Lupus Health Center
Table of Contents
Lupus can have a big impact on one's quality of life, even their ability to work. However, it is possible for people with lupus to have a high quality of life overall.
People with lupus should try to understand and learn more about the disease. By learning to recognize warning signs of a flare, some patients are able to ward it off or reduced the intensity. Before a flare, many people experience:
- increased fatigue
- rash
- fever
- abdominal pain
- headache
- dizziness
Women with lupus should get regular preventative health care, such as gynecological and breast examinations. Men should have the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. All patients should have their blood pressure and cholesterol checked on a regular basis.
If the patient is taking antimalarial drugs or corticosteroids, they should get an eye exam yearly to test for eye problems.
People with lupus also have a higher risk of getting premature cardiovascular disease. For this reason, it is important that they live a healthy lifestyle and eat well, exercise, and not smoke.