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May: Lupus Awareness Month

The month of May is designated as Lupus Awareness Month, a time when the Lupus Foundation of America strives to rally support from individuals impacted by the disease, as well as their friends and families. The foundation’s aim is to elevate awareness regarding lupus, share the lived experiences of those with the condition, and encourage fundraising efforts dedicated to lupus research and support services.

Understanding Lupus

Lupus is an intricate autoimmune disease characterized by the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy tissues. This error can result in a spectrum of symptoms and complications that affect various organ systems, leading to substantial inflammation and pain. Notably, one of the critical complications of lupus is lupus nephritis—a severe kidney condition that affects around 60% of individuals suffering from lupus, potentially leading to kidney failure.

While lupus can impact anyone, it is statistically more prevalent in women, accounting for approximately 90% of cases. Furthermore, certain racial and ethnic groups, such as Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian American individuals, are disproportionately affected. There are an estimated 1.5 million people in the United States living with lupus, underscoring the necessity for awareness and understanding of this often-misunderstood disease.

Lupus Awareness Campaign

This year’s campaign, titled "Make Lupus Visible," aims to highlight the signs and symptoms of lupus. It includes an innovative online quiz, the Know Lupus Quiz, designed to test and enhance participants’ knowledge about lupus. After attempting the quiz, participants receive immediate feedback on their answers alongside useful resources to deepen their understanding. The foundation encourages participants to share their quiz results on social media to amplify awareness and facilitate discussions about the disease, ultimately contributing to faster diagnoses.

Louise Vetter, President and CEO of the Lupus Foundation of America, emphasizes the significance of collective voices in shaping public awareness: "Lupus Awareness Month serves as a powerful reminder of how our united efforts can bring understanding and support to those affected by lupus. Sharing the Know Lupus Quiz can help individuals feel recognized and encourages informed conversations with healthcare providers, crucial in reducing diagnosis delays."

Join the Movement

In addition to the quiz, the foundation has laid out several strategies for the public to engage in the movement:

• - Utilize Resources: Share factual information and resources from the Lupus Foundation of America’s awareness toolkit to educate others about lupus.
• - Put on Purple: On May 10, join the lupus community by wearing purple, showcasing solidarity, and using conversation starters provided by the World Lupus Federation Toolkit to discuss the importance of lupus awareness.
• - Game On! To End Lupus: Tune in to numerous streaming events throughout May where content creators collaborate to fundraise, elevate awareness, and unify the community against lupus.
• - Host Fundraisers: Initiate fundraising events—whether independently or via social media—to invite your network to contribute to the fight against lupus.
• - Make a Donation: Contributions to lupus research and support programs play a crucial role in advancing knowledge and treatment options for the disease.

The Lupus Foundation of America calls on everyone to rally together this May to make lupus visible. Each voice is a vital asset in the mission to reduce diagnosis times, accelerate research for better treatments, and ultimately achieve a future without lupus.

For further details regarding Lupus Awareness Month and involvement opportunities, please visit www.lupus.org/lupusawarenessmonth.