what goes wrong with the immune system, why the disease seems to run in families, how lupus causes damage in the body, and why it can lead to repeated miscarriages.

Other doctors are researching why lupus is so much more common in women, especially black women. Researchers have learned a great deal about lupus and are studying new ways to treat and, ultimately, prevent this debilitating disease. Because of this, the future now holds great promise for improving the health of all people who have lupus.

Technorati Tags: autoimmune disease, black, health, lupus, minority, statistics of lupus, woman, women

Maybe you are not familiar with what exactly an autoimmune disease is – it is a disease in which the body’s own immune system actually attacks itself. Worldwide, approximately 5-7% of the population is afflicted by the 80 known or suspected autoimmune diseases recognized by the medical community.

Your immune system’s role is that it normally protects you from disease. In a healthy body it is a very efficient defender against illness, but in a body which has an autoimmune disease, this powerful and efficient machine begins to attack the body’s own organs and the result is that it can have devastating effects. The resulting symptoms and effects of these diseases are varied and some can even be fatal.

One of the better known autoimmune diseases is Lupus. For some unknown reason, women are much more likely to be affected by an autoimmune disease than men are. With regard to Lupus, 9 out of 10 people with the disease are female. Researchers are diligently looking at the reasons why this may be, including studying which specific genetic factors play a role in the triggering of this disease.

The symptoms of Lupus or any other autoimmune disease are usually specific to the type of diagnosis received. Lupus is just one of the diseases, another familiar one is Multiple Sclerosis. Typically symptoms vary from patient to patient with some patient’s lives being greatly affected by their disease while others show minimal symptoms.

In the case of Lupus, what actually happens is that the immune system goes on a rampage, targeting various organs in the body. It causes swelling and damage in the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels and the brain. It can also cause a prominent ‘butterfly’ rash across the nose and cheeks, as well as rashes on other parts of the body. A sensitivity to the sun can also be a known component of Lupus.

If there is a suspicion of Lupus, it can be diagnosed through various blood tests and physical exams. If you are living with an autoimmune disease, then you should be aware that there are things you can do to lessen your symptoms…

• Eat a healthy diet – Try your best to eat a balanced and nutritional diet and get your vitamins from food, rather than from supplements. Avoid fatty foods and eat plenty of calcium-rich foods like fat free or low-fat milk and yogurt.
• Get regular exercise – First of all, though, talk to your doctor before beginning an exercise program, but generally 30 minutes per day is best for optimal health. Find out from your doctor what kind of exercise is best suited for you. Sometimes, something gentle and less stressful on your body such as yoga and tai chi exercise can be helpful.
• Get enough rest – It’s important to allow your body tissues and joints sufficient time to rest and repair. Sleep is the ultimate way to restore yourself in both body and mind. Not getting enough restful sleep can cause you more stress and the result is that your symptoms could become worse. If your resistance is low due to having an autoimmune disease, then adding lack of rest to that mix is definitely a recipe for illness. You need adequate restful sleep in order to fight off sickness.
• Try to reduce the stress in your life – You will be better able to deal with other aspects of your chronic disease if you can somehow lessen the stress surrounding you. There are a variety of ways to achieve this, for example you can try using imagery or distraction to focus your thoughts elsewhere rather than on your pain that you are experiencing.

While there are at this time no known cures for autoimmune diseases, there are a great many treatments to control the pain that accompanies the disease and also, most importantly, to slow the progression of these illnesses.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is the prototypical autoimmune disease characterized by the production of numerous auto antibodies. Organ injury is secondary to either the direct binding of the auto antibodies to self antigens or [...]

Give Your Immune System A Tune Up Autoimmune diseases attack digestion (celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis), nervous system (multiple sclerosis), skin (systemic lupus erythematosus), the source of chronic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis) [...]

Twins Help Reveal Secrets of Lupus Scientists from Spain and the United States have studied twins discordant for the autoimmune disease lupus, mapping DNA modifications across the genome and shedding light on genetic changes that may play a role in the disease.

Closing In On Environmental Causes For Autoimmune Diseases In a study published online in Genome Research (www.genome.org), scientists have studied twins discordant for the autoimmune disease lupus, mapping DNA modifications across the genome and shedding light on [...]

Lupus Not Identical In Twins Lupus can tell identical twins apart by the distinguishing marks the pairs carry on their DNA. Fewer DNA methylation marks may leave one twin vulnerable to the inflammatory autoimmune disease, even while the other sibling remains [...]

Lupus Hope: Healing Lupus And Other Autoimmune Diseases Healing Lupus and other autoimmune diseases. This is an interview with a Naturopath on their protocol to reverse/heal Lupus. It is terrific information! Please get a cup of tea or a green smoothie, (print it out if you want) so you can [...]

