Lupus can be a challenging condition to live with, but just because there is no cure doesn’t mean living with lupus has to be impossible. Everyone’s experience with the disease is different, and learning how to manage it can take time and practice. So to help make things easier, this guide will provide you with information about the disease and how to manage it. It will cover everything from diagnosis to treatment options and lifestyle changes that can help make living with lupus easier. Hopefully, with the proper knowledge and support, you can find a way to live your life with lupus.
What Is Lupus?
Lupus occurs when the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue, confusing it with antigens from an invading pathogen. This results in inflammation and severe discomfort throughout the body. Often the exact cause of lupus remains unknown, but it has been linked to exposure to sunlight as well as hormones, viruses, heredity, or environmental factors.
With roughly five million people worldwide affected by this strange but complex condition, it is even more critical for people to remain aware of diagnosis and treatment options if they find themselves living with lupus.
How Lupus Is Diagnosed
Lupus is challenging to diagnose because it can present so differently in many individuals. Medical history and physical exams are used to observe any signs of the condition, and blood tests are conducted to detect levels of antibodies indicating the presence of lupus. The combination of these tests, as well as results from X-rays, MRI scans, urine tests, and biopsies, help doctors develop an accurate diagnosis.
However, due to the complexity associated with lupus, some patients find themselves going through several rounds of testing before arriving at a specific diagnosis. In any case, it is essential to determine proper diagnosis in order to create the best treatment plan for each individual suffering from the disease.
Treatment Options For Lupus
As previously mentioned, there is no cure for lupus, but there are treatment options available to help treat the symptoms. The following are some of the standard treatment methods used to manage the condition:
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
When it comes to treating lupus, Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) have become a widely-used tool. These medications help to relieve the painful and often debilitating joint inflammation that accompanies this autoimmune disorder. Not only do NSAIDs help reduce swelling and discomfort in joints, but they can also reduce the production of certain enzymes in the body, which can be responsible for further exacerbating lupus-related tissue damage.
Unfortunately, extended use of NSAIDs is not without risk, including an elevated risk of heart attack or stroke. As such, it is important for any patient considering treatment with an NSAID to ensure that their physician is fully informed about all related health considerations before beginning use.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids help to reduce inflammation throughout the body and suppress the overactive immune system, thus effectively managing lupus symptoms. Corticosteroids can be administered either by mouth or through injection, and the most commonly used is prednisone, a type of corticosteroid. Prednisone results in speedy symptom relief, quickly reducing joint pain and swelling and helping to conserve healthy muscle, bone, and organ tissues.
A course of corticosteroid treatment can drastically improve the quality of life for those with lupus. While side effects such as increased vulnerability to infection and weight gain can pose risks, they are almost always outweighed by the benefits of this kind of therapy.
