THE month of May is dedicated to raising awareness for lupus, which is an unseen battle many people face. 

Known by others as the “invisible illness,” lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the following:

• Pain / swelling / stiffness in joints
• Fatigue
• Butterfly rashes on the cheeks and nose
• Skin lesions
• Swelling of the hands, feet, or around the eyes
• Headache
• Fever
• Chest pain / deep breathing / shortness of breath
• Dry eyes
• Confusion or memory loss
• Hair loss
• Fingers / toes feeling numb or turning white / blue

It can be noted, however, that symptoms may vary from person to person. At present, Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common form. Other types are cutaneous lupus, drug-induced lupus, and neonatal lupus. 

It’s unsure what causes lupus, though genetics and the environment may factor into it. Many connect lupus being triggered to sunlight, infections, or certain types of medication. 

In the Philippines, 250 patients diagnosed with SLE were found to struggle with rashes, arthritis, alopecia, and oral sores. While less common, renal disorders, as well as hematologic and neurological manifestations, were also found in some of them.

At present, lupus has no known cure. Those who have it struggle to get by each day, with those most commonly affected being women aged 15 to 44 years old, as well as those from certain racial or ethnic minority groups, particularly African Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Americans. People with family members with the disease or have other autoimmune diseases may also be at risk. 

You never know who’s struggling with this disease; the lady you see walking down the street, your closest family or friends. You may even have it without knowing it. It’s a pain to deal with, as well, as it affects not just your skin, but your joints and internal organs as well.

Wear purple with pride

If you think you may have lupus, it would be best to see a doctor as soon as possible to get it checked and to deal with the problem before it gets any worse. If you have a loved one that you think may have it, support them and recommend that they get checked, too. 

Remember: while lupus may not yet have a cure, it is something that can be treated.

Even if you don’t have lupus, know that it’s a difficult disease to battle, especially when you’re doing so alone. Take the month to show support by educating yourself on the disease, and by reaching out to those with lupus to find out how you may be able to help them. 

There are many organizations, such as the Lupus Research Alliance, that share the stories of people with lupus and help those with the disease to feel less alone in what they’re going through. You can volunteer for these organizations donate to their cause, or even just share to others the information you know about the disease so that they can help with the cause too.

You can also wear a purple ribbon on your shirt to show your support for the disease.

Why purple, exactly?

Purple is a combination of red and blue, with red symbolizing passion and blue, calmness. While purple symbolizes one’s peace of mind and their high spirits, it also looks at one’s courage to fight.

You may think that your actions have no impact, but whether it be through donating, raising awareness, or donning a simple color, everything helps those with lupus to feel more seen in their everyday battle against their disease.