Affiliate Disclosure: It is advisable to assume that any mention of a product or service on this website is made because there exist, unless otherwise stated, a material connection between the product or service owners and this website and should you make a purchase of a product or service described here the owner of this website may be compensated. To learn more, please click here.

Home |  Contact |  About |  Privacy Policy |  Sitemap

Technorati Tags: auto immune, autoimmune, disease, lupus, symptoms, treatment, what is

What Causes Lupus? Could It Be Drug-Induced?

As we all know, the body system produces certain cells called antibodies which have the role to fight against bacteria and viruses. In a person who suffer from Systemic lupus erythematosus, the body creates cells which fight against its own tissues. In addition to this, the autoantibodies attack certain parts of the body producing symptoms like inflammation and pain. Moreover, a great number of this destructive cells can damage the whole body systems affecting areas, such as the skin, muscles and joints, kidneys, lungs, brain, heart and digestive system.

What is more is that certain medicines can cause drug-induced lupus with the same symptoms. So, two of the medicines which produce lupus are procainamide which is usually used in treating arrhythmias and also hydralazine, used in treating high blood pressure.

Moreover, other medicines which may produce drug-induced lupus are chlorpromazine (tranquilizer), quinidine (used in to treat arrhythmias), methyldopa and isoniazid.

It is important to mention that the symptoms of lupus may appear only if a person increase the number of medicines which have a high risk in producing lupus or tend to take them for long periods of time.

Even though is not totally confirmed, other medicines which are used for certain affections may cause lupus. Some of these medicines include: an antibiotic known as phenazine; penicillamine used to treat rheumatic diseases; cimetidine known as treating excess stomach acid and not in the last place a drug called captopril also used to treat high blood pressure.

Taking all these into consideration, people should be aware of the damages that certain medicines which are taken for long periods of time and in big quanities may cause.

Moreover if we notice unusual symptoms which may indicate the presence of lupus in our body system we should ask for medical help and follow an appropriate treatment in order to reduce and alleviate the condition.

How Sunlight Triggers Lupus

How Sunlight Triggers Lupus. LRI Researcher in Boston Starts to Unravel the Mystery. Wednesday, January 28, 2009. While scientists have long known that sunlight’s ultraviolet rays can trigger cutaneous (skin) as well as [...]

Flares, and What Triggers Lupus – LUPUS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA

LUPUS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA

The Causes of Lupus between Facts and Suppositions

However, doctors are optimistic, claiming that they are very close to revealing the specific causative genetic factors which are nowadays considered to be the main triggers of lupus. Once medical science reveals the way lupus occurs and [...]

Lupus Triggers

It is still unclear whether mercury can trigger lupus, but it cannot cause it. Researchers are still trying to determine the full effects of mercury on humans.

Sunlight Triggers Cutaneous Lupus

Sunlight (UVB) triggers cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and systemic lupus through an unknown mechanism.

Enzymes Used in Treating the Dreadful Lupus Disease

The exact cause of lupus is unknown. However, many researchers surmise that the female estrogen hormone may be a factor that triggers the condition since most of the patients are women in their childbearing age.

Author: Groshan Fabiola

So if you want to find more about Lupus or more details about lupus rash please follow this link http://www.lupus-guide.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Groshan_Fabiola

Affiliate Disclosure: It is advisable to assume that any mention of a product or service on this website is made because there exist, unless otherwise stated, a material connection between the product or service owners and this website and should you make a purchase of a product or service described here the owner of this website may be compensated.  To learn more, please click here.

Home |  Contact |  About |  Privacy Policy |  Sitemap

Technorati Tags: how do people get lupus, how to trigger lupus, symptoms for lupus, what causes lupus, who gets lupus

Discoid lupus erythematosus is a condition of the skin that generates localized or widespread circular lesions. Discoid lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune condition. Instead of protecting the body against infectious organisms, certain dysfunctions of the immune system cause it to attack healthy body cells and tissues, producing lesions on the surface of the skin.

The skin lesions caused by discoid lupus erythematosus can aggravate due to prolonged exposure to the sun. Most patients have localized skin lesions, predominantly on the body regions exposed to sunlight: scalp, face, neck and arms. However, some patients have skin lesions on unexposed regions of the body: chest, back or legs. These lesions can indicate the development of systemic lupus erythematosus, which involves serious abnormalities of the immune system.

While people with discoid lupus erythematosus mostly present recurring skin disorders, patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus can develop a wide range of diseases: cardiovascular diseases, tuberculosis, pneumonia, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, diseases of the musculoskeletal or nervous systems.

Discoid lupus erythematosus is very common in women with ages between 18 and 50 and it rarely occurs in men. The skin disorder has the highest incidence in African American women, who commonly experience more intense symptoms of discoid lupus erythematosus. Although the actual causes of the disorder have not been identified, multiple inter-related factors are suspected for triggering the condition: genetic factors (inherited genetic abnormalities), hormonal factors (excessive levels of estrogen seem to facilitate the development of the disorder) and environmental factors (prolonged medical treatments with antibiotics). Discoid lupus erythematosus has a pronounced hereditary character, as the majority of affected people have a family history of the disorder.

