What in the world is Lupus? Most people have never heard of this chronic disease and are totally unaware of its effects.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease. In an individual with lupus, their immune system, which normally serves to fight off bad stuff (viruses, bacteria,etc…), begins to attack the good stuff (skin, joints, etc…). Lupus can cause inflammation, pain, and damage to various parts of the body.
Some quick facts about Lupus (courtesy of the Lupus Foundation of America):
- Lupus affects at least 1.5 million Americans.
- Women of color at 2-3 times more likely to develop lupus.
- More than 16,000 new cases of lupus are reported around the country each year.
For more information on Lupus visit the Lupus section on the related links page of our website: http://moarthritis.typepad.com/mo_arthritis/others.html