Can lupus affect your heart?

Yes. Some people with lupus develop pericarditis (fluid around the heart) during a flare. The symptoms are sharp chest pain with breathing and a shortness of breath. The treatment is usually non-steroidal medications, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, or short courses of steroids, like prednisone.

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What heart problems are associated with lupus?

Heart problems commonly associated with lupus include: pericarditis or pericardial effusion, valve abnormalities, myocarditis, rhythm disorders (arrhythmias), and accelerated atherosclerosis. Pericarditis or pericardial effusion: This is the most common cardiac manifestation of lupus.

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How likely is a lupus heart attack?

Lupus patients of all ages have a seven- to nine-fold increased heart attack risk compared to the general population, but women age 35 to 44 with lupus are 50 times more likely than women without lupus to have a heart attack.

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What is the most common cardiac complication of lupus?

Pericarditis is the most common cardiac abnormality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, but lesions of the valves, myocardium and coronary vessels may all occur.

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What organ does lupus affect the most?

Kidneys About one half of people with lupus experience kidney involvement, and the kidney has become the most extensively studied organ affected by lupus.

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Lupus - Heart Attacks and Strokes

21 related questions found

What is the biggest symptom of lupus?

Lupus symptoms include: 1,2
  • Muscle and joint pain. You may experience pain and stiffness, with or without swelling. ...
  • Fever. A fever higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit affects many people with lupus. ...
  • Rashes. ...
  • Chest pain. ...
  • Hair loss. ...
  • Sun or light sensitivity. ...
  • Kidney problems. ...
  • Mouth sores.

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What are the four stages of lupus?

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease with a wide range of clinical presentations resulting from its effect on multiple organ systems. There are four main types of lupus: neonatal, discoid, drug-induced, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the type that affects the majority of patients.

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What happens if lupus spreads to the heart?

Lupus increases your risk for heart disease, including coronary artery disease(CAD). CAD happens when material builds up in the arteries and decreases blood flow to the heart. When blood flow to the heart is completely blocked, it causes a heart attack.

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What is the life expectancy of a person with lupus?

With close follow-up and treatment, 80-90% of people with lupus can expect to live a normal life span. It is true that medical science has not yet developed a method for curing lupus, and some people do die from the disease. However, for the majority of people living with the disease today, it will not be fatal.

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What does lupus chest pain feel like?

The symptom of pleuritis that you may experience is severe, often sharp, stabbing pain in a specific area or areas of your chest. The pain, which is called pleurisy, is made worse when you take a deep breath, cough, sneeze, or laugh. You may also experience shortness of breath.

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When does lupus become an emergency?

Severe abdominal pain. Chest pain or shortness of breath. Seizures. New onset of a fever or if your fever is much higher than usual.

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Does lupus get worse with age?

With age, symptom activity with lupus often declines, but symptoms you already have may grow more severe. The accumulation of damage over years may result in the need for joint replacements or other treatments.

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Is lupus considered a critical illness?

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes a wide range of mild to life-threatening conditions that require hospitalization and critical care.

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What is the most serious complication of lupus?

Lupus can cause serious kidney damage, and kidney failure is one of the leading causes of death among people with lupus. Brain and central nervous system. If your brain is affected by lupus, you may experience headaches, dizziness, behavior changes, vision problems, and even strokes or seizures.

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How do you diagnose lupus myocarditis?

Clinical lupus myocarditis (LM) may vary from an unexplained tachycardia to fulminant heart failure. Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging are non-invasive modalities, detecting both clinical and subclinical LM.

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What autoimmune disease attacks the heart?

Autoimmune myocarditis is an autoimmune disease that affects the heart. The condition is characterized by inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium). Some people with Autoimmune myocarditis have no noticeable symptoms of the condition.

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What are the signs that lupus is getting worse?

How can I tell if a lupus flare is coming?
  • Feeling more tired.
  • Pain.
  • Rash.
  • Fever.
  • Stomach ache.
  • Severe headache.
  • Dizziness.

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What should you not do if you have lupus?

5 Things to Avoid if You Have Lupus
  1. (1) Sunlight. People with lupus should avoid the sun, since sunlight can cause rashes and flares. ...
  2. (2) Bactrim and Septra (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) Bactrim and Septra are antibiotics that contain sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. ...
  3. (3) Garlic. ...
  4. (4) Alfalfa Sprouts. ...
  5. (5) Echinacea.

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What foods make lupus worse?

We outline the most important foods to prevent a flare-up of lupus symptoms below.
  • Alcohol. While you do not have to stop drinking altogether, limiting alcoholic beverages will ensure that your medications work as they should. ...
  • Alfalfa and Garlic. ...
  • Red Meat. ...
  • Saturated Fat and Trans Fat. ...
  • Sodium. ...
  • Increase Foods Rich in Calcium.

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Is lupus inherited from mother or father?

Lupus is not a hereditary condition.

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What triggers lupus?

While the environmental elements that can trigger lupus and cause flares aren't fully known, the most commonly cited are ultraviolet light (UVA and UVB); infections (including the effects of the Epstein-Barr virus), and exposure to silica dust in agricultural or industrial settings.

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What are some uncommon symptoms of lupus?

6 Less Common Symptoms of Lupus
  • Psychological Symptoms. Depression and anxiety are common in lupus, but a rarer mental disorder is lupus psychosis. ...
  • Severe Headaches. ...
  • Nerve Complications. ...
  • Vertigo. ...
  • Mouth Problems. ...
  • Rashes and Skin Involvement.

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What not to say to someone with lupus?

Here are 10 things to never say to someone with lupus or any other chronic disease.
  • But you look so good. ...
  • You are too young to have lupus. ...
  • I'm sure things will get better. ...
  • Do you really need to take all these meds? ...
  • Have you tried this diet? ...
  • Have you tried lupus meditation? ...
  • You need to get more exercise.

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How fast does lupus progress?

Lupus nephritis tends to develop within 5 years of the appearance of initial lupus symptoms. The condition affects about 40% of people who have SLE and can lead to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in 22% of patients over a period of 15 years.

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What does stage 5 lupus mean?

Class 5, or membranous lupus nephritis

A person will have high levels of blood, protein, or both in their urine as well as high blood pressure. They may also require dialysis or a kidney transplant.

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