R&B star Toni Braxton was hospitalized in Los Angeles on Monday to treat symptoms resulting from her systemic lupus condition.From time to time she may have flare ups which would result in hospital stays.
“I wanted to say thanks to all my fans for their support, as I have been experiencing some flare-ups with my lupus which has me in the hospital for a few days,” the singer told TMZ.
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The cause of lupus is not known. It’s not a disease you can catch from another person. Researchers are looking at these factors:
- Environment (sunlight, stress, smoking, certain medications, and viruses might trigger symptoms in people who are prone to getting lupus)
- Hormones such as estrogen (lupus is more common in women during childbearing years)
- Problems with the immune system
- Genes play an important role, but are not the only reason a person will get lupus. Even someone who has one or more of the genes associated with lupus has a small chance of actually getting the disease. And only 10 percent of people with lupus have a parent or sibling who also has it.
Many men and women live long, productive lives with lupus. However, it can be fatal for some people. It depends on the severity of illness, how the body responds to treatments, and other factors. Infections are the leading cause of death in people with lupus. Studies show that people with lupus are living longer lives compared to decades past.
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The times when your symptoms worsen and you feel ill are called flares, and they come and go. You may have swelling and rashes one week and no symptoms the next. Sometimes flares occur without clear symptoms and are only seen with laboratory tests. Even if you take medicine for lupus, you may find that some things trigger a flare. For instance, your symptoms may flare after you’ve been out in the sun or after a hard day at work. Common triggers include:
- Overwork and not enough rest
- Stress
- Being out in the sun or close exposure to fluorescent or halogen light
- Infection
- Injury
- Stopping your lupus medicines
- Certain medications
