Lupus

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). It’s consider a chronic disease because the signs and symptoms usually last longer than six weeks and in many cases for many years. When the disease appears, something goes wrong with the immune system, which is the system of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs. When the immune system is working correctly it produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. An autoimmune disease means the immune system cannot tell the difference between the foreign invaders and the body’s healthy tissues and creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body causing mild to life threating conditions.