A local woman is raising awareness about lupus during Lupus Awareness Month. Approximately 1.5 million Americans and at least 5 million people worldwide are affected by this unpredictable and sometimes fatal disease.
Pat McKinnon, a lupus survivor, is asking that the local community join the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) by wearing purple today in support of “Put on Purple Day,” a national campaign for lupus awareness.
On Thursday night at Brodie Field, supporters gathered wearing their purple shirts: “Tift County was painted purple by lupus survivors and their family and friend supporters,” McKinnon said.
Lupus Awareness Month serves as an annual grassroots effort to raise awareness of the disease and secure funds for lupus research as well as support for those afflicted.
“Research shows that most Americans know little or nothing about lupus and its devastating impact on millions of people,” McKinnon said. “You can change that. Band together for lupus awareness and  help the LFA fight this unpredictable and sometimes fatal disease by showing support for those who suffer from it.”
In 2009, the LFA moved the annual Lupus Awareness Month observance to May.
“May provides many opportunities, including Mother’s Day, National Women’s Health Week and Women’s Health Check-up Day to promote awareness of lupus and show support for those who suffer from the disease,“ McKinnon said. “The warm weather is a good time for outdoor events and represents an opportunity to take charge of your health.”
When people talk about lupus, they usually mean systemic lupus erythematosus, its most common type. Symptoms are different for every person, and sometimes it isn’t diagnosed. The LFA believes that about 16,000 new cases are reported across the country each year.

There are several kinds of lupus: SLE; cutaneous lupus erythematosus, which there are two major kinds — discoid lupus erythematosus and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus; drug-induced lupus; and neonatal.
Although lupus can affect almost any organ system, the disease, for most people, affects only a few parts of the body. For example, one person with lupus may have swollen knees and fever. Another person may be tired all the time or have kidney trouble. Someone else may have rashes. Over time, more symptoms can develop.
“Normally, lupus develops slowly, with symptoms that come and go. Women who get lupus most often have symptoms and are diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 45,” McKinnon said. But the disease also can happen in childhood or later in life.
For some people, lupus is mild. But for others, it may cause severe problems. Even if one’s symptoms are mild, it is still a serious disease that needs constant monitoring and treatment; it can harm organs and put one’s life at risk if untreated, the LFA says.
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