With it now being May, it is Lupus Awareness Month. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect many different parts of the body. This occurs when the body’s immune system attacks itself because it cant tell the difference between healthy tissue and damaging bacteria and viruses. Lupus can have a  range of symptoms from mild to life threatening. Most commonly, people who suffer from lupus report fatigue, skin rashes, hair loss and chest pain when breathing.  

Since lupus can’t be cured, it is imperative for people to raise awareness and promote education on the topic. Awareness will aid in the development of more research, treatments and medications for the condition. Leading a healthy lifestyle can help ease symptoms of autoimmune conditions, like lupus. It’s important that people stay physically active, keep a healthy diet, stay in contact with doctors, get the proper amount of sleep, etc. It’s also important to remove any unnecessary risk factors, like smoking. Like many other conditions, lupus can be difficult to adapt to, so if you or a loved one suffer from lupus make sure to stay healthy and consult with medical professionals.