Which Conditions Cause Your Personality Changes?

What do you do if you undergo a big personality change? A personality change can be caused by many causes. It can result from a stressful job, emotional problems, or unhappy relationships. Moreover, your personal changes could be a warning sign of your health problems. If you suddenly notice personality changes, some conditions may be to blame. It’s time for you to discover which conditions cause your personality changes.

Your personality changes can be caused by many reasons

When Does Your Personality Changes Become a Big Problem?

 Your personality changes can occur when you have a dramatic change in your life appearance, actions, or emotions. Personality changes seem to be normal in some stages of your life. Because of surrounding factors, your mood changes that lead to your personality changes as well.

However, if your personality changes are uncontrollable, detrimental, and uncomfortable, these can be a big problem. Once experiencing these changes, they signal a deeper problem in your body. You need to see your doctor soon to check.

Related: Could Stress and Low Emotions Cause Your Joint Pain?

If your personality changes are uncontrollable, detrimental, these are a big problem

Which Conditions Cause Your Personality Changes?

There’re many factors contribute to your personality changes, including health conditions. Take a look at the following conditions that can cause your personality changes.

1. Alzheimer’s Disease

This is one of the common conditions cause your personality changes. It has an impact on your thoughts, judgment, and decision- making. Besides, it makes you confused and changes your actions. In the early stage, you will be more anxious and easily annoyed. Then, this disease affects your health seriously. A thoughtful and sweet person can become bossy, or you may be worried too much and get stressed easily.

2. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Lupus is a complicated autoimmune disease that leads to your personality changes. Because it damages many organs inside your body, people with lupus undergo a number of intense symptoms. Joint pain, fatigue, headaches, or kidney inflammation are what they can tolerate. Once suffering from intense symptoms, lupus patients seem to change their personality. They become hopeless, isolated, depressed, and easily anxious.

If left untreated, lupus can attack many internal organs and progress a life-threating disease. Though lupus is hard to diagnose and treat, making lifestyle changes can help you to deal with this disease. LupuFree, omega-3 fish oil are great supplements to help control lupus symptoms and prevent lupus flare-ups.

Related: 5 Autoimmune Disease Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

Lupus is an autoimmune disease which can cause your personality changes

3. Parkinson’s Disease

Although it only begins as a shakiness in your hands, Parkinson’s disease has an impact on your walking, talking, and thinking over time. In the early stage, you may be obsessed with small details or have carelessness. Then, this disease progresses and makes you absent-minded. As a result, you feel hard to control your thinking in one direction.

In addition, Parkinson’s disease leads to depression and emotional changes, such as fear, anxiety, or hopelessness. Sleep problems can also occur which result in behavior changes.

4. Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

This is also another condition that causes your personality changes. Because once developing multiple sclerosis, your immune system affects the nerves in your brain and spine. Then, it causes many health problems, like bladder issues or movement difficulties. In some cases, MS leads to euphoria feeling where you are beyond happiness. Also, you may experience laughing or crying which is out of control.

This condition can be challenging to diagnose because it can be confused with other diseases. But your doctor will examine your symptoms and give you some tests to diagnose your disease.

Multiple sclerosis causes many health problems, including bladder issues or movement difficulties

5. Thyroid Disease

Thyroid disease is also a condition causes your personality changes. If your thyroid is overworking, it can be put under pressure and affect your personality. You will be more anxious, irritable, and have big mood changes. Over time, thyroid disease progresses into other problems, including forgetfulness or having a hard time to think. If left untreated, it can have a long-lasting effect on your brain.

6. Stroke

Your personality changes can be caused by a stroke. When blood flow reduces, the cells there can’t get enough oxygen and begin to die. This has a serious impact on our body. You may not able to move in some parts of the body. Also, it changes your personality in some ways. For example, you can lose your patience easily and have severe mood swings.

7. Depression

When depression comes, it affects every part of the body and makes your personality changes as well. Not only does depression affect your moods, but it also has an impact on your memory, your thought, and how you make decisions. Once developing depression, you always feel hopeless, sad, guilty, and angry. It’s hard for you to manage your emotions. While women with depression are more likely to feel sad, worthless, and guilty, men tend to feel angry, tired, and irritated.

Depression has a negative impact on your personality changes

Your Personal Changes Can Be Caused By Alcohol and Drug Use

Besides health conditions, your personal changes can be caused by your unhealthy habits. There’s no doubt when drug and alcohol cause your personality changes. These stimulants will make a person manic, lead to depression, or even dementia. Also, some drugs, like heroin, morphine, and opium can result in delirium, dementia, and psychosis changes.

If these cause your personal changes, you should keep them far from your life. You can ask your doctor or relative for help if you’re abused.

There’re many factors in your life lead to your personality changes, including your job and your relationships. Moreover, health conditions have a big impact on your personality changes. Look at the above conditions to raise your awareness if you experience changes in your personality.

 

 

5 Autoimmune Disease Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

Autoimmune diseases are tricky to diagnose because they have so many different forms. Also, symptoms can overlap and come from other common illnesses. In some cases, autoimmune disease symptoms are vague and can come and go. This makes them so hard to diagnose and even harder to treat. If you don’t know whether you are healthy or you may have an autoimmune disease, you’ve come to the right place. Below are:

Five Autoimmune Disease Symptoms to Look Out For

1. Tiredness

Tiredness and fatigue are so common problems. These may occur when you do not get enough sleep or when you’re stressed out. But feeling tired or fatigued all the time could indicate a bigger problem. According to a study, chronic fatigue has been linked to a number of autoimmune diseases. These are:

• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Type 1 diabetes
• Psoriasis
• Graves’ disease
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Symptoms include tiredness and exhaustion that do not improve with rest. These can interfere with your daily life. And you may have other symptoms like headaches, exercise intolerance and brain fog.

Here experts explain why you feel tired when living with an autoimmune disease.

First, your body uses all nutrients to boost your immune system. Autoimmune diseases result from a very strong immune system.

Second, medications used to treat autoimmune diseases can interact with your immune system. Fatigue is a common side effect.

Last, several autoimmune diseases can cause anemia. This is a common cause of fatigue.

So if you usually feel tired, speak to your doctor.

