How to Be a Successful Business Owner

Most business owners will tell you that starting a business is both one of the most challenging and most rewarding ways to earn a living. Being a successful business owner requires a large amount of hard work and dedication, but also generally relies on a set of personal qualities and business practices that are common characteristics of successful entrepreneurs. These characteristics lie as much in a business's founding principles as in its day-to-day operations, and dictate every decision the entrepreneur makes. By following these guidelines, you can up your chances of founding a successful business or getting your existing business back on track.

EditSteps

EditFinding the Right Mindset

1. Do what you know. That is, you should start a business that focuses on what you have experience in. That experience can be either prior work experience or a personal hobby that you're ready to turn into a career. Even if a business idea seems highly profitable in theory, don't start that business unless your heart is in it. While profit is important, it likely won't keep you coming in early every day and driving growth.
   
   ^[1]
   • For example, imagine you have experience making coffee as a barista or waiter and want to turn your passion for good coffee into a small business. You would already know a good amount about the industry and be able to apply not only your knowledge but your passion to your work.
2. Start with a well-defined purpose. While the financial benefits of business ownership can be great, most successful business owners don't start with money in mind. To get your business off the ground, you'll need a clear purpose. This purpose should be something more intangible than money, like giving back to your community by creating jobs, solving a problem that you see in your daily life, or pursuing a passion. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't also strive for profitability, just that your primary goal should be the achievement of a greater purpose.^[2]
   
   • For our coffee shop example, your purpose would be serving the perfect cup of coffee to every customer. Alternately, it could be to form a community in your coffee shop where people can meet and spend time with friends.
3. Find a first step instead of a destination. You should always start with a business model that can be up and running quickly on a low budget. Too many small businesses start with grandiose goals that will require a large amount of startup capital and investors. However, successful businesses will have a model that can be used on a smaller scale. This proves to potential investors that your idea is a valid way of making money, and increasing your odds of ever getting investment money (if that's what you're looking for).^[3]
   
   • For example, imagine that in our example, you want to start a large operation that sources, imports, roasts, and packages its own coffee beans that are then either sold or served to customers at its coffee shops. Rather than seeking huge contributions from investors to buy all of this equipment, you should start with a small coffee shop first, then maybe try sourcing and importing beans, and work up from there to build a brand.
4. Create a support network. One of the most important parts of successful business ownership is getting over your own ego and seeking help. Your biggest sources of advice are going to be your group of business associates and other professionals that share your goals. Surround yourself with knowledgable and successful people and feed off of their ideas and enthusiasm.^[4]
   
   • Also seek general small business tips online; the web is a goldmine of information. Just be sure your information is from a reliable source.
5. Find a mentor. A good mentor in this case is someone who has already run or is running a successful business of their own. A good example would be a family member or family friend that has been successful in business. This mentor can help you with anything from knowing how to manage your employees to properly filing your taxes. Because their knowledge comes from direct experience, they're able to help you more personally than any other source could.^[5]
   
   • While your mentor doesn't have to have founded the same type of business you are starting, it would help. For example, another coffee shop founder would be the best source of information in our coffee shop example, but a restaurateur  could also be of significant help.

EditRunning Your Business Efficiently

1. Focus only on your primary operations at first. That is, avoid being caught up in every business opportunity that comes your way. It's better to be perfect at one thing than mediocre at five. This applies as much to making decisions to diversify your business as it does to deciding to take on additional projects for yourself outside of your primary business. Focusing on one thing will allow you to commit all of your resources there and be more productive in that endeavor.^[6]
   
   • Continuing with our example, imagine that you see another coffee shop making money by selling customized coffee-related merchandise. This may make you want to jump into this market as well. However, doing so before establishing your primary objective, making coffee, would introduce significant risk, and may detract from your ability to focus on coffee quality.
2. Keep detailed records. In order to be successful, you'll have to make a habit of recording each and every expense and revenue that your company has, as well as every dollar that flows through it. By knowing where exactly your money is coming in and where it's going, you're more capable of recognizing financial difficulties before they arise. In addition, doing this will give you a better idea of where exactly you can make cuts to expenses or increases to revenues.^[7]
   
   • For example, in our example, you would keep detailed records of how much coffee you bought and sold in a given month and what you paid for it. This could you help you identify if, for example, the price of coffee beans was steadily increasing and help you plan whether or not to raise your own prices or consider switching suppliers.
3. Limit expenses as much as possible. While this may seem obvious, just try to think of areas where you could generate the same effect by spending less money. Consider using pre-owned equipment, finding cheaper forms of advertising (for example, fliers rather than newspaper ads), or negotiating better payment terms with suppliers or customers to save a few dollars here and there.^[8] Try to maintain very low spending habits and only spent money when and where you absolutely have to.
   
