Common triggers include:
Being out in the sun or having close exposure to fluorescent or halogen light. Infection. Injury. Stopping your lupus medicines.
Foods High in Cholesterol and Saturated Fats
Heart attack risk is 50 times higher in people with lupus, so patients with lupus should be extra vigilant against foods with known links to heart disease, such as red meat, fried foods, and dairy.
There are no foods that cause lupus or that can cure it. Still, good nutrition is an important part of an overall treatment plan for the disease. In general, people with lupus should aim for a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Be sure to drink at least 8 glasses of water throughout the day. This supports the elimination of toxic build up in the body, and a faulty digestive process common with lupus sufferers.
Lupus can slow the digestive process, and this can cause a wide variety of GI issues. Digestive problems may be the direct result of an attack by the immune system or from medications to treat lupus. These digestive difficulties include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation.
People with lupus tend to suffer from recurring infections, so it's important to add lots of fresh fruits like blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, cherries, oranges and pineapples into your lupus diet. Fruits that are rich in antioxidants can strengthen your immune system and help your body fight off the harmful ...
Include food rich in Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine).
These foods include whole grain cereals, breads, liver, avocados, spinach, green beans, bananas, fish, poultry, meats, nuts, potatoes, green leafy vegetables.
Eating foods like fish, nuts, seeds, tofu, tempeh, and eggs may be helpful. You may also have some new food challenges because of the medication your doctor has prescribed.
With close follow-up and treatment, 80-90% of people with lupus can expect to live a normal life span. It is true that medical science has not yet developed a method for curing lupus, and some people do die from the disease. However, for the majority of people living with the disease today, it will not be fatal.
Brain and central nervous system.
If your brain is affected by lupus, you may experience headaches, dizziness, behavior changes, vision problems, and even strokes or seizures. Many people with lupus experience memory problems and may have difficulty expressing their thoughts.
An infection, a cold or a viral illness. An injury, particularly traumatic injury. Emotional stress, such as a divorce, illness, death in the family, or other life complications. Anything that causes stress to the body, such as surgery, physical harm, pregnancy, or giving birth.
Lupus flare-ups can be triggered by stress, infection, or missed doses of medication. To prevent a lupus flare, focus on your medication schedule, self-care, and sun protection. Hydroxychloroquine is the best medication to help prevent lupus flares.
Muscle and joint pain.
You may experience pain and stiffness, with or without swelling. This affects most people with lupus. Common areas for muscle pain and swelling include the neck, thighs, shoulders, and upper arms.
Weight gain may be related to salt and water retention associated with kidney disease (see 'Kidneys' below) or due to increased appetite (which can happen in people who take glucocorticoids). Specific organ symptoms — Lupus can affect virtually any organ of the body, resulting in a variety of symptoms.
Dairy products hold the richest source of calcium and provide a good amount of protein, vitamin D, selenium, B vitamins, and zinc. Foods high in calcium are shown to help build strong teeth and bones, which are very important for lupus patients because of their high risk of osteoporosis.
Yogurt and dairy: Research shows a type of healthy bacteria found in yogurt and other dairy products might reduce disease symptoms in some people with lupus. 8 In addition, eating foods high in calcium and vitamin D is important for people with lupus because they have an increased risk for osteoporosis.
Vitamin E, zinc, vitamin A, and the B vitamins are all beneficial in a lupus diet. Vitamin C can increase your ability to absorb iron and is a good source of antioxidants.
Beets also have many bioactive compounds that help to quell inflammation. Chronic inflammation underlies most of our chronic disease states such as heart disease, stroke, autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, diabetes, gout, allergies, asthma and many other chronic conditions.
Lupus and the intestines
Lupus can rarely cause vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels) in the intestines, sometimes called lupus enteritis. Symptoms include: Abdominal pain (pain in the belly area) Feeling very full or bloated.
Autoimmune diseases
Another possible cause of frequent diarrhea is an autoimmune disease, such as celiac, lupus, thyroiditis, or an inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn's or ulcerative colitis, says Dr. Lee. Digestive problems are common in lupus, says the Lupus Foundation of America, and it's not always diarrhea.
Kidneys About one half of people with lupus experience kidney involvement, and the kidney has become the most extensively studied organ affected by lupus. Lungs About 50% of people with SLE will experience lung involvement during the course of their disease.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if: Your symptoms get worse or you develop any new symptoms. These may include aching or swollen joints, increased fatigue, loss of appetite, hair loss, skin rashes, or new sores in your mouth or nose.