Read more: What You Can Do to Manage Your Lupus Fatigue

2. Joint Pain and Stiffness

People with autoimmune diseases may have stiffness or joint pain at some time. This is because the immune system goes haywire and attacks the joints and muscles. Pain and stiffness may occur in certain areas of the body, like:

• hands, feet, neck, ankles, fingers, knees, wrists, shoulders, arms, and hips

Often, these symptoms appear in the morning upon waking up or getting out of bed. They can improve after an hour or more, but can last all day.

Several autoimmune diseases related to joint pain and stiffness are:

• Lupus
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Multiple sclerosis
• Polymyalgia rheumatica

So if you’re experiencing this, talk to your doctor to find out the exact cause.

Read more: How Lupus and Fibromyalgia Are Connected

3. Skin Changes

Rashes are also one of the autoimmune disease symptoms to look out for. Lupus, for example, can affect the skin, causing a variety of skin problems, such as:

• A butterfly rash across the nose and cheeks
• Discoid rash or raised red patches on the body
• Sores or lesions on the skin
• Ulcers in the nose or mouth
• Photosensitivity or sun-exposed skin rashes
• Hair loss
• Fingers or toes that turn red, white, or blue

Several factors are known to trigger the symptoms. These are stress, viruses, sunlight, allergies and certain medications.

Other autoimmune diseases have been linked to skin changes are:

• Vitiligo
• Psoriasis
• Scleroderma
• Dermatomyositis

So see your doctor if you notice an abnormal change in your skin.

Read more: How to Deal with Lupus Hair Loss

4. Inflammation

Inflammation is a process in which the body produces white blood cells to protect itself from bacteria and viruses. If you have an autoimmune disease, the immune system will begin the process even when there are no foreign germs.

Symptoms of inflammation include:

• Heat
• Redness
• Pain
• Swelling
• Rash
• Fever
• Mouth sores
• Fatigue
• Immobility

Autoimmune diseases that can result in inflammation include:

• Lupus
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Type 1 diabetes
• Crohn’s disease

When you have inflammation, it often hurts. So, speak to your doctor for help.

Read more: 10 Ways Inflammation May Harm Your Health

5. Swollen Lymph Nodes

This is a condition in which your glands become swollen and tender. It occurs when the body fights an illness, infection, or stress.  Swollen lymph nodes can occur anywhere in your body, including:

• on the side of your neck
• on the side of your groin
• in your armpits
• in your chin
• under your jaw

Common symptoms include:

• Abnormal lumps or bumps
• Pain when walking or bending
• Fever and chills
• Fatigue
• Coughing
• Sweating
• Runny nose

Autoimmune diseases that often cause swollen lymph nodes are:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Sarcoidosis

Your doctor will check what is causing or contributing to your symptoms.

Read more: 10 Myths about Autoimmune Diseases You Must Know to Have a Better Life

These above are five common autoimmune disease symptoms to look out for. If you’re experiencing one of these, bring up with your doctor. To heal an autoimmune disease, you should take some tips below:

• Get checked regularly
• Keep up an exercise routine
• Try to relax by yoga, massage and deep breathing
• Fix your gut
• Add vitamins or supplements to help calm the immune response. They can be fish oil, LupuFree, vitamin C, vitamin D, and probiotics.

 

How to Know if You Are Developing Arthritis

Arthritis is a common disease among Americans that usually occurs in adult people. This disease involves a variety of symptoms, such as pains, inflammation, muscle aches and, and swelling. Sometimes, arthritis can be mistaken with other autoimmune diseases, like lupus or fibromyalgia because of similar symptoms. Moreover, there’re more than 100 different types of arthritis. Thus, how you can know if you’re developing arthritis. The useful writing gives you useful information to recognize arthritis. Knowing the arthritis symptoms is very crucial to receive proper treatment and reduce your risk of disability.

Arthritis is more common in adult people

The Early Symptoms of Arthritis You Should Be Aware of

If you’re developing arthritis, your body will reveal early symptoms. Be aware of these symptoms that can help you early diagnose arthritis at home.

1. Take a Look at Your Joint Pain

Joint pain is the first symptoms of all forms of arthritis. You may experience joint pain after working out or after waking up. The pain can be described as achy, throbbing, and dull. Arthritis pain usually begins with a mild sensation, then it gradually gets worse overtimes. But for severe types of arthritis, the pain level becomes extremely painful.

2. Be Aware of Swelling

Arthritis is usually present as joint inflammation. But swelling is another early symptom you should know.  If you’re developing arthritis, swelling occurs more often than usual. For example, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) involves a wide range of redness and swelling. It’s because your immune system destroys the joint capsule’s lining.

Swelling is one of the early symptoms of arthritis

3. Look For Joint Stiffness

Stiffness is also a common early symptom of arthritis. If you’re developing arthritis, this symptom sometimes upsets your movements. Initially, you may not see any changes in movements with this symptom. But this can be a sign of a problem in joints that will get worse later. Because of pain, stiffness, and swelling, you feel hard to move. Moreover, you may feel cracking sound when moving after a period of inactivity. Depending on the types of arthritis you get, stiffness can be worse in the morning or in the evening.

4. Be Careful With Fatigue

If you’re developing arthritis, you may usually experience unusual fatigue. Although not all types of arthritis cause fatigue, many of them lead to this symptom. As arthritis induces inflammation and other symptoms in your body, your body gets fatigued. Regular fatigue is strongly linked to loss of appetites and weight loss. This can worsen your arthritis, too.

If you are developing arthritis, fatigue can appear

The Advanced Symptoms of Arthritis

If you’re developing arthritis, the early symptoms can progress and become worse. So you should keep looking at the advanced symptoms of this disease.   

1. The Range of Motion Is Reduced

When pain, swelling, and stiffness advance within the joints, you start losing the ability to move as usual. Thus, the range of motion is affected, and it’s also a sign of advanced arthritis. You can’t be as flexible as you were or bend down too far. If left untreated, advanced arthritis can lead to disability.

2. You Feel Weakness

Weakness is another symptom of advanced arthritis. The weakness can result from trying to avoid pain or the destruction of the integrity of joints. Lack of exercise is another cause of arthritis as it leads to muscle tissue loss. You may see changes in your grip strength. You can’t lift or walk as far as you could. Shaking hand may not be uneasy for you.

