I Like to Decorate My Medical Equipment

Medically Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev on November 15, 2021
2 min read

Lupus is often hard to diagnose since it has a plethora of symptoms. Often, these symptoms may be mistaken for signs of other diseases. Many people have the condition for a long time before they actually get diagnosed with it. 

At the moment, a single test is unable to tell if you have lupus. Instead, a doctor has to look for different symptoms. Most healthcare providers will start by asking about your medical history. Then, they will ask questions about your family history of autoimmune diseases. 

A physical exam is also conducted to check for signs of rashes. After that, a doctor will recommend urine and blood tests to check for the presence of antinuclear antibodies in your blood. 

Now, all these tests and physical exams involve a number of medical equipment. Once you start going to the doctor for regular check-ups, you might not be shocked by the equipment. But as a first-timer, it is not uncommon to find the medical equipment daunting. 

As a medical professional, you can do a few things to make the diagnostic experience more relaxing for people with lupus. One of these things is decorating your medical equipment. 

No, we do not mean that you should go all out with Christmas-level decor. Instead, you may want to put a purple ribbon or stickers on your medical equipment. Why purple? you may ask. Purple is the color used to denote lupus during awareness campaigns. 

Even if you do not want to keep your equipment decorated the whole year, try doing it in May since it is lupus Awareness Month. 

The most common way to display your support is to wear appropriate accessories or clothing. For example, you can paint your nails purple or wear a purple hat for Lupus Awareness Month. 

However, if all of these seem too out-there for you, let your equipment do the talking. While you're at it, you can also actively educate people who come to your practice about lupus. 63% of Americans either know too little about this condition or have never even heard of it. 

Raising awareness among friends, family, and even your social media followers will help more people recognize their symptoms and reach for medical help sooner.