Health
October is National Lupus Awareness Month Early diagnosis provides quality of life and can save lives
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upus Awareness Month -aims to increase understanding amongst the general public – not just medical professionals of what this disease can do and why it’s so key to know the facts. During October we raise awareness about the physical, emotional, and financial impact of lupus. With greater awareness comes better support, resources, and advocacy for people fighting the disease As the Chair of the Lupus Australia I want to Make Lupus Visible by showing the many faces of lupus and the impact of this debilitating disease. We are proud to play a central role in the advancement of patient care by providing much needed support and pathways. We continue to work tirelessly to improve access to clinical trial and bringing patient voices to the decision makers in relation to new drugs and support. Said Barbara Ward. What is Lupus? - Lupus may sound like an exotic, rare disease, but it’s not one to be overlooked. Like many other life-threatening autoimmune diseases, it is important to know the early warning signs of Lupus so that any sufferers may begin battling it early on, even though it’s a very tough disease to identify. “We are working more closely with GP’s for better diagnosis, more support to people with lupus so they can better manage the many challenges of lupus on mental health and its impact on physical function. Lupus
can often be seen on the skin of the face; a bright red rash which runs from the bridge of the nose, under the eyes and across the cheeks. Because of its, this is often known as the ‘butterfly rash’. This butterfly rash is one of the most commonly associated symptoms of the disease – in fact, it is likely to be where it got its name from, with a part of its scientific name lupus erythematosus – ‘erythroid’ being derived from the ancient Greek word for ‘red’.
sufferers have little or no support and they are not eligible for NDIS, and we are working hard to put this on the health agenda so lupus patient’s voices are heard” said Barbara. Lupus can be diagnosed by use of various types of blood testing. However, the Lupus Foundation of America estimates that a massive 5 million people across the world are living with lupus, and a large number of these people don’t even know it. Lupus is an incurable disease, but there do exist treatments which can make living with it more manageable and improve the prognosis of the patient significantly. It cannot be transmitted from person to person, but it does seem to appear more frequently in people who have a history of it in their families. Lupus is a tricky disease to catch because it is often mistaken for other afflictions, which means it can go undetected for years without even the person affected knowing. Amongst other symptoms, sufferers may exhibit a fever, tiredness, an increase in mouth ulcers and may even develop arthritis. A common symptom of a lupus sufferer
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OCTOBER I 2021
World Lupus Federation Board is a global body and I am delighted that I am on that Board, we know it’s only by working together that we will elevate lupus as an international health priority so it gets the attention and resources it deserves, said Barbara Ward. Global survey led by the Lupus Foundation of America and World Lupus Federation to raise global awareness of lupus found that nearly 7 in 10 respondents with lupus reported that the debilitating disease hampers their mobility and nearly 9 in 10 respondents shared that pain from lupus interferes with their normal activities both inside and outside of their homes. People with lupus often suffer from joint pain, extreme fatigue, and organ damage. Lupus can affect one’s mental health as well. The disease has a tendency to flare from time to time, making daily life unpredictable. Simply put, the physical, mental, and social impacts of the disease can greatly affect quality of life. Thank you for all you do every day to support people with lupus the spotlight must remain beyond the World Lupus day and month so that all people with lupus have access to the resources, support and new drugs they need to have a quality of life. www.DesiAustralia.com
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