...with Lupus and more than 16,000 new cases are reported across the country each year (LUPUS Foundation of America; 2011). Lupus is an autoimmune disease that is chronic and can cause damage to any part of the body. The body’s immune system produces proteins referred to as antibodies. These antibodies help to provide protection for the body from invaders. Our immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and our body’s healthy tissues; therefore autoantibodies attack and ultimately destroy healthy tissues, which is known as autoimmune or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) (LUPUS Foundation of America; 2011). Inflammation, pain, and damage to other various parts of the body are due to these autoantibodies. The causes of SLE are genes, environment, and genetic factors. Even though researchers and scientists are unsure of just how genetic factors may alter or affect the immune system; researchers estimate that 20 - 100 different genetic factors may make a person susceptible to SLE (The New York Times; 2011). Environmental triggers can set off a flare of this disease. Environmental triggers can be ultraviolet rays from either the sun and/or fluorescent light bulbs, sulfa drugs that causes more sensitivity to the sun, penicillin and other antibiotic drugs, an infection, a cold and/or a viral illness, exhaustion, an injury, emotional stress and anything that causes stress to the body (LUPUS Foundation of America;...
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...family. I will discuss the social, financial and personal effects that has incurred with this patient. I will also discuss how the patient learned about her disease, educational experience, and motivators the patient used in learning about her disease. (Towner & Inter-mountain Healthcare,Utah,USA, 2008). Sonya D is middle aged African American woman whom had a career as a super model; until she was diagnosed with Lupus. A married woman and mother of a teenager, she enjoyed walking and spending family time with her spouse and daughter. Patient is not obese, non-smoker and non-alcoholic. She had been extremely tired and in bed a lot. She noticed her extremities going numb and went to the doctor for a physical, not expecting to hear the diagnosis of Lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system produces antibodies to cells within the body. This leads to widespread inflammation and tissue damage. Researchers believe it is linked to genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors. Lupus may be characterized by periods of illness and remissions. Lupus has a variety of clinical manifestations and can affect joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood...
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...Lupus Erythematous: The Butterfly Effect Lupus erythematosus (LE) first originated in 1833 by many physicians throughout the historical periods of; the classical period, the neoclassical period, and the modern period. During the classical period of the 1800s, lupus was first coined. It comes from the Latin word ‘wolf’ that attributed to the thirteenth century by physician Rogerius who used the word to describe erosive facial lesions that manifested from a wolf’s bite (Lupus Foundation of America, n.d.). In the neoclassical period of the 1900s, scientists discovered that there are many sub forms of lupus, the most common type known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE has many other forms of names such as discoid and disseminated lupus....
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...Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex disease that can affect many body systems. “Lupus is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that can affect many parts of your body, including your skin, joints, kidneys, blood cells, heart and lungs” (Mayo Clinic, 2004, p.1). The diagnosis of Lupus evokes many questions and concerns in the patient. Educating patients is a major responsibility of nurses; therefore, the nurse should be knowledgeable in answering these questions. The nurse should be knowledgeable in answering these questions as educating patients is a major responsibility of nurses. Each patient is different; therefore, the education method should be individualized. You must take into consideration the patient’s motivation to learn and also the patient’s learning style. Motivation (or readiness) to learn must be determined in the early stages of developing a teaching plan. The more motivated the patient is to learn, the more cooperative and attentive they will be during the implementation of the teaching plan. Patients who participate in their own care are more likely to retain the information presented to them. When assessing the motivation of the patient, consider if the patient has asked questions about his or her condition. Asking questions shows that the patient has a desire or motivation to learn more about his or her condition. Does the patient appear interested in learning more about his or her disease? Has the patient accepted the diagnosis or is he or...
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...Volunteering – The personal benefits Prewriting – For Prewriting this essay, I chose to use brainstorming. I wrote a list of what I felt the benefits of volunteering were as well as different things about volunteering and then used them to create my essay. Draft Are you bored with your life? Do you feel that you want to do something new or more for your community? Volunteering can be a great way for you to meet new people, get involved with your community and feel good. When you volunteer, whether it’s helping others or volunteering on a project or program, what you are doing will benefit an individual person or many people. Volunteering can be a short or long term situation, but whichever you choose, you should make sure that you are able to commit to the time involved. I volunteer at my church. The program that I volunteer in is called Friendship Ministry. With volunteering for the Friendship Ministry, I share God’s love with people who have impairments and help them become an active member of God’s family. Each mentor is assigned a “friend” that they will develop a relationship with. We sit with our friends and have lunch with them and play activities and sing with them while teaching them that we were all made special and are God’s family. We do this the third Sunday of each month. Each mentor interacts with their friends differently, but makes them feel special. I developed a special relationship with my friend Susan. She lives in a group home run by the state...
