May is Lupus Awareness Month!

May is Lupus Awareness Month and the Lupus Foundation of America strives to educate us about this disease, letting people know what lupus is, how it affects us and what we can do about it.  

So, what exactly is Lupus? Lupus is an autoimmune disease, that develops from a malfunction of the immune system which erroneously identifies what are healthy organs and tissues as something foreign. It then attacks them, creating a variety of different symptoms including joint pain, fatigue, blood clots, hair loss, mouth sores, photosensitivity (sensitivity to light) and a distinctive butterfly-shaped rash on the face across the cheeks and nose. A patient may have several or just a few of those symptoms, which can range from mild to severe. Because there are so many possible symptoms, the disease can be mistaken for other illnesses, and is therefore difficult to diagnose.  

Those who suffer from lupus are 90% female, but men can also develop the disease. There are many myths and misconceptions about Lupus, so that's why May 10 was named World Lupus Awareness Day! It's also Put on Purple Day so you can help spread awareness at the office and on social media by wearing purple and posting about it online.

Michele Insley is the Northeast Development Manager for the Lupus Foundation of America and Kristin had the chance to chat with her. Listen to the interview below!