A patient discusses her symptoms with doctor
The symptoms of lupus are frequently intermittent, with exacerbations of disease interspersed amongst periods of relative remission.

Lung and Heart Disease

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7. Lung and Heart Disease

Usually the internal lining of the chest becomes inflamed and this can cause pain when breathing. Sometimes the chest cavity fills with fluid and causes rapid shallow breathing. The lining of the heart may also become inflamed and this can cause left-sided chest pain.

More seriously but less commonly, if the heart muscle or heart valves become involved, signs of poor heart function may develop, such as coughing or having cold and blue fingers and toes. The lungs can also become inflamed and fill with blood, mucus or fluid. This can cause coughing and difficulty breathing.

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