Lupus Foundation of America sheds light on mysterious disease
Group seeks more congressional funding
Lupus is an unpredictable and misunderstood autoimmune disease that ravages different parts of the body. It is difficult to diagnose, hard to live with, and a challenge to treat. According to a recent survey by the Lupus Foundation of America, an estimated 1.5 million Americans have lupus. Black women, in particular, are three times more likely to develop the disease than White women.
Despite the prevalence of lupus, key characteristics of the disease remain largely unknown. A recent survey shows that nearly three-fourths of Americans between 18 and 34—the age group at the highest risk for lupus—have never heard of lupus or know little or nothing about the disease beyond the name.
African Americans and Hispanics are at a particularly high risk for lupus, but awareness among these groups is critically low.
The Lupus Foundation of America’s launched the Help Us Solve the Cruel Mystery national tour, which includes a 45-foot purple bus with eight interactive exhibits, to talk with locals about lupus, a disease that ravages different parts of the body and has no known cause or cure. The bus allows visitors to experience what it is like to face lupus, substantiating the urgent need to end the disease’s devastating impact.
Visitors can support those affected by lupus by signing a petition asking Congress to fund lupus research and education services.
The bus made several stops in Los Angeles this week and culminated with visit to the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles, where actress Tichina Arnold, currently starring in TV Land’s “Happily Divorced,” spoke to audiences about her experience coping with and advocating for lupus advances on behalf of her sister, Zenay Arnold.
The campaign was inspired by research that showed people with lupus do not want the disease kept off the radar. It highlights the troubling nature of lupus, a disease that inexplicably targets young women, is difficult to diagnose, strikes without warning, can be mild or fatal, has a range of symptoms that are hidden from view, and tragically, has no known cause or cure. Its health effects can range from a skin rash to a heart attack. Lupus is debilitating and destructive and can be fatal, yet research on lupus has not kept pace with research for other diseases of similar scope and devastation.
Recently, stars like singer Toni Braxton, Seal, and Nick Cannon have come forward to discuss their struggles with this autoimmune disease and are advocates for awareness.
Despite decreasing cancer deaths, cancer still kills more African American women than White women. And prostate cancer affects twice as many African American men as White men. These are among the facts presented recently by panel of experts at a Zócalo Public Square event titled, “Why is Cancer Killing More African Americans?”
A new community plan for the West Adams, Baldwin Hills, Leimert Park and Hyde Park communities is proposing to roll back current limits on the number of stand-alone fast food restaurants in Council District 10 for up to 20 years.
In 2008, the City Council passed an ordinance restricting new fast food restaurants from being constructed within 0.5 miles of an existing fast food restaurant.
This is the beginning of a series of articles about street gangs in our nation. Gone are the days back in the 1960s and before when gangs were social organizations and were geographically linked. Beginning in the 1970s, these street gangs evolved into criminal organizations. They are the generators of murder, drugs, robbery, etc. No longer are they cool or cute. They are pure savages craving fast money and a fast lifestyle. This week let’s take a look at Detroit.
One of the earliest gangs was the Errol Flynns. They took the name from the Caucasian movie star.
Bill Gates is putting out a call to inventors, but he’s not looking for software, or the latest high-tech gadget. This time he’s in search of a better condom.
On its Grand Challenges website, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is offering a $100,000 startup grant to the person who designs “the next generation condom that significantly preserves or enhances pleasure” and promotes “regular use.”
Your child has caught some bug that’s going around.
He has a terminal case of The Gimmes, and he’s not getting any better. It’s “Gimme that” and “Buy me this” all day long. It’s Gimme Gimme Gimme, usually accompanied by whining, pleading, and a maddening inability to understand the word “no.”
