A friend of the LFA's cause in Facebook has designed a car in a contest sponsored by Toyota Racing. Their hope is to have a tremedous turnout for people voting for the Cure Lupus car.
On April 1st, ten finalists will be selected through a panel of judges as well as the voting from the general public. Those 10 entries will then be made available for a second and final round of voting. The winning entry will then have a car painted like the entry that will be on the track in Charlotte, NC in May. If they win, we are looking at reaching lots of people and spreading lupus awareness and the need for a cure.
Thank you in advance for your support. Here's the link to the voting for this round. You can vote once a day. Please do so. And please feel free to share with friends and family.
http://www.sponsafier.com/#/gallery/view/16971
February 26, 2010
February 24, 2010
Seeking Interviewees for Upcoming Issues of Lupus Now Magazine
The Editor of Lupus Now magazine seeks people with lupus for three upcoming articles:
Reproductive Health: if you are a woman with lupus who has experienced fertility issues, concerns about the use of oral contraceptives, loss of bone mass, or early onset of menopause, we would like to hear from you.
Ways Men Cope: If you are a man with lupus, we would like your input on any or all of these topics:
1) workplace issues
2) fertility and family planning
3) participating in sports
4) playing with their children
5) side effects of medications
6) dealing with pain
7) helping around the house
Complications: If you have ever experienced these symptoms but did not realize it was caused by your lupus, we would like to talk to you: shortness of breath, skin sores, infections, persistent headache, fainting, or sudden memory loss.
Please send your contact information, and a little about yourself and your lupus, to lupusnow@lupus.org and include "Lupus Now article" in the subject line.
Thank you!
Reproductive Health: if you are a woman with lupus who has experienced fertility issues, concerns about the use of oral contraceptives, loss of bone mass, or early onset of menopause, we would like to hear from you.
Ways Men Cope: If you are a man with lupus, we would like your input on any or all of these topics:
1) workplace issues
2) fertility and family planning
3) participating in sports
4) playing with their children
5) side effects of medications
6) dealing with pain
7) helping around the house
Complications: If you have ever experienced these symptoms but did not realize it was caused by your lupus, we would like to talk to you: shortness of breath, skin sores, infections, persistent headache, fainting, or sudden memory loss.
Please send your contact information, and a little about yourself and your lupus, to lupusnow@lupus.org and include "Lupus Now article" in the subject line.
Thank you!
Spring 2010 Issue of Lupus Now Magazine ... Coming in March to a Mailbox Near You!
The BIG news on the upcoming Spring 2010 issue of Lupus Now magazine is that singer-songwriters Julian Lennon (son of Beatle John Lennon) and American musician James Scott Cook are featured on the cover! These two have given their unwavering support to our lupus awareness and research efforts, and their exclusive interview can only be found in this issue of Lupus Now!Are you wondering whether what you eat can affect lupus? Be sure to read our article on “The ABCs of Nutrition.” While we do not have a specific lupus diet to offer you, there are definitely certain foods and vitamins you need to know about.
“Think Again” looks at the invisible changes caused when lupus affects the brain. These complications can affect your ability to retain, recall, and process information. In many instances, though, the coping strategies we offer can help you find your way.
Sometimes you have to just say ‘no’! In “Time Out” you will learn how to say, “No, I’m sorry, not today,” nicely but firmly. (We recommend you start with friends or family, who will be sympathetic, before you try this out on your boss!)
You also can read about some of the exciting lupus research taking place in the U.S., and around the world. This summary of lupus-related information presented at the 2009 meeting of the American College of Rheumatology appears in the Health Care Professionals section.
And have you noticed that lupus has been in the news a lot lately? Find out where in the Foundation News section.
Subscribe online to make sure you never miss an issue!
February 23, 2010
Lupus Foundation of America Releases New Lupus Awareness Videos; Watch Kassie's Story -- A Father Shares His Loss
Good morning.
The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) has created 4 new lupus awareness videos, where people who are living with lupus share their personal stories.
In this second video, Joe McMullin discusses the loss of his daughter Kassie, due to complications of lupus shortly after she had given birth to a son.
The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) has created 4 new lupus awareness videos, where people who are living with lupus share their personal stories.
In this second video, Joe McMullin discusses the loss of his daughter Kassie, due to complications of lupus shortly after she had given birth to a son.
February 22, 2010
Read the Latest in Lupus Research: Study Finds Risk Factors for Heart Disease in People With Lupus
Some people with lupus seem to be at increased risk for heart disease. It would be very helpful to know about specific factors that could help to predict this risk. The researchers hoped to learn what characteristics of people living with lupus might help to predict heart disease.
What did the researchers learn?
What did the researchers learn?
February 19, 2010
Coming Soon ... Spring 2010 Walk for Lupus Now Events
Spring is just around the corner, and you know what that means ... it's Walk for Lupus Now season here at the Lupus Foundation of America. Monies raised from Walk for Lupus Now Walks will support lupus research, lupus education programs, and patient and family support services.You can walk "in honor" or "in memory" of a friend or family member with lupus. Thousands of walkers will participate in nearly 70 cities across the nation to raise funds to bring an end to this life-diminishing and life-threatening disease that affects an estimated 1.5 million Americans.
Find the Walk for Lupus Now that's closest to you!
February 17, 2010
Discounted Room Rate for LFA's 2010 Advocacy Day Only Guaranteed Thru Friday, February 19
Reminder: LFA's 2010 Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill will take place March 15-16, 2010. Spaces are filling up, so make sure you register for this event soon.
Deadline Approaching for Discounted Hotel Reservations
Here's an incentive to get you to register today -- the discounted room rate for Advocacy Day is only guaranteed through Friday, February 19. You'll need to hurry as it's your last chance to get a hotel room at a cheaper price!
Book your hotel room by Friday, February 19, and save money!
Deadline Approaching for Discounted Hotel Reservations
Here's an incentive to get you to register today -- the discounted room rate for Advocacy Day is only guaranteed through Friday, February 19. You'll need to hurry as it's your last chance to get a hotel room at a cheaper price!
Book your hotel room by Friday, February 19, and save money!
February 16, 2010
Read the Latest in Lupus Research: Twin Study Seeks to Unravel Genetic Clues to Lupus Development
DNA contains the blueprints for all the proteins in the body. DNA is wound up in tight coils and when a cell wants to make a protein, these coils unravel to expose the instructions for making that protein. The degree to which DNA stays tightly coiled or loosens up is influenced by whether or not chemicals called "methyl groups" are attached to specific parts of the DNA.
The researchers hoped to find out if DNA methylation is different between twins when one twin has lupus and the other does not.
Read the research summary, as well as the original abstract.
The researchers hoped to find out if DNA methylation is different between twins when one twin has lupus and the other does not.
Read the research summary, as well as the original abstract.
February 12, 2010
Share Your Heart. Send an eCard this Valentine’s Day.
It’s Heart Health Month, so warm a heart this Valentine’s Day by sending an eCard to someone you care about.The Lupus Foundation of America's Valentine's Day eCards will help you spread messages of affection and friendship while helping to increase awareness of lupus.
And they're so simple to use: fill in a few fields; select an eCard design; and click send. You can even personalize your subject line, and include your own special message.
Share your heart to those living with lupus by sending your eCard today.
February 11, 2010
Learn How Lupus Can Affect Your Cardiopulmonary (Heart & Lungs) System
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect almost any part of your body, most often your joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood, or brain.
Your heart, blood vessels, and lungs make up your cardiovascular/pulmonary network: "cardio" refers to the heart, "vascular" refers to the arteries, veins, and capillaries, and "pulmonary" refers to the lungs. Your blood circulates through this vast system, transporting oxygen and other elements needed for your cells and tissues to function properly. Cardiologists are the physicians who specialize in the heart. Pulmonologists are the physicians who specialize in the lungs.
February is Heart Health Month
As such, the Lupus Foundation of America would like to further educate people living with lupus about heart disease.
Heart disease is a major complication of lupus and is now a leading cause of death among people with lupus. Blood tests, chest X-rays, an electrocardiogram (EKG), or an echocardiogram may be used to find out if you have a heart condition caused by lupus.
Learn more about how lupus can affect your heart & lungs.
Your heart, blood vessels, and lungs make up your cardiovascular/pulmonary network: "cardio" refers to the heart, "vascular" refers to the arteries, veins, and capillaries, and "pulmonary" refers to the lungs. Your blood circulates through this vast system, transporting oxygen and other elements needed for your cells and tissues to function properly. Cardiologists are the physicians who specialize in the heart. Pulmonologists are the physicians who specialize in the lungs.
February is Heart Health Month
As such, the Lupus Foundation of America would like to further educate people living with lupus about heart disease.
Heart disease is a major complication of lupus and is now a leading cause of death among people with lupus. Blood tests, chest X-rays, an electrocardiogram (EKG), or an echocardiogram may be used to find out if you have a heart condition caused by lupus.
Learn more about how lupus can affect your heart & lungs.
February 10, 2010
Lupus and "The Dating Game"
For Erica DeMeerleer, Valentine's Day 2002 was anything but romantic. In fact, the events of that week nearly broke her heart.
DeMeerleer, an account executive for Comcast, was 25 and involved in a two-year relationship at the time. She had moved from her hometown of Bellingham, WA, to Seattle for her work, but was trying to maintain the relationship long-distance.
"It was a period of high stress for me," DeMeerleer recalls. "I was adjusting to the new home, struggling with high rent payments, and trying to keep my relationship going." She was also coping with incredible pain, which she thought was a symptom of the rheumatoid arthritis she had been diagnosed with six years earlier.
Then came the week that shook DeMeerleer's world. "Three days before Valentine's Day, my boyfriend broke up with me. Then a few days afterward, my doctors told me I had lupus," she says.
Learning that you have lupus is always hard, but when you're single, you face an additional set of fears. You may struggle with when and how to discuss lupus with a potential partner -- and worry about how they'll react once you do. You may even wonder if you could keep up a healthy romance at all, especially when you’re feeling fatigued or self-conscious. Is it possible to look for love -- and actually find it -- while dealing with all this?
