Dedicated to Lupus Awareness
Source: Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., Lupus Fact Sheet
Provided by the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.
Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease which causes inflammation of various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys. The immune system normally protects the body against viruses, bacteria and other foreign materials. In an autoimmune disease like lupus, the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference between foreign substances and its own cells and tissues. The immune system then makes antibodies directed against "self."
Lupus is NOT infectious, rare or cancerous.
The Lupus Foundation of America market research data show that between 1.4 million and 2 million people have been diagnosed with lupus. (Study conducted by Bruskin/Goldring Research, 1994.)
Although the cause of lupus is unknown, scientists suspect that individuals are genetically predisposed to lupus, and know that environmental factors such as infections, antibiotics, ultraviolet light, extreme stress and certain drugs play a critical role in triggering lupus.
Lupus affects 1 out of every 185 Americans. Although lupus can occur at any age, and in either sex, 90% of people with lupus are women and during the child bearing years lupus strikes women 10-15 times more frequently than men. Lupus is more prevalent in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Asians.
Only 10% of people with lupus will have a close relative (parent or sibling) who already has or may develop lupus. Only about 5% of the children born to individuals with lupus will develop the illness.
Lupus can be difficult to diagnose as the symptoms come and go and mimic many other illnesses. Some symptoms of lupus can be transient joint and muscle pain, fatigue, a rash caused by or made worse by sunlight, low grade fevers, hair loss, pleurisy, appetite loss, sores in the nose or mouth or painful sensitivity of the fingers to the cold.
Sunlight, infection, injury, surgery, stress or exhaustion can trigger "flare-ups" of lupus (a more active state of the disease).
Although lupus ranges from mild to life-threatening and thousands of Americans die with lupus each year, the majority of cases can be controlled with proper treatment.
Increased professional awareness and improved diagnostic techniques and evaluation methods are contributing to the early diagnosis and treatment of lupus. With current methods of therapy, 80-90% of people with lupus can look forward to a normal lifespan.
While medical science has not yet developed a method of curing lupus, new research brings unexpected findings and increased hope each year.
The Lupus Foundation of America has nearly 100 local chapters directly providing patient services, education, awareness and research in their local areas.
The disease comes in three forms: discoid lupus, which is limited to the skin and often identified by a rash on the face, neck or scalp; systemic lupus, which can affect almost any organ or system of the body; and drug-induced lupus, which presents itself after the use of certain prescribed drugs.
If you want to know more about lupus, contact The Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.
The Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. is the lupus community's advocate on Capitol Hill. Please refer to the Legislative Action Center site to be informed on the current issues being addressed in Congress.
Please write to your two United States Senators and to your U.S. Representative and urge them to support the issues.
We wanted to learn how we could make our voice heard louder to increase public awareness and understanding of the disease. To do this, we conducted extensive research among people with lupus, their families, physicians, scientists, and other stakeholders. We asked them how we should talk about lupus. Their words came through loud and clear. The answer: Identify lupus for what it is -- a disease that is agonizingly puzzling, physically challenging, complex, and hard to define. In short, it is the cruel mystery.
With these clear words, a new look, and new national initiatives, we are stepping-up our efforts as a result of these findings. Help Us Solve the Cruel Mystery™ is the Lupus Foundation of America s new rallying cry to achieve our goals.
To support our efforts, we launched the Help Us Solve the Cruel Mystery™ National Tour, a multi-city education and awareness initiative designed to engage the public, healthcare providers, Members of Congress, and those with the disease to join the fight to end lupus. You can learn more about this exciting program and how you can join the fight by visiting the campaign website at cruelmystery.org.
As you know, our mission is to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus through a comprehensive program of research, education, and advocacy. This mission is not changing. Together we will lead the fight to find the causes and cure for lupus. To learn more, visit our web site lupus.org.
Together, we can help solve this cruel mystery. Encourage your Representative to support this bill! Thank you.
Physicians in your area are currently seeking volunteers to participate in a new clinical research study.
The ILLUMINATE research studies will help researchers learn more about an investigational study drug being evaluated for individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus. To find out more information, including the eligibility requirements for volunteer participants, go to the study website www.illuminatestudies.com/ or the Foundation s CTTE website at www.lupus.org/clinicaltrials/Illuminate.html.
You can join the Foundation's Lupus Research Registry to be alerted to additional research opportunities.
A Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations bill that includes $$5 million in funding for the Lupus Research Program in 2018 was just passed today by the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee. This funding is in addition to the $5 million that Congress provided earlier this year for 2017.
The additional funding for the Lupus Research Program brings the two-year total for the program to $10 million and comes just two days after the Lupus Foundation of America s (Foundation) National Policy Summit and Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill. This funding is critical to the fight against lupus as it will help us learn what causes lupus and can advance the development of new treatments for our military heroes and the 1.5 million Americans living with the disease.
During the Foundation s advocacy day this week,our lupus activists visited more than 200 Congressional offices and sent over 5,500 emails reaching nearly 400 U.S. Representatives and 98 U.S. Senators, all in an effort to urge their Members of Congress to increase funding for lupus research and ensure access to quality health care. Lupus advocates year-round grassroots efforts made a significant impact on the Committee s decision to continue funding for the Lupus Research Program.
We also thank the leaders of the House Appropriations Committee, including Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), and the Congressional Lupus Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Thomas J. Rooney (R-FL), Rep. William Keating (D-MA), Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) for championing this funding increase for lupus research.
For a historical timeline of our more than decade-long advocacy work to establish the Lupus Research Program at the DoD, please visit our website and
Next Steps The bill now moves to the House floor for a vote.The Senate has yet to act on its version of the legislation, which is expected later this year. Please follow us on Twitter and Facebook , and sign up to become a lupus activist to stay up-to-date on the latest news from Washington and to learn when your outreach to Congress can make the most impact in the fight against lupus.
Very Important - Read about light bulbs and your health.
Very Important - Read about UV Exposure.
Wear one of the Awareness Items. You can purchase them from The Lupus Foundation of America Store.
"Walk for Lupus Now"™
Join the Lupus Foundation of America and Walk for Lupus Now™ to bring us one step closer to finding a cure! Walk to make a difference in the lives of people affected by lupus and raise urgently needed funds for research, education, and support services.
Lupus Clinical Trials (Lupus patients needed for research studiesFhow )
About Cyndee Miller - Living with lupus over 50 years
Impact of Cyndee's Lupus On Her Family
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