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...LUPUS(SLE) Lupus (SLE) Introduction While there are numerous diseases that threaten the health of people, there are some that have only been discovered or are being attributed to the recent developments in medical sciences. Among the new kinds of diseases, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a major threat. Lupus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease, which makes the affected person's immune system hyperactive (Hughes, 2000). This entices the immune system into treating all living structures as foreign. As a result, the immune system directs antibodies even towards the healthy tissue in the body since they also register as antigens for the system (Rhines, 2012). The symptoms of the disease manifests in different ways, such as in the form of tissue inflammation, or swelling. In severe cases it can even manifest in the organ systems damaging lungs, heart, kidneys, and even blood (Lahita & Phillips, 2004). Symptoms are different from person to person and at times be transient. Some of the more common symptoms include: Skin rash that may be widespread and exacerbated with exposure to sunlight, photophobia, fatigue, and chest pain when taking deep breaths (A.D.A.M., 2011). Many people maintain the opinion that there is only one type of Lupus. However, this is not the case. There are numerous kinds of lupus with the most common being Lupus (SLE) – often termed as generic Lupus. This form attacks entire organs systems...
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...Lupus an Autoimmune Disease Human Body Professor E. December 2012 Abstract Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a complex disease characterized by the appearance of autoantibodies against nuclear antigens and the involvement of multiple organ systems, including the kidneys. The exact events that trigger the onset of clinical manifestations of SLE are not yet well understood. However, research using various mouse strains impulsive and inducible lupus in the last two decades has provided insights into the role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of this disease. According to our present understanding, the immunological defects resulting in the development of SLE can be categorized into two phases: (a) systemic autoimmunity resulting in increased serum antinuclear and antiglomerular autoantibodies and (b) immunological events that occur within the target organ and result in end organ damage. TABLE OF CONTENT Abstract…………………………………………………………………….....2 Introduction…………………………………………………………………..4 Discussion……………………………………………………………………..5 What is lupus? Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease, which causes inflammation of various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints and kidneys. The body’s immune system normally makes proteins called antibodies to protect the body against viruses, bacteria and other foreign materials. These foreign materials are called antigens. In an autoimmune disorder such as lupus, the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference...
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...The Lupus Foundation of America approximates that there are around 1.5 million Americans affected by a form of lupus (Rooney 54). There are two main factions of lupus: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). The popular depiction of lupus as a disease associated with lesions and superficial symptoms is not necessarily an accurate portrait. Although Lupus Erythematosus gets its name from the Latin word lupus (wolf) because the lesions resembles the pattern of a wolf bite, the most common form of the disease is SLE which does not require lesions as a criteria for diagnosis (Rooney 56). The underlying concern that both DLE and SLE share is their label as an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases work by attacking self antigens and tissues as if they were foreign (McKinley, O’Loughlin and Bidle 856). By analyzing a deconstructed look at lupus we hope to gain an insight into lupus’ pathological effect on the body and its relation to the immune system. SLE occurs when the body begins to attack its own tissues without known cause. Although there is not a definitive known cause for SLE, autoantibodies can combine to form immune complexes which can effectively damage internal tissue and the hyperactivity of b-cells contributes to the symptoms (Pullen, Brewer and Ballard 23) (Porth 1422). Genetic predisposition to SLE is evidenced by an increased concordance rate in twins (10-fold), increased incidences within family members (10%-16%), and increased...
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...Living and Coping With Lupus Cheryl A Boyd COM/156 January 15, 2012 Jeffrey Long Living and Coping With Lupus Many things pertaining to Lupus are still a mystery. The research to find a cure is an ongoing process with no cure in the near future. What is Lupus? Lupus is a chronic and debilitating autoimmune disease. A person living with Lupus is literally under attack by his or her own body. Lupus makes the immune system attack the body’s tissues and organs. There is no part of the body that is safe from this savage attack. The skin, tissues, organs, and joints are all at risk. A person with Lupus can suffer problems involving the joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, brain, and blood. Lupus although not as well-known as many other chronic and serious diseases such as leukemia, it is far more common. While a full life can be lived with Lupus it depends upon early diagnosis and consist treatment. Lupus left untreated can be fatal. More than 16,000 Americans are diagnosed with Lupus each year and many thousands more suffer from the disease without a diagnosis and do not know the disease he or she is suffering from is Lupus. This deadly and debilitating disease does not only strike in America, there are over fifteen million people stricken with the disease worldwide. Living with Lupus is a constant struggle to live a normal life and cope with the things most people do not even think about each day. I know this for a fact because I was diagnosed with Lupus six years ago and my life...
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...Abstract There are four types of lupus, systemic lupus erythematous, discoid, drug-induced, and neonatal lupus. Systemic lupus erythematous, also known as SLE or lupus and is sometimes called the “great imitator” due to the fact that it mnemonics so many other diseases. Family practice offices often misdiagnose lupus due to lack of symptoms at the time of visit, patients being poor historians and lab work that is inconclusive at that time. Discoid lupus affects only the skin and causes rashes and lesions mostly of the face, neck and scalp. During drug-induced lupus the person will experience lupus like symptoms. These symptoms usually resolve within six months after the drug is stopped. Individuals with drug- induced lupus may have a positive Antinuclear Antibody test more years after the episode. Neonatal lupus occurs when a child is born to a women with lupus. The infant may have lupus symptoms including rashes, anemia and liver problem which usually resolve within a few months. Some infants born to mothers with lupus may have serious heart defects. For the purpose of this paper the focus will be on systemic lupus erythematous. Systemic Lupus Erythematous Systemic lupus erythematous is a complex multisystem autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system misfires and makes autoantibodies that attacks its own tissue. Lupus affects as many as 1.5 million people in America. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2007) Women are more commonly affected...