   • In our example, this could mean starting out with used coffee grinders (as long as they still functioned well) and trying to get as many supplies as possible from the same supplier (cups, lids, straws, etc.).
4. Consider supply chain efficiency. Your costs, and therefore your profits, depend on a successful supply chain organization. By fostering good relationships with your suppliers, organizing deliveries, and consistently providing customers with timely service, you can increase your profitability and reputation. Successful supply chain management can also help you eliminate any part of your business with wasted resources, like raw materials or labor.
   
   • For example, our example coffee shop would want to be on good terms with its coffee bean supplier and have an organized supply chain structure for a number of reasons. This is especially crucial for ensuring that you never run out of coffee, but could also mean that you could get more consistent deliveries, try new types of coffee bean when they become available, or negotiate lower prices.
5. Consider finding strategic partners. Much like a good mentor, a strategic partner can provide you the boost you need to grow your business. Foster strategic partnerships by reaching out to businesses you think could benefit yours, whether they are suppliers, technology providers, or complementary businesses. A good relationship with another company can provide you both free advertising, lower your costs of doing business, or allow you to expand to new markets, depending on the partners you choose.^[9]
   
   • For example, your coffee shop could benefit from a strategic relationship with a supplier that gives you access to discounts or new products. Alternately, a strategic partner in a complementary business, such as a pastry shop, could help you both reach new customers and increase your revenues. This could be done either through recommending each other or by offering product's from your partner's business and vice-versa.
6. Be responsible when it comes to debt. It's very important that you realistically assess your ability to pay back any debt that you take on. While starting and running a business is always risk, try to minimize your liabilities by only taking out as much as you absolutely need. And when you do take on debt, be sure to structure your cash flows such that you are paying it off as quickly as possible. Prioritize debt repayment before you do anything else.^[10]
   
   • For example, if you took out $20,000 to get your coffee shop started, don't think about expanding your product offerings or upgrading your coffee grinders until you've paid that loan back.

EditGrowing Your Business

1. Perfect your business pitch. Have a 30-second speech ready that explains your business as briefly and efficiently as possible, including information about your purpose, your service/products, and your goals. Having a practiced pitch that you can rattle off to anyone can help you in situations where you're trying to make a sale to a customer as well as it can when you're trying to bring an investor on board.^[11] If you can't explain your business in this short time, your business plan needs refining.
   
   • For your coffee shop, you'd want to explain what you do (sell coffee), your services (the drinks you offer), what makes you special (maybe the coffee you serve is rare or locally-roasted), and what you plan to do next (expand to another location, new products, etc.).
2. Earn a reputation for good service. Earning a positive reputation is like free advertising; your customers will spread the word of your business to friends and come back frequently.^[12] Treat each and every sale like the success or failure of your business depends on it. This also means that you should be consistent with every action your business takes and every interaction with customers.^[13]
   
   • For your coffee shop, this may mean throwing out a burnt batch of coffee so that your customers are always served the absolutely best product you can offer.
3. Watch your competition closely. You should always look to your competitors for ideas, especially when you're starting out. Chances are, they're doing something right. If you can figure out what that is, you can implement it in your own business and avoid the trial-and-error they probably went through to get there.^[14]
   
   • One of the best ways to do this when you're starting out is to examine your competitors' pricing strategies. In our coffee shop example, it would be much simpler to price your coffee similarly to competitors rather than to experiment with different prices on your own.
4. Always be looking for growth opportunities. Once you've gotten established, you should always be on the lookout for places you can expand. Whether that means moving to a larger storefront, increasing manufacturing space, or opening a new location will depend on your business and goals. Successful business owners realize that one of the primary opponents to long-term growth is remaining stagnant. This means taking the risk of expansion rather than resting on your laurels at one, original location.
   
   • For our coffee example, maybe there is a nearby area that you find is underserved by coffee shops. Once your primary location is up and running smoothly, you should investigate opening a new shop in that area. This could also mean moving up from a small stand to a full coffee shop, depending on your circumstances.
5. Diversify your income streams. Another way to increase the value of your business is by seeking out other areas where you can make money. Assuming you've already established your primary business, look around and see where you could offer a different service or product. Maybe your customers frequently visit your store for one item and then immediately go to another store for a different item. Find out what that other item is and offer it.^[15]
   
   • Some easy diversification options for your coffee shop would be offering pastries, sandwiches, or books for purchase.

