I consider this worthy of it's own thread.

The Children's Aids Fund

http://www.childrensaidsfund.org/



The Children's AIDS Fund (CAF) is dedicated to helping individuals and families understand and deal with HIV / AIDS. One of the greatest obstacles in handling HIV / AIDS is a lack of knowledge and understanding. Everyone has heard of the disease, but many people have ideas and opinions that are not based on scientific fact. These ideas can make a difficult situation even more stressful.

The CAF website is a resource where you can find a compilation of current news, research, and resources for HIV / AIDS. Some of this information is updated weekly to keep you informed with current developments. Some articles are written for the medical community, others are directed towards parents and other care givers dealing with infected and affected children, and others for those who simply want to be informed. Whatever your need, we hope that this website will become your first source for reliable information.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Fabulous,

While at work yesterday I heard bits & pieces of a news report regarding "a breast cancer unique to black women." Course, being that I am a black woman, I thought WTF??????? [holding my breasts] Black women don't get a break, do we?

AIDS is killing us, black men are hatin' on us, heck, "everybody" is hatin' on the black woman. . .

. . .now this cancer thing. dang

Later, as soon as I got home & in the shower, I did yet another self breast examine.

In fact, I've been examining my breasts off & on ALL DAY!!!!!!!!

Well, anyway, what it is is a "new breast cancer study"...

check it out:

BLACKS FACE UNIQUE BREAST CANCER THREAT

While overall new cases of breast cancer have leveled off, a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association concludes that black women are more likely to die than white women because of a more aggressive-type tumor, says Joyce King in USA Today.

An older study by the same research group first uncovered the existence of the basal-like tumor, which can grow quickly and is associated with a higher mortality rate than other types of breast cancers.

The more recent study focused on whether certain segments of the U.S. female population had a higher incidence of this type of tumor. Of the 496 cases it sampled from the Carolina Breast Cancer Study, one of the country's largest African-American breast cancer databases, researchers found:

About 40 percent of pre-menopausal black women had the "basal-like" tumor.

Nearly 15 percent of post-menopausal black women also had the tumor.

Some 16 percent of non-African-American women of any age group showed signs of the tumor.

The findings, says Lisa Carey, medical director of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, might help explain why pre-menopausal black women have a 77 percent higher death rate from breast cancer than white women of the same age.

Today, many therapies don't work well against basal-like breast cancer, and the most common approach is surgery or chemotherapy. And while overall mortality rates have dropped about 25 percent, says Carey, if that is to be taken further, more targeted drugs, trials and new ideas will be needed.

Source: Joyce King, "Blacks face unique breast cancer threat," USA Today, September 8, 2006.

http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?page=article&Article_ID=12327

Here's more on the "unique breast cancer" study:

Breast Cancer Differences in African-American Women
by Richard Knox

Morning Edition, March 18, 2005 · Recent studies suggest breast cancer is biologically different in African-American women compared to other groups. The implications of recent research contain both good and bad news for black women.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4540688

And to "THINK" I considered breast implants at one time. . .I wanted larger breasts because, well, just because.

My ex husband talked me out of it the first time. . .

. . .My ex fiance talked me out of it the second time.

Now, however, I will be leaving my SMALL-TO-MID size breasts the HELL ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

regardless of what ANY MAN says or thinks.

Shit!!!!!!

As IF black women didn't have ENOUGH to worry about. Now there's this "unique breast cancer" thingy.

Sheese.

BlackDoctor.Org is the definitive health site for African Americans. Everything you need, to take a more active role in managing your health, is right here. Learn how to prevent certain diseases in our Healthy Living section.

Utilize our Health Conditions section as a guide on how to cope with a number of diseases and ailments. Find a board certified physician or dentist who is Black and comfortable discussing your health needs with our Doctor Referral Service.

BlackDoctor.Org
Your trusted resource for healthier, happier living.

http://blackdoctor.org/

African-Americans Ask Less Questions

African-Americans are less likely to raise concerns and ask questions of their physicians, suggests a U.S. study.

Study leader Dr. Howard S. Gordon, of the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Baylor College of Medicine, in Houston, Texas, investigated how race influenced doctor-patient communication. The investigators reviewed, transcribed and analyzed audiotapes from 137 separate doctor-patient consultations involving lung cancer and suspicious lung lesions.

The study, published in Tuesday's Cancer, found that the degree of patient engagement with the physician impacted the frequency of information provided by physicians but race did not, despite the finding that African-Americans received less information.

