“I have arthritis in my fingers, and that’s due to my lupus,” Selena Gomez shared. “So, I remember before the brand, I was trying to open a water bottle, and it hurt really bad before I was on the right medication.” And then she explained how she and her team made sure to incorporate designs that would be suitable for anybody who has dexterity problems.
The Only Murders in the Building actor, Selena Gomez, was diagnosed with chronic lupus disease – an autoimmune disease in 2013. Since then, she has been very vocal about her journey with lupus. “Now it just hurts in the morning. When I wake up, I immediately start crying because it hurts – like everything.” She said in her documentary My Mind & Me. The overall symptoms Selena shared on different platforms were: weight gain, arthritis, lupus nephritis, kidney transplant and many mental health problems like Bipolar disorder, Anxiety and depression.
What is lupus disease?
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, a disease in which your immune system, instead of protecting your body, damages it. The organ your immune system targets will eventually show symptoms of lupus disease. Lupus could target your skin, blood, joints, kidneys, brain, heart, and lungs.
Types of lupus:
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common type and occurs when our immune system targets organ systems throughout the body.
Cutaneous lupus erythematosus: when only skin is affected.
Drug-induced lupus: when certain medications cause lupus symptoms as a side effect. It usually disappears as the medication stops.
Neonatal lupus: when a child is born with lupus. Chances are high for babies whose parents already have lupus.
What symptoms to look for?
Image credit: cleveland clinic webpage
Image credit: Cleveland Clinic webpage
Its symptoms are usually intermittent and are called flare-ups. At the time of flare-up, intense symptoms usually occur that might affect the patient’s daily routine. Mild or no symptoms may also occur during a period of remission. Its symptoms usually develop slowly.
How to diagnose lupus?
It can be easily diagnosed by physical exam and some tests.
Blood test: to check for any infection and how your immune system is working, or to look for issues like anaemia or low blood counts.
Urinalysis: to look for signs of infection or other health issues in your urine, as the kidneys could also be affected by lupus.
Antinuclear antibody (ANA) test: to look for protein markers (antibodies) that can indicate your history of fighting infections. A lupus patient deals with a highly active immune system.
What are the current treatments?
The healthcare provider will refer you to treatments that will help manage and minimise symptoms. The main goal of treatment is for a lupus patient to live a normal life as much as possible. These are a few ways to treat lupus:
- Hydroxychloroquine: a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug ( DMARD) that slows down lupus progression and relieves its symptoms.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS): they relieve pain and reduce inflammation. It is given based on the patient’s lupus type and is not recommended to take more than 10 days continuously without a proper doctor’s consultation.
- Corticosteroids: These are prescribed to reduce inflammation.
- Immunosuppressants: to manage the immune system from being overactive. Usually, they prevent inflammation and tissue damage.
- There can be other medications based on the patient’s specific lupus.
It is important to learn from our favourite celebrities, not just fashion trends or how to apply make-up, but we must pay attention to how they take care of their body and deal with diseases anyone could have. As Selena advocates, how everyone deals with hard days, she would rather be healthy and take care of herself.
