Lupus is one of America’s least talked about and recognized chronic diseases. Treatment for Lupus can be successful, with particular success in treating lupus using stem cell therapy.
This Lupus Awareness Month we answer some of the most common questions and least known facts about Lupus.
What is lupus?
Lupus is an autoimmune condition. Your immune system is created to identify and attack threats to your body. If a person has lupus, their immune system goes wrong and instead of attacking bad cells, like viruses, bacteria and damaged cells, it attacks healthy cells and tissues. Lupus can affect many parts of the body, including skin, joints, kidneys, lungs, blood vessels and the brain.
How many types of lupus are there?
Although there are very rare types, and subtypes, of lupus, there are three main type of lupus:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is the most common type of lupus and can affect many parts of the body, although the skin is usually affected in some way;
- Drug-induced lupus, which is caused by some medications and
- Cutaneous lupus affects only the skin, to varying extents, depending on the cutaneous lupus subtype.
How many Americans have lupus?
Around 1.5 million Americans have Lupus. Lupus is difficult to diagnose, due to the irregular nature of symptoms, their similarity to those of other diseases, and the current lack of a single laboratory test to confirm or eliminate lupus during diagnosis.
Who is affected by lupus?
Over 90% off lupus sufferers are women aged between 15 and 44. In fact, lupus is the leading cause of early cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and stroke in young women.
What are the symptoms of lupus and how is it diagnosed?
It is hard to accurately diagnose lupus as there is not one single diagnosis test. Diagnosis can require several blood and urine tests, a skin biopsy as well as clinical assessment. Symptoms of lupus, which are often confused for symptoms of other conditions, include:
- Joint pain or swelling
- Blue or pale extremities (toes fingertips) when cold or stressed
- Low blood count
- Rash or color change across the cheek or the bridge of the nose
- Prolonged unexplained fever
- Chest pain when breathing
- Protein presence in urine
- Sun sensitivity
- Depression, memory problems, lack of concentration
- Hair loss
- Extreme fatigue
How is lupus treated?
There is no conventional cure for Lupus within approved modern medicine. Therefore, lupus treatment programs will aim to control the condition with a view to preventing flare ups, reducing pain and swelling, boosting the immune system and preventing long lasting joint damage.
Is there cure for lupus?
Studies demonstrate the effectiveness of autologous stem cell therapy in treating lupus. The patient’s own stem cells are harvested and reintroduced into the person’s body, repairing damage and allowing the patient to return to good health.
If you would like to know more about stem cell therapy to treat lupus, contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our US based case workers.