While there was no difference in the amount of information when that information was initiated by the physician, there were differences in the amount of physician information provided when prompted by the patient.

African-Americans were less likely than Caucasians to ask questions or raise concerns to their physicians and to bring a friend or family member to the appointment. However, when doctors and patients were of the same race, any disparity in physician information provided disappeared, according to Gordon.

http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/615986/africanameri...html?source=r_health

BlackHealthCare.com

Blackhealthcare.com is a culturally oriented and ethnically focused comprehensive internet-based health and medical information provider dedicated to addressing the special health problems of African-Americans.

The state of health for African-Americans is especially precarious. Chronic disease has an excessive impact on minority populations. Consider these facts:

The prevalence of diabetes among African Americans is about 70% higher than among white Americans.
Infant mortality rates are twice as high for African Americans as for white Americans.

The 5-year survival rate for cancer among African Americans diagnosed for 1986-1992 was about 44%, compared with 59% for white Americans.

BlackHealthCare.com is dedicated to using the power to the internet and telecommunications revolution to help the African-American community address this staggering problem.

Community Issues

In our Community Issues section we document and discuss the staggering losses due to the affliction of chronic disease among the African-American community.

Programs to address the excessive differential in the health status of the African-American community with that of other ethnicities is referred to as 'closing-the-gap'. We highlight the neglected innovative community-based programs of our community attempting to address this problem.
Disease Center

Our Disease Center contain up-to-date information on 7 of the major chronic diseases that afflict African-America. Our approach to presenting this information is straight forward, and in lay-man's terms that can be understood by patients and students.

For each disease we provide sections covering its description, epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis and evaluation, treatment, contraindications, clinical trials, case management, references, and end stage disease.

Presently we provide extensive coverage for the following chronic diseases:

AIDS
Asthma
Coronary Heart Disease
Diabetes
Hypertension
Sickle Cell Anemia
Stroke
Healthy LifeStyle Information

Many of the common ailments can be treated or prevented if you follow basic rules for living a healthy lifestyle. We have a library of online healthy lifestyle resources for African-Americans.

Community Resources

Do you know what healthcare resources are available in your community? BlackHealthCare.com will become your central reference for community based health programs that will help you prevent and manage your families health issues.

The Future of BlackHealthCare

Check back at BlackHealthCare.com as we continue to extend and expand our site with information and services relevant to the health of African-Americans.

In the near future BlackHealthCare.com will expand its services to include:

Expanding coverage of perinatal, cancer and other chronic diseases

Expanding coverage of community healthcare resources

Healthy lifestlye and prevention information

Patient compliance tools to help you adhere to medical treatment

Closing-the-gap online discussion groups

Consumer healthcare information for African-Americans

Offerings of traditional African herbal health remedies

Special membership services and medical discounts

http://www.blackhealthcare.com/

My favorite uncle mentioned yesterday that he has been taking meds for high pressure off & on for neary two years now.

The side effects [according to my uncle] causes him to go off his meds [gasp!]. And the side effect [in my uncle's case] are "PERSONAL" he tells me.

WTF??????

Also, when he goes off his meds he will usually experience a nose bleed, and as expected . . . his blood pressure shoots sky high. . .

. . .and each time this happens his doctor tries to admit him to the hospital--each time my uncles refuses. Wow. I didn't know it was like THAT. Now I'm worried. I love my uncle, in fact, I care 'deeply' for EVERY black man I know dealing with this.

I want to be better informed.

The last time my own pressure was checked it was normal, still, high blood pressure is something that I rarely think about -- Until now.

Well, now that I've figured out [because I'm so damn smart...hehehe] what my uncle meant when he said the meds cause PERSONAL problems for him, I've decided to do a little research.

Off & on I will post any info on the subject that may be of benefit. Meanwhile I found the following article to be of interest:

Discrimination May Affect Risk of High Blood Pressure in Blacks

By WARREN E. LEARY
Published: October 24, 1996

The risk of high blood pressure among blacks appears to be affected by experiences with racial discrimination and whether people challenge unfair treatment, researchers said today.

The researchers, from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston and the Kaiser Foundation Research Institute of Oakland, Calif., said a study of more than 4,000 men and women indicated that racial discrimination and reactions to it made a substantial contribution to the differences in blood pressure between blacks and whites.