Weakness can be a sign of advanced arthritis

3. Joint Deformity Can Occur

This symptom can occur with all types of arthritis when the disease progress. You may see severe joint deformity in the hands and feet if you develop RA. It’s because the inflammation of RA can damage cartilage and bone. This form of arthritis is more destructive than other types of arthritis and results in disability in people.

4. Skin Changes Are Another Symptom

When your arthritis advances, skin changes are another symptom you should be aware of. It can be the specific symptom of arthritis in the late stage. You may see nodules or changes in skin color and texture, near painful joints and other parts of the body.

Skin changes can be the specific symptom of arthritis in the late stages

Find Out Treatment for Arthritis As Soon As Possible

Once you find out the early signs and advanced symptoms of arthritis, you should consult with your doctor to diagnose. Then, receive treatment as soon as possible because untreated arthritis leads to severe complications. Treatment for arthritis can include

1. Medications

 Though arthritis can be painful and cause fatigue, it can be treated. Several medications are used to treat arthritis pain well. They can include

• Acetaminophen
• Steroids
• NSAIDs

These medications sometimes cause side effects. So you should talk to your doctor if having any abnormal signs.

2. Topical Creams

You can fight off arthritis without taking pills.  By applying topical creams or gels to the affected are, arthritis symptoms can be relieved. Ask your healthcare provider for some topical creams, like lidocaine or prilocaine. Prescription NSAIDS in drops, gels, or patches are also helpful. These work by reaching the joint fluid and reduce inflammation.

Topical creams are used to treat arthritis

3. Making Lifestyle Changes

For mild arthritis, you can treat it by making lifestyle changes. Without medications, you still relieve inflammation and ease the pain by

• Eat anti-inflammatory rich foods
• Apply hot and cold compresses. While a warm compress can help to reduce stiffness, cold ones are useful for easing inflammation and swelling.
• Try acupuncture
• Use meditation
• Choose the right shoes
• Get massage
• Do mild exercise daily

Arthritis is a common disease for adult people. If you’re developing arthritis, you should follow the above symptoms and contact with your doctor soon to diagnose. The right treatment can help you alleviate arthritis symptoms and prevent severe complications.

Lupus and Weight Gain: I Have Lupus and Have Gained a Lot of Weight. Why?

“I have lupus and have gained a lot of weight. Why?” If you’re suffering from lupus, you may find this question very important to ask. So is there a link between lupus and weight gain? How do you manage it? This article will give you the answer.

What Is Lupus?

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease. It’s now affecting 1.5 million people in the United States, says the Lupus Foundation of America.

Lupus attacks various parts of the body, including:

• the skin
• the joints
• the heart
• the blood vessels
• the brain
• the kidneys
• the bones
• the lungs

This can lead to pain, inflammation and damage. Common symptoms of lupus include:

• skin sensitivity
• tiredness
• joint pain
• hair loss
• headaches
• chest pain
• trouble breathing
• mouth sores
• difficult swallowing
• intestinal ulcers
• anemia
• kidney problems
• heart disease

There are many different types of lupus. Each type has different triggers and symptoms. However, the 4 most common types of lupus include:

Systemic lupus makes up 70% of all lupus cases. It usually affects the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other organs.

Cutaneous lupus occurs in two-thirds of people with lupus. This type affects only the skin, causing rashes or sores on the face, neck, arms, legs and ears.

Drug-induced lupus is caused by certain prescription drugs. It makes up 10% of all cases of lupus and can cause symptoms similar to systemic lupus. When the drugs are stopped, however, symptoms will disappear.

Neonatal lupus only affects the fetus. In many cases, it causes skin rashes or liver problems in the baby. However, symptoms usually have no lasting effects and can disappear after 6 months.

Lupus has no cure, but medications, lifestyle and home remedies can help with symptoms. They include:

• aspirin, anti-malarial drugs and corticosteroids
• low impact exercise such as walking, doing yoga, tai-chi, meditation
• fish oil, vitamin D and calcium supplements

Often, people use LupuFree– one of the most common dietary supplements for lupus. It can help reduce inflammation and promote immune system balance. Taking this for 2 to 3 months can help you get rid of joint pain, fatigue, headache and rashes.

If you’re suffering from lupus, talk with your doctor. He or she can look at your symptoms and recommend the best treatment for you.

Learn more: 9 Problems Only People With Lupus Understand

What Causes Lupus?

The exact cause of lupus is still unknown. However, doctors believe that it’s due to an overactive immune system. Usually, the immune system helps the body to fight viruses, bacteria and germs. In lupus, however, it becomes overactive and attacks itself. This can lead to inflammation in the whole body.

Several things can put you at an increased risk of getting lupus. These include:

Genetics

Lupus can run in families. If you have a family history of lupus, you may have a higher chance of catching it. If one of your family members has another autoimmune disease, you’re also at risk of getting it and lupus as well.

Certain ethnic groups are more likely to develop lupus than others. They are people of:

• Hispanic
• African American
• Asian American
• Native American
• Native Hawaiian
• Pacific Islander

Learn more: The Basics of Your Genes and Lupus

Hormones

Women are 9 times more likely to develop lupus than men. This is because of high levels of estrogen. Before menstrual periods or during pregnancy, women tend to have a lupus flare.

Environment

Some environmental factors can contribute to the development of lupus. For instance,

• Exposure to ultraviolet light
• Colds or viral infections
• Stress, depression, exhaustion
• Injuries and surgeries
• Certain medications

If you think you may have some risks of getting lupus, talk to your doctor.

Learn more: How Does Lupus Affect Women?

Lupus and Weight Gain

Gaining weight out of nowhere can indicate a number of diseases, including cancer. In the case of lupus, when your body’s immune system becomes overactive, it can affect your kidneys. This could cause you to gain a lot of weight.

Other reasons that cause weight gain in lupus patients include:

Lack of sleep

Lupus has a huge impact on the human body. It can affect you both on physical and mental health. Joint pain and exhaustion can cause you to lack of sleep. Some studies show that not getting enough sleep has been linked to weight gain. People who sleep less than 6 hours per night are more likely to gain 11 pounds than those who sleep 7-8 hours each night.

Learn more: Lupus and Sleep Problems: Tips for Improving Sleep

Stress

Like lack of sleep, stress can cause you to gain weight. This is because stress can release hormone cortisol, leading to an increased appetite. A study shows that more than 60% of lupus patients suffer from stress and depression. Therefore, they often get weight gain during the course of their illnesses.