The process of diagnosing discoid lupus erythematosus involves physical examination, laboratory analysis of skin samples and elaborate blood tests. If laboratory tests reveal dysfunctions of the immune system and the skin lesions are linked to discoid lupus erythematosus, the patients will be prescribed an appropriate medical treatment. Although the disorder can’t be completely overcome through the means of the medical treatments available today, discoid lupus erythematosus can be controlled and its generated symptoms can be ameliorated. Patients diagnosed with discoid lupus erythematosus need to avoid exposure to sunlight in order to prevent aggravation of their skin lesions and the formation of permanent scars.

In the early stages of discoid lupus erythematosus, the skin lesions have a reddish, circular aspect and the borders of the affected skin present sharp prominences. In time, the skin may become scaly and crusty. When discoid lupus erythematosus affects the scalp, the disorder often involves temporary or even permanent hair loss. African American patients are exposed to a high risk of developing skin cancer and they should take special measures in avoiding sun burns. With the help of medical treatments and by avoiding prolonged exposure to sunlight, the skin disorder can be kept under control and its symptoms can be considerably ameliorated.

By: Groshan Fabiola

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

So if you want to find more about Lupus or more details about discoid lupus please follow this link www.lupus-guide.com

Lupus Symptoms
The Two Kinds of Lupus. • Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). DLE predominantly affects the skin which is exposed to direct sunlight and is considered the milder of the two kinds of lupus. • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Discoid Lupus Erythematosus – BUTTERFLIES AMONG US
Has anyone with Discoid Lupus Erythematosus had a biopsy done of your head sores. A friend of mine told me to have the sores on my head biopsied. I’ve had these sores for years and they flare when feel really weak and [...]

Discoid lupus
About lupus, I found out two weeks ago that I also have the skin form of lupus which is called discoid lupus. I had a lupus lesion on my head which has been there for about 3 years, but in the last 9 months or so, it has tripled in size [...]

Staying Healthy with Lupus
Discoid lupus can be diagnosed by taking a biopsy of the rash and performing tests. The biopsy will show certain anomalies that are not present in skin without the rash. Discoid lupus usually will not involve problem with the body’s [...]

Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
There are medications to treat discoid lupus. Usually cortisone creams or lotions are enough. They will slow down the advancing rashes and hopefully help the ones that are already there to recover.

Medical Monday: What is lupus?
There is a skin contained lupus, discoid lupus or cutaneous lupus erythematosus. While this type does not attack the internal organs it can be disfiguring. About 10% of people that start with the discoid lupus and later also get [...]

LUPUS
Patients may present with discoid lupus (thick, red scaly patches on the skin). Alopecia, mouth, nasal, and vaginal ulcers, and lesions on the skin are also possible manifestations. Musculoskeletal manifestations Patients most often [...]

Affiliate Disclosure: It is advisable to assume that any mention of a product or service on this website is made because there exist, unless otherwise stated, a material connection between the product or service owners and this website and should you make a purchase of a product or service described here the owner of this website may be compensated.  To learn more, please click here.

Home |  Contact |  About |  Privacy Policy |  Sitemap

Technorati Tags: butterfly, discoid, disease, early, lupus, malar, pictures, rash, sle, symptoms, treatment

Due to the fact that it involves impairments of the immune system and determines the body to destroy its own healthy cells and tissues, lupus is defined as an autoimmune disease. A major characteristic of lupus and autoimmune diseases in general is the multitude of generated symptoms. When the compromised immune system becomes confused and targets healthy blood cells and tissues instead of external antigens, the disease can affect virtually any part of the body, producing a wide variety of symptoms that are often uncharacteristic to autoimmune diseases in general.

Lupus commonly affects the joints, skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs and even the brain (central nervous system). The symptoms generally produced by lupus and other similar autoimmune diseases have an unspecific character, often being misleading in diagnosing the disease. Lupus often generates symptoms such as pronounced fatigue, body weakness, pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints, fever, kidney affections and skin rashes.

Medical scientists haven’t yet been able to find a cure for lupus. In the absence of a specific cure, doctors can only control the symptoms produced by the disease and prevent the occurrence of further complications. With the appropriate treatment, the majority of patients diagnosed with lupus can live healthy and active lives. The progression of lupus is fluctuant and unpredictable, the disease alternating between periods of symptomatic exacerbation and periods of remission. The main goal of the existing treatments of lupus is to prolong the periods of remission and to ease the phases of relapse. Medical scientists hope that in the near future they will be able to come up with an efficient cure for lupus, a treatment that can gradually reverse the effects produced by the disease and prevent the occurrence of flares. The ongoing research upon this matter will probably result in finding the specific cure for lupus in the following couple of years.