In general, black professionals who are conscious of instances of discrimination and who challenge unjust or unequal treatment appear to be at lower risk of elevated blood pressure than black working class men and women who may be less aware of discriminatory acts and less likely to challenge them, the researchers said.

The scientists said their study, published in the October issue of The American Journal of Public Health, was the first to examine the relationship between higher blood pressure and experiences with racial discrimination as they relate to the social class and sex of blacks.

Blacks suffer from high blood pressure, or hypertension, at about twice the rate of whites. Several smaller studies have linked stress and the reaction to racism as an apparent added risk factor of hypertension, along with other environmental reasons like diet, excess salt intake, lack of exercise and being overweight.

Blacks also have a genetic predisposition to the condition, which can lead to stroke, heart disease, organ damage and other problems.

Dr. Nancy Krieger of Harvard, the principal researcher for the study, said scientists examining health issues typically treated race as only a biological attribute and did not examine the health consequences of racial experiences and reactions.

''These results, which are preliminary, say that race and discrimination have a bearing on blood pressure,'' Dr. Krieger said in an interview. ''Now we have to find out what it is.''

The study involved 831 black men, 1,143 black women, 1,006 white men and 1,106 white women aged 25 to 37 years old. In this relatively young group, part of a larger heart disease study, few had developed overt, treatable high blood pressure.

Generally, the study found that working class blacks who reported experiencing two or more discriminatory instances -- when looking for a job or housing, for example -- had higher normal blood pressure than their white counterparts or professional blacks. The report speculated that the greater social and economic resources of black professionals might contribute to a willingness to point out discrimination and challenge it.

Among working class participants, the study suggested, higher blood pressure may be attributable to suppressed or internalized responses to racial discrimination.

The study noted, however, that the data were not uniform for every group of blacks. For example, groups of black men who reported that they had not experienced racial discrimination in the situations outlined in the study differed from the general trend. Working class black men reporting no discrimination, and who said they accepted unfair treatment unrelated to race, had higher blood pressure than working class black men who challenged unfair treatment and had experienced one or two instances of discrimination.

In addition, professional black men who said they had not been discriminated against, but who said they typically challenged any unfair situations, had blood pressure levels at or below levels seen in white professionals, the study said.

Dr. Krieger said these seemingly atypical results could not be easily explained. Some research suggests, she said, that some people who have experienced discrimination find it hard to admit, even to themselves. A study conducted in England among blacks, she said, found that individuals who initially reported no experience with racial discrimination acknowledged the experiences when asked more probing questions.

''We can't answer all of the questions with this study, but what we can say is that racial prejudice and discrimination does affect the blood pressure of blacks in different ways and should be studied in more detail,'' Dr. Krieger said.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&r...37A15753C1A960958260

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Fabulous,

I think I'll make a stop [on my way home from work today] to have my blood pressure checked. I'm curious.

According to what I've read, my blood pressure could be high as we speak, and I wouldn't even know it. . .

Hey, I'm about as black as they come ... I'm getting older [ahhhh mannnnnnnnnnn]...

... I better check it out.

High blood pressure: Get the most out of home monitoring

Checking your own blood pressure at home is an important part of managing high blood pressure. Learn how to use home monitors safely and accurately.

Checking your blood pressure at home is an important part of managing high blood pressure (hypertension). Home monitoring can help you keep closer tabs on your blood pressure while you are in a comfortable, familiar setting. Home monitoring can also help make certain your medication is working and help alert you and your doctors to potential health complications.

Because blood pressure monitors are available widely and without a prescription, home monitoring is an easy step you can take for yourself to improve your condition. Before you get started, it's important to know the right technique and to find a good system.

Why do I need to monitor my blood pressure at home?
Monitoring your blood pressure at home offers several benefits. It can:

Help track your treatment. Self-monitoring provides vital information between visits to your doctor. The only way to know whether your lifestyle changes or your medications are working is to check your blood pressure regularly.

Keeping track of changes can help you and your health care team make decisions about your ongoing treatment strategy, such as adjusting dosages or changing medications.

Encourage better control. Taking your own blood pressure measurements has been shown to result in better blood pressure control and greater success meeting blood pressure targets. You gain a stronger sense of responsibility for your health, and you may be even more motivated to control your blood pressure with an improved diet, physical activity and proper medication use.

Cut your health care costs. Home monitoring may cut down on the number of visits you need to make to your doctor or clinic. This can reduce your overall health care costs, lower your travel expenses and save in lost wages.

