Contents:
- Medical Video: Lupus
- Is lupus at risk for stroke?
- Why is there a connection between lupus and stroke?
- Can I predict strokes when I suffer from lupus?
- Does lupus surgery cause a stroke?
- What should I remember?
Medical Video: Lupus
Lupus is a complex medical condition that can affect both men and women during adulthood. This is a chronic fluctuating disease, which means that this disease can last for years and can recur or calm over time. Lupus is an autoimmune condition triggered when the immune system overreacts to some of its own tissues. Lupus sufferers can experience different symptoms that affect different organs in the body, including joints, muscles, digestive organs, heart, nerves, and brain.
Lupus may cause neurological symptoms that resemble strokes, and some stroke patients may have an increased risk of stroke. Overall, lupus can be controlled, and if you suffer from lupus, you may have learned how to take care of your health.
Is lupus at risk for stroke?
A number of different scientific studies over the years have repeatedly shown that there is an increase in stroke among people with lupus. More than half of people with lupus will suffer strokes at some time and strokes have been recorded as a cause of death by 20-30% for people with lupus. Therefore, it is important for you to know how to be aware of a mild stroke or stroke transient ischemic attack (TIA) if you have lupus. Because people cannot always maintain communication skills during a stroke or TIA, you should be able to recognize a stroke if you spend a lot of time with lupus sufferers.
Why is there a connection between lupus and stroke?
Lupus is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis, which is a disease of the lining of the blood vessels, the main key to stroke.
Inflammation, an important part of lupus, has a long-term role in regulating the stage of stroke. Patients with lupus also experience a high tendency to heart disease, which is one of the main causes of stroke. Furthermore, drugs used to treat lupus, such as steroids, can produce several risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Can I predict strokes when I suffer from lupus?
Research has found several clues that can help determine which patients with lupus sufferers are at high risk of stroke, and when it will occur. Lupus sufferers who also have high blood pressure, increased lipid levels, and heart disease or neurological diseases (do not have to stroke), tend to experience more strokes than people with lupus who do not have this problem.
Another type of blood test is used to analyze certain proteins called autoantibodies, which may increase in patients with lupus. Measuring high levels of autoantibodies in the blood is another sign of an increased risk of stroke for people with lupus. Knowing the signs of this stroke, doctors can work with you to help control this problem in order to reduce the risk of stroke if you suffer from lupus.
Does lupus surgery cause a stroke?
Surgery is another risk for stroke for patients with lupus, especially for those who were recently hospitalized for treatment of lupus. Sometimes, surgery is the best way to deal with serious health problems. However, because lupus patients who have recently been treated for stroke risk can increase after surgery, it is important to carry out non-emergency surgery, elective surgery, or cosmetic surgery only when lupus is inactive.
What should I remember?
Lupus is not easy. Stroke is one of the complications encountered by people with lupus. Understanding the risk of your stroke, and working with a doctor to reduce your risk, is an important part of caring for your own health.
