PoWer In Purple: The Fight Against Lupus

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THE FIGHT AGAINST LUPUS

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Let’s make our mark on lupus and support of the mission of the Lupus Foundation of America! The goal is raise to critical funds for the estimated 1.5 million people living with lupus in the United States. Together we will raise money, have fun and support the Foundation's efforts to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus!

Did you know?

• Lupus is a complex disease that is hard to define. It strikes without warning, affects each person differently, and has no known causes or cure.

• While lupus mainly affects women between the ages of 15-44, men and children are not spared.

• Lupus symptoms can be severe and highly unpredictable and can damage any organ or tissue, from the skin or joints to the heart or kidneys.

• Only one drug has ever been developed and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration specifically to treat lupus.

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What is lupus?

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Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs). "Chronic" means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years.

In lupus, something goes wrong with the immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs ("foreign invaders," like the flu). Normally our immune systems produce proteins called "antibodies" which protect the body from these invaders.

"Autoimmunity" means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues ("auto" means "self"). As a result, it creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue.

These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.

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Additional facts about lupus that you should know:

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• Lupus is not contagious, not even through sexual contact. You cannot "catch" lupus from someone or "give" lupus to someone.

• Lupus is not like or related to cancer. Cancer is a condition of malignant, abnormal tissues that grow rapidly and spread into surrounding tissues. Lupus is an autoimmune disease, as described above. However, some treatments for lupus may include immunosuppressant drugs that are also used in chemotherapy.

• Lupus is not like or related to HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). In HIV or AIDS the immune system is underactive; in lupus, the immune system is overactive.

• Lupus can range from mild to life-threatening and should always be treated by a doctor. With good medical care, most people with lupus can lead a full life.

 

Let's work towards ending this cycle now!