What is Lupus?
Lupus is an long-standing, autoimmune disease that attacks the immune system and damages the body. Due to how Lupus affects the body, there are few treatments and almost no cures.
Autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune diseases are diseases that resemble the healthy tissue in one's body. Since the immune system cannot distinguish between the foreign disease and the body's healthy cells and tissues. The immune system then attempts to create antibodies to fight the disease however ends up creating autoantibodies that attack the body's immune system, weakening and destroying it.
Because the body is unable to fight the disease and the immune system is damaged, it is very difficult to treat and nearly impossible to cure.
How Long Does it Last?
Different illnesses last for differing amounts of time. Lupus is categorized as a chronic disease. This means that it is a long-term disease.
Chronic diseases can last anywhere from 6 weeks long to many, many years.
Areas on the Body
Lupus can affect almost any part of the body including the tendons, skin, joints, blood vessels and organs.
Lupus can affect vital organs including the heart, brain, kidneys and lungs.
When Lupus damages the brain, it can affect the nervous system as well, which is responsible for controlling body parts and for the communication between these parts.