Common Conditions Related to Lupus

Katy is a chatty, young teenager who enjoys watching car races on the weekends. One day, she woke up and noticed a discoid rash on her face. Here she was thinking she was young and healthy, then the doctors performed a skin biopsy and declared she actually had lupus. After a solid diagnosis, she began to feel better by making lifestyle changes and undergoing treatment. She hopes to be a pediatrician someday in one of the best hospitals in California. She believes she’ll be good at empathizing with children because of everything she’s been through after the lupus verdict. Katy tries her best to overcome the stresses and pain of this disease. Her family found a good doctor who helped her with the initial symptoms. Changing her food habits, and sitting and finding time to rest brought about some positive changes. But not too long after, she began experiencing other health problems like clinical depression, hair loss, and fatigue. Below are some of the associated issues one can experience concurrently with lupus:

• Depression: Lupus can lead to changes in the mind of the affected individual, causing the development of mental disorders like depression. Depression is known to persist in individuals due to the intake of corticosteroids. In such cases, it is important to speak to the doctor to see if the individual needs another medication to deal with the depression.
• Damage to the kidneys: Lupus would not directly cause any harm to the kidneys, but the drugs that are generally prescribed to treat this disease are known to cause some type of infection. This is troublesome for lupus patients whose immune systems are already attacking their own bodies, including the organs and healthy tissues.
• Issues related to the skin: Most individuals who have lupus are known to suffer from certain effects on the skin as well. Lesions and rashes are two of the most common conditions that can occur due to lupus. They are known to mostly affect regions such as the neck, face, legs, and arms, which are easily exposed to the sun.
• Damage caused by the sun: Those who are sensitive to sunlight should always be sure to apply sunscreen at least thirty minutes before stepping out into the sun to protect them from the harmful UVA and UVB rays. Try to quit smoking as well and apply a cortisone ointment to improve any lesions as well as slow the progression of the disease.
• Pain in the joints: This is a commonly seen problem in lupus patients, wherein there is pain in the small joints of the feet and hands, and this pain can shift from one joint to another. In certain cases, it can also lead to altering of the shape of their joints.
• Increase in weight: An individual’s weight can increase due to the intake of corticosteroids, so one should consider cutting down on calories and instead try to engage in exercises as per the body’s capabilities.
• Decrease in weight: The intake of certain medications can also lead to a loss of appetite in the individual, so you should check with the doctor and talk about alternative medicines that would be suitable for the stomach as well.
• Lungs and heart: Lupus patients can also experience inflammation of the heart and lungs. It usually occurs at the lining tissues, leading to breathlessness and a feeling of tightness in the chest. This can cause large quantities of fluid to build up, which can worsen the breathlessness issue.
• Feeling extremely tired: Most people with lupus complain of fatigue and tiredness at some point during their time with the disease. To recover from this fatigue or tiredness, they should take a nap for an hour or two.
• Issues concerning the thyroid: Most lupus patients also suffer from thyroid issues. This problem is known to effect the individual’s kidneys, liver, brain, and heart. The body can also produce excess thyroid hormones or, conversely, there can be complaints of an underactive thyroid.