EditVideo

EditTips

• Pay all insurances up for the year, (I.e., liability, etc) as soon as possible.
• Be prepared with 6 months worth of working capital in your business.
• This article serves primarily as a guide for the business owner in getting the most out of their business. For more detailed guides that cover the minute details of starting a business, see how to start a small business and how to run a small business.

EditWarnings

• You can lose money if you are personally invested in your company.

EditRelated wikiHows

• Start a Small Business
• Write a Business Plan
• Write a Business Plan for a Small Business
• Run a Small Business
• Finance a Small Business

EditSources and Citations

Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found

source How to of the Day http://ift.tt/1CSTdyA

How to Draw Perspective

Perspective drawing is a drawing technique used to illustrate dimension through a flat surface. There are many forms used under perspective drawing such as, one perspective, two-point perspective, three-point perspective, bird’s eye view, worm’s eye view and others. For this tutorial, a one perspective is used to draw a scene under a checkered pathway. One perspective is also a perspective drawing that has one vanishing point where the lines drawn are parallel to each other and are at “infinity.”

EditSteps

EditBasic Perspective Drawing

1. Start by creating a vanishing point by drawing an “X” at the center of the paper. Then from the center through the edge of your paper draw lines, but make sure also that the lines you have drawn can be used on your drawing.
   
2. Then for the next step draw a series of poles on the right side. When you almost reached the center or the vanishing point you can substitute the poles to a series of lines.
   
3. For the left side draw a series poles and add in some perpendicular benches. Remember to draw lines again when you almost reach the center or the vanishing point.
   
4. Then for the next step draw the roof of the pathway by illustrating its checkered pattern.
   
5. Next is to sketch houses on the left side and a beach scene on the right side of the drawing.
   
6. Finally end the drawing by sketching lines that will highlight or outline the path and roof.
   
7. Ink over your drawing and you’re done. To ink over your drawing use a black pen or marker with different kinds of points so that there will be some variation of texture on your drawing.
   

EditOne Point Perspective

One point perspective is usually used when the object's front is facing the viewer. In this type of drawing the horizontal and vertical lines will be horizontal and vertical respectively in the drawing, and lines getting farther from the viewer will have an angle towards what is called a "Vanishing Point." Click on any of the following images to get a closer look.

1. Determine the horizon in your drawing. Draw a horizontal line for the horizon with a hard pencil. The horizon lines determines how far the viewer can see based on the terrain and the distance of the viewer from the ground.
   
2. Choose the vanishing point. This is what will determine the effect of the perspective. As a reference, the most basic vanishing point would be located in the center of the paper horizontally and over the horizon line. If you set the vanishing point to the right, the drawing will look as if the point of view is moved to the left of the objects. The vanishing point for some objects can also be above or below the horizon lines depending on the inclination of the planes in respect to the ground.
   
3. Sketch the main objects.
   
   • Take care to draw all the horizontal and vertical lines perfectly horizontal and vertical.
   • The lines that start near the point of view and get farther should be drawn extending towards the selected vanishing point. This will give the perspective effect.
4. Give detail to your drawing respecting the proportions dictated by the reference lines you sketched before.
   
   

EditTwo Point Perspective

Two point perspective or perspective with two vanishing points is used when the objects' corners are facing the viewer. This method is perfect for drawing isometric objects.

1. Determine the horizon in your drawing. Sketch a horizontal line for the horizon as in the first method.
   
2. Determine the point of view, which is the approximate location of the eye of the person viewing the drawing. This point may be located below the bottom of the paper (outside the paper.) You don't need to actually mark the point.
   
3. Determine your first vanishing point. The usual method for this is to sketch a first line from the point of view in a 60 degree angle to the left and mark your vanishing point where this line intersects the horizon.
   
4. Determine your second vanishing point. For this you will draw a second line from the point of view in a 30 degree angle to the right. Again, the vanishing point will be the intersection of this line and the horizon. The 60 and 30 degree angles can be different, but the angle between the lines that go from the eye of the observer to the vanishing points have to form a 90 degree angle.
   
5. Sketch your main objects drawing the vertical lines perfectly vertical, the horizontal lines moving to the left at an angle towards the left vanishing point and the horizontal lines moving to the right at an angle towards the right vanishing point (all the horizontal lines should converge in one or the other of the vanishing points if extended far enough).
   