Your medication

There is really a close connection between lupus and weight gain. A lot of prescription medications used to treat lupus can cause you to gain a lot of weight. They are:

• Antidepressant drugs
• Steroids like prednisone
• Mood stabilizers, or drugs used to treat migraines and mood disorders

Many people with lupus can also suffer from weight loss. This occurs when lupus affects the thyroid and hormones.

How to Deal With Lupus-related Weight Gain

Following are some tips to treat and prevent lupus weight gain:

1. Drink plenty of water
2. Manage stress effectively
3. Stay active and exercise regularly
4. Get enough sleep
5. Consider a well-balanced diet with fruits, vegetables and whole grains
6. Avoid processed foods, canned foods, and fast foods
7. Eat small, frequent meals
8. Talk with your doctor about alternative medicines

Learn more: 6 Tasty Foods That Battle Against Inflammation

Lupus and weight gain can go hand in hand. If you have lupus and notice unexplained weight gain, talk with your doctor. He or she can help to find a diet and exercise plan that works for you. Before using any weight loss supplements, ask your doctor.

 

Discoid Lupus- What Is It and How to Treat?

Discoid lupus (discoid lupus erythematosus) is a chronic skin disease that affects women between the ages of 20 and 40. Because of the similar symptoms to other medical conditions, discoid lupus is hard to diagnose. If you think you may have discoid lupus after reading this article, consult with your doctor soon to check and receive treatments. Early treatment for the disease is important to reduce severe complications. To know clearly what discoid lupus is and how to treat it, you should keep reading the useful writing.

Discoid lupus is a chronic skin disease that is incurable

Discoid Lupus- What Is It?

Discoid lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease which causes red rashes in different parts of the body. Although the rash can appear anywhere on the body, you’re more likely to see it on the neck, scalp, hands, and feet. The rash especially becomes severe when exposed to the sun. In some serious cases, discoid lupus results in permanent scarring, hair loss, and hyperpigmentation. The exact cause of this disease is unknown. But a combination of environmental factors and genetics could be to blame.

One more thing you should note is discoid lupus differs from systemic lupus. Generally, systemic lupus causes a mild rash on the face, but it can also affect the internal organs. A person who gets systemic lupus also has discoid rashes. In the other hand, discoid lupus doesn’t have any impact on internal organs, but the rash seems to be more severe.

Related: 9 Problems Only People With Lupus Understand

Discoid lupus causes red rashes in different parts of the body

How to Know if You Have Discoid Lupus?

Discoid lupus appears as a mild pink patch to the skin and develops into red and raw patch. It can occur in different parts of the body, particularly the palms, necks, soles, and under your elbows. If you experience the following symptoms, you should see your doctor soon

• Round rashes (coin-shaped rashes) with thick scales on the skin
• Plugged hair follicles, resulting in hair loss
• Blistering lesions
• Changes in skin color, the affected skin area could be lighter or darker
• Thinning of the skin
• Ulcers inside the mouth
• Scarring
• But it’s always not for all cases

Because the above symptoms can be confused with other medical conditions, like syphilis or psoriasis, your doctor will test it carefully.

Related: 7 Lupus Flare Triggers You Should Avoid

Discoid lupus often occurs on the necks, soles, and under your elbows

Discoid Lupus- How to Treat It?

Before giving you any treatment, your doctor properly do a skin biopsy to diagnose this disease. Then, proper treatment right away will be helpful for preventing scarring. It can include

1. Non-steroidal Topical

To reduce inflammation, lupus medications like non-steroidal topical ointments or creams can be prescribed, such as calcineurin.

2. Steroids

Steroids can be used to reduce inflammation. You doctor can directly inject the steroid into the affected area. Or you can apply it to your skin. As steroid may cause thinning of the skin, you should use it in a moderate amount.

Steroids can be used to reduce inflammation of discoid lupus

3. Antimalarial

Another treatment for discoid lupus is antimalarial medications. The medications can include hydroxychloroquine, quinacrine, or chloroquine. While taking them, you may suffer from some mild side effects.

4. Immunosuppressive

To treat discoid lupus, your doctor may prescribe immunosuppressive medications. This helps reduce the production of inflammatory cells. But they’re only used in severe cases. Some of these medicines include methotrexate, azathioprine, and mycophenolate mofetil.

5. Stay Out of the Sun

Apart from medications, keeping out of the sun is one of the best treatment. As our discoid lupus symptoms can be worse when exposed to the UV rays, it’s better to avoid going out long. Plus, you should aware the following things

• Always apply sunscreen even though you only stay at home
• Don’t use tanning beds
• Avoid sitting next to the window at the office
• Be careful with the glasses that UV rays can go through
• Always use sunscreen with SPF rated 50 or higher. Don’t forget to reapply every few hours
• Wear glasses, wide- brimmed hat, and coat when going out
• Avoid smoking as it can worsen your symptoms

Related: Can I Die From Lupus?

Avoid the sunlight if you have discoid lupus

What Happens if Discoid Lupus Worsens?

If discoid lupus becomes worse, you’re more vulnerable to scarring. Moreover, repeated discoid lupus increase your risk of developing permanent scarring. Patches on your scalp also cause thinning hair and hair loss. As the scalp heals, scarring could prevent hair from developing back.

Additionally, skin cancer can occur if discoid lupus lasts for a long time on your skin or inside your mouth. Also, about 5 percent of people with this disease will progress systemic lupus later. As you also know, once developing systemic lupus, it can damage your internal organs and lead to death in severe cases.

Discoid lupus is a chronic skin disease that is incurable. However, it can go into remission. So you should work with your dermatologist to receive effective treatment to help control this disease and reduce the risk of scarring. Besides, it’s crucial to balance your immune system by healthy diets or supplements, such as LupuFree or vitamins.

 

 

 

 

Can I Die From Lupus?

Although lupus can occur in both men and women, 90% of lupus patients are women between the ages of 15 and 45. When diagnosed with lupus, the first question which comes to your mind could be “can I die from lupus”. Unfortunately, the quick answer is yes. But don’t panic, about 80- 90% of people with lupus still have a normal life. If you’re a lupus patient, here’s a list of things that you should do to live peacefully with lupus.

