Common Diseases With Unknown Causes
There are many conditions, diseases and ailments both physical and psychological that one may find themselves afflicted with at any point in time. Perhaps, the most boggling though, are those that seem to materialize out of nowhere. Believe it or not there are quite a few diseases like this in existence, and even more where the entirety of their origin is unclear such as HIV. The two common diseases that will be looked at in the following text are lupus and multiple sclerosis. Read on to learn more about these diseases that can appear like a thief in the night.
Lupus
Lupus is a very widespread disease that has documented countless times over hundreds of years. The disease was named Lupus (Latin for wolf) due to the fact that the rash that appeared often resembled a reddened bite from a wolf. In fact this rash was caused in response to the body being attacked, by what you ask, by its own immune system. There is no definitive cause or identified reason as to why the body seems to suddenly not recognize its own cells and tissues. These attacks from lupus can cause painful inflammation and rashes as well as:
- Fever, without infection
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Pain in the joints
- Facial rash
- Kidney trouble
- Chest pains
The demographic that is most commonly targeted by this autoimmune disorder are women in the black community that are in their childbearing years, and although there has been no cause established, there have been advancements made in the way of treatment and life expectancy. Lupus cannot be cured, but there are medications to deal with the symptoms and effects. Six decades ago half of those who received a lupus diagnosis often died within 5 years, Today an estimated ten percent of those diagnosed die within 10 years, while most go on to live longer than 10 years. With treatment and early detection most deaths from lupus are preventable.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is another disease where the cause is an unknown factor. There have been some guesses that it may be genetic factors that trigger MS, and others surmise that it may be due to an environmental factor or infection. A person who is infected by MS may have many symptoms ranging from physical, to mental, or even psychiatric. Multiple sclerosis dissolves the coverings that act as insulators on the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, this causes a breakdown in the bodies most valuable communication tool, the central nervous system. Multiple sclerosis can attack the body and then stop, leaving no symptoms; however, it causes permanent damage each time it attacks. There is no cure, though researchers continue on in the battle to find a cure. There are treatments that are used to improve function and help reduce the impact of an attack after the fact, though some of the permanent damage this disease causes will permanently alter life as it was previously known.
As with any condition it is important that you seek treatment as soon as symptoms are noticed. Early detection and identification of a disease or condition can seriously help to reduce the impact and extent to which it causes damage to your body. For conditions that cause chronic pain, an appointment with a physician at your nearest Pain Management and Injury Relief Centre (PMIR) can help to increase your mobility and quality of life. As for multiple sclerosis and lupus, the foundations will continue to raise awareness, raise funds for research, and try to find a cure for these diseases where the cause is still unidentified.
This is a guest post by Lilly Sheperd, a freelance writer sharing her thoughts on various blogs. Keep an eye out for more of her informative articles!
