Lupus Definition of the Disease Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause that can affect virtually any part of the body. The medical term for Lupus is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or better known as SLE. With Lupus there is a malfunction in some of the cells of the immune system. ‘In Lupus, the body overreacts to an unknown stimulus and makes to many antibodies, or proteins directed against body tissue. Thus, Lupus is called an autoimmune disease. “# Myth/Reality Statements Myth: Lupus is contagious.
Reality: It is not contagious, it is not spread from person to person. Myth: It is uncommon in women to contact Lupus. Reality: ‘Between the ages of 15 and 45, close to 90% of diagnosed patients are women .’ Myth: Caucasians are most apt to be diagnosed with Lupus. Reality: In the United States, African Americans, Latinos, and Asians have a greater incidence of SLE than Caucasians .’ Myth: Lupus is a curable disease. Reality: Lupus is controllable not curable. Myth: The most common initial complaint is fevers, weight loss and fatigue. Reality: The most common complaint is pain in joints or swelling followed by skin rashes.
# Overview Women are the most common to suffer from Lupus. Although men and Children can get Lupus, 80% of Lupus patients are women .’ There are three times as many black women as white women affected by this disease. During the first ten years of life, girls will have Lupus three to seven more times often than boys. Three are about 1,400,000 cases of Lupus diagnosed at the present time, but there can be up to 2 million unreported cases since the disease in extremely difficult to diagnose. ‘Only 10% of Lupus patients will have a close relative who already has or may develop Lupus. Only 5% of children born to individuals with Lupus will develop the illness .’ # The cause of Lupus is still unknown.
The Research paper on Breast Cancer Women Disease Cells
According to the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO, 2002), breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer in women in the United States, falling only behind skin cancers. This is why it is such an important disease to understand. Throughout this paper there will be information about various issues which deal with breast cancer, in an attempt to give better insight to ...
Some doctors feel that there are some environmental and genetic factors involved. Some of the environmental factors include: infections, antibodies, especially those in the Sulfa and Penicillin groups, ultra violet light, extreme stress and certain drugs. There are an incredible number of symptoms that you can have with Lupus. There are general symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, low-grade fever, generalized aching and chills. These symptoms are most evident when the patient is in a flare, but they may be experienced constantly during the illness. Skin problems also occur in patients with Lupus.
Facial redness or a rash on the face appears in the shape of a butterfly. This rash is flat, patchy lesions can also occur on the face; these lesions are raised and rough to the touch. Some Lupus patients may lose their hair, and scarring on the scalp may be related to this. Lupus patients also experience photosensitivity, a harmful reaction to sunlight. Rashes can occur due to exposure to sunlight. People that have Lupus bruise easily. Ulcers may occur in the mouth, nose and throat .’ # There are also symptoms that involve the chest. These involve chest pain due to pleurisy, and irritation of the membranes lining the inside of the chest around the lungs, and pain due to pericarditis, and inflammation of the sack surrounding the heart.
With both of these conditions there is difficulty in breathing, pain, shortness of breath, or a rapid heartbeat. Joint pain is common in Lupus. Patients suffer from arthritis-like pain, swelling in the joints, redness and stiffness. These symptoms involve one or more joints. Lupus may also affect the blood. Anemia is common in individuals with Lupus, with this condition there is a low read blood cell count, the red blood cells are coated with antibodies that cause them to break down and break apart. Leupkopenia is also common, with this condition there is a low white blood cell count.
The Essay on Care of a Patient in Acute Pain from a Total Knee Replacement Jahaira Melendez
Nursing care after a total knee replacement is very essential in promoting a speedy and safe recovery for a patient. In an attempt to replicate the knee’s natural ability to roll and glide as it bends by cutting away damaged bone and cartilage and replacing it with an artificial joint, acute pain following the procedure can be unbearable. In assisting the patient in controlling the pain would only ...
This can lead to an increased susceptibility to infections. Thrombocytopenia is also common; with this condition people have trouble forming blood colts, there can also be the production of antinuclear antibodies, with this condition instead of fighting the foreign invaders that cause disease in the body these antibodies turn against the nuclei of good healthy cells. Lupus may also affect the kidneys. Kidneys may be less efficient in filtering waste out of the blood. Waste products remain in circulation. There may also be excessive amounts of protein lost in the urine. Not all of these symptoms may occur in every patient. All people are different, some may have all the symptoms and other may only have a few. The symptoms can come and go.
It may take several years for someone to be diagnosed with Lupus. There is no single laboratory test to determine whether or not someone has Lupus. Lupus is known as the great imitator, since there are so many symptoms; doctors may initially thing that another illness is still the problem. Treatment for Lupus is aimed at a suppression of the symptoms since there is no cure. The prognosis has improved over the last few decades. 80% to 90% of patients are surviving for ten years upon diagnosis. Lupus is a potentially fatal disease but not all patients will die from it.
Patients should try to achieve a balance between exercise and rest. Often treatments with medications are not required at all. They should avoid the sun and take aspirin or other nonsteriodal antiflammatory drugs, for muscle and joint pain. Conclusion I feel that Lupus is a very peculiar disease. It shares many similarities with HIV in the fact that there is multiple organ involvement and potentially life threatening episodes. I do not understand how Lupus is not always a fatal disease if it attacks the immune system.
The Essay on Foundation Of America Lupus Disease Symptoms
PLEASE NOTE: IF I DO NOT GET INSTANT ACCESS TO THIS SITE YOU DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO USE MY PAPER. IF I AM NOT ON THIS SITE WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF SUBMITTING THIS AND ABLE TO BROWSE THE PAPERS YOU DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO USE MY PAPER. IF I SEE MY PAPER ON THIS SITE AND DO NOT HAVE INSTANT ACCESS I WILL SEEK LEGAL ACTION. Lupus Lupus is a potentially life threatening disease that effects about 1. ...
Without an immune system, other diseases can not be fought off by the antibodies, which can cause someone to become very ill. I feel as though there needs to be a lot more research done for Lupus. It is a disease of high occurrence and the cause is still unknown. The cause needs to be found so that a cure can be discovered so that patients and their families can find a relief from this disease. Bibliography 1. Wallace, D.
The Lupus Book. Oxford University Press: New York, 1995 2. Aldejem, Henrietta. Understanding Lupus. Charles Scribers Sons: New York, 1982. 3. Moore, Mary.
Learning About Lupus. Mainline Desktop: Pennsylvania, 1991 4. Ferrante, C. 1995. Caring for Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythmatosus. Nursing 25: 66-7.
