Now, death is more often due to a heart attack, stroke, or side effects of the drugs taken to control lupus, such as a fatal infection in someone taking immunosuppressants. While the rates of death in the U. There are several steps you can take to improve your chances of avoiding major organ damage and other conditions that shorten life expectancy when you have lupus.
The number one thing you can do is educate yourself about lupus and learn how it affects you personally. This allows you to communicate better with your health care team. Other steps you can take include:. Your doctor may also recommend certain lifestyle changes to help you better control your lupus, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising, not smoking, and resting when you are tired.
By providing your email address, you are agreeing to our privacy policy. We never sell or share your email address. All rights reserved. Always consult your doctor about your medical conditions. Use of the site is conditional upon your acceptance of our terms of use. Lupus Life Expectancy. By Editorial Team November 15, Vasculitis, or inflammation of the blood vessels, can cause some headaches.
Lupus can lead to a variety of symptoms in the mouth. Mouth sores, also known as oral lesions or ulcers, are among the most common symptoms and occur in around 4 to 45 percent of people with lupus.
Drugs used to treat lupus, such as corticosteroids, can sometimes cause the side effects of mouth dryness, cold sores , swelling, and yeast infections. Many people with lupus develop skin problems, and rashes or sores are very common.
Up to 70 percent of individuals with lupus are sensitive to ultraviolet UV rays in sunlight. A butterfly-shaped rash appears across the cheeks and nose in around 40 percent of people. This rash is usually either blotchy or red and slightly raised across the whole area. Blood disorders are common in people with lupus. Red blood cell, white blood cell, and platelet disorders occur frequently. Heart disease is not only a major complication of lupus but also the leading cause of death among people with the disease.
People with lupus are more susceptible to coronary heart disease , as they often have more risk factors, such as high blood pressure , high cholesterol , and type 2 diabetes. Around 50 percent of people with lupus experience lung problems. Inflammation can affect the lungs, the lining of the lungs, lung blood vessels, and the diaphragm, causing:.
Lupus that affects the kidneys is called lupus nephritis. It is thought that around 1 in 3 people with lupus might develop this disease. Kidney disease can increase the risk of potentially fatal conditions, such as heart attack and stroke, and might progress to complete kidney failure. The gastrointestinal system stretches from the mouth to the anus. It includes the organs that digest food and drink and dispose of waste.
Many people with lupus experience gastrointestinal problems, as an effect of the disease and a side effect of the treating medication. For more than half of people who develop lupus, joint pain is one of the first symptoms they may experience. More than 90 percent of people with lupus have joint and muscle pain at some stage of the condition.
Other muscles and bone issues arise from lupus, including tendonitis , bursitis , carpal tunnel syndrome , and osteoporosis. Women with lupus have a higher risk of pregnancy complications, such as miscarriage, premature birth, and preeclampsia. Corticosteroid medications can cause high blood pressure in pregnant woman and increase their risk of gestational diabetes. Many women who have lupus give birth to full-term babies without any difficulties. Women with lupus should contact their doctor before becoming pregnant to ensure the best possible outcome for both mother and child.
While many people with now have a normal life expectancy, it is also important to ensure that they keep quality of life to a maximum. Living with lupus can be challenging.
Some of the medications that treat the disease can cause other problems. To enjoy a good quality of life with lupus, it is important to work with a doctor and ensure the right balance of drugs. Today, with careful treatment, 80 to 90 percent of people with lupus can expect to live a normal lifespan. Lupus commonly causes some amount of inflammation. Sometimes lupus can flare up, making symptoms worse.
Flares can include joint pain, skin rash, and organ troubles, particularly in the kidneys. Medication and lifestyle changes can control flares and prevent them from causing lasting organ damage. Kidneys are the organs most commonly affected by lupus. Long-term inflammation in the kidneys causes damage. If enough of the kidney becomes scarred, it will begin to lose function.
By catching a flare-up early and treating it with the right medications, you can protect your kidneys from damage. Now that severe lupus is treated aggressively, people are no longer dying from lupus itself or from kidney failure. However, people with lupus are still at increased risk of heart disease.
Lupus can cause inflammation of the heart, resulting in an increased rate of heart attacks and artery disease, even in young patients in their 20s. Inflammation of the lining around the heart can also cause chest pain pericarditis.
People with lupus have a greater likelihood of developing anemia or blood clots. Some people with lupus also have antiphospholipid antibody syndrome APS. APS increases the risk of developing blood clots and miscarriages. Sometimes, the inflammation occurs in the brain. This can cause headaches, mental problems like memory loss or poor concentration, seizures, meningitis, or even a coma. Some lupus patients also experience changes in their mood, particularly with irritability, depression, and anxiety.
Some lupus patients develop inflammation in the lining around the lungs. This is called pleuritis.
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