I do not have lupus. But I know someone who does.

It’s a real disease that affects millions of people across the globe. With the recent news of Selena Gomez’s diagnosis, I’m happy to see that lupus is finally gaining the national attention that will help many other people be diagnosed and possibly assist researchers with finding a cure down the road. I know several celebrities, such as Seal, Toni Braxton, and Nick Cannon have openly admitted to their battles with this disease, but it wasn’t until Selena Gomez came out about her chemotherapy that I truly noticed something interesting.

First and foremost, people tend to assume that those affected by the disease aren’t actually sick, because they don’t look sick. I was listening to my XM radio station one day while driving to class, and heard the host discussing lupus. While trying to explain what lupus is to viewers, he said, “for those of you who don’t know what lupus is, it’s a disease that affects the skin.” That was all he said about the topic. I was so angry, and I almost dialed the station’s number to yell at him. Does he honestly believe Selena Gomez, like many others, would require chemotherapy if it were strictly a “skin” disease? And, more importantly, how can they discuss a disease when they don’t even have all of the facts straight? Yes, some people may not technically look physically ill, but lupus goes far beyond what’s on the outside.

Here’s a quick rundown on what lupus actually consists of: it’s a chronic autoimmune disease that damages many parts of the body and causes the immune system to malfunction. In healthy bodies, an immune system produces proteins called antibodies, which help to fight off illnesses, viruses, and common germs. However, in terms of lupus, “autoimmune” means that a diseased person’s immune system creates antibodies that attack infected cells as well as the healthy tissues and organs, because it cannot differentiate between them.

Unfortunately, this results in a number of different symptoms and cases, which can range from mild to life-threatening and occur in extreme ways, which means the person either experiences flare-ups or go into a dormant stage called remission. Common symptoms may include headaches, fatigue, rashes, joint pain, and prolonged illnesses, while more serious ones include major damage to the blood vessels and various organs, like the lungs and kidneys. Currently, there is no cure; only treatments to help lessen the severity of symptoms.

Today, there are about 5 million people worldwide with this disease, with an estimated 1.5 million people from the United States alone. My sister is one of them, and she fights every single day, sometimes struggling to keep her flares down and move on with her life in a normal way. Luckily, however, with the help of medication and her own personal strength and perseverance, she is pushing through. She's the bravest person I know, and I don't know how she does it sometimes. But many others (some with much more severe forms) have a much more difficult time handling the struggles and hardships that come along with this disease.

It wasn’t until just recently that I saw an article about lupus written by Christine Miserandino that really opened my eyes. It was entitled “The Spoon Theory,” and was a personal story of her struggles with lupus, including how she explained this disease to her roommate in a way that was easy to understand (especially considering how lupus varies among individuals). In her writing, she talks about using 12 spoons to visually represent the everyday tasks she had to complete. Her roommate would hold the spoons, and every time lupus hypothetically slowed her down or affected her in some way, Christine would take a spoon away. Nausea, fatigue, and severe joint pain were just some of the struggles someone with lupus would face, and after being left with only a one spoon, it was evident that the rest of her daily activities would have to be chosen wisely.

Quite honestly, I’ve never really given much thought as to what someone with lupus faces on a day-to-day basis. Sure, I’m talked to my sister about it briefly or read up about it before, but I never truly sat down and thought about how it would alter my lifestyle. Even the simplest of tasks have consequences that can cause someone to be sick for the rest of the day. After reading Christine’s article, I can’t imagine how difficult that is for someone. She helped me, along with the many other people who have read her story, see what it’s truly like.

Thus, I encourage each and every one of you to learn more about the disease before speaking freely about it and assuming things that might not necessarily be true. It’s a serious disease, and it deserves more awareness than it is receiving right now. If this disease affects you, keep your head up and continue your fight. The battle may be long, but only someone as tough as you can push through it. And if you know someone that has lupus, remain by his or her side and help spread the word about lupus. Motivate others to participate in walks, raise funds, or simply donate to the cause. There are many ways to take action and help find a cure.