What Are the Symptoms of Lupus?

A lifelong autoimmune disease, lupus can affect just about any organ in the body. But some organs, such as the heart and lungs, can become inflamed more easily than others.

The symptoms of lupus vary from person to person and are often confusing to doctors because they come and go so quickly. They can also be grouped into different types, depending on how severe the condition is at any one time and where it affects the body.

Your doctor can use a few simple tests to diagnose lupus. These include a blood test, which measures the amount of a protein called C-reactive protein (CRP) in your bloodstream. You may also have a kidney test, a urinalysis, a chest x-ray and a biopsy of your skin, which is taken under the microscope to look for signs of inflammation.

In some cases, your doctor can find out if lupus is affecting your kidneys by using another test that looks at the way red blood cells fall to the bottom of a test tube. If this increases, it can mean lupus is affecting the kidneys and you need to see a kidney specialist.

Some people can have lupus without having any other symptoms, although you should still keep up with your regular check-ups. This is important because you can’t catch lupus by yourself and it can cause serious problems with the kidneys if it goes untreated.

Lupus has many different forms, but they all share the same underlying cause -- an immune system that attacks its own tissues. This attack causes inflammation that can lead to damage in the joints, skin and other parts of the body.

It can also affect the kidneys and the central nervous system. So, it’s crucial to make sure you keep your eye on those systems at all times, especially when you feel ill and have fever.

You can learn more about lupus and other conditions like it by talking to your doctor, looking online or joining a support group for those with the same condition as you. Learning more about lupus can help you to understand what you are going through and make it easier for you to cope with the symptoms.

Having a healthy diet and exercising regularly can help you to manage your condition and prevent the more serious complications that can happen with lupus, such as kidney failure or bone loss. It can also reduce your risk of developing lupus-related heart disease, high blood pressure and other problems.

Your doctor will probably prescribe medicines to treat your lupus. These drugs can help you control the inflammation and prevent damage to your body.

Some medicines can be used to stop the immune system from attacking its own tissues and some can help it get rid of faulty blood cells that trigger an inflammatory response. These medications can help you and your doctor pinpoint exactly where the problem is occurring and give you a better chance of controlling it.