Showing posts with label lupus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lupus. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Lupus

Recently I met a friend that I worked with in my earlier days. She works in a small, non busy place. This seemed odd to me because when we worked together, she was a real wild cat. She was always the party sort of girl, drinking and dancing. As we talked about old days and new happenings, she opened up to me that she had Lupus.

What's lupus? This was what I was thinking but I did hear about it before. Now I just found out.

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease marked by its effect on various parts of the body, including the joints, skin, blood, and kidneys. It is a condition in which the body's immune system attacks its own cells and tissues, resulting in pain, inflammation, and often damage to organs. For many people, the disease is mild and affects only a few organs. For others, however, the disease can be severe and even life threatening.

Lupus involves the immune system. The immune system makes antibodies that work to protect the body against foreign substances like viruses and bacteria. Such foreign bodies are called antigens.

When a person has lupus, his or her body is unable to determine the difference between antigens and the individuals cells and body tissues. As such, the immune system creates antibodies against the individuals own tissues. These antibodies are called auto-antibodies.

When a person has lupus, auto-antibodies react with cells and tissues to form immune complexes. These immune complexes become concentrated in the body. It is this concentration or build-up within body tissues that causes pain, inflammation, and damage.

There are three types of lupus. One type called, discoid lupus, affects the skin. It is characterized by a rash that may appear on the face, neck, or scalp. Individuals with this condition may also experience mouth or nose ulcers, as well as photo-sensitivity. Discoed lupus is diagnosed by performing a biopsy on the rash.

I don't really want to go into details about the subject but I suggest that people check for themselves and find out more so they may be able to help themselves.

Bar advice.There is , supposedly, no known cure for Lupus. Lets hope we all never need to hear a doctor tell us that we have it. Anyway my friend is doing well with medication.