There are many complications caused by lupus, which are pretty well known such as kidney failure. But unfortunately cardiovascular disease is actually one of the leading complication caused by lupus. Which is scares me quite a lot. I am going through family list of problems and heart is the number one problem.
Lupus can cause blockages in heart arteries, leakage of heart valves, irritation of outer layer of the heart, or simply heart failure. Statistics tells that women with lupus are most probably affected by heart disease 10 years earlier than women without lupus.
There are classical risks for heart disease:
Lupus can cause blockages in heart arteries, leakage of heart valves, irritation of outer layer of the heart, or simply heart failure. Statistics tells that women with lupus are most probably affected by heart disease 10 years earlier than women without lupus.
There are classical risks for heart disease:
- obesity
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- smoking
- not moving
- diabetes
Lupus specific risks:
- age when lupus was diagnosed, higher age higher risk
- history of kidney disease
- longer duration of disease
- long-term use of corticosteroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication
- also women reaching menopause, because they lose cardio-protective effects of estrogen after that
So how to protect? Minimally be aware of this problem. Clear and simple rules: do not smoke, check your blood pressure, keep active as much as possible and keep healthy lifestyle, that your blood sugar and cholesterol are under control. Anyway there are plenty of things you cannot control. For me it is stress. I am really trying hard to meditate and practising positive thoughts but I am quite far from any improvement.
Have a nice and positive Easter!!
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