In addition, home monitoring can sometimes help when diagnosing high blood pressure is difficult. Your doctor may suspect, for instance, that your blood pressure goes up due to the anxiety associated with being at the doctor's office, but is otherwise normal — a condition called white-coat hypertension.

Monitoring blood pressure at home, where anxiety won't cause those spikes, can help determine if you have true high blood pressure or simply white-coat hypertension. Monitoring your blood pressure at work, if privacy is possible, can help exclude white-coat hypertension as well.

Home and workplace monitoring may also help when the opposite occurs — your blood pressure seems fine at the doctor's office, but is elevated elsewhere. This kind of high blood pressure, sometimes called masked hypertension, is more common in women and those with cardiovascular risk factors, such as obesity, high blood cholesterol and high blood sugar.

Not everyone can track blood pressure at home. If you have an irregular heartbeat, for instance, home monitors might not provide accurate readings. In some cases, your physical condition may dictate what type of monitor you can use, or whether you can even use one at home. If you're overweight or very muscular, you'll need to find a monitor with an arm cuff that's large enough. If you have hearing loss, a monitor with a digital display may be more suitable.

Talk to your doctor, nurse or other health care professional about whether home monitoring is a good option. Keep in mind that a family member or friend who is properly trained may be able to take blood pressure measurements for you.

Types of home monitors

Today, most pharmacies and medical-supply stores or Internet sites have home blood pressure monitors. All monitors have the same basic components — an inflatable cuff or strap, a gauge for readouts and sometimes a stethoscope, depending on the model.

Cuff. The cuff consists of an inner layer made of rubber that fills with air and squeezes your arm. The cuff's outer layer is generally made of nylon and has a fastener to hold the cuff in place.

Gauge. Blood pressure monitors are either digital or aneroid. The aneroid monitors have a gauge with a dial on it that points at a number related to your blood pressure.

Stethoscope. Some blood pressure monitors come with a stethoscope. It's used to listen to the sounds your blood makes as it flows through the brachial artery in the crook of your elbow. However, without proper training, it's difficult to interpret those sounds. Digital blood pressure cuffs usually have a built-in sensor that records the information for you.

There are a couple of basic types of home blood pressure monitors:

Manual devices. Manual blood pressure monitors consist of a stethoscope and an inflatable arm cuff connected by a rubber tube to a gauge that records the pressure.

To use these monitors, you manually inflate the cuff that goes around your arm by pumping a bulb at one end of the tube. You also manually check your blood pressure with a stethoscope — listening for certain benchmark arterial blood sounds — and count your own heart rate. Manual monitors are usually less expensive than digital monitors.

Digital devices. Digital monitors consist of a cuff and a gauge that records the pressure. The cuff automatically inflates at the touch of a button. These devices automatically calculate heart rate and measure your blood pressure by assessing arterial blood flow. Some even give you an error message if you aren't wearing the cuff properly.

Digital monitors also deflate automatically. Digital monitors can be fitted on the upper arm, wrist or finger. Arm devices are the most accurate. Avoid devices that measure blood pressure in your finger, because they're not accurate. Wrist blood pressure devices are slightly more accurate than finger devices, but are still not usually recommended.

Each type has pros and cons. Talk over the choices with your doctor or nurse so that you pick the one that's best for your situation.

Public blood pressure machines
Don't rely on the free blood pressure machines commonly found in malls, pharmacies and grocery stores. They aren't accurate, and many aren't routinely checked and calibrated.

Features to consider

Features on home blood pressure monitors can vary widely, from bare-bones manual models to top-of-the-line fully automated devices that allow you to send data to your doctor's office through the phone lines. Here are some general features to consider when choosing a blood pressure monitor:

Cuff size. Having a properly fitting cuff is the most important factor to consider when purchasing a home blood pressure monitor. Many monitors are available with different-sized cuffs to fit different-sized arms.

Poorly fitting cuffs will not give accurate blood pressure measurements. Ask your doctor or nurse what cuff size you need. Larger cuffs may cost a bit more, but purchasing a monitor with a cuff that's too small won't be helpful.

Display. The display that shows the blood pressure reading comes in various sizes. Be sure to get one with numbers you can easily read.

Stethoscope. If you get a monitor with a stethoscope, you must be able to clearly hear the sounds through it. You also must know how to interpret those sounds — something your doctor or nurse can teach you.

Validation. Check with your doctor or the manufacturer to be sure the monitor has been validated. Only validated instruments can be relied on for accurate readings.

Cost.

