Lupus belongs to the class of autoimmune diseases in which the body’s immune mechanism mistakenly attacks its cells and tissues. It is more prevalent in women than in men; a study disclosed that about 90% of its victims were females. While the exact cause of this disease is unknown, understanding the early signs and symptoms and carrying on with proper treatment can go a long way in improving the quality of life.
Lupus does not offer clear signs of the disease in women and often mimics the symptoms of other diseases. Due to this reason diagnosing it becomes tricky for health professionals. For some women, lupus appears as persistent fatigue, unexplained joint pain, and sensitivity to sunlight. In certain other cases, it causes headaches, skin rashes, and hair loss. In worst-case scenarios, it affects multiple organs, and advanced tests are required to diagnose this disease.
It is important to understand the symptoms and initiate proper treatment for lupus to have early recovery from this disease. In this article, we will go through the most common signs and symptoms the disease leaves in females so that early detection is possible. It will help to initiate proper treatment to prevent the disease from worsening. So, without further delay let us proceed.
Understanding Lupus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common lupus variant, attacks healthy tissues, aggravates inflammation, and damages bodily systems. Its rampage causes disorders in the normal functioning of the heart and kidneys. Although concrete pieces of evidence are missing, a combination of factors involving genetic predisposition, hormonal factors, and environmental triggers trigger the diseases.
Lupus mainly affects women aged between 18-44 and is prevalent in all countries cutting across geographical boundaries. It can pose severe mental and physical trauma to its victims. However, advanced treatment have helped many to find relief with the average ten-year survival rate for SLE now exceeding 90%. That being said, it is mandatory to continue regular monitoring to mitigate the risks involving cardiovascular issues and kidney damage.
Early Signs of Lupus in Females
Now let’s see the early symptoms associated with lupus disease in females.
- Fatigue: The most common symptom of lupus is unexplained fatigue that often seems persistent.
- Fever: A fever that hovers up to 101F with no apparent cause is another symptom of lupus in females.
- Joint pain and swelling: Pain and swelling in the joints, fingers, hands, wrists, and knees are other signs of lupus.
- Skin rashes: Malar rash, a butterfly-shaped rash across the nose and cheeks, is yet another sign of lupus.
- Hair loss: Patchy hair loss caused by inflammation or infection in the scalp can very well indicate lupus disease.
- Mouth sores: Some sores in the mouth or nose that do not cause pain can be a visible sign of lupus.
- Chest pain: An inflammation in the lining of the lungs known as pleurisy can cause chest pain when breathing heavily and indicate lupus.
- Raynaaud’s phenomenon: In response to cold or stress causing discoloration of the fingers and toes is also a warning sign of lupus.
When Should You See A Doctor?
If you are a woman and suspect you may have lupus, an accurate diagnosis, and proper treatment should be availed as soon as possible. If you fall ill occasionally with no apparent reason and experience fatigue and body pain alarm bells should ring.
It is a fact that females are susceptible to this autoimmune disease 10 times more than men. Other qualifiers for the disease are ethnicity and age—women aged 15-44 belong to the high-risk category.
You should also read: Vitamin D And AutoImmune Disease: Understanding The Link!
The Bottom Line
To wrap things up, this article has given an overview of lupus, an autoimmune disease affecting mainly the female population. We covered the major signs and symptoms associated with the disease.
Lupus is a severe disease and it is important to reign in early to prevent the disease from getting worse affecting multiple organs. The good news is that modern medical science has conquered milestones in relieving the disease.
FAQs
A person who suffers from lupus will feel overwhelming fatigue, experience joint pain, and have rashes on their face and body.
Unexplained fever, mouth sores, and hair loss can be the first signs of lupus disease.
Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and managing stress are ways to prevent lupus.
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes damage to the heart, lungs, and kidneys.
An experienced healthcare professional can diagnose lupus through advanced tests such as antinuclear antibody (ANA) and initiate a treatment plan.
