Most Americans likely can describe warning signs and health risks associated with breast cancer and heart disease, but relatively few people are aware of another potentially fatal disease that disproportionately strikes young women. The disease is lupus.

Although more than 1.5 million Americans have lupus, the public mostly is unaware of the potentially disabling and life-altering health effects of the disease.  Lupus develops when the immune system goes out of balance, causing it to become destructive to any major organ or tissue in the body, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, and joints.

May is Lupus Awareness Month and the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA), Philadelphia Tri-State Chapter will host a variety of activities to highlight lupus as a significant public health issue that affects people of all races and ethnicities.

Why is awareness of lupus important? To save lives! Consider these facts:

• Lupus can attack the body for years before the disease is diagnosed. Symptoms of lupus mimic common illnesses and often are dismissed as nothing serious.
• More than half of the people with lupus suffer four or more years and visit three or more doctors before receiving a correct diagnosis. 
• Awareness of lupus is lowest among women 18-24, the age group most likely to develop the disease.  
• Late diagnosis and delayed treatment contribute to poor outcomes and increased morbidity and mortality.  
• Lupus is a serious disease that can damage vital organs, such as the kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain. The disease can cause seizures, strokes, heart attacks, miscarriages, and organ failure leading to significant disability or death.
  

But there is hope.

Early diagnosis and proper medical care greatly improve the quality of life for people with lupus. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration recently approved the drug BENLYSTA, the first treatment approved for lupus in over 52 years.  “This is a historic time for those living with the challenges of lupus and their families who have waited more than half a century for a treatment breakthrough in lupus,” said Annette Myarick, CEO of the LFA’s Philadelphia Tri-State Chapter. “This is a significant first step toward reaching our goal of developing an arsenal of safe, effective, and tolerable treatments.”

For information about lupus or available programs and services, contact the LFA Philadelphia Tri-State Chapter at 866-517-5070 or visit lupustristate.org.

The Lupus Foundation of America, Philadelphia Tri-State Chapter is a nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus, and providing support, services, and hope to all people affected by lupus.  Providing services in southern NJ, southeastern PA and DE, the Chapter is a member of the LFA national network of chapters that operate programs of research, education, support and advocacy.