AWARENESS 4 LIFE!

 

· Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which a person's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, cells, and organs.

· Symptoms are unpredictable and can range from extreme fatigue, skin rashes, severe joint inflammation and muscle pain to organ failure and even death.

· Lupus is not a rare disease, it is estimated 1.5 million Americans suffer from lupus -- more people than suffer from diseases such as leukemia, and cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and cystic fibrosis combined.

· The exact cause of lupus is unknown; however, research suggests it is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors (e.g., infection, sunlight, stress) that trigger the disease in susceptible individuals.

Who is most often affected?

Women

· Of the estimated 16,000 Americans who develop lupus each year, more than 90 percent are

women in their child-bearing years between the ages of 15 and 45.

· Women who have lupus and become pregnant are more likely to develop preeclampsia, a serious condition that causes high blood pressure and problems with the kidneys and other organs.

· Women who have lupus are at greater risk of developing other diseases; osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes and are 50 times more likely of having a heart attack than women of a similar age.

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     Lupus will affect almost everyone in our community in one way or another. You may have a friend, loved one, or a co-worker that lives with, or knows of, someone with this disease. We would like to bring more awareness and education to more people in our community through inspiration and motivation. 
     Lupus does no discriminate, as it affects all races and creeds, and therefore, we need to extend the knowledge that is available to our community. The East Texas Lupus, Autoimmune, and Invisible Diseases Organization was launched so that we can Educate, Motivate, and Inspire through Awareness. 
      We would like to educate those living with Lupus, and their family or friends, to give them the tools to live a better quality of life. The events that we offer are created to break the monotony of everyday life when living with this illness, as well as educate our community of the struggles. Our goal is to present support for Lupus patients in the form of support groups, financial assistance, and resources to find reputable medical care. We hope to inspire patients, to give them the strength to realize that life goes on, even on the bad days. We must make the best of EVERY DAY, and the best way to do that is with the knowledge and support of the people surrounding us.
     Understanding what a patient, and their loved ones, go through on a daily basis may make more resources available. The more support we can acquire, whether it be money, time, or finding the right physician, the more lives we can save. 
 

 

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