You all must know what lupus is and for those who do not, it is a disease that affects the immune system. It is an autoimmune disease in particular. The primary characteristic of lupus is that it affects women more than men. A study has revealed that among the people diagnosed with lupus, 90% are females, and those women are between the age of 15 and 34. Like the other chronic autoimmune diseases that are considered cousins of lupus, that is multiple sclerosis and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and lupus has no causes identified yet. The immune system, which is responsible for protecting the body, ends up attacking it due to the condition.
Approximately 1.5 million people in the country have lupus. Symptoms of lupus can start appearing from any age, but it is essential to identify them and initiate the treatment before it is too late. The symptoms of lupus in women and also in men so common that people often overlook them and the problem keep growing inside the body. No particular part of the body is prone to the symptoms. Rather, the symptoms can appear anywhere and everywhere. So, stay aware of the lupus symptoms in women and save your loved ones and yourself equipped with the knowledge.
Joint pain and swellings in the joint
Women with lupus often complain about swellings in their joints and a persistent pain that triggers even more in the mornings. It is one of the most common signs of the condition, and the pain usually occurs at the knuckles and fingers. Many doctors have explained the difference between the pain of rheumatoid arthritis and that of lupus. The difference lies in the fact that in the case of lupus, a woman will experience pain only on the side of the joint while in the case of rheumatoid arthritis you will experience the pain on both sides equally. You can try over the counter medicines but they may not always be helpful and visiting a doctor is always a better choice.
Unexplained fever
A fever would start for no particular reason as such. It is not that the temperature will range too high, but it mostly stays around 98 Fahrenheit to 101 Fahrenheit. However, the main characteristic of fever, which acts, as one of the lupus symptoms in women is, that fever keeps coming up and down from time to time. Fever may occur due to various inflammations, but fever is always a symptom of any disease that is present inside you, so it is advisable to get an appointment with the doctor to identify the underlying condition and avail right treatment.
Pulmonary problems
One of the other prominent lupus symptoms in women is the pulmonary issues. Since inflammation occurs almost everywhere, it spreads to the vessels of the lungs as well making the lungs get inflamed. This, in extreme cases, often leads to the damage of the diaphragm. All these cumulatively give rise to an excruciating chest pain. With time, the patient experiences a shrink in the size of the lungs. A chest pain that keeps continuing and problems in breathing is one of the common lupus symptoms in women. This is also known as the shrinking lung syndrome.
Problems with mental health
Anxiety and fear are common in patients who have lupus. Lupus symptoms in women include occasional emotional outbursts and anxiety. They live with a kind of fear in them.
Considerable loss of hair
Hair loss is yet another visible sign. Sometimes the hair loss becomes so much prominent that women experience complete baldness, which again leads to even more deterioration in mental health and thus continues as a vicious cycle. Sometimes, sores are also seen on the scalp that can be painful.
Skin rash
A butterfly-shaped skin rash is seen in women with lupus. The cheeks and the bridge of nose develop rashes and are one of the most significant lupus symptoms in women. Women also experience feelings of itchiness in other parts of the body as well. Hives may also develop due to the condition. Again, not all but many people become sensitive to the sunlight.
Inflammation of the kidney
Nephritis or kidney inflammation is another of the important lupus symptoms in women. The kidney is not able to filter the toxic materials from the blood thus leading to other problems as well. The blood pressure increases and oozes out through urine as well. Urination increases at night, and the patient has a darker color of urine.
All these symptoms are prevalent in women who have lupus. However, these symptoms are not much different from the symptoms experienced in case of other diseases. Hence, it is always better to consult your GP whenever you observe anything out of the ordinary.
