Greater Ohio
Chapter

Could it be you? Approximately 1 in every 250 people may end up developing lupus during their lifetime. 

Take a FREE lupus symptoms self-assessment quiz or send the quiz to someone you know who may be experiencing lupus symptoms.

However, after several tests and hospital visits, I was informed by my rheumatologist that I had lupus. I eventually came to accept that I had the disease. I’ve had depression, blood clots, heart and neurological issues. Flares usually include hair loss, so now I keep my head bald. I continue to work full-time, but there are periods where I am forced to take time off due to a severe flare. I go to support groups to deal with my illness and get educated. 

My lupus story started well before I was officially diagnosed in May of 2013 at 32 years old. I was suffering from joint pain and couldn’t understand why, at such a young age, I was having this pain. One day, I woke up to go to work and couldn’t get out of bed. I thought it was the flu because I was in horrible pain and had severe fatigue.

Lupus is a poorly understood autoimmune disease and the cause is unknown. Experts believe hormones and the environment play a factor. 

Though the chance of getting lupus is higher if you have another family member with lupus or another autoimmune disease, anyone between the ages of 15-45 can develop lupus.

Lupus causes your immune system to attack healthy tissue in your body instead of fighting infections. It creates inflammation and pain in any part of your body, including your hands and feet. 

Lupus is a chronic,  lifelong condition with no cure.

Diagnoses of Lupus that are Children

Average Time to Discover Lupus is the Cause of Symptoms

Estimated Americans living with lupus

Lupus patients either temporarily or permanently disabled by the disease

Because lupus affects many parts of the body, it can cause a lot of different symptoms. Common symptoms include:

• Extreme fatigue (feeling tired all the time)
• Pain or swelling in the joints
• Swelling in the hands, feet, or around the eyes
• Sensitivity to sunlight or fluorescent light
• Chest pain when breathing deeply
• A butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose
• Hair loss
• Sores in the mouth or nose
• Fingers and toes turning white or blue and feeling numb when a person is cold or stressed

Originally serving Cleveland, the Greater Ohio Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America, Inc., was founded in 1977 to fulfill the needs of the lupus community. Today, the chapter serves the entire State of Ohio. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus through programs of research, education, and advocacy.

The funding for this campaign is from an earmark from the State of Ohio and managed by the Ohio Department of Health.

The Lupus Foundation of America, Greater Ohio Chapter

12930 Chippewa Rd. | Brecksville, Ohio 44141

Question? Email us at info@lupusgreaterohio.org or call 1(888) NO-LUPUS

Lupus Foundation of America, Greater Ohio Chapter is a 501(c)(3) organization.