Understanding Lupus and Staying Healthy
By Steven A Johnson
The disease Lupus is classified as an autoimmune disease, and
it can affect different parts of the body. In most people it
affects the skin, joints, heart, lungs, blood, kidneys and
brain. In the case of a normal healthy body, the immune system
produces proteins that are called antibodies. These antibodies
serve to protect the body against infection, viruses, bacteria,
and other foreign matter. The term for these foreign materials
is antigens.
What happens when the body is affected with an autoimmune
disorder like lupus is that the immune system becomes confused
and cannot tell the difference between foreign material and its
own cells and tissues. The immune system then begins to make
antibodies and directs them against itself; these antibodies are
called auto-antibodies. The auto-antibodies affect the body by
causing inflammation, pain and damage in different parts of the
body.
The primary feature of Lupus is usually considered to be
inflammation. The term inflammation in Latin means "set on
fire," and is identified by pain, heat, redness, swelling and
loss of function. This can occur on the inside or on the outside
of the body, or in some cases or both.
There are considered to be four main types of lupus: discoid,
systemic, drug-induced and neonatal lupus.
Discoid type lupus always affects the skin. It is characterized
by a rash that appears on the face, neck, and scalp. 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 internal organs. In
roughly 10 percent of people diagnosed with this disease,
discoid lupus can evolve into a more severe problem, and can
affect almost any organ or system of the body. It is impossible
to predict or prevent this from happening. Unfortunately
treatment of discoid lupus will not stop it from progressing to
this stage. It is likely that individuals who experience this
problem, probably had systemic lupus all along, and the discoid
rash was the main symptom.
Systemic lupus is found to be more severe than the previously
mentioned discoid lupus, because it affects almost any organ or
organ system of the body. It differs from person to person; for
some people only the skin and joints may be involved. For other
people, the joints, lungs, kidneys, blood, or other organs
and/or tissues could be affected. The problem with diagnosing
systemic lupus is that, usually no two persons affected with
systemic lupus will display identical symptoms. One of the most
identifiable symptoms of systemic lupus is that the individual
may experience periods in which few (or any) symptoms are
evident which is called remission. Other times individuals will
experience “flares” which is when the disease becomes more
active.
Drug-induced lupus can occur after the use of certain
prescribed medications. One of the tricky things about this form
of lupus is that the symptoms are similar to those of systemic
lupus. The two medications that are most connected with
drug-induced lupus are hydralazine and procainamide. Drug
induced lupus is generally more common in men because they are
given these drugs more often. However, it should be noted that
not everyone who takes these medications does or will develop
this type of lupus. Roughly about 4 percent of the people who
take these medications will develop this type of lupus. Also the
symptoms will generally fade when the drugs are discontinued.
Neonatal lupus is a rare and serious condition that is acquired
from the passage of maternal auto-antibodies. This particular
type of lupus can affect the skin, heart and blood of the fetus
and newborn child. The symptoms are associated with a rash that
will appear during the first few weeks of life. This rash may
continue for roughly six months before fading completely.
Neonatal lupus is not classified as systemic lupus.
While there is no cure for lupus, depending on the severity of
your disease, it is possible to live a full and normal life.
There are natural products available to help with pain and
provide dietary support to ailing immune systems. One such
product is Lupazol by Micronutra, Lupazol is a nutritional
matrix designed to supplement what you don't find in your daily
diet.
About the Author: Steven Johnson is interested in maintaining a
vital, active, and healthy lifestyle. For more information on
daily health supplements, as well as other life-enhancing
nutrients, please visit his website
http://www.alternative-health-supplements.com/lupazol.htm
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=346192&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet
By Steven A Johnson
The disease Lupus is classified as an autoimmune disease, and
it can affect different parts of the body. In most people it
affects the skin, joints, heart, lungs, blood, kidneys and
brain. In the case of a normal healthy body, the immune system
produces proteins that are called antibodies. These antibodies
serve to protect the body against infection, viruses, bacteria,
and other foreign matter. The term for these foreign materials
is antigens.
What happens when the body is affected with an autoimmune
disorder like lupus is that the immune system becomes confused
and cannot tell the difference between foreign material and its
own cells and tissues. The immune system then begins to make
antibodies and directs them against itself; these antibodies are
called auto-antibodies. The auto-antibodies affect the body by
causing inflammation, pain and damage in different parts of the
body.
The primary feature of Lupus is usually considered to be
inflammation. The term inflammation in Latin means "set on
fire," and is identified by pain, heat, redness, swelling and
loss of function. This can occur on the inside or on the outside
of the body, or in some cases or both.
There are considered to be four main types of lupus: discoid,
systemic, drug-induced and neonatal lupus.
Discoid type lupus always affects the skin. It is characterized
by a rash that appears on the face, neck, and scalp. 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 internal organs. In
roughly 10 percent of people diagnosed with this disease,
discoid lupus can evolve into a more severe problem, and can
affect almost any organ or system of the body. It is impossible
to predict or prevent this from happening. Unfortunately
treatment of discoid lupus will not stop it from progressing to
this stage. It is likely that individuals who experience this
problem, probably had systemic lupus all along, and the discoid
rash was the main symptom.
Systemic lupus is found to be more severe than the previously
mentioned discoid lupus, because it affects almost any organ or
organ system of the body. It differs from person to person; for
some people only the skin and joints may be involved. For other
people, the joints, lungs, kidneys, blood, or other organs
and/or tissues could be affected. The problem with diagnosing
systemic lupus is that, usually no two persons affected with
systemic lupus will display identical symptoms. One of the most
identifiable symptoms of systemic lupus is that the individual
may experience periods in which few (or any) symptoms are
evident which is called remission. Other times individuals will
experience “flares” which is when the disease becomes more
active.
Drug-induced lupus can occur after the use of certain
prescribed medications. One of the tricky things about this form
of lupus is that the symptoms are similar to those of systemic
lupus. The two medications that are most connected with
drug-induced lupus are hydralazine and procainamide. Drug
induced lupus is generally more common in men because they are
given these drugs more often. However, it should be noted that
not everyone who takes these medications does or will develop
this type of lupus. Roughly about 4 percent of the people who
take these medications will develop this type of lupus. Also the
symptoms will generally fade when the drugs are discontinued.
Neonatal lupus is a rare and serious condition that is acquired
from the passage of maternal auto-antibodies. This particular
type of lupus can affect the skin, heart and blood of the fetus
and newborn child. The symptoms are associated with a rash that
will appear during the first few weeks of life. This rash may
continue for roughly six months before fading completely.
Neonatal lupus is not classified as systemic lupus.
While there is no cure for lupus, depending on the severity of
your disease, it is possible to live a full and normal life.
There are natural products available to help with pain and
provide dietary support to ailing immune systems. One such
product is Lupazol by Micronutra, Lupazol is a nutritional
matrix designed to supplement what you don't find in your daily
diet.
About the Author: Steven Johnson is interested in maintaining a
vital, active, and healthy lifestyle. For more information on
daily health supplements, as well as other life-enhancing
nutrients, please visit his website
http://www.alternative-health-supplements.com/lupazol.htm
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link:
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=346192&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet
