6 Common Myths Associated with Lupus
An autoimmune disorder, lupus, causes the body’s immune system to mistakenly target healthy tissues, including skin, joints, kidneys, the brain, and other organs repeatedly over time. The disease’s manifestations and consequences can vary considerably from patient to patient. You must arm yourself with information to know as much as possible about the Lupus Barker Cypress condition. Learning the truth about the illness and dispelling common myths can equip you to discuss your diagnosis with loved ones and seek the best treatment options with your doctor.
Some common misconceptions about lupus are listed below.
- Lupus is a cancerous condition
Even though some individuals, like Selena Gomez, need chemotherapy to manage their lupus, the disease is not cancer. Lupus is a kind of autoimmunity. In healthy people, the immune system primarily targets harmful microorganisms; however, in lupus patients, the immune system mistakenly assaults healthy tissue as well. Because of the immune system suppression and inflammatory dampening effects of chemotherapy, medicines are sometimes used to treat lupus. Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®), an immunosuppressant, is used in chemotherapy and the treatment of lupus.
- Lupus is an uncommon illness
Not true. It is estimated that there are 5 million persons with lupus across the globe and that 16,000 new cases are identified each year. As many as 1 in 537 African American women in the United States have lupus. Many medical professionals believe that the actual prevalence of lupus is far higher than currently estimated.
- Those who have lupus are unable to have children. Birth abnormalities are a possible consequence of lupus.
More than half of pregnant women with lupus have healthy infants. Occasionally, infants born to mothers with lupus may acquire the disease or be born with congenital heart abnormalities. It is recommended that women with lupus seek the care of an obstetrician who is familiar with handling complicated pregnancies.
- Lupus is similar to the HIV
Even though both lupus and HIV affect the immune system, HIV has the opposite effect of lupus. If you have HIV, your immune system is compromised, and you won’t be able to fight off infections and other harmful microbes properly. However, in those with lupus, the immune system becomes hyperactive, mistakenly targeting healthy tissues and organs.
- Lupus only affects females; it never manifests in males.
Some males have lupus, even though women are four to twelve times more likely to be diagnosed with the condition. During the reproductive years, the situation is more common in women (ages 14-44). Lupus is more common in women of color (African-American, Asian, Native American, and Hispanic) than among white women.
- Lupus tends to strike those with a family history of the disease
A definitive etiology for lupus has not been identified by medical science. Some have lupus in their family, and others have never heard of anybody in their family with the condition. Only around one in ten persons with lupus can point to a close relative with the disease. Most scientists now agree that genetics play some part in determining who gets lupus, but other environmental variables either enhance susceptibility or cause the illness.
The numerous false beliefs regarding lupus may be dispelled with knowledge. Fighting lupus is arduous, but it does not get any easier when others who are not familiar with the disease pass judgment on you.