Doctors Explain The Subtle Warning Signs Of Lupus

Do you feel like you get way more headaches than you're supposed to? Compared with the general population, people with lupus may be twice as likely to experience migraine-like headaches, commonly known as lupus headaches, says Dr. Sethi. "The features of lupus headaches are similar to migraines and may be seen more often in people who also have Raynaud’s phenomenon" a disease that causes fingers and toes to feel numb and change color in the cold," he says. "However, headaches can also be caused by vasculitis, a symptom of active lupus due to inflammation of the blood vessels."

Of course, not all headaches will immediately indicate lupus — sometimes you just haven't drunk enough water, or you watched too much Netflix — but talk to your doctor if frequent migraines are causing you concern.

If you often feel you're operating on low battery mode, it might be a symptom of lupus. "Fatigue is one of the top complaints of people with symptoms of lupus," registered nurse Rebecca Lee, R.N., tells Bustle. "This fatigue can get in the way of your everyday life and activities." Like headaches, fatigue can have many causes: stress, hangovers, staying up late for just one more episode of Selling Sunset... Speaking with your doctor is the best way to get to the root of the cause.

"Inflammation can cause pain, stiffness, and visible swelling in your joints, particularly in the morning," says Dr. Sethi. "It may be mild at first and gradually become more obvious. Like other symptoms of lupus, joint problems can come and go." That tendency to say "ouch" every time you bend your arm for your morning coffee could mean something more serious.

Lupus can cause lung inflammation, which can extend to lung blood vessels and the diaphragm. "These conditions can lead to chest pain when one tries to breathe in," says Dr. Sethi, adding that it's known as pleuritic chest pain. If you notice that it hurts to breathe, accompanied by these other symptoms, consulting with your doctor can help you figure out if lupus is the cause.

You wake up, and suddenly your face looks like a page in a nature textbook. "One of the most common symptoms of lupus is a butterfly-shaped rash that appears over the bridge of the nose and on both cheeks," says Dr. Sethi. "Almost 50% of people with lupus have this rash. It can occur suddenly or appear after exposure to sunlight."

People with lupus can have the smaller vessels in their fingers and toes highly constrict in response to temperature changes, a syndrome called Raynaud’s phenomenon, says Dr. Sethi. "This can cause the fingers and toes turn white or blue." If your fingers look like you've survived an encounter with Elsa, lupus could be the cause.

"Hair loss all over the body is one of the early symptoms of lupus," says Lee. "This is caused by inflammation in the body, which also affects the scalp." Hair can fall out in clumps, become brittle and break easily, while thinning slowly. It's not the end of the world, but thinning or losing hair can be caused by a variety of things, like thyroid issues, so a doctor's appointment can help you sort out the cause.

Acid reflux — that lovely stinging, fiery feeling in your mouth as stomach acid comes up to say hello — is another symptom common in lupus, says Lee. This can also be accompanied by other issues in the gastrointestinal system, including problems with the liver, pancreas, bile ducts, and gallbladder. If you are experiencing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation, and believe lupus may be to blame, talk with your doctor.

"An early symptom of lupus is an unexplained low-grade fever," says Lee. "Chronic low-grade fevers can be an indication of inflammation, inflection, and lupus flare-ups. This fever can come and go and may not cause much alarm since it usually does not go above 101 degrees F." If you're always running hot and you have no idea why, it's a good idea to check in with a doctor.