Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect almost any organ or body part and lasts for a long time. Your immune system attacks healthy cells, which causes pain, swelling, and damage. The Lupus Foundation of America says that about 5 million people worldwide have lupus, and women are nine times more likely than men to get it. Symptoms may come and go, which makes it hard to figure out what's wrong. You may have flare-ups and then get better.
Surprising Symptoms Of Lupus
Vision Loss
The eyes may be hurt by lupus. Mutations in the skin of the eyelids, dry eyes, inflammation of the white layer on the outside of the eyeball, changes in the blood vessels in the retina, and nerve damage that affects how the eye moves and how well it sees are all possible.
The most common eye problem caused by lupus is damage to the blood vessels in the retina. This makes vision loss from mild to severe. One to two percent of people with lupus may lose their sight quickly because of optic neuropathy.
Raynaud's Syndrome
Raynaud's syndrome makes it hard for blood to get to the hands and feet (most commonly the fingers and toes). This could be caused by cold or stress.
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When fingers or toes don't get enough blood, they turn white, red, blue, or purple. One-third of people with lupus get Raynaud's, which is usually caused by nerve or blood vessel irritation.
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Photosensitivity
It has been shown that ultraviolet (UV) rays make the symptoms of 40–70% of people with lupus worse and cause flare-ups. People with cutaneous and systemic lupus get rashes, fever, fatigue, and joint pain when they are sensitive to light.
The Lupus Foundation of America says that people with lupus should spend less time in the sun by wearing clothes that protect them from the sun, putting on sunblock with at least 70 SPF, and staying out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Dry Eyes
Lupus can make your eyes dry, making them itchy, gritty, scratchy, sore, watery, and blurry. Dryness can hurt the eye's front surface and make it hard to see.
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About 20% of people with lupus also have Sjogren's disease, which means that their tear glands don't make enough moisture to keep their eyes moist.
Central Nervous System Affected
Neuropsychiatric lupus (NPSLE), neurocognitive impairment, or central nervous system lupus may be diagnosed (CNS lupus). Lupus can affect almost every part of the body, including the brain and central nervous system (CNS).
When lupus affects the CNS and brain, it can cause headaches, dizziness, fatigue, depression, seizures, strokes, trouble seeing, mood changes, and difficulty focusing. Some lupus drugs could have side effects like CNS lupus, so you should talk to your doctor to find out why.
Cognitive Dysfunction
Up to 50% of people with lupus have "brain fog." The LFA says that people with cognitive impairment may feel lost, tired, forget things, or have trouble putting their thoughts into words. Brain fog can be annoying, but there are ways to deal with it and apps that can help.
Lung Involvement
Pleuritis, pneumonitis, chronic diffuse interstitial lung disease, and pulmonary emboli are some of the most common lung problems that are linked to lupus (blood clots that block the arteries leading to the lungs). Pleuritis discomfort affects 40-60 percent of lupus patients.
The LFA says lupus can hurt the membranes that line the lungs, the lungs, the blood vessels inside the lungs, and the diaphragm.
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Gastrointestinal Problems
Lupus can affect the body's automatic functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature regulation, breathing, and digestion. Lupus affects the GI tract, and GI problems like esophageal disorders (like GERD), digestive problems, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), peritonitis and ascites, pancreatitis, liver problems, and peptic ulcers are common in people with lupus.
Costochondritis
As was already said, pleuritic chest pain, which is a pain when you breathe, is a common sign of lupus. It can be very painful, but it's usually easy to figure out what's wrong because the pain is usually in the chest wall and stays there.
Costochondritis, an inflammation of the cartilage that connects the rib to the sternum, could be the cause of this kind of chest pain.
What Is Treatment Like For Lupus?
Comprehensive lupus treatment encompasses controlling symptoms, preventing immune system attacks, and protecting organs. Symptoms determine lupus treatment, so your doctor will discuss the treatment's advantages and dangers. Your doctor may modify your medicines or doses when your symptoms flare and subside. Lupus drugs include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs like naproxen sodium (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, and others) can be bought over-the-counter and used to treat lupus-related pain, swelling, and fever.
- Antimalarial drugs. Medications like hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), often used to treat malaria, affect the immune system and help lower the risk of lupus flares.
- Corticosteroids. Steroids, like methylprednisolone (Medrol), are often given in high doses to treat diseases that affect the kidneys and brain. Corticosteroids like Prednisone and others can reduce the inflammation caused by lupus.
- Immunosuppressants. In severe cases of lupus, drugs that weaken the immune system may be helpful. Some examples are azathioprine (Imuran, Azasan), mycophenolate (Cellcept), methotrexate (Trexall, Xatmep, and others), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf), and leflunomide (Arava).
- Biologics. Some people with lupus can also get their symptoms under control by taking belimumab (Benlysta) through an IV.
- Rituximab (Rituxan, Truxima) may help some people who other medicines haven't helped.
