What Is Lupus?

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

WHEATON s ROCKVILLE s CHEVY CHASE s WASHINGTON, DC What is Lupus? By Guada Respicio, MD, MS, FACR Arthritis and Rheumatism Associates, PC Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), among those of non-Caucasian or lupus, is a systemic autoimmune descent, with those of African heritage ARTHRITIS condition that can affect any part of most affected. AND the body. Autoimmune conditions are illnesses that occur when the What are lupus symptoms? RHEUMATISM body’s cells and tissues are attacked by ASSOCIATES, P.C. its own immune system resulting in Patients often report fatigue, low- inflammation and tissue damage. grade-fever, loss of appetite, muscle/ Patients with lupus produce abnormal joint aches, sores in the mouth and antibodies in their blood targeting nose, facial rash over the bridge of tissues (autoantibodies) as opposed to their nose (“butterfly rash”), unusual foreign infectious agents. Patients sensitivity to sunlight, inflammation present with a myriad of complaints of the lining that surrounds the lungs and symptoms; it can affect the skin, and the heart, and poor circulation heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and/or to the fingers and toes with cold nervous system. When localized to exposure (Raynaud’s phenomenon). the skin, without internal disease, it is Complications may occur depending called discoid lupus. Only when on the organ affected and the internal organs are involved is the severity of the disease. Given its condition referred to as systemic heterogeneous presentation, no lupus erythematosus. single test can confirm and establish its diagnosis. A physician who Who gets lupus? specializes in lupus (rheumatologist) will evaluate the patient and make Lupus is predominantly a disease of this clinical diagnosis. women. It may present at any age, although its peak incidence is during What is the treatment for lupus? the childbearing years, between 15 and 45, at which time the female-to- It is a chronic condition hence there male ratio climbs, reaching a peak is no cure for SLE. Its management is ratio of approximately 12 : 1. It occurs individualized, guided by the degree worldwide, although it is likely and severity of specific symptoms and under-recognized and under- organ involvement, with the goal diagnosed in developing countries. focused on relieving symptoms and In the U.S., lupus is most prevalent protecting the organs involved. CENTRAL CALL CENTER 301.942.7600 www.washingtonarthritis.com.

Copy Link

Recommended publications

How to Talk with Your Family About Sjögren's LETTER from SSF CEO
Volume 32, Issue 10 November/December 2014 SjogrensSyndromeFoundation @MoistureSeekers LETTER FROM SSF CEO STEVEN TAYLOR his is the time of the year that we at the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foun- dation look back and give thanks to all of you who have supported Tus throughout the year! Thanks to your generous support, the SSF has continued to soar to new heights as we strive to conquer Sjögren’s. Patient care continues to be a focus of the SSF. With the develop- ment of the SSF’s Clinical Practice Guidelines for Sjögren’s, patients will eventually see standardized care in how healthcare providers treat, manage and monitor their Sjögren’s patients. This initiative marks the first time in the history of the disease that a roadmap for treating Sjögren’s has been developed. The SSF is proud to be the lead organization to make this happen for all Sjögren’s patients, and we couldn’t do it without the support of hundreds of healthcare profes- sionals who, along with the SSF staff, are researching the evidence, discussing the best continued page 2 t How to Talk With Your Family about Sjögren’s here is a growing body of evidence that rich social support networks are Timportant to overall health, immune function and healing. They improve quality of life and facilitate coping with chronic illness. Conversely, negative social interac- tions create a stress response that have the opposite effect. Support from family members and close friends can be one of the most important resources for you to draw on when dealing with Sjögren’s.