6. Give detail to your drawing respecting the trends given by the horizontal lines sketched for the main objects. These lines will determine the proportion of the sizes of the objects when they are located closer or farther from the point of view.
   
   • Make light, temporary guidelines with a ruler (shown here in green) to make sure your details are in perspective. Erase these guidelines later.

EditThree Point Perspective

1. Notice that the three point perspective includes the two point perspective or perspective with two vanishing points plus it also has a third perspective point or third vanishing point in the vertical perspective aspect as from near the ground for instance looking up at a tower -- as the viewer is facing a vertical corner (edge) of the object.
   
2. Consider that the third point can be any fourth, fifth,... view for an angular, tilted or rotated part of a drawing, but it is usually based on parallel lines in each part and relates those parts that are actually parallel to each other.
   
3. Look at the staircase example to see that different "3rd point" depends on the angle of the item being viewed. So then there can be several "other" vanishing points off at "some odd angle vanishing upward into the sky (or downward)" in a picture, for example another identical staircase could be oriented (rotated) differently as for example shown in the same drawing of a lobby of a building, etc.
   

EditZero Point Perspective

1. Think about scenes such as landscapes that have no parallel lines. This kind of perspective is of irregular shapes like crooked trees, boulders, mountains, rubble, stones, gravel, and sand dunes, etc.
   
2. Draw this kind of perspective with object sizes generally getting smaller into the distance, and the drawing elements like tree limbs, becoming thinner and less detailed in the background, with textures, shading and colors showing less contrast as they are farther away so that colors fade (become lighter) and become tinted toward blue color tones in the distance.
   

EditTips

• Always use a ruler so that the lines you draw are straight.
• Always start your drawings with a hard pencil. 2H pencils are recommended for this part, but you may want to use harder pencils if you want to avoid your reference lines being seen in the final drawing. Complete the drawings with a slightly softer pencil, such as HB.
• A good way to practice is to visit places where you can see a structure disappearing into the horizon (railroad tracks are perfect, but be extremely careful of a train approaching from behind). Sit down and draw the structure head on; then move over to the left (or right) and do it again. Practice drawing from various angles, always noting where the vanishing point is.
• Perspective can also be applied to block letters for a more dramatic and imposing effect.
• Use graphite paper when erasing or drawing. It's useful for its anti smudge purposes (rest your hand on the paper).

EditWarnings

• Make sure you keep your hands very clean when drawing. Nothing is sadder than ruining a perfectly good drawing that took hours to get perfect just because your hands were not clean.
• Remember to try to draw lightly first, or you will see lines in the finished drawing where you have tried to erase previous attempts.
• Don't forget the fact that you can throw away a bad try at a picture. Accidents happen.
• This is a three dimensional drawing without perspective. The coordinate system does not have a vanishing point. In this kind of drawing the parallel lines would not appear to converge (come closer together) when extended into the distance.

EditThings You'll Need

• Pencils: H or harder, HB, 2B or softer
• Sheets of paper
• A model object to draw

EditRelated wikiHows

• Draw
• Draw a Straight Line
• Draw a Cube
• Draw a Landscape
• Improve Your Drawing Skills
• Create Right Angle Stairs in SketchUp
• Draw a Staircase
• Use Proportion When Drawing People
• Draw Buildings in Perspective

EditSources and Citations

• http://ift.tt/1zqFbNL

source How to of the Day http://ift.tt/1ArmrQX

How to Diagnose Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects approximately 1.5 million Americans. It primarily affects the organs, such as the brain, skin, kidneys, and joints. Its symptoms often masquerade as signs of other illnesses, so the condition can be difficult to diagnose.^[1] It is good to know the symptoms and diagnosis procedures for lupus so that you can be prepared. You should also know the causes so that you can avoid potential triggers.

EditSteps

EditRecognizing Lupus Symptoms

1. Check your face for a butterfly rash. An average of 30 percent of lupus patients develop a characteristic rash over the face often said to look like a butterfly or wolf bite. The rash spans across the cheeks and nose, often flaring out over the entirety of the cheeks and occasionally covering a portion of skin near the eyes.^[2]
   
   • Also check for discoid rashes around your face, scalp, and neck. These rashes show up as red, raised patches, and they can be so severe that they leave scars even after they’re gone.
   • Pay special attention to rashes triggered or worsened by sunlight. Sensitivity to ultraviolet light, whether natural or artificial, can trigger sores on sun-exposed parts of the body and may worsen a butterfly rash on your face. This rash is more severe and develops faster than a usual sunburn would.
2. Note any mouth or nasal sores. If you frequently get sores on the roof of your mouth, along the side of your mouth, on your gums, or inside your nose, this could be another warning sign. In particular, this is often the case if these sores are not actually "sore." In most cases, mouth and nasal sores associated with lupus are pain-free.^[3]
   