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...The chronic illness focused on in this psychosocial assessment is Lupus. Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease in which the patient’s own immune system causes dysfunction in the body’s tissues and organs. Lupus can cause inflammation affecting one or more different areas of the body such as the joints, kidneys, skin, brain, lungs heart and blood cells. Some individuals are born predisposed to the development of lupus which can be triggered by infections, certain pharmaceuticals and in some cases sunlight. Risk factors for lupus include gender, ninety percent or more people with lupus are female; race: lupus occurs more within African American, Latino, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations than in the white population;...
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...Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes excessive inflammation. About 2 million Americans suffer from it and its cases have been reported from as early as middle age. The disease got its name after the Latin word lupus which means ‘wolf’. It is because the disease causes a classic facial rash that gives the appearance of a wolf. It was a 12th century physician that gave it this name. In this article, we will debunk some common misconceptions around this disease so that its sufferers can manage it better. Number Six: It is contagious or can be transmitted sexually Lupus is not caused by a carrier, i.e. a virus, bacterium or any infectious agent. Hence, it cannot be transmitted from one person to another. It could, however, pass from mother...
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...2012 NUR427 Laurie Baumgartner RN, MSN, CNS, NP, CCRN Introduction This paper will examine the chronic disease of lupus. A big portion of information in the paper comes from a patient Anna. The areas of her life that are affected by the disease , and the motivators for lifestyle change are discussed. The education of Anna regarding the disease and learning model theory will be examined. What is Lupus? Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease. The immune system fights off invaders in the body. The body develops antibodies to protect from invaders. The immune system affected by lupus cannot tell the difference between good and bad tissue. This process causes the immune system to attack itself. There are many different types of lupus. The type Anna has is cutaneous and systemic. Cutaneous affects the skin. Systemic lupus in her case affects the joints. Cutaneous lupus causes skin rashes/lesions. The most familiar rash is the butterfly rash. The rash occurs on the bridge of the nose and across upper cheeks. Systemic lupus cause the joints become painful and inflamed. Anna The interview with Anna was held over a couple of days. Anna was diagnosed a year and a half ago with lupus. Anna believes that she has had the disease for longer than a year and a half. The rashes that she experienced had been occurring since she was 19. Anna is now 41 years old. Anna is married and...
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...Lupus Public Awareness Michelle Alexander Axia College of University of Phoenix HCA/240 February 28, 2010 Overview Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can cause major damage to any organ or tissue in your body. Lupus causes your immune system to become unbalanced and is of unknown etiology. In Lupus the immune system is unable to differentiate between foreign and its own systems cells and tissues. It then produces antibodies that fight the body’s own tissues. Lupus is diagnosed in 90% of women between the ages of 14-44, this is more than the men, but it can affect children and younger teens. It is found in non-whites more than Caucasians (Womens Health 2009). Lupus is not contagious or related to cancer; it is not related to or like HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus) or even AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). Who is most affected by Lupus? Lupus can develop in all ethnic and racial groups and 9 out of 10 women. Lupus is most commonly found in women of color such as; African American, Hispanic, Latina, Asian, Pacific Islanders, Native Hawaiians, and Native American. African American women are more than three times higher to get lupus than White American women. African American and Hispanic -Latinos tend to get lupus at an early age and will have more symptoms along with kidney problems. Hispanics have more heart problems and African Americans have more seizures than the other minority groups, this is widely due to the genetics. Diagnosis...
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...Ethnographic research: oral interview 4-5 pages double spaced An ethnography is a long term investigation of a group (often a culture) that is based on immersion in and, optimally, participation in that group. Ethnography provides a detailed exploration of group activity and may include the collection of historical information and in-person interviews of members of the group. It is an approach which employs multiple methodologies to arrive at a theoretically comprehensive understanding of a group or culture. Ethnography attempts to explain the web of interdependence of group behaviors and interactions. In this assignment, you will interview a disabled or chronically ill person and make observations about the person based on your understanding of what it means to be a member of this social category. Remember that disability and chronic illness include both visible and invisible elements, and that there is great variation in age, class, ethnicity, and gender identity. You may also interview the parent of a child with a disability as long as the parent can speak on behalf of the child’s social experience or experience in society. You will use your knowledge of course concepts related to disability identity and group belonging. The interview can take place in person or, if absolutely necessary, over Skype, but not on the phone. It is important that you read facial expressions and have a sense of the respondent’s non-verbal communication. You should find out as much as you can...
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