How Lupus Disease Damages Your Body

Lupus is an immune disease that attacks various parts of the body. The abnormal immune system in lupus patients mistakenly attacks its own healthy body. This results in pain, swelling, inflammation and other symptoms. If you’re diagnosed with lupus, certain organs in your body may be damaged, including

• Joints and muscles
• Skin
• Brain
• Kidneys
• Lungs
• Hearts
• Blood vessels

That’s why most lupus patients suffer from

• Joint pain, muscles aches
• Butterfly-shaped syndrome, rash
• Fatigue, fever
• Headaches, lupus fog
• Pain in chest
• Weight loss or weight gain

Lupus damages various parts of the body

Lupus damages various organs in the body. It was the leading death disease in the past, estimated that only 50% of lupus patients in 1995 were expected to live for four or five years. Therefore, many people with this disease worry about their life expectancy. Fortunately, today more than 95% of people with this disease can live at least 10 years or more, thanks to advances in medical technologies. Moreover, most people with lupus even have a normal lifespan.

And even though lupus isn’t treated, you can still relieve the lupus symptoms and prevent lupus flare-ups by

• Lupus medications. The medications help to alleviate inflammation and many lupus symptoms.
• A well-balanced diet. Natural sources of vitamin A, B12, C, D, and E are important for lupus patients. Omega-3 fatty foods are also beneficial. For people with lupus, processed and packaged foods should be limited.
• Extra vitamin and supplements. If you don’t get enough vitamins and minerals from foods, consider asking your doctor about supplements. Some types of extra vitamins and supplements can help, such as vitamin D3, B12 complex, and LupuFree
• A healthy lifestyle. Taking rest as needed, exercise and enough sleep are very crucial.
• Knowing your triggers. Triggers of lupus flares can vary from each lupus patient. The best thing to control flares is you should clearly know your lupus flare triggers and avoid them. Some common triggers, including stress, sunlight, infections, and more.

Related: The Top 5 Cancers Leading Death in Women

A healthy lifestyle can help lupus patients have a normal life

When I Can Die From Lupus?  

Today there’re numerous ways to relieve lupus disease and prevent lupus flare-ups. Lupus, however, can be life-threatening. The leading causes of death in lupus patients can include

1. Kidney Failure

Kidney failure is the most common cause of death in people with lupus. Now, with better therapies and the possibilities of kidney transplantation, the death from kidney failure has been decreased sharply. But kidney failure is still fatal in some lupus patients.

As lupus failure can be life-threatening, people with lupus should take a look at the symptoms of lupus kidney, such as

• Weight gain
• Dark urine
• Foamy urine
• High blood pressure
• The need to urinate during the night

Kidney failure is the most common cause of death in people with lupus

If you experience the following symptoms, you should consult with your doctor immediately. The doctor can test and give proper treatment to deal with lupus kidney. Generally, medications can be used for kidney inflammation in lupus, including

• Corticosteroids
• Immunosuppressive drugs
• Medications to lower blood pressure and prevent blood clots

Even with the treatments, kidney function sometimes decreases. If both kidneys fail, dialysis and kidney transplant can be needed. Don’t forget to pay close attention to lifestyles that can reduce the damage of the kidneys.

• Drink enough water to stay hydrated
• Eat a low-sodium diet
• Exercise regularly
• Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol
• Maintain a healthy blood pressure
• Avoid medications which affect your kidneys, such as NSAIDs

Related: How Long Can a Person Live With Lupus Nephritis?

Pay close attention to healthy lifestyles that can reduce the damage of the kidneys

2. Heart Attacks

With better therapies, death from kidneys has decreased. Heart attacks, however, can be considered as leading causes of early death in people with lupus. There’s no exact cause for heart disease, but many factors trigger it. Unhealthy lifestyles or lupus medications, like steroids, for example, could be the causes. Therefore, it’s especially crucial for lupus patients to avoid risk factors of heart disease.

Your doctor may offer blood tests, chest X-rays, or an echocardiogram to find out if you have a heart disease caused by lupus. For a lupus patient who develops heart problems, it’s best to practice a healthy lifestyle. This means you should

• Exercise regularly
• Have a low cholesterol diet
• Control weight
• Quit smoking

Besides these complications of lupus, some serious infections which are often treated with immunosuppressive drugs may be fatal.

Lupus is a complex autoimmune disease that can be life-threatening. Although the mortality rate in lupus patients has been decreased in recent years, certain serious complications like kidney failure and heart attack should be noticed. To reduce the risk of these severe complications, you should limit the risk factors and make lifestyle changes. Besides, it’s essential to relieve other lupus symptoms and prevent lupus flares.

 

What Is Fibromyalgia and How Do You Get It?

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes full-body pain, muscle tenderness and fatigue. It affects women more commonly than men. Unlike lupus or arthritis, it doesn’t cause damage to joints, muscles, or other tissues. Fibromyalgia is not progressive and it can be treated with medication and self-care. Here is everything you need to know about fibromyalgia.

What Is Fibromyalgia and How Do You Get It?

Fibromyalgia: Overview and Facts

What causes fibromyalgia?

The exact cause of fibromyalgia is still unknown. But researchers believe a combination of the following factors can contribute to it:

• Fibromyalgia runs in families. And, certain genetic mutations can make you more susceptible to the condition.
• Several infections have been shown to trigger or worsen the condition.
• Stress and trauma. These factors can also trigger fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia stimulates the nerves and causes the brain to change. This affects the body’s central nervous system and makes it process pain signals improperly. If you have fibromyalgia, you may feel that your pain occurs in a certain area of your body. But in fact, the pain comes from the brain, from the central nervous system.

You’re more likely to develop fibromyalgia if you have some risks, like:

• Being female
• Family history with fibromyalgia
• Glutathione deficiency
• Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
• Mercury toxicity
• Mycotoxins
• Thyroid problems
• Candida overgrowth
• Gluten intolerance
• Other diseases, such as lupus, or arthritis

How is it common?

Fibromyalgia is one of the most common pain conditions. It affects 3 to 6 percent of the world’s population, including 10 million people in the US.

