Contents:
- Medical Video: Everyone Thinks They Have the Autoimmune Cure | Rant
- What is lupus?
- What are the types of lupus?
- How often does lupus occur?
- What are the symptoms and characteristics of lupus?
- What are the causes of lupus?
- 1. Genetic factors
- 2. Hormones
- 3. Environment
- What are the factors that increase the risk of getting lupus?
- How do doctors diagnose lupus?
- What are the treatments for lupus?
- 1. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- 2. Antimalarial drugs
- 3. Corticosteroids
- 4. Immunosuppressants
- Complications and health problems that can arise due to lupus
- How to live life with lupus?
- Foods that are recommended and avoided for patients with lupus
- Food that is good for people with lupus
- Foods that need to be avoided by people with lupus
Medical Video: Everyone Thinks They Have the Autoimmune Cure | Rant
You may have heard of lupus. Although it is familiar with its name, not many know what lupus really is, what causes it, and how it is treated. So, what is lupus? Can it be cured?
What is lupus?
Lupus is an immune system disorder that occurs in the body. This disease is included in an autoimmune disease that causes damaged body cells and inflammation.
Simply put, lupus is a condition in which the body produces excess antibodies. Under normal circumstances, antibodies function to protect the body from various foreign substances that can cause disease.
However, in people who have lupus (Odapus), the antibodies that they have actually attack the cells of their own body. So that, odapus easily experience infectious and inflammatory diseases - due to healthy cells being attacked by antibodies.
What are the types of lupus?
There are several types of lupus that exist, namely:
- Systemic lupus erthematosus (SLE), is the most common type of lupus. This type of disease attacks various tissues such as joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels.
- Discoid lupus erthematosus, is a type of lupus that attacks skin tissue, causing rashes.
- Neonatal lupus is lupus that attacks newborns. This disease is experienced by babies born to mothers who have antibody abnormalities.
- Lupus due to medication, this disorder is usually only experienced in a short time. So some drugs may cause side effects whose symptoms resemble those of lupus. The patient's condition will improve if the use of the drug is stopped.
- Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, is lupus which makes the skin tissue scar and burn when exposed to sunlight.
How often does lupus occur?
Lupus is a rare disease. Although the exact figure is not yet known, in Indonesia alone, there are around 12,700 people experiencing this disease in 2012. The incidence of this disease then increased to 13,300 in 2013.
Most people who have lupus are women. It is reported that as many as 90% of cases of lupus occur in women. The reason for this is not known until now. However, a study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Disease states that this is related to the gene chromosomes of women.
In addition, most cases of lupus are detected in patients aged 15-45 years. However, it does not rule out the possibility that this condition occurs in children and the elderly.
What are the symptoms and characteristics of lupus?
Lupus is a disease known as '1000 face disease'. This term arises due to this chronic disease causing symptoms and signs that are almost similar to other diseases. So, this disease tends to be difficult to detect early. The following are some of the symptoms and signs that are usually experienced by odapus, according to the American College of Rheumatology:
- Joint pain
- Swollen joints
- The mouth or nose has wounds that don't heal for days to months.
- In the urine there is blood or even protein (proteinuria)
- There are rashes on various skin surfaces
- Hair loss
- Fever
- Convulsions
- Chest pain and difficulty breathing due to inflammation of the lungs
If you experience at least 4 symptoms and signs, then you should immediately consult a doctor.
What are the causes of lupus?
Lupus is a chronic disease caused by a disorder in the body, so it is definitely not the main cause of the virus or bacteria. In fact, experts don't know exactly what causes lupus. There are many factors that might cause this. However, several theories state that lupus is caused by the interaction of genes, hormones, and the environment.
1. Genetic factors
Researchers from the John Hopkins Center, were first attracted by the causes of lupus, from the relationship between family genes and sufferers. In fact, the presence of lupus sufferers in a family can increase the tendency of lupus in other family members. In addition, family members of people with lupus, when conducting medical tests, tend to be positive.
Then, with the presence of genes that trigger the development of a disease, it does not mean that the person can be directly affected or can inherit lupus. On the other hand, the researchers believe that the cause of lupus has something to do with poor environmental conditions. But unfortunately, they still cannot determine which of the most powerful factors causes a person to suffer from lupus.
2. Hormones
In fact, women are 9 times more likely to develop lupus than men. This phenomenon can be explained by sex hormones produced by the female and male immune systems, both of which are clearly different. The female body produces and uses more estrogen, while the male body depends on a hormone called androgen.
Estrogen is known as a hormone "immuno-enhancing", Which means that women have a stronger immune system than men, given the evolutionary need for women to survive, play a role in giving birth, and nurture their children. But as a result, when the immune system attacks the body, women will experience it more easily autoimmune disease.
3. Environment
In addition, several environmental factors have been linked to causes of lupus. Researchers have linked lupus and various environmental poisons, such as cigarette smoke, sodium silica gel, and mercury. Virus shingles (the virus that causes herpes zoster), and inflammation of cytomegalovirus is also one of the causes of someone getting lupus.
What are the factors that increase the risk of getting lupus?
Apart from these three factors, there are a number of other things that might make a person more at risk of getting lupus. Anything?
- Gender. It is known that women are more prone to lupus than men. This is related to genetics in a woman's body.
- Race. Lupus is more vulnerable to people who have Asian and African races.
- Taking drugs. Some types of anti-seizure drugs, blood pressure medication, until antibiotics, can trigger the appearance of lupus when they stop taking medication.
- Sun exposure. Sun exposure can cause sores on the skin that can trigger lupus due to vulnerable organs or cells in the body.
How do doctors diagnose lupus?
Not only because it has 1000 faces, but also lupus is present in different conditions for everyone. This makes lupus more difficult to detect.
