what is Lupus?

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system to become hyperactive. The Immune system then turns and attacks the body’s normal, healthy tissue and organs. This results in symptoms such as muscle inflammation and cramping, swelling around the body and face, damage to the joints and arthritis, skin rash, kidney disease and failure, blood clotting, pericarditis[1] and pleurisy of the lungs to mention a few. Patients with lupus cannot function normally and have extreme pain and there is no cure for this disease.

[1] Inflammation of the pericardium – the sac which surrounds the heart. Pericarditis causes chest pains. Most cases are due to a viral infection which usually goes away within a few weeks. The only treatment usually needed for ‘viral pericarditis’ is anti-inflammatory medication. The typical symptoms are chest pain and fever [high temperature]. The pain is usually in the middle of the chest or slightly left of centre. It may feel sharp and stabbing.