Anyone can get fibromyalgia, but women are more at risk. Study shows that 2/3 of all people with fibromyalgia are female. They are mostly between ages 20 and 50. Children can also have fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia can occur in people of all races and ethnicities. You are more likely to develop the condition if you:

• Are obese
• Smoke
• Are not physically active
• Have stress or trauma events
• Experience anxiety, depression and other mood disorders

Learn more: Why Are Women More Likely to Have Autoimmune Diseases?

Signs and Symptoms

How to know if you have fibromyalgia

Symptoms of fibromyalgia can vary from person to person. But they generally include:

• Widespread pain
• Pain throughout the entire body
• Fatigue
• Disrupted sleep
• Anxiety and depression
• Trouble focusing
• Problems with memory
• Dizziness, headaches
• Sensitivity to bright lights or loud noises
• Digestive issues
• Dry eyes or mouth
• Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet

How to diagnose it

It is very hard to diagnose fibromyalgia. In the past, doctors often pressed some tender points on your body. If these points are painful, it means you have fibromyalgia. Now, you don’t need a tender point exam for a diagnosis. Instead, doctors can diagnose patients who have widespread pain for over 3 months. If necessary, they will recommend some blood tests, such as:

• A complete blood count (CBC)
• An erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
• The anticyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP)
• A rheumatoid factor test
• Thyroid function tests

Common diseases that overlap with fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia usually occurs alone. But patients may also have similar symptoms to one or more other diseases. These are known as overlapping conditions of fibromyalgia.

You can have fibromyalgia and the following conditions at the same time:

• Allergies
• Anxiety or depression
• Tension headaches or migraines
• Rheumatoid arthritis or lupus
• Sleep disorders
• Lyme disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Heart valve problems
• Hyperventilation
• Sjögren’s syndrome
• Chronic fatigue syndrome

Learn more: How Lupus and Fibromyalgia Are Connected

Treatment and Care

Who treats fibromyalgia?

What kind of doctor treats fibromyalgia? It’s a common question for those who may have or have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Symptoms of fibromyalgia determine what type of doctor you will see for treatment. Most people with mild or moderate condition will see a family practice doctor or internist. They can help to recognize and manage fibromyalgia.

To treat fibromyalgia, you can also visit a:

• Rheumatologist, who treats arthritis and conditions related to joints, or muscles
• Neurologist, who treats conditions that affect the brain and nervous system
• Pain specialist who treats pain from all kinds of conditions

Treatment for fibromyalgia

There is no cure for fibromyalgia. However, medication and therapy can reduce symptoms and improve overall health.

Common medications include:

• Pain relievers (ibuprofen or acetaminophen)
• Antidepressants (milnacipran or duloxetine)
• Anti-seizure drugs (pregabalin or gabapentin)

Therapies for fibromyalgia include:

• Exercise or physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Counseling

How to live with fibromyalgia

Having fibromyalgia can make everyday life challenging. The symptoms can make simple tasks difficult, and sometimes impossible. Since they are invisible, no one could understand how you feel, except yourself.

It’s important not to ignore the limitations that come with this disease. There are steps you can take to avoid fibromyalgia symptoms. These are:

• Reduce stress
• Get enough sleep
• Exercise regularly
• Pace yourself
• Eat a healthy diet
• Do yoga and tai chi
• Massage
• Acupuncture

Learn more: Foods Help Control Your Fibromyalgia

 

10 Best Tips to Relieve Joint Pain in the Winter (for Lupus Patients)

Joint pain is one of the common symptoms of lupus disease, about 90% of lupus patients will experience joint pain at some point during the lupus course. The symptom especially gets worse in the winter. Because of the cold wind, freezing temperatures, and ice, the pain is more severe than usual. Besides, joint pain in the winter may trigger lupus flares that make you more fatigue. To relieve joint pain in the winter, it’s crucial to learn the following best tips.

Joint pain is especially gets worse in the winter

10 Best Tips to Relieve Joint Pain in the Winter

The cold weather in the winter is sometimes a nightmare for everyone who meets problems in their bones and muscles. Especially, people with autoimmune diseases, like lupus and arthritis are more likely to suffer from severe joint pain in the winter. But don’t panic. Here’s a list of useful tips you can follow to relieve joint pain in the winter.

1. Wear Warmly

If the weather gets cold, always remember to keep aching hands and feet with warm gloves and socks. Adding extra layers over your knees and legs is necessary. When you go out, don’t forget to wear warmly with a coat, hat, scarf, and closed-toe shoes.

2. Always Have Extra Clothes or Blankets

Going out in the winter is an uneasy thing for people with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Nothing is worse than getting your relative’s house for a long time without enough warm. Staying outside in the winter easily increases your pain. So, you should always have extra clothes or blankets handy. You can keep extra warm clothes and blankets in your car.

Always have extra clothes or blankets in your car if you go out in the winter

3. Stay Hydrated

When the winter comes, the weather gets drier, so you must drink more water to avoid dehydration. For people with lupus, mild dehydration also makes you more sensitive to pain. As you know, dehydration has an impact on blood circulation. Poor hydration or dehydration reduces the circulation of blood and body fluids that make the joints more pain.

Related: Causes of Your Joint Pain and How to Relieve It

4. Exercise Inside

It’s understandable to avoid physical activities in the winter. But exercise is important for lupus patients to relieve joint pain in the winter. If you don’t want to go to the gym to exercise, you can do it at home. Try to set up an indoor exercise plan with a treadmill or mild yoga. This can help lower your risk of stiffness and joint pain in the winter.

5. Apply Heat in Moderation

Another best tip to relieve joint pain in the winter is applying heat in moderation. Generally, people love using heating pads and heating blankets in the winter. But be careful with them because of skin burns from them. While it’s recommended to heat the affected area with heat or ice from 10-20 minutes, some people fall asleep on the heating pad that causes skin burns. Thus, if you notice joint pain, should use heat packs in moderation (more than 10 minutes each time). Don’t forget to check every 3-5 minutes for skin reactions.

Applying heat in moderation is one of the best tips to relieve joint pain in the winter

6. Get Massages

Apart from painkillers, there’re some alternative methods to manage pain in lupus disease. These can include acupuncture, hypnotherapy, and massages. Getting massages helps to increase blood flow and oxygen to the affected area, relieving pain and swelling. But it’s better to visit a licensed massage therapist to help you.

