Dear Young Women of Iowa,

Did you know about 73% of people ages 18-36 are at risk of a disease they have never heard of? Believe or not it’s true. CDC ran a study and this scary percentage is what spilled out. Off the top of your head how many autoimmune diseases can you list? If Lupus was on your list, then you are one of the 23% of people that have heard of this disease. 

Lupus is an important disease because it’s known as the “great imitator,” which means it copies many different symptoms of other diseases. Many are affected by this disease, people such as women in their childbearing years. According to Mayo, when compared to white women, African American women were 3x more likely to get Lupus, and with that Hispanic and African American women develop Lupus at a young age and their symptoms tend to be more severe. The causes of Lupus are unknown, but scientists are leaning more towards genetics.

At this point you might be wondering, “How do I know if I have this disease?” or “Why should I care?” Here are some of the symptoms: fatigue, fever, mouth sores, hair loss, anemia, kidney problems, skin lesion that worsens when exposed to sun, rashes across your cheeks and the bridge of your nose. Before jumping to conclusions, talk to your doctor. The symptoms are sneaky and sometimes unclear. Sometimes it takes up to six years to see an actually symptom. Lupus doesn’t have a cure, and it damages many organs (LFA). According to Mayo, Lupus affects kidneys, blood/blood vessels, lungs, and heart. Knowledge helps out people in the long run, despite there not being a cure, medicine is always an option and if you experience any signs. You can take the medicine early and possibly reduce symptoms.

        I hope my passage has informed you on Lupus. Lupus is like an anonymous vandal, dangerous and unknown, don’t fall victim to this disease(your organs will thank you later).

Sincerely, Concerned Women