[Show full text]
Health by Numbers the Economic Burden of Preventable Chronic
HEALTH BY NUMBERS PUBLIC HEALTH MICHAEL FINE, MD DIRECTOR, RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH EDITED BY SAMARA VINER-BROWN, MS The Economic Burden of Preventable Chronic Diseases in Rhode Island DEBORAH N. PEARLMAN, PhD; DARREN KAW, MPH; SOPHIE O’CONNELL, MA; YONGWEN JIANG, PhD; DONA GOLDMAN, RN, MPH 36 39 EN The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have a myocardial infarction; (2) coronary artery disease; (3) a identified seven chronic conditions where a comprehensive stroke; (4) asthma; (5) arthritis (defined in this questionnaire approach to prevention could save tremendous health care as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, or fibromyalgia); (6) dia- costs and reduce premature disability and death in the US. betes; and 7) high blood pressure. Adults ever diagnosed with These potentially “preventable” chronic diseases include asthma were asked if they still had asthma (current asthma). heart disease, stroke, some cancers, diabetes, arthritis,1 and The presence or absence of each condition was determined asthma.2 by a “yes” or “no” response, respectively. Women reporting In 2014, the Milken Institute study estimated the impact diabetes or high blood pressure only when pregnant were on the US economy of seven chronic diseases – cancer, excluded from these respective variables. diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, pulmonary Cardiovascular disease was based on a “yes” response to conditions, and mental illness – at $1.3 trillion annually.3 having one or more of the following diagnosed conditions: Projected costs were $28 billion more than that forecast in high blood pressure, myocardial infarction, coronary artery 2007.4 The leading drivers of health care costs were increas- disease, or a stroke.
[Show full text]
Digital Medicine's March on Chronic Disease
RE-IMAGINING MEDICINE COMMENTARY Digital medicine’s march on chronic disease Joseph C Kvedar, Alexander L Fogel, Eric Elenko & Daphne Zohar Digital medicine offers the possibility of continuous monitoring, behavior modification and personalized interventions at low cost, potentially easing the burden of chronic disease in cost-constrained healthcare systems. hronic disease affects approximately half surgeries—successfully addressed leading well as 86% of healthcare costs3–5. The United Cof all adult Americans, accounting for at causes of morbidity and mortality of the time States has the highest disease burden of any least seven of the ten leading causes of death (Table 1)1. In contrast, the most pressing issues developed country6. Trends in the above data and 86% of all healthcare spending. The US facing healthcare in the twenty-first century are expected to worsen in the near future. The healthcare system is ill-equipped to handle our are chronic diseases (e.g., respiratory disor- growth in chronic disease prevalence means epidemic of chronic disease. This is because ders, heart disease and diabetes), and many are that, despite increases in average life span, we most chronic disorders develop outside preventable (e.g., through smoking cessation may be experiencing a decrease in average healthcare settings, and patients with these and diet; Table 1; Fig. 1)2. The increase in the health span (the period of a person’s life spent conditions require continuous intervention prevalence of chronic disease is the primary in generally good health)7. to make the behavioral and lifestyle changes contributor to skyrocketing healthcare costs Why are we continuing to lose ground needed to effectively manage disease.
[Show full text]
The Lonely, Isolating, and Alienating Implications of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
healthcare Review The Lonely, Isolating, and Alienating Implications of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Samir Boulazreg 1,* and Ami Rokach 2 1 Faculty of Education, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada 2 Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 17 July 2020; Accepted: 11 October 2020; Published: 20 October 2020 Abstract: This article provides a narrative review on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) through a psychosocial lens and examines how this impairment aﬀects its suﬀerers during adolescence and adulthood, as well as how it impacts family caregivers and healthcare professionals’ mental health. Since there has been a lack of investigation in the literature, the primary psychosocial stressor that this review focuses on is loneliness. As such, and in an attempt to help establish a theoretical framework regarding how loneliness may impact ME/CFS, loneliness is comprehensively reviewed, and its relation to chronic illness is described. We conclude by discussing a variety of coping strategies that may be employed by ME/CFS individuals to address their loneliness. Future directions and ways with which the literature may investigate loneliness and ME/CFS are discussed. Keywords: myalgic encephalomyelitis; chronic fatigue syndrome; loneliness; psychosocial 1. The Lonely, Isolating, and Alienating Implications of ME/CFS Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating neurological disorder known to produce a wide range of devastating symptoms best known to include extreme fatigue, pain, and post-exertional discomfort. Though it is thought to originate from a genetic predisposition and/or an interaction with a host of environmental factors (e.g., frequent injury), the exact precursors of this disorder are still not well-understood [1].
