Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects a staggering amount of people in the world. Most notably in recent years, Selena Gomez shared her battle with the illness. This systematic disease causes your own body to attack itself. It occurs when confusion arises in white blood cells and other healing cells that mistake your own body tissue for pathogens. The disease can have an impact on many parts of the body such as joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs.
Lupus is an illness that can be incredibly difficult to live with and it can have an impact on the quality of life for those who suffer. Today we want to share some helpful tips and tricks for living with lupus that might go a long way to helping those in need.
Know when a flare is coming
Lupus tends to happen in flares. It is often not an underlying constant feeling but flares up now and again due to environmental or biological triggers. Over the time you suffer from lupus, it is important to take note of when issues flare up, and subsequently, work out what is triggering flares. Once you start to identify a trigger and know to look out for it, you can work around it or at least prepare for a flare-up before it comes.
See your doctor
The most important thing you can do when you suffer from lupus is to keep in contact with your doctor and go for regular check-ups. Many of us have a habit of letting the doctor’s fall by the wayside and suffer in silence, but there may be things your doctor can recommend to make your life easier. Also, if symptoms become worse for you, it could be a sign of major issues and if you don’t head to the doctor’s it could be dangerous.
Limit strong light sources
One of the biggest triggers for flare-ups of lupus is strong light sources. If you work in a place that has halogen or fluorescent lights or one that is out in the sunshine, you may need to reconsider your vocation. Strong light can cause cells to become more active and as a result, it can trigger to attack process. If you have been suffering from a large bout of flares, try low lightings such as a lamp or candles.
Get sleep
Think of the body as a biological computer. Now and again, the body needs to shut down and rest in order to stay running smoothly. Sleep is a time of the day when the body is able to rest, and internal processes can be carried out to keep us healthy. During sleep, the body will flush out toxins, rid the body of pathogens, and repair tissue. If you don’t get enough sleep each night, the body can become weak and more susceptible to issues, and this is bad news for you when lupus flares up. Make sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night for a healthy body and mind.
