Lupus Symptoms
How can you tell if you have lupus? Well, one way to become familiar with the symptoms of lupus, and compare them with symptoms or physical ailments that you already know. The American College of Rheumatology criteria identified 11 symptoms that may help determine whether a person has lupus. If a person experiences four or more of these indicators, either simultaneously or individually for a period of time, chances are that you have this autoimmune disease.
The criteria outlined by the American College of Rheumatology criteria are:
• Malar rash, rash butterfly-shaped covering your face from the bridge of your nose to your cheeks.
• Discoid rash, a rash characterized by scaly patches on the skin.
• Rashes that appear after you have spent time in the sun.
• Mouth ulcers.
• Pain and swelling in at least two of your joints.
• Swelling around the heart or lungs.
• Kidney disease.
• Neurological disorders such as seizures.
• A low number of red blood cells, platelets or white blood cells.
• Positive test for antinuclear antibodies. This does not mean you have lupus certainly, but signs of lupus are present in your body.
• Blood tests positive may be a sign that you have some type of autoimmune disease. Which again does not surely mean that lupus, but it is a pointer.
So what should you do if you experience symptoms of lupus, or think you may have the disease? Your first step is to consult a doctor. A doctor who specializes in treating lupus, a rheumatologist, to decide whether you can have the disease. And if you receive a positive diagnosis, you can start learning about the disease and are considering treatment options.
Experiencing symptoms of lupus does not mean that it is not necessarily a disease. However, if you have the opportunity that lupus is the best advantage to consult a doctor and find out for sure. Because first you get proper treatment, less invasive status comes into your life.