Contact: Ms. Suzanne Tierney

The Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. Greater Cleveland Chapter is serving more than 30 counties state wide. As a member of the Maple Heights Chamber for the past several years, we are excited to spread the word about lupus to its members and the community. As Lupus Awareness Month approaches we want to take this time to share this information.

(Washington, DC – LFA) - A nationwide poll conducted for the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) reveals that approximately three of ten American adults know someone with lupus, an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the body’s own cells. Despite the widespread prevalence of lupus, however, the same survey indicates that a majority of adults in the U.S. know little about the disease that can cause life-threatening damage to major organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys or brain.

Today, there may be tens of thousands of people, many of them young women, who suffer from lupus but are years away from being correctly diagnosed due to ignorance about lupus symptoms or health effects. Early recognition, diagnosis and treatment of lupus are vitally important to reducing disability and death due to lupus.

Among the 1,013 adults surveyed, 38% indicate they are somewhat or very familiar with lupus, while 39% say they have only heard of the name of the disease, and 22% have never heard of lupus. October is National Lupus Awareness Month, and the LFA and its nationwide network of chapters are launching a year-long national campaign entitled “Someone You Know Has Lupus” to increase public understanding of lupus. Here are the facts the public needs to know about lupus:

• Lupus is a significant women’s health issue; 90% of those afflicted with lupus are women, and lupus is more prevalent among women of color, including African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Asians.
• Symptoms of lupus mimic common illnesses and can go into periods of remission, making lupus difficult to diagnose.
• Common symptoms of lupus include joint pain and swelling, fevers, fatigue, fevers, skin rashes, anemia, chest pains and sun sensitivity.
• Lupus can attack virtually any system of the body, including the skin, joints, muscles, blood and blood vessels, as well as major organs including the heart, lungs, kidneys and brain.
• Improved awareness of lupus symptoms will cause more people with undiagnosed lupus to seek medical evaluation and treatment.

Please contact us at (440) 717-0183 for a package of information and/or for a list of programs we feature.
Join us for our main fundraiser October 19, 2003 WALK ALONG FOR LUPUS at the Brecksville Metro Park.