Lupus Symptoms in Men

Lupus commonly affects joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart and lungs. The condition exists in four different forms: systemic lupus erythematosus, discoid lupus erythematosus, drug-induced lupus erythematosus, and neonatal lupus. Systemic lupus erythematosus is the most common and severe form of lupus.

Causes of this ailment remain unknown or unspecified. Doctors assume that the condition may result from a combination of the person's genetics and environment.

No two cases of lupus may be alike; different people may have different symptoms. Some may suffer from mild symptoms while some, severe. Again, some symptoms may come in suddenly, while some may develop at a slower pace. To add to this, in some cases, affected people may suffer from permanent symptoms or from temporary ones. Note that lupus symptoms depend upon the part of the body which is affected.

☛ Increasing fatigue, and low-grade fever. These are sometimes the early symptoms of the condition.

☛ Lupus affects muscles and joints, resulting in symptoms such as:
» Joint pain in the wrists, elbows, knees and ankles
» Muscle pain
» Joints getting red, and warm to touch
» Swelling
» Stiffness after getting up in the morning

☛ Rash of the shape of a butterfly (lupus butterfly rash) that seems to cover the face and bridge of the nose is also a typical symptom of the condition. This rash may be worsened by exposure to sunlight or tanning treatment. Also, it may be accompanied by:
» Mouth sores
» Sores on areas of the hands, face, neck or back, ears, arms, and chest

☛ Raynaud's phenomenon could also be one of the complications or symptom of lupus in some people. This condition causes:
» Fingers and toes to turn white or blue. This may occur when the person gets exposed to cold conditions or when in stress
» The skin may feel numb or tingly

☛ Lupus also has its ill effects on the nervous system causing:
» Headaches
» Uncommon cognitive problems like confusion, memory loss, low concentration
» Feeling of the arms or legs going numb

☛ Pleurisy (characterized by the inflammation of the double layer of membranes called pleura) is also a possible outcome of lupus. Due to this, the affected person may exhibit symptoms such as:
» Coughing
» Pain in the chest while inhaling and exhaling. The pain feels like being stabbed in the chest with something
» Breathing problems
» Loss of appetite
» Fever and chills

☛ Lupus may cause the blood vessels to bleed or suffer inflammation. This may be manifested by blue or reddish spots on the skin or nail beds.

☛ Other symptoms include hair loss, iron-deficiency anemia, swollen lymph glands, and weight loss.

The nature of signs and symptoms greatly influence the treatment procedure of lupus. Generally, for mild to moderate cases, the patient may be prescribed with three types of medications. They include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and antimalarial drugs.

Doctors might also suggest the use of drugs, which can target a specific kind of symptom of lupus. Topical corticosteroids are also used for the purpose. Severe cases of lupus are treated with the help of high-dose corticosteroids, and drugs which can suppress the immune system.

These aggressive drugs may be combined with each other in order to reduce the dosage of each drug. This is done to reduce side effects.

Some simple self-care measures when taken up at home may help manage the symptoms of this autoimmune disease. As the patient may suffer from chronic fatigue, adequate rest is required. Getting plenty of sleep at night, and a few naps during the day helps a lot in this respect.

Sun exposure may worsen the symptoms. So use sunscreens and protective gears and clothing, whenever you need to go out. Do not ignore the need to exercise and inculcating a healthy diet. If you smoke, then doing away with the habit would offer a great deal of help in the treatment.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this story is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.