The term ‘Lupus’ comprises a variety of distinctive types that can be classified as follows:

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, (SLE), the most common type of lupus, has a pronounced polyvalent character. The systemic form of lupus can affect multiple parts of the body and cause a wide variety of unspecific symptoms, ranging from mild to severe. Despite the fact that SLE commonly affects people with ages between 15 and 40, it can also affect the very young or the elderly. Systemic lupus is considered a highly problematic disease, being difficult to diagnose and often requiring ongoing combination treatments.

Discoid Lupus Erythematosus is a type of lupus that primarily affects the skin. In the absence of the appropriate treatment, discoid lupus can become systemic over the course of time. In its first stages of progression, discoid lupus produces inflammation and rashes on the face, scalp, or other body regions. In time, the rashes become prominent, thickened and may even increase in size. The skin lesions caused by discoid lupus may also involve scaling and blistering. Although lupus rashes may ameliorate or even completely clear up with the aid of treatment, they tend to recur after a certain amount of time.

Drug-induced lupus is a rare form of the disease that occurs as a result of medication intolerance. This type of lupus produces symptoms that are very similar to systemic lupus erythematosus: rash, unexplained fever, pulmonary and coronary affections, and arthritis. However, unlike the systemic form of the disease, drug-induced lupus doesn’t involve kidney impairments and often disappears as soon as the causative drugs are no longer administered. The most common medications that have been identified to cause drug-induced lupus are: hydralazine (Apresoline), methyldopa (Aldomet), procainamide (Procan), isoniazid (INH), quinidine (Quinaglute), phenytoin (Dilantin) and carbamazepine (Tegretol).

The last type of lupus refers to the neonatal form of the disease. Neonatal lupus is a very rare disease that affects newborn babies of mothers diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus or other similar autoimmune diseases. Infants affected by this type of lupus often suffer from congenital heart and circulatory problems. Sometimes, infants with neonatal lupus may also suffer from liver conditions and skin affections. When the disease is promptly diagnosed, the young patients’ life expectancy and overall condition can be improved with treatment. Prompt medical intervention is crucial for patients with suspected neonatal lupus.

By: Groshan Fabiola

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

So if you want to find more about Lupus or more details about lupus treatment please follow this link www.lupus-guide.com

What is lupus?

There are other, less common types of lupus:. Discoid (DISS-koid) lupus erythematosus, also called DLE, mainly affects the skin. A red rash may appear. Or, the skin on the face, scalp, or elsewhere may become scaly or change color.

Early Lupus Symptoms
Symptoms of lupus concentrates on the difficulty in diagnosing the different types of lupus, the symptoms often present and the treatment of this disease.

Lupus Disorders
Although the word lupus usually suggests a condition of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is the most common form of lupus, there are four distinct types of lupus that cause disease.

How Lupus Affects the Skin
And just to make it more complicated, lupus types range across a broad spectrum. Some people with discoid lupus may never develop the systemic version of the disease (systemic lupus erythematosus).

Affiliate Disclosure: It is advisable to assume that any mention of a product or service on this website is made because there exist, unless otherwise stated, a material connection between the product or service owners and this website and should you make a purchase of a product or service described here the owner of this website may be compensated.  To learn more, please click here.

Home |  Contact |  About |  Privacy Policy |  Sitemap

Technorati Tags: autoimmune disease, Discoid Lupus Erythematosus, Drug-induced lupus, Neonatal lupus, sle, systemic lupus erythematosus, types of lupus

Our Commitment To Your Privacy

Your privacy is important to us. To better protect your privacy we provide this notice explaining our online information practices and the choices you can make about the way your information is collected and used. To make this notice easy to find, we make it available on our homepage and at every point where personally identifiable information may be requested.

Our Commitment To Data Security

To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.

Our Commitment To Children’s Privacy

Protecting the privacy of the very young is especially important. For that reason, we never collect or maintain information at our website from those we actually know are under 18, and no part of our website is structured to attract anyone under 18. Under our Terms of Service, children under 18 are no allowed to access our service.

Collection of Personal Information

On visiting this site, the IP address used to access the site will be logged along with the dates and times of access. This information is purely used to analyse trends, administer the site, track user’s movement, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. Importantly, IP addresses are not linked to personally identifiable information.

Links to third party websites

We have included links on this site for your reference. We are not responsible for the privacy policies on these websites.

Alterations to this Privacy Statement

The content of this statement may be altered at any time.

Have a question? Just contact me at neufeldenterprises@gmail.com

We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here.

Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on our site.  Google’s use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to our users based on their visit to our sites and other sites on the Internet.  Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy.

Home |  Contact |  About |  Privacy Policy |  Sitemap

Technorati Tags: policy, privacy