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My relatives died of the same condition..heart faliure..could this of been lupus (SLE)?

my mums dad,my nan and my uncle and mum all died of the same thing
im wondering if lupus had caused this...
and i have the disease as well...but i have a different lifestyle...
i just hope i can prolong my life.

Lupus can cause pericarditis, an inflammation of the membrane that surrounds the heart. This can be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids (cortisone), or immune suppressants. Lupus, as an auto-immune disease, means that your body's immune system is attacking the body itself, pericarditis can be one of the results. Because you already know that you have systemic lupus, and you know your family's history, you and your doctor can be on the lookout for any signs of pericarditis to catch it in the beginning stages so that it can be reversed. You need to go for regular check-ups, and make sure you and your doctor work as a team to beat the odds.

Good luck, stay strong, and educate yourself as much as you can about your malady.

definatly get a full checkup- some health issues are genetic- Was all this illness on just one side of the family?

If they had lupus they would most likely have had other symptoms and you would have heard talk of it. Heart disease is a major killer, lupus or not.

However, lupus patients have a much higher rate of atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. There are several theories about this. One of them involves cytokines and inflammation. Remember, lupus is an inflammatory, autoimmune, chronic disease.

Some lupus patients have antiphospholipid antibody syndrome where the platelets are "sticky" and likely to clause clots. These clots can cause strokes and heart attacks.

A diet low in fat and animal products, high in fresh fruits and veggies, low in processed foods will certainly help. 30 minutes of brisk walking a day helps a lot too. AND if you have lupus, see your rheumatologist regularly and comply with your treatment regimen. The aim of treatment in lupus is to control symptoms and prevent permanent damage. Your rheumatologist is your ally in this.

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