Health & Fitness
Early Warning Signs Of Lupus You Need To Know (And What To Do When You See Them)
December 27, 2021
2,216 3 minutes read
- Abnormal blood clotting
- Fingers turning white and/or blue when cold
- Mouth or nose ulcers
- A butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and nose (in earlier times this common rash reminded physicians of a wolf’s bite hence the name “lupus,” Latin for “wolf”)
- Extreme tiredness
- Headaches
- Painful or swollen joints
- Fever
- Anemia
- Swelling in the feet, legs, hands, and/or around eyes
- Pain in chest when breathing deeply
- Sun- or light-sensitivity
- Hair loss
The experts warn that some people look completely normal, yet they feel awful. For them, even the smallest task is impossible. The disease is often isolating, because you look so normal on the outside. The lupus symptoms often mimic those of lung, bone, heart, or muscle disease as well as rheumatoid arthritis, Lyme disease, diabetes, blood disorders, fibromyalgia, and blood disorders. This is the reason why lupus is associated with hormonal and autoimmune disorders.
Dixon also said:
“Lupus does not run in my family. The only thing that does run in my family is psoriasis, which is another autoimmune disorder.”
This is very IMPORTANT for you to remember – due to the fact that many lupus patients are diagnosed with a second or third autoimmune disease, anyone who is diagnosed or has a family history of any of these diseases should be on watch. The most common autoimmune diseases are type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases, Hashimoto`s disease, Addison`s disease, vitiligo, reactive arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, psoriasis, Graves’ disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, and scleroderma.
Most Common Causes
YES, there’s a genetic component to lupus, but carrying the gene doesn’t necessarily mean that one will develop lupus. Environment and hormones have a critical role too, especially estrogen, due to the higher prevalence among women.
It is predominately diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 44, and that’s the time when women are most fertile. Unfortunately, many women are first diagnosed while pregnant or after giving birth, when their hormones are in flux.
BOTTOM LINE:
Most lupus patients live productive and happy lives. But still, they must observe their symptoms in order to stay healthy. Self-awareness is difficult to maintain in a busy world, meaning that one must make certain lifestyle changes.
