Lupus Symptoms in Men

Lupus, according to records and different studies, is an inflammatory disease that is more common in women than in men. This condition strikes when the immune system of the body attacks its own tissues and organs. Joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart and lungs are the common parts which may be inflicted by this medical condition. Lupus exists in four different forms, which include systemic lupus erythematosus, discoid lupus erythematosus, drug-induced lupus erythematosus, and neonatal lupus. All these forms are of mild nature, except systemic lupus erythematosus, which is not only common, but also more severe than the rest. Causes of this ailment remain unknown or unspecified. Doctors assume that the condition may result from a combination of the person's genetics and environment. The following information will take you through the different lupus symptoms.

Symptoms of Lupus in Men

Different people may have different symptoms. Some may suffer from mild symptoms and some from ones which may be severe. Again, some symptoms may come in suddenly, while some may develop at a slower pace. To add to this, in some cases, affected people may suffer from permanent symptoms or from temporary ones. So, you see, no two cases of this condition may be alike. Also, lupus symptoms in men are no different from those in women, and they basically depend upon the part of the body which is affected.

Groups of Symptoms	Symptoms
Group 1	Increasing fatigue, and low-grade fever. These are sometimes the early symptoms of the condition.
Group 2	Lupus affects muscles and joints, resulting in symptoms such as: joint pain in the wrists, elbows, knees and ankles muscle pain joints getting red, and warm to touch swelling stiffness after getting up in the morning
Group 3	Rash of the shape of a butterfly (lupus butterfly rash) that seems to cover the face and bridge of the nose is also a typical symptom of the condition. This rash may be worsened by exposure to sunlight or tanning treatment. Also, it may be accompanied by: mouth sores sores on areas of the hands, face, neck or back, ears, arms and chest
Group 4	Raynaud's phenomenon could also be one of the complications or symptom of lupus in some people. This condition causes: fingers and toes to turn white or blue. This may occur when the person gets exposed to cold conditions or when in stress the skin to feel numb or tingly
Group 5	Lupus also has its ill effects on the nervous system causing: headaches uncommon cognitive problems like confusion, memory loss, low concentration feeling of the arms or legs going numb
Group 6	Pleurisy (characterized by the inflammation of the double layer of membranes called pleura) is also a possible outcome of lupus. Due to this, the affected person may exhibit symptoms such as: coughing pain in the chest while inhaling and exhaling. The pain feels like being stabbed in the chest with something breathing problems loss of appetite fever and chills
Group 7	Lupus may cause the blood vessels to bleed or suffer inflammation. This may be manifested by blue or reddish spots on the skin or nail beds.
Group 8	If lupus causes swelling in the limbs, then it may indicate kidney problems.
Group 9	Other symptoms include hair loss, iron-deficiency anemia, swollen lymph glands, and weight loss.

So much for the lupus symptoms in men, which are also similar to those in women. Now, let's have a brief outlook on the treatment of this condition.

Lupus Treatment

The nature of signs and symptoms greatly influence the treatment procedure of lupus. Generally, for mild to moderate cases, the patient may be prescribed with three types of medications. They include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and antimalarial drugs. Doctors might also suggest the use of drugs, which can target a specific kind of symptom of lupus. Topical corticosteroids are also used for the purpose. Severe cases of lupus are treated with the help of high-dose corticosteroids, and drugs which can suppress the immune system. These aggressive drugs may be combined with each other in order to reduce the dosage of each drug. This is done to reduce side effects.

Some simple self-care measures when taken up at home may help manage lupus symptoms in men and women. As the patient may suffer from chronic fatigue, proper rest is required. Getting plenty of sleep at night, and a few naps during the day helps a lot in this respect. Sun exposure may worsen the symptoms. So use sunscreens and protective gears and clothing, whenever you need to go out. Do not ignore the need to exercise and inculcating a healthy diet. If you smoke, then doing away with the habit would offer a great deal of help in the treatment.