Your health insurance may not cover the cost of a home blood pressure monitor. Prices can vary from as little as $25 for manual monitors to well over $100 for automatic devices that come enhanced with memory and electronic printout ability.

Tips for accurate use

No matter what type of home blood pressure monitor you choose, proper use requires some practice and training. Take the device to your doctor or nurse or find a class at your local medical facility to make sure the one you've chosen is the best fit for you and to learn how to use the monitor accurately and keep it calibrated.

You can also follow these tips to help ensure accuracy when you measure your blood pressure at home:

Before using a monitor for the first time, have your doctor or nurse check its accuracy against the office model. Also have your doctor or nurse watch how you use the device so that he or she can see if you're doing it properly.

Take your blood pressure at consistent times, such as in the morning and in the evening.

Use the same arm whenever you take your blood pressure. Note that many digital monitors are meant for use only on the left arm.

Don't measure your blood pressure immediately after you wake in the morning. Wait an hour or so. If you exercise after waking, take your blood pressure before exercising.

Avoid food, caffeine, tobacco and alcohol for 30 minutes before taking a measurement.

Go to the toilet first. A full bladder can increase blood pressure slightly.

Sit quietly for three to five minutes before taking a measurement.

Sit in a comfortable position with your legs and ankles uncrossed and your back supported against a chair.

Rest your arm, raised to the level of your heart, on a table, desk or chair arm. You may need to place a pillow or cushion under your arm to elevate it high enough.

Don't talk while taking your blood pressure.
Place the cuff on bare skin, not over clothing. Rolling up a sleeve until it tightens around your arm can result in an inaccurate reading, so you may need to slip your arm out of the sleeve.

Take a repeat reading two to three minutes after the first one to check accuracy.

If your monitor doesn't automatically log blood pressure readings or heart rates, write them down in your own log.

Take the monitor to your medical office annually to be calibrated. If you drop the device or damage it, take it in to be checked before using it again, as it may no longer work properly.

Your blood pressure at home is usually slightly lower than it is in a medical office, typically by a measurement of about five points. For instance, a reading at home of 135/85 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) is about the same as 140/90 mm Hg at the doctor's office.

Talk to your doctor about what your home blood pressure goal is. If you have diabetes, chronic kidney disease or cardiovascular disease, you may need a goal lower than that of someone without these conditions.

Blood pressure varies throughout the day, and readings are often a little higher in the morning. But contact your doctor if you have any usual or persistent increases in your blood pressure. Also ask what reading should prompt an immediate call to the medical office.

In addition, if your home reading shows that your blood pressure is higher than normal and you experience symptoms such as severe headache, chest pain, numbness or tingling in the face or limbs, contact your medical office immediately or seek emergency treatment.

Long-term payoffs

If your blood pressure is well controlled, you may need to check it at home only a few days each month. If you're just starting home monitoring, if you're making any changes in your medications or other treatments, or if you have another health problem, such as diabetes, you may need to check it more often.

Home blood pressure monitoring is not a substitute for visits to your doctor. Even if you get normal readings, don't stop or change your medications or alter your diet without talking to your doctor first.

Monitoring your blood pressure at home doesn't have to be complicated or inconvenient. You might even find that you enjoy tracking your readings and that home monitoring gives you more control over your condition. And in the long run, you may risk fewer complications related to high blood pressure and enjoy a healthier life.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure/HI00016

What Black Women Should Know About Lupus

Do You or Someone You Know Have Signs of Lupus?
Lupus is a serious health problem that affects mainly young women. The disease often starts between the ages of 15 and 44.

People of all races may get lupus. However, lupus is three times more common in black women than in white women.

As many as 1 in 250 young black women will get the disease.

What Is Lupus?

Lupus is a disease that can affect many parts of the body. It can affect the joints, the skin, the kidneys, the lungs, the heart, or the brain. Only a few of these parts of the body are affected in most people.

Something goes wrong with the body's immune system in lupus. We can think of the immune system as an army within the body with hundreds of defenders (known as antibodies).

They defend the body from attack by germs and viruses. In lupus, however, the immune system becomes overactive and goes out of control. The antibodies attack healthy tissues in the body. This attack induces inflammation, causing redness, pain, and swelling in the affected parts of the body. This tendency for the immune system to become overactive may run in families.

What Does a Person With Lupus Look Like?

Many people with lupus look healthy.

What Are the Signs of Lupus?