7. Take Advantages of Warm Water

Warm water plays an important role in reducing joint pain. Many lupus patients choose aqua therapy to soothe their symptoms. Like that, you can take advantages of warm water to relieve joint pain in the winter. Swimming in a warm pool is a great exercise for the muscles and easing the joints. Warm baths also give relief from the pain. But don’t go out into the cold weather after soaking, let your body temperature gets normal at first.

8. Take Vitamins and Supplements

Low levels of vitamins D and minerals can contribute to your joint pain. It also increases your risk for osteoporosis. But lupus patients are less likely to get enough vitamin D from natural sources, and the sunlight, especially in the winter. So you should talk with your doctor about supplements and vitamins. Vitamin D3 and LupuFree supplement are necessary for lupus patients. They help reduce inflammation and boost your immune system to relieve joint pain and other lupus symptoms. Fish oil is also helpful to reduce inflammation of people with lupus.

Related: Should a Person With Lupus Take Supplements and Extra Vitamins?

People can take extra vitamins and supplements to soothe joint pain

9. Lose Weight

Losing weight is also one of the best tips to relieve joint pain in the winter because it can reduce pressure to the bones. When you control your weight, it means you can also manage the levels of joint pain. Though you’re lazy to exercise in the cold weather, daily physical activities and smart diets can help to control your weight.

Related: 11 Reasons For Unexplained Weight Loss

10. Take Painkillers

Even if you prefer to relieve joint pain in the winter with lifestyle changes rather than medications, you may take painkillers when the pain gets worse. Don’t forget to ask your doctor before taking and always check with your doctors. You can avoid side effects by taking the lowest doses for a short time.

Joint pain can occur in everyone, but it’s more common in older people and for those who have autoimmune diseases. As a lupus patient, you’re more likely to develop the symptom during the course of this disease. It also gets worse in the winter; fortunately, the above bets tips to relieve joint pain in the winter can help you to deal with the symptom.

 

 

 

 

Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus

Pain. Stiffness. Swelling. Fatigue. These symptoms are just part of life when you have lupus or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). When you have both rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, you get a double helping of those symptoms, accompanied by other symptoms.

RA and lupus are both hard to diagnose. Sometimes, RA can be misdiagnosed as lupus, and vice versa because they share similar symptoms. Many people also confuse the diagnosis as well as treatment of the two diseases. So, it’s important for people with RA to be familiar with the symptoms of lupus.

Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus

Comparing Lupus and RA

Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are autoimmune diseases. They result from your immune system that mistakenly attacks your healthy tissues.

Lupus can take many forms and can affect nearly every part of your body. Several most commonly affected parts are the skin, joints, heart, lungs, brain, blood vessels and kidneys. Lupus causes pain, inflammation and damage to various organs. Its course is unpredictable. Some people may have flares, others may have remissions. This may depend on many factors. Lupus is a chronic, incurable disease. But, there are treatment options to manage symptoms and prevent flare-ups.

RA can seem a lot like lupus because it also affects the joints. The disease causes joint pain and damage throughout your body. However, joint damage in RA is a little different from that in lupus. It usually occurs on both sides of your body. Joint pain of lupus, on the other hand, appears in the farthest joints from the middle of your body. The course of RA is also unpredictable. In some people, symptoms will become severe or go into remission. If left untreated, RA can lead to permanent joint damage.

Lupus can affect almost anywhere, but it most often involves the skin and internal organs. RA pain is more common in the small joints of the hands and feet.

Pain in lupus and rheumatoid arthritis

Read more: 9 Problems Only People With Lupus Understand

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus Risks

It is possible to have lupus and rheumatoid arthritis at the same time. Researchers found that people with RA don’t appear to be at a higher risk of developing lupus. But most people with lupus have a 60% higher risk of developing RA. So far, no one knows why. However, many experts believe that some factors could contribute to this problem. These are:

• Genes and heredity
• A faulty immune system
• An impaired cellular process
• A neurological malfunction
• Environmental and lifestyle factors

Getting a Diagnosis

Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are very hard to diagnose. No single test can pinpoint them. And because symptoms can vary from person to person, it’s hard for a doctor to recognize.

To diagnose RA, your doctor can examine your symptoms. Besides, they can recommend some tests confirm the diagnosis. Anti-CCP antibody test is one of the most common blood tests used to distinguish some forms of RA.

Unlike RA, lupus is harder to diagnose. Usually, it takes years to confirm the diagnosis. Your doctor can look at your symptoms and prescribe some tests like:

• Antinuclear antibody (ANA) blood test
• Anti-dsDNA test
• Anti-Smith (anti-Sm) test

So speak to your doctor if you think you have lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

Lupus test

Read more: 7 Conditions That Are Frequently Confused With Lupus

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus

Symptoms of lupus and RA can be extremely similar. They both include:

• Joint pain
• Fatigue
• Tiredness
• Anemia
• Loss of energy
• Depression
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Weight loss
• Dry mouth and eyes
• Hand numbness and tingling

RA also can cause symptoms that aren’t associated with lupus, such as:

• Joint swelling
• Joint stiffness
• Deformed joints
• Loss of joint function

Lupus involves numerous symptoms that aren’t linked to RA, such as:

• A fever
• Body aches
• A butterfly rash on the face
• Skin lesions
• Sensitivity to light
• Kidney problems
• Heart problems
• Neurological problems

If you’re diagnosed with one of these diseases but have symptoms that could indicate the other, be sure to talk with your doctor.

Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus both cause fatigue

Treating Lupus

A lot of drugs are available for treating lupus. They include:

• Corticosteroids
• Immunosuppressive drugs
• Antimalarial medications
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)

Lifestyle changes that can help relieve lupus symptoms and prevent flare-ups:

• Not smoking
• Low-impact exercises
• Healthy diet
• Stress reduction
• Sun protection
• Supplements (LupuFree, Fish Oil, Turmeric)

Using medications combined with adapting new lifestyle. This has been known for better treating lupus.

Medications used to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis

Read more: How Can Smoking Affect Lupus Patients?

Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are autoimmune diseases and can share similar symptoms. So, their treatments can be similar, including:

• Pain relievers
• Corticosteroids
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Acetaminophen

People with RA should also do mild exercise and use supplements. In severe RA cases, surgery can help with joint damage.

Living with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus is very difficult. It may take a lot of time and energy. So to live well with these diseases, you need to pace yourself, eat a healthy diet, and try to stay as healthy as possible.