   • If these sores get worse in sunlight, this is an even stronger sign of lupus. This is called photosensitivity.
3. Look for symptoms of inflammation. Inflammation of the joints, lungs, and the lining around the heart commonly occurs in patients who have lupus. On top of this, blood vessels are usually inflamed.^[4] Most notably, you might see inflammation and swelling around the feet, legs, hands, and eyes.^[5]
   
   • If you have inflamed joints, they may feel warm and tender and look swollen and red.
   • Inflammation of the heart and lungs can be detected at home based on chest pain. If you feel a sharp chest pain when you cough or take a deep breath, you can count this as a possible symptom. The same applies if you feel shortness of breath during these periods.
   • Other signs that your heart or lungs could be inflamed include abnormal heart rhythms and the coughing up of blood.^[6]
   • Inflammation can also take place in the digestive tract and can be spotted through symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
4. Pay attention to your urine. While urine abnormalities can be hard to detect at home, there are a few symptoms you might be able to detect. If a kidney is unable to filter your urine due to lupus, your feet might swell. Worse yet, if your kidneys have begun failing, you might feel nausea or weakness. ^[7]
   
5. Note any problems with your brain and nervous system. Lupus can affect the nervous system. Some symptoms, like anxiety, headaches, and vision problems, are common and difficult to assign to lupus; however, seizures and changes in personality are concrete symptoms taken very seriously. ^[8]
   
   • Note that while headaches are very common with lupus, they can be very difficult to attribute to the disease. Headaches are common and have many possible causes.
6. Ask yourself if you are more fatigued than usual. Extreme fatigue is another common symptom of lupus. It can be caused by a number of different factors, but often these factors can be linked to lupus. When fatigue is accompanied by fever, you may be even more certain that it is lupus.^[9]
   
7. Watch for other strange things in your body. You may notice that your fingers or toes change color (white or blue) when exposed to cold. This is called Raynaud’s phenomenon, and is common with lupus. You may also notice dry eyes and shortness of breath. If all of these symptoms occur together, you may be dealing with lupus.^[10]
   

EditDiagnosing Lupus

1. Prepare for your appointment with the doctor. You can go to any general physician for a lupus diagnosis, but that doctor may refer you to a rheumatologist who may order more confirmatory tests and help manage symptoms with specific medication for lupus. Typically, though, the start of a professional medical diagnosis will be at a standard physician's office.^[11]
   
   • Before your appointment, write down information about when your symptoms began and how frequent they are. Also make a note of any medications and supplements you take as possible triggers.^[12]
   • If a parent or sibling has ever had lupus or another autoimmune disorder, you should bring that information with you as well. Patient and family history are very important for diagnosing lupus.
2. Prepare for an antinuclear antibody (ANA) test. ANA is an antibody that attacks proteins in the body, and these ANA are present in most people with an active form of lupus. This is often used as an initial screening test; however, not everyone with a positive ANA test has lupus. Further tests are needed to confirm the presence of lupus.^[13]
   
   • For example, a positive ANA test can also indicate scleroderma, Sjogren’s syndrome, and other autoimmune diseases.
3. Get a complete blood count. This blood test measures the amount of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin in your blood. Certain abnormalities can be another possible sign of lupus. For example, this test can reveal anemia, which is a common symptom of lupus.^[14]
   
   • Note that this test does not diagnose lupus by itself. Many other conditions can also cause similar abnormalities.
4. Expect blood tests for inflammation. Your doctor may do several tests that confirm an inflammatory condition, though they will not definitively prove you have lupus. One such test measures your erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). This test measures how fast it takes red blood cells to settle at the bottom of a test tube in one hour. A fast rate can indicate lupus. A fast rate can also be symptomatic of other inflammatory conditions, cancers, and infections, so it is not an absolute test, either.^[15]
   
   • Another test that is non-specific for lupus but can test for inflammation is a C-reactive protein (CRP) test. This liver protein can indicate the presence of inflammation, but there are many other conditions that can cause this protein to show up.
5. Find out about other blood tests. Since no blood test is exclusive to lupus, doctors usually perform a range of blood tests to narrow down the diagnosis. Symptoms usually must match at least four out of the main eleven symptoms that doctors look for.^[16] Other possible tests your doctor might use include: ^[17]
   
