Today on Ultimate Health, panelists discussed Lupus, the autoimmune disorder that is known to affect more African women than any other women anywhere else in the world.

With her dreams and ambitions consigned to the dark at the age of 16, Judith Naa Lamiley Mills almost lost all hope to live her life to its fullest. She was stricken with the disease which is known to have no cure.

But instead of losing hope, she rather became focused and determined to harness her God-given talents and strengths.

Physician Specialist at the Bemuah Royal Hospital, East Legon, Dr William Ankobiah said it is unknown what causes the disease. All that has been gathered so far is that the immunity goes higher than normal and affects organs in the body, he added.

Exposure to sun or heat aggravates the destruction. “The most frightening part of lupus is its effects on the cardiovascular system which could cause kidney failures and heart attack”.

Statistics show that with proper treatment the disease can be controlled and not as fatal as it used to be.

Even though about five million people worldwide suffer from the disease, estimates indicate that 500,000 die of lupus each year. Ninety percent (90%) of people infected are women and this represents a 9:1 female to male ratio. 

The high number of lupus cases in females than in males indicates that the disease can be triggered by certain hormones.

Some symptoms of lupus include achy joints, arthritis and swollen joints, especially in writs, small joints of the hands, elbows, knees and ankles.

It could also include swelling of the hands and feet due to kidney problems, fever, skin rashes, butterfly shaped rash and hair loss among others.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system overreacts and attacks healthy normal tissue, instead of killing germs. It is very complex to diagnose and results in symptoms such as inflammation, swelling, and damage to joints, skin, kidneys, blood, the heart, and lungs.

The symptoms of lupus can mimic other health problems and is known to disappear and reappear. 

The immune system is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria and germs – like flu but a system infected with the disease is unable to function properly like it is supposed to. Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. 

Here are excerpts of the discussion: