Heritage Manor News: Lupus disease

(Editor’s Note: The following article was submitted by Patricia Duplechin, resident activity director at Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Ville Platte. This column runs every Sunday in The Gazette.)
Lupus is a long-term autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks healthy tissue. Due to its complex nature, lupus is sometimes known as “the disease of a thousand faces.” According to the Lupus Foundation of America, people report around 16,000 new cases of lupus in the U.S. each year, and up to 1.5 million people may be living with the condition in the U.S.
There are several different kinds of lupus. It can affect multiple organs and systems throughout the entire body. It can cause inflammation in the skin, joints, lungs, kidneys, blood and heart. Researchers do not yet entirely understand what causes lupus, but they believe it is caused by multiple factors. One possible theory relates to “cell death,” a natural process that occurs as the body renews its cells.
Evidence suggests there is a higher chance of a person developing lupus if a family member has it. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, joint pain, headaches, mouth ulcers, unusual hair loss and rash.
The staff of Heritage Manor sends get well wishes to all of our loved ones in the hospital.
The staff of Heritage Manor wishes a Happy Birthday this week to Anna Frank, Rita Robinson, Ivy West and Charles Ortego.
The staff of Heritage Manor welcomes Paul Ardoin and Dessie Messer to the facility.
Activities this week include in-room visits, manicures, pokeno, bingo, rosary, Red Hot Ladies Club outing, mass and exercise.