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Imagine waking up every day and not knowing if your body will cooperate. Imagine not knowing if you will be able to walk or write without pain, if you will be able to go outside without breaking into a rash and swelling, or if you will even be able to think clearly. This uncertainty is a reality for around 1.5 million people in America battling lupus.
May is Lupus Awareness Month. Though millions of people are affected by Lupus, there are still millions of people who don’t know what Lupus is. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system to mistakenly attack its tissues and organs,
which leads to chronic inflammation and damage. With many of its symptoms being invisible to others, lupus has earned the nickname of the “invisible illness.” Lupus can be genetic and affects mainly women, though men are not immune to this disease. The four most common types of lupus include systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), cutaneous lupus, drug-induced lupus, and neonatal lupus, with SLE being the most common.
Lupus occurs in the body when the immune system produces autoantibodies and targets the body’s cells; instead of attacking bad viruses and bacteria entering your body, lupus causes your immune system to attack everything. The most commonly affected organs and systems of the body are the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and finally, the heart and lungs. Common symptoms of lupus are fatigue, joint pain and swelling, skin rashes, fever, hair loss, photosensitivity, and unpredictable flare-ups and remissions. Lupus is a hard disease to diagnose as it mimics other conditions. With this in mind, it is important for those with lupus to have the proper methods for managing stress, prioritizing rest, and being open with their healthcare providers about issues or concerns they are having. There is no cure for lupus, but there are treatments to help with symptoms caused by the disease.
There are several non-profit organizations related to lupus, but the most prominent ones are the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) and Lupus Foundation of America (LFA). The LRA’s mission is to improve treatments and advance toward a cure, while the LFA’s mission is to improve the lives of people with lupus through education, support services, and research funding. In our region, Louisiana Lupus Foundation and Lupus Foundation of Arkansas are non-profit organizations that provide research, education and advocacy.
Lupus Awareness Month is important because it helps those with lupus get access to better treatment and improve their quality of life. It also helps to reduce the stigma of the disease and encourages research into better treatments and a potential cure. It also helps build awareness campaigns and educational initiatives to help connect those living with lupus, providing them with support and a sense of community.
Lupus is more than just a diagnosis: it is a life-altering journey filled with challenges, strength, and resilience. Though it’s often misunderstood and invisible to the outside world, lupus impacts every part of a person’s life. By raising awareness, sharing accurate information, and showing compassion, we can create a world that supports those living with lupus and brings us closer to more comprehensive treatments and hopefully a cure.
What can you do today? Share this post, check in on someone with lupus, or donate to lupus research. Let’s be the voice for those whose pain often goes unseen. Whether you are living with lupus, love someone who is, or are just learning about it today, your awareness matters. Share what you’ve learned, stand in solidarity, and help us to turn understanding into action. Because together, we can shine a light on lupus and support the warriors who face it every single day.
