PTSD increases your risk of lupus
- Women who have PTSD are almost three times as likely to develop lupus as those who have not, research shows
- In the first ever study of PTSD and lupus in women, Harvard researchers find that PTSD is more closely tied to lupus than any other risk factor, including smoking
- Research may indicate that mental health care could help decrease risk of autoimmune diseases
Natalie Rahhal For Dailymail.com
6
View
comments
Women who have post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or have experienced trauma are nearly three times more likely to develop lupus than others, new research shows.
A Harvard study of more than 50,000 women over the course of 24 years found that the greater degree of trauma a woman had experienced, the more likely it was that she developed lupus later in life.
There is a greater correlation between PTSD and lupus in women than any other risk factor, including smoking and obesity.
About 5 million people worldwide suffer from lupus, a chronic, incurable autoimmune disease that causes kidney inflammation and can affect many organ systems.
Ninety percent of the 5 million people diagnosed with lupus annually are women. A new Harvard study indicates that women who have experienced trauma are almost three times more likely to develop the autoimmune disease
Previous research has only looked at links between primarily male veterans with PTSD and the disease.
Ninety percent of people diagnosed with lupus are women, and yet this is the first study on PTSD and Lupus done on women.
Lupus flares can be as minor as a rash, but can also come with muscle and joint pain and fatigue. Severe flare ups can cause fluid to build up around the heart, and even lead to kidney failure.
CHICKEN OR EGG?: Stress often corresponds with lupus flare ups, which often causes rashes, muscle and joint pain and fatigue, but lupus can can also lead to stress. Researchers think that the sustained state of stress response that comes from PTSD contributes to flare ups, and possibly the development of lupus
In this case, people with lupus may even need a kidney transplant, as Selena Gomez did last week.
Selena Gomez, only 25, revealed on Thursday, September 14 that her lupus led her to need a kidney transplant from her best friend, Francia Raisa
Because lupus can directly affect the nervous system, stress may bring on flare ups.But, it can be ‘tricky to figure out what’s causing what,’ says study author Dr Andrea Roberts. ‘You need to be careful about which came first.’
Share or comment on this article
- Navy staffers removed from duty after pictures of them…
- Horrific moment shaman who said his supernatural powers…
- Father-of-five taxi driver was shunned by local Muslim…
- At least 20 schoolchildren among the 248 killed in Mexico…
- Colorado police hunt for ‘mad pooper’ jogger who has been…
- Terrifying moment Russian helicopter accidentally opens…
- ‘Rocket Man is on a suicide mission’: Trump says he will…
- BREAKING NEWS: New Zealand rocked by strong 6.1 magnitude…
- Trump draws APPLAUSE at the UN for blasting Iran’s…
- Motorists are finally allowed through after NINE hours…
- Dramatic moment RAF pilots use drone-controlled single…
- ‘It’s nasty, it’s disgusting to me’: Angry woman abuses…
- Pensioner buys £15 slippers from Amazon – only to find…
- It’s Saturday Night LOVE! Comedian Kate McKinnon goes…
- ‘Your mum would be so proud of you. I can’t wait to meet…
- US ‘will meet horrible nuclear strike and miserable and…
- North Korean defector reveals she watched as 11 musicians…
- Mother, 45, left her husband for her childhood sweetheart…
Comments 6
Share what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual.
Close
Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual
We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.
You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.