Lupus what is it symptoms

Subscribe to email for more resources. Because lupus can affect so many different parts of the body, it can cause a lot of different symptoms.

Not necessarily. Lupus shares a lot of symptoms with other diseases, like arthritis and diabetes. That way, you can get the treatment you need. Learn how doctors diagnose lupus. Answer these questions to find out if you have common lupus symptoms, or watch this video for a quick symptom overview:. Our health educators are available to answer your questions and give you the help you need.

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Get answers. Over time, breathing issues from lupus can shrink lung size. Ongoing chest pain and shortness of breath characterize this condition. The diaphragmatic muscles are so weak they appear to move up in CT scan images, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. People with lupus can develop a kidney inflammation called nephritis. Inflammation makes it harder for the kidneys to filter toxins and waste from the blood. According to the Lupus Foundation of America , nephritis usually begins within five years of the start of lupus.

Early symptoms may go unnoticed. After diagnosis, monitoring of kidney function is recommended. Untreated lupus nephritis can lead to end-stage renal disease ESRD. Inflammation can cause pain, stiffness, and visible swelling in your joints, particularly in the morning.

It may be mild at first and gradually become more obvious. Like other symptoms of lupus, joint problems can come and go. There may be better treatment options. But your doctor must determine if your joint problems are caused by lupus or another condition, such as arthritis. Some people with lupus experience occasional heartburn , acid reflux , or other gastrointestinal problems.

Mild symptoms can be treated with OTC antacids. If you have frequent bouts of acid reflux or heartburn, try cutting down on the size of your meals, and avoid beverages containing caffeine. If symptoms continue, see your doctor to rule out other conditions. A poorly functioning thyroid can affect vital organs like your brain, heart, kidneys, and liver. It can also result in weight gain or weight loss. Other symptoms include dry skin and hair, and moodiness. When a thyroid is underactive, the condition is known as hypothyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism is caused by an overactive thyroid. Treatments to get your metabolism back on track are available. If you have lupus, you may experience dry mouth. Your eyes may feel gritty and dry, too. The list of potential symptoms of lupus is lengthy. Other symptoms include oral ulcers , enlarged lymph nodes, muscle pain , chest pain , osteoporosis , and depression.

Rare symptoms include anemia , dizziness , and seizures. Fortunately, not everyone gets every symptom. While new symptoms can appear, others often disappear. Find out about common symptoms and the various ways lupus affects your body.

Around 10 percent of them will have anemia. The lesions usually go away after a few weeks. However, some infants have a congenital heart block , in which the heart cannot regulate a normal and rhythmic pumping action. The infant may need a pacemaker. This can be a life-threatening condition. The immune system protects the body and fights off antigens, such as viruses, bacteria, and germs.

It does this by producing proteins called antibodies. White blood cells, or B lymphocytes, produce these antibodies. When a person has an autoimmune condition, such as lupus, the immune system cannot differentiate between unwanted substances, or antigens, and healthy tissue.

As a result, the immune system directs antibodies against both the healthy tissue and the antigens. This causes swelling, pain, and tissue damage. The most common type of autoantibody that develops in people with lupus is an antinuclear antibody ANA. The autoantibodies can then attack the DNA in the nucleus of these cells.

This is why lupus affects some organs and not others. Some genes in the body help the immune system to function. In people with SLE, changes in these genes may stop the immune system from working properly.

One possible theory relates to cell death , a natural process that occurs as the body renews its cells, according to Genetics Home Reference. Some scientists believe that, due to genetic factors, the body does not get rid of cells that have died.

Lupus may develop in response to a number of factors. These may be hormonal, genetic, environmental, or a combination of these. Hormones are chemical substances that the body produces. They control and regulate the activity of certain cells or organs. Sex : The U. National Institutes of Health note that females are nine times more likely to have lupus than males.

Age : Symptoms and diagnosis often occur between the ages of 15 and 45 years, during the childbearing years. However, 20 percent of cases appear after the age of 50 years, according to Genetics Home Reference. As 9 out of 10 occurrences of lupus affect females, researchers have looked at a possible link between estrogen and lupus. Both men and women produce estrogen, but women produce more. In a review published in , scientists observed that estrogen can affect immune activity and induce lupus antibodies in mice that are susceptible to lupus.

In , researchers who published a study on self-reported flares in the journal Rheumatology found that women with lupus report more severe pain and fatigue during menstruation. This suggests that flares may be more likely at this time. There is not enough evidence to confirm that estrogen causes lupus.

If there is a link, estrogen-based treatment could regulate the severity of lupus. However, more research is necessary before doctors can offer it as a treatment. Researchers have not proved that any specific genetic factor causes lupus, although it is more common in some families. Race : People of any background can develop lupus, but it is two to three times more common in people of color, compared with the white population.

It is also more common in Hispanic, Asian, and Native American women. Family history : A person who has a first- or second-degree relative with lupus will have a higher risk of developing it. Scientists have identified certain genes that may contribute to the development of lupus, but there is not enough evidence to prove that they cause the disease.

In studies of identical twins, one twin may develop lupus while the other does not, even if they grow up together and have the same environmental exposures. If one member of a twin pair has lupus, the other has a percent chance of developing the disease, according to a study published in Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism in Identical twins are more likely to both have the condition.

Lupus can happen in people with no family history of the disease, but there may be other autoimmune diseases in the family. Examples include thyroiditis, hemolytic anemia, and idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura.

Some have proposed that changes in the x-chromosomes might affect the risk. Environmental agents — such as chemicals or viruses — may contribute to triggering lupus in people who are already genetically susceptible.

Smoking : A rise in the number of cases in recent decades may be due to higher tobacco exposure. Medication : Around 10 percent of cases may be drug-related, according to Genetics Home Reference. Recently, scientists have been looking at gut microbiota as a possible factor in the development of lupus. Scientists who published research in Applied and Environmental Microbiology in noted that specific changes in gut microbiota feature in both people and mice with lupus.

Lupus is rare in children under the age of 15 years unless their birth mother has it. In this case, a child may have lupus-related heart, liver, or skin problems. Infants with neonatal lupus may have a higher chance of developing another autoimmune disease later in life.

The symptoms of lupus occur in times of flare-ups. Between flare-ups, people usually experience times of remission, when there are few or no symptoms. Kidneys : Inflammation of the kidneys nephritis can make it difficult for the body to remove waste products and other toxins effectively. Around 1 in 3 people with lupus will have kidney problems. Lungs : Some people develop pleuritis, an inflammation of the lining of the chest cavity that causes chest pain, particularly with breathing.

Pneumonia may develop. Central nervous system : Lupus can sometimes affect the brain or central nervous system. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, depression , memory disturbances, vision problems, seizures, stroke , or changes in behavior. Blood vessels : Vasculitis, or inflammation of the blood vessels, can occur. This can affect circulation.