Tips to Reduce Lupus Flare-ups

Lupus is a complex autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and can damage any organ in the body with life-threatening consequences. Doctors use the antinuclear antibodies (ANA) blood test to diagnose the disease. Lupus symptoms and disease course are different in each individual although almost everyone has joint pain and swelling. Some people develop arthritis, fatigue, chest pain, and feel sick most of the time. If the brain and nervous system are involved they may also suffer from headaches, numbness, tingling, seizures, vision problems, and personality changes.
There is not much known about this disease. It affects 1.5 million people in the US, and is often misdiagnosed as stress, fibromyalgia or arthritis. Ninety percent of affected individuals are women. There is no cure for the disease. Talk to your doctor to learn to control symptoms. Some behaviors you can try to help reduce symptoms include reducing stress, pacing yourself, resting when tired, and keeping physically active.

Food and nutrition has been linked to a myriad of diseases such as heart, blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis and inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids positively affect the joints and are used as analgesics or pain reducers in rheumatoid arthritis (Goldberg and Katz 2007).

For people with Lupus, controlling inflammation is important to reducing symptoms. According to researchers, omega-3 fatty acids have been found to reverse the progression of a number of inflammatory diseases, from inflammatory bowel disease to diseases of the skin and joints, to other autoimmune diseases such as lupus and multiple sclerosis (Simopoulos 2002).

The best sources of omega-3 fatty acids are found in wild salmon, sardines, walnuts, flax seeds, corn, extra virgin olive oil and other vegetable oils.

There are some foods that can trigger the symptoms of lupus. In addition, some people with lupus may develop an allergy or sensitivity to foods and food components such as milk and gluten. Keeping a food log of your consumption and recording symptoms experienced after eating may help you determine which foods to avoid. Showing your food log to your doctor or a registered dietitian can help them determine the best foods for you to avoid while making sure you are getting all of the nutrients you need to stay healthy.

There is no specialized diet for people with lupus. Every person has different symptoms, and they may need to make dietary changes based on their symptoms, treatment, and other factors. Make sure to discuss any dietary changes with your doctor.

Help yourself by maintaining a healthy diet that includes a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Include a source of protein high in omega-3-fatty acids such as fatty fish, flax seed or flax seed oil, and walnuts. Add a source of calcium such as milk, yogurt, or dark green, leafy vegetables. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking water, and make sure you add your preferred physical activity daily, such as walking, playing, dancing, or whatever makes you happy.
Living with lupus is not easy. Learn about the disease and join self help groups in your community.  People who are well informed have less pain and feel better about themselves.

Sources: University of California Cooperative Extension: Peer-reviewed Research and News in Agricultural, Natural and Human Resources
Department of Health and Human Services: women’shealth.gov
http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/lupus.cfm#m
Lupus Foundation: http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_learnliving.aspx?articleid=2281&zoneid=527