MCC Daily Tribune

National Lupus Awareness Month

Lupus Awareness Month occurs every May and we celebrate this month to contribute to the welfare of the affected community. This inflammatory disease is caused when the immune system attacks its own tissues and affects the overall well-being of the person in many ways. This month is all about raising awareness about its impact on the physical, emotional, and economic aspects of a person’s life.

HOW TO OBSERVE LUPUS AWARENESS MONTH

Advocate for Lupus

Lupus lacks significant awareness and there isn’t even a cure for it yet. Education and continuous research are imperative if we want to conquer this disease. During this awareness month, you can advocate for lupus through social media by inciting informative conversations and equipping others with the knowledge you possess. You can even participate in the Walk To End Lupus Now event hosted by the Lupus Foundation to further your advocacy.
Sign a pledge

The lupus community needs an ever-growing support base. You can head to World Lupus Day’s official website and sign an awareness pledge. By doing so, you are pledging to help those affected by lupus and garner the much-needed attention from the relevant people in leadership positions.
Wear purple

Purple is the color associated with lupus since purple brings together the passion of red and the calmness of blue. You can show your support for lupus by wearing all things purple on Put On Purple Day on May 21. Make sure to inform others why you’re doing this and the significance behind it.

5 FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT LUPUS

Women are at high risk

Studies have found that 90% of patients who have lupus are women.
Lupus can be limited to skin

Patients with discoid lupus may only get rashes and skin lesions as compared to systemic lupus.
Lupus can impact the kidneys

According to a study, about 40% to 70% percent of patients with lupus have kidney inflammation.
There is no cause

One of the reasons lupus is such a complex disease is that there is no definite known cause that triggers the symptoms.
Lupus has 4 types

There are four different types of Lupus — systemic lupus erythematosus, discoid lupus erythematosus, drug-induced lupus, and neonatal lupus.

WHY LUPUS AWARENESS MONTH IS IMPORTANT

A need for increased awareness

Some studies show that way too many people know little to nothing about anything related to lupus. A survey by the Lupus Foundation of America states that “while lupus affects an estimated 1.5 million people in the U.S. alone, 63% of Americans surveyed have never heard of or know little or nothing about this disease that has no cure.” Thus, a dedicated month is crucial to spread as much factual knowledge as possible about this autoimmune disease.
It provides hope and encouragement

Lupus neither has a cause, nor a cure. It can be an isolating feeling to fight through this disease alone with its heavy mental and financial impact. Lupus Awareness Month is critical as it brings people together and shows the lupus community that they are not alone in this fight. It provides them with hope for a better tomorrow and encourages them to fight through this.
It raises funds and increases research

Lupus needs to be extensively researched to find a cause and cure so it can be handled better. More research can hopefully help in early detection and a better plan for treatment. Lupus Awareness Month helps in gathering funds for research and to financially support families in need.

Sarah Benedict
MCC Wellness Council
05/11/2022