Until now there is no specific examination that can detect lupus. Even so, doctors will usually advise patients to take several tests, such as urine tests, blood tests, and antibody tests.
To diagnose whether a person has lupus, doctors will also usually see a family health history, conduct a general health examination, and advise patients to undergo a skin and kidney biopsy.
What are the treatments for lupus?
Until now, lupus is a disease that has not been found. So people who experience lupus cannot be completely cured. However, patients will still receive treatment. The treatment is aimed at:
- Prevents symptoms from lupus
- Reducing various symptoms of lupus
- Reducing organ damage and other problems
- Reduces swelling and pain
- Calms the immune system
- Reducing or preventing joint damage
- Avoid complications
Usually the treatment is done by giving the patient medication to relieve symptoms or other health problems. Drugs given such as:
1. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
This drug includes a painkiller that is usually given to odapus to treat the pain, fever, and swollen joints that he experienced. Examples of NSAIDs are naproxen, ibuprofen, and motrin.Most NSAIDs don't require a doctor's prescription, but some drugs that have strong doses and side effects must use a prescription.
2. Antimalarial drugs
This drug is actually used to prevent and treat malaria. But in this case, malaria medicine is needed by Odapus to treat symptoms of joint pain, skin rash, inflammation of the lining of the heart, and fever - which also usually occurs in malaria patients.
In fact, various studies have shown that lupus patients who are given malaria medicine have a higher life expectancy than those not given by this drug. The types of malaria drugs given are Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), Chloroquine (Aralen), Quinacrine (Atabrine).
3. Corticosteroids
This type of drug is needed by lupus patients to prevent inflammation that is very vulnerable to the body. However, corticosteroid drugs have long-term side effects such as increasing body weight, making bones more porous, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
4. Immunosuppressants
Immunosupressant drugs work to suppress the immune system. Of course, this type of drug is needed by the odapus, whose immune system is too dominant. Several types of drugs are usually used, namely azathioprine (Imuran, Azasan), mycophenolate (CellCept), leflunomide (Arava) and methotrexate (Trexall).
Long-term use of immunosupressant drugs can cause liver damage, reduce fertility, and increase cancer risk. while, short-term side effects that may occur are nausea, diarrhea, and fever.
Complications and health problems that can arise due to lupus
Lupus is a disease that disrupts the immune system, so that many other systems or tissues of the body experience interference. There are several complications that may occur in Odapus, namely:
- Kidney failure
- Blood disorders, such as anemia
- High blood pressure
- Vasculitis, inflammation of blood vessels
- Memory disorders
- Experiencing behavior changes, such as frequent hallucinations
- Seizures
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Problems with the lungs, for example inflammation of the lining of the lungs and pneumonia
- Easily attacked by various infectious diseases
- Cancer
How to live life with lupus?
Although lupus is an incurable disease, odapus can still live peacefully and reduce the risk of disorders that may arise. The following are some things that Odapus can do to prevent complications from appearing and can live peacefully with lupus:
- Exercise regularly. Odapus are susceptible to joint and bone disorders. Keep doing sports with ruti can help him to maintain healthy bones and joints.
- Quit smoking. smoking will only make the disease worse, because it can increase the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and pneumonia.
- Get enough rest and avoid stress. Stress will only make the symptoms of lupus worse. Therefore, the odapus must rest a lot and avoid stress.
- Understand the body. Patients with lupus must know when the symptoms of lupus appear and what triggers them out. For example, fatigue arises, then the odapus should immediately rest enough and stop all activities first.
- Avoid sun exposure. Sunlight can aggravate the skin rash that occurs. If you are forced to leave during the day, you should use a sunscreen to protect the skin.
Foods that are recommended and avoided for patients with lupus
Food also affects the condition of lupus. There are symptoms that relieve, but there are also those that worsen the symptoms of lupus. Therefore, Odapus must be smart in choosing the right food. Then just the foods that are recommended and challenged if you have lupus?
Food that is good for people with lupus
Foods that contain certain nutrients can reduce or even prevent symptoms of lupus. The following are the types of food needed by Odapus:
1. Foods with high antioxidants
Odapus is prone to inflammation, so foods that contain high antioxidants must be in the food menu. Antioxidants can prevent and reduce inflammation in the body. This substance can be found in fruits and vegetables.
2. Foods that contain omega-3
Foods like salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel are examples of foods that are rich in omega-3. This type of good fat is needed by Odapus to prevent complications such as heart disease and stroke.
3. Foods with high calcium and vitamin D
One of the common problems in people with lupus is bone disorders, such as fragility, and joint problems. To reduce this risk, odapus requires calcium and vitamin D which can strengthen bones and is good for joints. Both of these nutrients can be found in milk and processed foods, dark green vegetables, and nuts such as soybeans and almonds.
Foods that need to be avoided by people with lupus
Meanwhile, there are foods that actually worsen the symptoms and even increase the risk of complications in odapus. What foods are challenged if you get lupus?
1. Foods with saturated fats and high trans fats
Saturated fat and trans fat will only make lupus symptoms worse, because it increases the chances of other chronic diseases, such as strokes. Therefore, avoid foods that contain these substances, such as fried foods, fast food, fat in meat, chicken skin, and innards.
2. Foods that contain too much sodium
Foods that are high in sodium such as packaged foods and salty foods must also be avoided by Odapus. Sodium also makes odapus increasingly vulnerable to heart disease, even heart failure.
3. Foods that contain onions
Onions are always used as the main kitchen spice that you can't miss. However, if you experience odapus, you should avoid foods that have onions in it. Because, according to research, onions have an impact on the immune system.
Onions can increase the number of white blood cells, where these cells are the main cells of the immune system. The more white blood cells the stronger the immune system. Of course, this will backfire for people who have lupus.
