It’s World Lupus Day.

I decided to write a thread to make lupus visible by raising awareness and educating the public about it.

#LupusAwarenessMonth

Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakes the healthy tissues and cells as foreign invaders and attacks them, usually leaving damage. This, unfortunately, leads to more health problems and complications throughout ones’ life.

The most common type of lupus is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) which occurs in about 70 percent of cases. The underlying cause of lupus is still unknown and there is no cure.

Those diagnosed with lupus take medications and disease-specific treatments to calm the symptoms and disease activity.

Common symptoms include sensitivity to the sun, joint pain, swelling & stiffness, extreme fatigue, confusion, memory loss, hair loss and a skin rash. A skin rash which is most well known as the ‘butterfly rash’ which occurs across the nose and the cheeks.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is the most serious form of lupus. It mostly affects the brain, kidneys, lungs, mouth, skin and heart.

Lupus activity and flares can be triggered by sunlight, stress, infection/virus, pregnancy and birth, certain foods and physical exhaustion.

About 90% or more of those diagnosed with lupus are women.

Women of colour are 2-3 times more likely to be diagnosed with a form of lupus than Caucasians.

Once again, we are supporting the fighters, admiring the survivors & honoring the taken.

Spreading some butterflies of hope.