Lupus: And Life

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body’s own healthy tissue and organs. It causes high levels of persistent inflammation, which can negatively affect nearly every part of the body: the heart, joints, brain, kidneys, lungs and endocrine glands, for example. Because lupus symptoms are very similar to many other health conditions — such as thyroid disorders, Lyme disease and fibromyalgia — lupus can be very hard to diagnose. While some people with lupus are able to lead very normal, happy lives, other lupus patients deal with severe symptoms that can at times can be debilitating. Lupus tends to cause periods of unpredictable “flare-ups,” when symptoms get very bad for a period of time, followed by periods of remission. Common signs and symptoms of lupus include fatigue, headaches, joint pain, insomnia, GI issues and skin rashes. It takes many lupus patients years to be accurately diagnosed, sometimes leaving patients to be prescribed various prescriptions over and over again that don’t seem to fix the problem. Today, conventional medications for lupus include corticosteroid drugs, NSAID pain relievers, thyroid medications and even synthetic hormone replacement drugs — which help lower inflammation but can cause many unwanted side effects and even long-term health problems. Although many patients with lupus aren’t thrilled about the effects of the prescriptions they take, most feel they have no other choice and are desperate to find relief from their symptoms. Fortunately, natural remedies for lupus, including supplements, exercise and a healthy diet high in anti-inflammatory foods can all help manage symptoms and improve overall immune function, without raising the risk for complications. What Causes Lupus? Lupus is an inflammatory condition that’s triggered by a number of factors that cause the immune system to mistakenly attack the body’s own healthy tissue. The exact cause of lupus (and most autoimmune disorders, for that matter) is still not entirely agreed upon by the medical community today, but researchers know that genetics and someone’s lifestyle both play a part in triggering inflammation.