Lupus: understand the mysterious disease affecting several celebrities

Tim Raines - The former baseball player sought medical help for a serious strain in 1999, when he was playing for the Oakland Athletics. He had swollen knees and ankles and was heavier than normal, suggesting that his body was retaining water. His doctor carried out a biopsy on his kidney and diagnosed him with lupus.

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Tim Raines - The disease was attacking the player's kidneys, causing an imbalance of water and salt in his body. His condition was serious, but he recovered with radiotherapy and medication. Raines even returned to the baseball pitch with the Montreal Expos in 2001, and retired in 2002 with the Florida Marlins.

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Cori Broadus - Daughter of rapper Snoop Dogg, Cori Broadus showed signs of lupus on her skin and lost weight and hair when she was six, this in 2005.

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Cori Broadus - According to People magazine in 2010, Cori Broadus went on to play softball and volleyball. She takes various medications to keep the disease under control.

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Learn more about lupus - Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects connective tissue in the body. Its causes are unknown. The disorder causes the immune system to attack its own cells and body tissue, causing inflammation and tissue damage. A person with lupus usually suffers active phases, where symptoms become apparent, and periods of remission, where no symptoms are visible.

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Predominantly female - The disease affects more women than men (eight out of 10 carriers of the condition are women), and it is usually spotted during their most fertile years.

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Age - The first symptoms appear between the ages of 20 and 40, but most commonly around the age of 30.

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Location - The disease is more common in tropical countries, where sunlight is stronger.

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Darker skin tones - Lupus cases appear in one out of 700 white women, and one out of 245 black women in the United States.

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Types of lupus: discoid - This form of the disease is limited to the skin only. It's identified by inflamed rashes which appear on the face, nape of the neck, and scalp. Approximately 10% of discoid lupus cases can develop into systemic lupus.

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Types of lupus: systemic - This is usually more serious than discoid lupus and can affect almost all bodily systems and organs. Some people experience sores on the skin and in the joints, whereas others can be affected in the kidneys, heart, lungs, or blood.

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Types of lupus: drug-induced - Drug-induced lupus erythematosus results from the use of certain drugs or medication. The list of possible drugs responsible includes over 100 options, the most well-known being procainamide and hydralazine. The symptoms are very similar to those of systemic lupus.

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First symptoms - A high temperature is one of the first symptoms of the disease.

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First symptoms - Feeling unwell accompanies the fever.

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First symptoms - Inflamed joints are also an early sign of the disease.

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First symptoms - This is followed by inflammation of the lungs (pleurisy).

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First symptoms - The inflammation of the lymph nodes is also a common symptom.

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First symptoms - All these inflammations cause pain throughout the body.

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First symptoms - Red marks on the skin are also another symptom during this stage of the appearance of the illness.

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First symptoms - Mouth ulcers and thrush can also appear.

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Prevention -

Always seek expert help! Early detection can prevent severe damage to the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and nervous system. The development of the disease is affected by genetic predisposition, as well as emotional and environmental factors such as UV light and certain kinds of medication.

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Lupus: understand the mysterious disease affecting several celebrities

Kim Kardashian might be the latest celebrity with lupus

11/09/19 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Health

On the latest episode of 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians,' it was revealed that preliminary tests indicated that Kim Kardashian might have lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, this after testing positive for the related antibodies. On September 10, she went further and shared on the 'Today Show' that she's on medication for lupus. We should find out more on the next episode of 'KUWTK.'

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects the immune system and makes it attack your own body tissue, causing inflammation and alterations to the function of some organs. There are several celebrities that have been open about their experience with the rare disease.

Check out this gallery to understand more about lupus and some of the stars who suffer from it.