[Show full text]
Mental Health and Chronic Diseases CDC Fact Sheet
Mental Health and Chronic Diseases Issue Brief No. 2 October 2012 Background Chronic diseases are non-communicable illnesses that are prolonged in duration, do not resolve spontaneously, and are rarely cured completely. They are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. They cause 7 out of 10 deaths each year and are among the most preventable and treatable of all health problems (see figure below). Chronic diseases include illness such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and arthritis.1 Mental health disorders are medical conditions that disrupt a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. They are medical conditions that often result in a reduced ability to cope with the routine daily activities such as going to work or raising a family. Just like chronic diseases, mental health disorders are treatable. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental health disorder can receive relief from their symptoms by following a treatment plan specifically designed for them by a trained psychologist or psychiatrist. Mental health disorders are not exclusive to those who exhibit a lack of personal strength, personality traits like being shy, or have a certain socioeconomic status. Mental health disorders include illnesses such as major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. One common finding is that people who suffer from a chronic disease are more likely to also suffer from depression.2 Scientists have yet to determine if having a chronic disease increases the prevalence of depression or depression increases the risk of obtaining a chronic disease.
[Show full text]
Chronic Health Issues
14925 Chronic Health 9/24/04 2:59 PM Page C4 Chronic Health Issues 745 Fifth Avenue, Suite 900 601 E Street, NW New York, NY 10151 Washington, DC 20049 www.dana.org www.aarp.org/nrta D17457(804) 14925 Chronic Health 9/24/04 2:59 PM Page ii f you are living with a chronic health condition, Iyou’re not alone. By some estimates, half of all Americans — 125 million people — suffer from at least one chronic condition. Almost one in four people live with more than one illness. Chronic, by definition, means long-lasting or recurring. Examples of NRTA: AARP’s Educator Community common chronic health conditions include arthritis, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and heart disease. This pamphlet NRTA (www.aarp.org/nrta) is AARP’s educator community. Consistent with AARP’s mission, NRTA is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all as we age, specifically focuses on chronic brain-related disorders, but the general guidelines through a focus on education and learning. NRTA works for positive social change in the provided may apply to any chronic condition. field of education and provides members with valuable information, advocacy, and service initiatives related to learning and education. NRTA provides national leadership through its network of affiliated retired educators’ associations in 50 states and 2,700 communities and For more than one third of Americans — some 40 million people — through its national office at the AARP headquarters in Washington, D.C. The partnership chronic illness takes the form of a brain disorder. These disorders are with the Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives, and the Staying Sharp initiative, recognizes and explores the intimate connection between the brain, human behavior, and the ability to most commonly the result of damage to brain tissues (such as in stroke continue to learn throughout life.
[Show full text]
Everyday Healthy Living
Everyday Healthy Living Do you or someone in your family live with a chronic condition? Chronic diseases—such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, asthma, and arthritis—are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health problems in the U.S. Most households are affected by at least one chronic condition. Manage Risks With Self-Care and Lifestyle Change Daily self-care regimens and healthy lifestyle changes are essential to living with a chronic condition. From diet and physical activity to medications, self-monitoring, and other recommendations, managing chronic conditions requires a comprehensive approach to live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives. And perhaps, healthy living is the best revenge! Living a healthy lifestyle—to either manage or prevent chronic conditions—has been shown to have significant health and economic values. A recent study showed conclusively that you could reduce your risk of diabetes, heart attack, stroke, or cancer by 80% if you would just do 4 things: Engage in regular physical activity. Not smoke. Eat a healthy diet. Avoid becoming obese. Chronic diseases are costly to individuals, families, and companies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that chronic diseases account for 75% of health care spending. According to over 114,000 members who took the Highmark Wellness Profile in 2010, 14% reported having one or two chronic conditions, costing an estimated $31,468,704 ($1,965 per person) in lost productivity (the more chronic conditions, the less productivity.) Self-care and lifestyle change can help control this alarming and costly trend. Know A Few Facts About Chronic Conditions • FACT: 7 OUT OF 10 deaths among Americans each year are from chronic diseases.
