Although there are several kinds of Lupus, most of the time when people say that they have it, they are referring to the form called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It can affect any part of the body, and the symptoms can range from barely noticeable (such as a slight fever) to extremely serious (such as psychoses). Lupus is a chronic disorder that can cause kidneys, joints, blood vessel walls, connecting tissues and mucous membranes to become inflamed. It is an autoimmune disorder, meaning that the antibodies produced by the immune system attack the very body parts that they are suppossed to protect rather than attacking invasive foreign infectious agents.

Young women of childbearing age make up about 90% of the people that have lupus, and it is more common in Asians and blacks. It is not known what causes lupus, and scientists are working diligently for a cure. If the cause is genetic, then it may be just a matter of time before the cause can be isolated and a cure can be found. Doctors think that you can genetically have a predisposition for lupus, but you won't inherit lupus itself. Other possible causes are viruses, certain medications, and ultraviolet light.

People with the disease may go through long periods with little or no symptoms, then they will have what are called flares, in which the illness becomes more prominent and unpredictable. In spite of this, people with Lupus can have a high quality of life. The best thing for a person to do is to see a health care provider regularly to monitor the disease. Only seeing a doctor when lupus flares up is generally not helpful. A person with lupus should learn to recognize the warning signs of a flare up so that they can get attention before the symptoms get too severe.

Since people with lupus run a higher risk of illnesses such as heart disease, good diet and exercise are extremely important. Learn more about how lupus is diagnosed or the treatment for lupus.