What is lupus and what are its symptoms
Singer and actress, Toni Braxton has struggled with the disease for years.
From Huffingtion Post
Lupus is a disease that can be debilitating and can be mild or severe. The disease is an inflammatory condition in which the immune system begins to attack the body’s tissues and organs.
Lupus is often difficult to diagnose because it has so many different symptoms that often seem like those of other diseases.
Singer and actress, Toni Braxton has struggled with the disease for years. The singer even reduced her appearances on her family’s popular reality show “The Braxtons”. Toni has even announced that she will no longer pursue a singing career and will instead focus on her health and wellness.
No two cases of lupus are exactly alike. Signs and symptoms may come on suddenly or develop slowly, may be mild or severe, and may be temporary or permanent. Most people with lupus have mild disease characterized by episodes — called flares — when signs and symptoms get worse for a while, then improve or even disappear completely for a time.
The signs and symptoms of lupus that you experience will depend on which body systems are affected by the disease. The most common signs and symptoms include:
– Fatigue and fever
– Joint pain, stiffness and swelling
– Butterfly-shaped rash on the face that covers the cheeks and bridge of the nose
– Skin lesions that appear or worsen with sun exposure
– Fingers and toes that turn white or blue when exposed to cold or during stressful periods (Raynaud’s phenomenon)
– Shortness of breath
– Chest pain
– Dry eyes
– Headaches, confusion, memory loss