The signs of lupus differ from one person to another. Some people have just a few signs of the disease; others have more. Lupus may be hard to diagnose. It is often mistaken for other diseases. For this reason, lupus has often been called the "great imitator."

Common Signs of Lupus Are:

Red rash or color change on the face, often in
the shape of a butterfly across the bridge of the
nose and the cheeks

Painful or swollen joints

Unexplained fever

Chest pain with breathing

Unusual loss of hair

Pale or purple fingers or toes from cold or stress

Sensitivity to the sun

Low blood count

These signs are more important when they occur together.

Other signs of lupus can include mouth sores, unexplained "fits" or convulsions, hallucinations or depression, repeated miscarriages, and unexplained kidney problems.

What Causes Lupus?

We don't know what causes the immune system to become overactive. In some people, lupus becomes active after exposure to sunlight, infections, or certain medications.

Can You Catch Lupus From Someone Else?

No, lupus is not catching. You can't give it to someone else. Also, it is not a form of cancer. It is not AIDS.

Does Lupus Run in Families?

Most relatives of lupus patients do not develop the disease, but in some families more than one member gets lupus. If a relative of a lupus patient develops signs of lupus, she or he should see a doctor.

How Serious Is Lupus?

Signs of lupus tend to come and go. There are times when the disease quiets down, or goes into remission. At other times, lupus flares up, or becomes active. Years ago many people with lupus died. Now with good medical care most people with the disease can lead active, productive, and fulfilling lives.

Are There Different Kinds of Lupus?

There are three major types of lupus: (1) lupus that affects certain parts of the body (systemic lupus erythematosus), (2) lupus mainly of the skin (discoid or cutaneous lupus), and (3) lupus caused by medicine (drug-induced lupus).

Systemic lupus erythematosus, sometimes called SLE, is the most serious form of the disease. This type of lupus is the focus of this booklet. Systemic means that it may affect many parts of the body, such as the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, or the brain. This type of lupus can be mild or serious. If it is not treated, systemic lupus can cause damage to the organs inside your body.

Discoid and cutaneous lupus mainly affect the skin. The person may have a red rash or a color change of the skin on the face, scalp, or other parts of the body.

Drug-induced lupus is caused by a small number of prescription medications. The person with drug-induced lupus may have the same symptoms as the person with systemic lupus, but it is usually less serious. Usually when the medicine is stopped, the disease goes away. The most common drugs that can cause lupus are (1) procainamide used for heart problems, (2) hydralazine used for high blood pressure, and (3) dilantin used for seizures. Drug-induced lupus is usually found in older men and women of all races.

Does Sunlight Cause Lupus?

In some people, no matter what shade of skin, an attack of lupus may be brought on by being in the sun, even for a short period of time.

Do Men Get Lupus?

Yes, men get all forms of lupus. However, 9 out of 10 people who have lupus are women.

Why Is Lupus More Common in Black Women Than in White Women?

We do not know why the disease is more common in black women. However, research doctors supported by the National Institutes of Health are studying this problem. Researchers are studying why minorities are more inclined to get lupus, what causes it to start, and why is it mild in some and severe in others. Other researchers are studying why the signs of lupus differ between black women and white women.

What Should You Do if You Think You Have Lupus?

You should see a doctor or a nurse and be examined and tested for lupus. She or he will talk to you and take a history of your health problems. Many people have lupus for a long time before it is detected. It is important that you tell the doctor or nurse about your symptoms.

How Is Lupus Treated?

The doctor may treat each lupus patient in a different way because the signs of lupus often differ from one person to another. The doctor may give aspirin or similar medicine to treat the painful, swollen joints and the fever. Creams may be prescribed for the rash, and stronger medicines prescribed for more serious problems.

Is There a Cure for Lupus?

At this point, lupus cannot be cured. However, in many cases, signs of the disease can be relieved. The good news is that with the correct medicine and by taking care of themselves, most lupus patients can hold a job, have children, and lead a full life.

Outlook

The outlook for lupus patients has greatly improved. Research doctors supported by the National Institutes of Health are studying many aspects of lupus, such as what goes wrong with the immune system, why the disease runs in families, how lupus causes damage in the body, and why it can lead to repeated miscarriages. Others are researching why lupus is so much more common in women, especially black women. Researchers have learned a great deal about lupus and are studying new ways to treat and, ultimately, prevent the disease. The future holds great promise for improving the health of all Americans who have lupus.

Further Information
(snip)

http://www.healingwell.com/library/lupus/info3.asp