   • A blood test measuring your erythrocyte sedimentation rate. This test measures how fast it takes red blood cells to settle at the bottom of a test tube in one hour. A fast rate can indicate lupus. A fast rate can also be symptomatic of other inflammatory conditions, cancers, and infections, so it is not an absolute test, either.^[18]
   • An antibodies to phospholipids (APL ) test. An APL test looks for antibodies that attack phospholipids, and they tend to be present in 30 percent of patients with lupus.
   • An antibodies to Sm test. This antibody attacks the Sm protein in the cell nucleus, and it is present in about 30 to 40 percent of lupus patients. Moreover, it rarely shows up in people without lupus, so a positive result almost always guarantees a lupus diagnosis.
   • An anti-dsDNA test. Anti-dsDNA is a protein that attacks double-stranded DNA. Roughly 50 percent of lupus patients have this protein in their blood. It is very rare in people without lupus, so a positive result almost always results in a lupus diagnosis.
   • Anti-Ro (SS-A) and Anti-La (SS-B) tests. These antibodies attack the RNA proteins in your blood. It is more common in patients with Sjögren's syndrome, however.
6. Get a urine test. Urine tests monitor the kidneys, and damaged kidneys can be a sign of lupus. You might be required to provide a urine sample so that the doctor can do a urinalysis. This test looks at your urine for extra proteins or the presence of red blood cells.^[19]
   
7. Ask about imaging tests. Your doctor might order an imaging test if they think that you have a form of lupus that affects your lungs or heart. A traditional chest x-ray might be ordered to look at your lungs. An echocardiogram will look at your heart.^[20]
   
   • A chest x-ray can reveal shadows in your lungs, which could indicate areas of fluid or inflammation.
   • An echocardiogram uses sound waves to measure the beating of your heart and to detect possible problems in the heart.
8. Inquire about a biopsy. If your doctor suspects that lupus has damaged your kidneys, they may do a kidney biopsy. The goal of this biopsy is to obtain a sample of kidney tissue. They will assess the condition of your kidneys based on how much damage has occurred, and what kind of damage it is. Doctors can use this biopsy to determine the best treatment for lupus.^[21]
   

EditLearning About Lupus

1. Learn what lupus is. Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means that it causes the immune system to attack healthy parts of your body. Again, it mostly affects the organs, such as the brain, skin, kidneys, and joints.^[22] The disease is also chronic, which means it lasts for the long-term. It causes the body to become inflamed as the immune system attacks healthy tissue. ^[23]
   
   • There is no cure for lupus; however, treatments can ease the symptoms.
2. Understand the three primary types of lupus. When people refer to lupus, they usually refer to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This type of lupus affects your skin and your organs, especially your kidneys, lungs, and heart. There are other types of lupus, including cutaneous lupus erythematosus and drug-induced lupus.^[24]
   
   • Cutaneous lupus erythematosus only affects the skin and does not threaten the other organs of your body. It rarely develops into SLE.
   • Drug-induced lupus can affect the skin and your interior organs, but it is induced by the use of specific medications. It usually goes away once those medications are out of the patient's system. The symptoms associated with this form of lupus are typically rather mild.
3. Identify the causes. Although it has been difficult for doctors to understand lupus, over time they have identified its characteristics. Lupus appears to be triggered by a combination of your genes and your environment. In other words, if you have a genetic predisposition for lupus, environmental factors can trigger it.^[25]
   
   • Common lupus triggers include medications, infections, or contact with sunlight.
   • Lupus might be triggered by sulfa drugs, drugs that make you more sensitive to sunlight, penicillin, or antibiotics.^[26]
   • Physical conditions that can trigger lupus include infections, the common cold, a virus, being exhausted, getting an injury, or emotional duress.
   • It is the ultraviolet rays from sun that can trigger lupus. Ultraviolet rays from fluorescent light bulbs can do the same thing.

EditTips

• Identify cases of lupus in your family history. If someone directly related to you has had lupus, you might be susceptible. While you can’t know what will trigger lupus for you, you may want to make an appointment with your doctor if you notice any symptoms of lupus.

EditWarnings

• If you suspect that you might have lupus, schedule an appointment with your doctor. Do this as soon as possible, even if you do not have a large number of symptoms. The condition can turn into something very serious within a short amount of time, so it is better to err on the side of caution.

EditRelated wikiHows

• Prevent Hair Loss from Lupus
• Treat Lupus
• Cope With Having Lupus

EditSources and Citations

Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found

source How to of the Day http://ift.tt/2cM8eJW