Autoimmune Diseases: A Serious Health Concern For All 20-Somethings

Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which any part of the body can be affected, including the skin, joints, and muscles. It affects approximately five million people worldwide, and ninety percent are women aged fifteen to forty-four years old. Symptoms may include sensitivity to the sun, a sudden and extreme fever, joint pain, chest pain when breathing, and kidney failure. People with lupus tend to develop a signature butterfly-shaped rash on the bridge of their nose.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by inflammation that damages joints and organs. Approximately 1.5 million people in the United States alone are affected. The condition affects three times as many women as men. Women are also more likely to develop symptoms at a younger age (between thirty and sixty) while men experience symptoms later in life. People who have rheumatoid arthritis in their hands have large, deformed knuckles that make it hard to grab things, put on jewelry or bend the fingers.