[Show full text]
14 Glossary of Healthcare Terms
Premera Reference Manual Premera Blue Cross 1144 GGlloossssaarryy ooff HHeeaalltthhccaarree TTeerrmmss A Accreditation: Health plan accreditation is a rigorous, comprehensive and transparent evaluation process through which the quality of the systems, processes and results that define a health plan are assessed. Acute: A condition that begins suddenly and does not last very long (e.g., broken arm). ‘acute” is the opposite of “chronic.” Acute Care: Treatment for a short-term or episodic illness or health problem. Adequacy: The extent to which a network offers the appropriate types and numbers of providers in a designated geographic distribution according to the relative availability of such providers in the area and the needs of the plan's members. Adjudication: The process of handling and paying claims. Also see Claim. Admission Notification: Hospitals routinely notify Premera of all inpatient admissions that link members to other care coordination programs, such as readmission prevention. The process includes verification of benefits and assesses any need for case management. Advance Directives: Written instructions that describe a member’s healthcare decision regarding treatment in the event of a serious medical condition which prevents the member from communicating with his/her physician; also called Living Wills. Allied Health Personnel: Specially trained and licensed (when necessary) healthcare workers other than physicians, optometrists, dentists, chiropractors, podiatrists, and nurses. Allowable: An amount agreed upon by the carrier and the practitioner as payment for covered services. Alpha Prefix: Three characters preceding the subscriber identification number on Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield plan ID cards. The alpha prefix identifies the member’s Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield plan or national account and is required for routing claims.
[Show full text]
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Acupuncture Added to Usual Treatment for Fibromyalgia
J Rehabil Med 2008; 40: 582–588 ORIGINAL REPORT A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF ACUPUNCTURE ADDED TO USUAL TREATMENT FOR FIBROMYALGIA Rosa Alves Targino, MD, PhD1, Marta Imamura, MD, PhD1, Helena H. S. Kaziyama, MD1, Luiz P. M. Souza, MS1, Wu Tu Hsing, MD PhD1, Andréa D. Furlan, MD, PhD2, Satiko Tomikawa Imamura, MD, PhD3 and Raymundo Soares Azevedo Neto, MD, PhD4 From the 1Division of Physical Medicine, Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, Brazil, 2Institutes for Work & Health, Toronto, Canada, 3Division of Rehabilitation Medicine, Clinics Hospital and 4Department of Pathology, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture for In Brazil, fibromyalgia is estimated to affect 2.5% of the fibromyalgia. population (8). This prevalence is similar to that in other Methods: Fifty-eight women with fibromyalgia were allocat- countries (9–11). ed randomly to receive either acupuncture together with tri- In the year 2000, fibromyalgia was cited as the main cause cyclic antidepressants and exercise (n = 34), or tricyclic anti- of musculoskeletal pain among patients attending the Clinics depressants and exercise only (n = 24). Patients rated their Hospital, in São Paulo, Brazil (12). Despite increasing inter- pain on a visual analogue scale. A blinded assessor evaluated est in and understanding of this complex syndrome, effective both the mean pressure pain threshold value over all 18 fi- and specific treatment is still not available, and there are no bromyalgia points and quality of life using SF-36. US Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments (13, Results: At the end of 20 sessions, patients who received acu- 14).