A List of Helpful Questions to Define Lupus Disease

According to the Lupus Foundation of America, there’re 1.5 million Americans have this disease. And at least five million people in the world have lupus. Because of a complicated and unpredicted disease, lupus is hard to diagnose. Apart from the symptoms you suffer from, certain blood tests are offered to confirm this disease. Along with that, your doctor never gives a final conclusion without asking you some questions. A couple of questions from your doctor can contribute to your exactly lupus diagnosis. Here’s a list of helpful questions to define lupus disease you need to know.

A list of helpful questions can help to define your lupus disease

Listen to Your Lupus Disease Symptoms

You commonly start to notice several early signs of lupus before receiving an accurate diagnosis. These symptoms may be mild and severe, come and go randomly, and vary from each patient. So, you can’t define lupus disease immediately. Also, your signs are sometimes confused with other autoimmune disease’s symptoms. This makes lupus more difficult to diagnose. The best way to recognize the harsh disease is to look back your family history and consider your lifestyle habits. It’s also important to listen to your body in order to identify what symptoms you suffer. Lupus symptoms can vary from person to person, but be aware of the following symptoms

• Skin rash
• Prolonged fatigue
• Ankle swelling
• Joint pain
• Photosensitivity
• Hair loss
• Fever
• Headaches
• Mouth or nose sore

If you suffer these symptoms often, should consult with your doctor to check.

Learn More: How Is Lupus Diagnosed?

Lupus symptoms can be mild and severe, come and go, and vary from person to person

A List of Helpful Questions to Define Lupus Disease

Because lupus is hard to diagnose, your symptoms and a list of helpful questions can help to define lupus disease. In fact, a specific list of questions is used to help rheumatologist make a diagnosis. Below you will find the list of helpful questions. Let your doctor know if you answer “yes” to a half of the following questions

For mild inflammation

• Have you felt extremely weak or tired after waking up?
• Have you recently noticed unexplained weight loss?
• Have you suffered from fever higher than 100^o F for some days?
• Do you have red rashes with butterfly shape that across your face, nose, and cheeks?
• Is your rash worse after sun exposure?
• Did hair loss occur without reasons?
• Have mouth and nose sore lasted more than one week?
• Do you experience dryness in your mouth or eyes for more than weeks?
• Are you sensitive to the lights?
• Have you recently stressed out?

For arthritis linked to lupus

• Do you feel stiff or swollen joints that become worse in the morning?
• Are your wounds, like swollen ankles are hard to heal?

Lupus arthritis is one of the common symptoms of lupus disease

For kidney inflammation

• Have your ankles and legs swollen on both sides at the same times?
• Do you change your urinary habit (more often, especially at night)?
• Did you notice foamy urine?

For lung and brain inflammations

• Did you feel chest pain when taking deep breaths?
• Have you become confused without reasons?
• Have you had a seizure?

For heart inflammation and poor circulation

• Do your fingers and toes become purple or blue?
• Do your hands and feet numb or painful in the cold?

Again, if your answer is “yes” for a half of these questions or more, you should consult with your doctor about the possibility of lupus disease.

Learn More: The Effects of Lupus on the Nervous System

Lupus can also attack other organs of your body, including the brain, kidney, heart, and lungs

A List of Important Questions to Ask Your Doctor if You Have Lupus

While the above questions are helpful to define your lupus disease, it’s important to ask your doctor some queries if you have lupus. Look at a couple of important questions to ask your doctor about lupus disease.

1. What Are My Treatment Options?

Depending on your symptoms and the severity of lupus, treatment options can vary from each individual. But there’re some types of lupus medication use to deal with lupus. These include:

• Antimalarials, such as Plaquenil and Chloroquine
• Corticosteroids, like Prednisone, Methylpredisone, and Hydrocortisone
• NSAIDs, including Ibuprofen and Naproxen
• Immunosuppressive drugs, such as Imuran, Cytoxan, and Rheumatrex
• Aspirin

But these medications can’t be treated completely lupus. They only help relieve the symptoms of lupus and control lupus flare-ups.

2. What Are the Side Effects of My Lupus Medications?

It’s normal if you have side effects of lupus medications. Side effects can go from mild to severe and can vary from each patient. Read “How to Cope With Side Effects of Lupus Medications” to know what are the side effects of your medications and how to deal with them. Occasionally, the side effects of your lupus medications may trigger lupus flares. Talk with your doctor immediately if your treatment causes flare-ups.

3. How can I Do to Prevent Lupus Flare-ups?

To prevent lupus flare-ups, you must know what your triggers are. Keeping your triggers at bay is one of the best ways to prevent lupus flares. Listen to your body to identify your triggers. Common triggers of lupus include stress, sunlight, smoking, tiredness, fever, poor diet and more.

Ask your doctor about lupus if you’re diagnosed with this disease

4. Will Lupus Damage My Kidneys or Other Organs?

Lupus is a complicated disease that can damage many organs in your body. Some lupus patients notice kidney inflammation because of lupus. Along with that, this disease can damage other organs in your body, such as the brain, lungs, and heart. Thus, you should have checkups with your doctor often and on right medications.

5. What Lifestyle Changes I Should Make?

A healthy lifestyle plays an important role in coping with lupus. You must have a healthy meal with more vitamins and minerals, instead of eating processed, packaged or fried foods. Besides, exercise is beneficial to control lupus. You also need to reduce stress and take rest if you feel tired.

6. Should I Take Extra Vitamins or Supplements?

Sometimes, extra vitamin and supplements are effective in controlling lupus. Vitamin D3 and B12, LupuFree, and omega3 supplements are common for lupus patients. But you should ask your rheumatologist before taking any supplements.

Learn More: Should a Person With Lupus Take Supplements and Extra Vitamins?

7. Is It Safe to Get Pregnant If I Have Lupus?

In the past, women with lupus were counseled not to get pregnant because of being risky for both mother and baby. But now, if you want to have a baby, should ask your doctors first. They will check and tell you if you can get pregnant. Also, they help reduce the risks of pregnancy with lupus.

Lupus is a complicated disease and hard to diagnose. But you can define lupus disease first based on the above list of helpful questions. If you have some abnormal symptoms that continuously last for months or years, you should talk to your doctors.