Fortunately, the answer is a resounding yes.
Read more about Lupus and "The Dating Game."
Taken from the Summer 2007 issue of Lupus Now magazine
DeMeerleer, an account executive for Comcast, was 25 and involved in a two-year relationship at the time. She had moved from her hometown of Bellingham, WA, to Seattle for her work, but was trying to maintain the relationship long-distance.
"It was a period of high stress for me," DeMeerleer recalls. "I was adjusting to the new home, struggling with high rent payments, and trying to keep my relationship going." She was also coping with incredible pain, which she thought was a symptom of the rheumatoid arthritis she had been diagnosed with six years earlier.
Then came the week that shook DeMeerleer's world. "Three days before Valentine's Day, my boyfriend broke up with me. Then a few days afterward, my doctors told me I had lupus," she says.
Learning that you have lupus is always hard, but when you're single, you face an additional set of fears. You may struggle with when and how to discuss lupus with a potential partner -- and worry about how they'll react once you do. You may even wonder if you could keep up a healthy romance at all, especially when you’re feeling fatigued or self-conscious. Is it possible to look for love -- and actually find it -- while dealing with all this?
Fortunately, the answer is a resounding yes.
Read more about Lupus and "The Dating Game."
Taken from the Summer 2007 issue of Lupus Now magazine
February 09, 2010
When a Family Member is Diagnosed with Lupus
Family life inevitably changes when a family member is diagnosed with lupus. Chores need to be redistributed, responsibilities shared, and everyone in the family must try to remain flexible. There will be emotional considerations as well.Open communication within the family about lupus may help to allay fears and help to foster an understanding and supportive environment for all family affected by the disease.
Learn steps that your family can take together on this new journey.
February 05, 2010
Watch Videos of the Latest Lupus-Related Heart Disease Research
People with lupus are at higher risk for developing heart disease than the general population. Several studies have shown that women with lupus have a 5-to-10-fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) as compared to women who don't have lupus. In addition, African American women are three times more likely to develop lupus than Caucasian women which increases their risk of developing lupus-related CVD.
The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) has committed significant funds to a vital and innovative research program addressing this often serious and potentially fatal consequence of lupus.
In addition to supporting this research effort, LFA has also created three videos in which doctors talk about their research, and the importance of learning more about lupus-related CVD.
In the first video, Dr. Naveed Sattar of the University of Glasgow provides some insight as to why people with lupus are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease. Dr. Sattar moderated a session at the 2009 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Annual Scientific Meeting on this topic.
In the other videos, two LFA-supported investigators -- Dr. James C. Oates and Dr. Betty P. Tsao -- provide a brief overview of their studies.
Watch videos of the latest lupus-related heart disease research.
The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) has committed significant funds to a vital and innovative research program addressing this often serious and potentially fatal consequence of lupus.
In addition to supporting this research effort, LFA has also created three videos in which doctors talk about their research, and the importance of learning more about lupus-related CVD.
In the first video, Dr. Naveed Sattar of the University of Glasgow provides some insight as to why people with lupus are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease. Dr. Sattar moderated a session at the 2009 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Annual Scientific Meeting on this topic.
In the other videos, two LFA-supported investigators -- Dr. James C. Oates and Dr. Betty P. Tsao -- provide a brief overview of their studies.
Watch videos of the latest lupus-related heart disease research.
February 03, 2010
Updated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health for Women
You know that heart health is important, but when you’re juggling work and home life, keeping heart healthy through diet and exercise can be tough. For people with lupus, especially women, those little slips can spell big trouble.
Lupus and its treatment often create problems, says Amy Kao, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh’s Lupus Center of Excellence. "People with lupus may be more likely to be physically inactive or develop excessive weight gain from steroids," she says. "Lupus itself can cause increased cardiovascular-disease risks, such as hypertension -- especially among those with lupus nephritis."
Learn Heart-Healthy Do's and Don'ts.
Lupus and its treatment often create problems, says Amy Kao, M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh’s Lupus Center of Excellence. "People with lupus may be more likely to be physically inactive or develop excessive weight gain from steroids," she says. "Lupus itself can cause increased cardiovascular-disease risks, such as hypertension -- especially among those with lupus nephritis."
Learn Heart-Healthy Do's and Don'ts.
February 01, 2010
Lupus Foundation of America Releases New Lupus Awareness Videos; Watch the Lupus-Related Kidney Disease Video
Good morning.
The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) has created 4 new lupus awareness videos, where people who are living with lupus share their personal stories.
In this first video, two people talk about their lupus-related kidney disease.
Baakari Wilder is a man living with lupus. He developed the disease while he was starring in a Broadway musical. Carla Vargas describes how she must undergo periodic chemotherapy treatments to manage the health effects of lupus nephritis.
The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) has created 4 new lupus awareness videos, where people who are living with lupus share their personal stories.
In this first video, two people talk about their lupus-related kidney disease.
Baakari Wilder is a man living with lupus. He developed the disease while he was starring in a Broadway musical. Carla Vargas describes how she must undergo periodic chemotherapy treatments to manage the health effects of lupus nephritis.