[Show full text]
How the Current System Fails People with Chronic Illnesses
How the Current System Fails People With Chronic Illnesses Reinhard Priester Robert L. Kane Annette M. Totten Copyright 2005 by the Society of Actuaries. All rights reserved by the Society of Actuaries. Permission is granted to make brief excerpts for a published review. Permission is also granted to make limited numbers of copies of items in this monograph for personal, internal, classroom or other instructional use, on condition that the foregoing copyright notice is used so as to give reasonable notice of the Society's copyright. This consent for free limited copying without prior consent of the Society does not extend to making copies for general distribution, for advertising or promotional purposes, for inclusion in new collective works or for resale. 1 Abstract The Institute of Medicine concluded in 2001 that with regard to quality, “between the health care we have and the care we could have lies not just a gap, but a chasm.” In fact, the chasm is not only over quality. The lack of access, financial barriers, high costs and workforce shortages are among the other dimensions of our health care system that further expose the chasm between “what is” and “what should be.” These deficiencies are particularly troubling for people with chronic conditions who, on average, use the health care system more frequently, consume more health care resources and are more likely to see multiple health care professionals and have long- term relationships with them. When the health care system fails, chronically ill patients are often harmed the most. The foremost reason America’s health care system cannot optimally provide the services needed by people with chronic conditions is that the system remains based on an episodic, acute care medical model.
[Show full text]
The Role of Occupational Therapy in Chronic Disease Management
Fact Sheet Occupational Therapy’s Role with Chronic Disease Management Seventy five percent of health care dollars in the United States go toward treating chronic diseases (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2014). Chronic conditions, such as heart dis- ease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and obesity, are the leading causes of death and disability—and the most preventable (CDC, 2014). A fundamental component of health care reform being implement- ed as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is an enhanced focus on primary care and the utilization of interprofessional teams to achieve the triple aim goals of improving the patient experience, improving the health of populations, and reducing the per capita cost of care. New models of primary care delivery are expected to be the best way to address the needs of the more than 133 mil- lion Americans with one or more chronic conditions as well as to enhance the health and wellness of the population as a whole (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2014). How Does Occupational Therapy Benefit Persons With Chronic Diseases? Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants are health care professionals skilled in prevention, lifestyle modifica- tion, and physical and psychosocial rehabilitation. They focus on enabling individuals to participate in productive and meaning- ful activities of daily life through collaborating with clients and their caregivers during the evaluation and intervention process. This approach is particularly relevant to individuals who need to manage a chronic disease. Depending on the nature and course of the specific condition(s), the occupational therapy goals for clients with chronic health conditions may include but are not limited to the following: • Addressing performance deficits in daily self-care (ADLs) and home management tasks (instrumental ADLs), resulting from specific chronic conditions, to sustain or improve current status in these areas.
[Show full text]
Guiding Principles for the Diagnosis of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Guiding Principles for the Diagnosis of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome The following document is based on input and feedback obtained from a panel of experts using a modified Delphi panel process. These experts were engaged by the Centre for Effective Practice on behalf of the Minis- try of Health and Long-Term Care.1 The following principles represent a suggested approach for the diagnosis of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) in primary care, based on available literature and expert opinion. This resource is intended to help primary care providers diagnose and treat patients with ME/CFS. The key features of ME/CFS are: Fatigue Post-Exertional Malaise • New/defined onset • Worsening of symptoms (e.g. soreness, feeling drained or sick) resulting from minimal physical, • Persistent mental, or cognitive exertion • Not resulting from other diagnoses, medical • Episodes of immobilizing post-exertional physical and/ problems, medications or mental fatigue and/or malaise • Accompanied by malaise and a range of other symptoms Consensus was achieved among the panel to support the use of the Canadian Consensus Definition for ME/ CFS2 or the Institute of Medicine 2015 Criteria for the Diagnosis of ME/CFS.3 Providers may consider using one, or both, of these resources in supporting their diagnosis, depending on their familiarity with ME/CFS.4 Providers may also consider the following in diagnosing patients using these definitions: • Orthostatic intolerance, as listed in the Institute of Medicine definition, may be present in patients but is not essential for a diagnosis of ME/CFS. Similarly, some symptoms listed in the Canadian Consensus Definition (i.e.
[Show full text]