Living with Lupus
Alcohol: Impacts on the Body & Risks with Lupus
Research into the potential health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption on the body can...
Frustrations (and Remaining Optimistic) with Lupus
Living with lupus brings plenty of frustrations. Finding moments of optimism when you're feeling...
Gout, Uric Acid, and Lupus Nephritis
Sharp pains in the joints that seem to come and go at random. It sounds like lupus, but it could be a sign of gout. The pain associated with gout has been documented for millennia. Galen, the celebrated Greco-Roman physician, described the condition in his medical writings and...
Leaky Gut, Increased Intestinal Permeability, & Lupus
Known colloquially as "leaky gut," increased intestinal permeability may be a risk factor for autoimmune diseases, including lupus. The lining of your intestines acts as a 4000 square foot barrier that walls the gut off from the bloodstream. It only lets small...
Sugar & Health Risks for Lupus Warriors: Not So Sweet
Cutting sugar, especially processed sugars and carbohydrates, from your diet can be a challenge. But, it can lead to health benefits and fewer lupus flares. What would you cut first to decrease the amount of sugar you eat? Avoiding cookies, candies, and cakes is a good start....
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction & Chronic Pain
Many Lupus Warriors are familiar with chronic pain -- the kind that lasts for months or even years. Mindfulness-based stress reduction may offer relief, according to a recent meta-analysis. Sharp pangs. Dull aches. Tingling. Pain comes in many sensations, but all are unpleasant and can interfere with daily...
Tooth Decay, Dental Caries, and Lupus
Trips to the dentist aren’t really fun. But, they are crucial to oral health. Around 85% of Lupus Warriors experience tooth decay during the battle with lupus. As if the pain and fatigue wasn’t enough! Many people with lupus experience dental...
Affording Medications for Lupus: Programs & Assistance
The pain and fatigue of lupus doesn't just take a toll on your body. Affording medications can hurt your wallet. Out-of-pocket costs for medications and uncovered portions of clinical visits can be a major headache -- and cause some people to forego potential treatments altogether. While research and development of...
Flare Triggers and Early Lupus Symptoms
Recognizing flare triggers makes it possible to predict changes in lupus disease activity before the symptoms begin. Living with lupus can feel like a roller coaster. Over night, symptoms can show up or disappear and inflammation can rise and fall. Internal factors, like stress, and external factors, like air...
Low-Dose Naltrexone, Receptors, & Lupus
Naltrexone is best known for helping treat drug and alcohol addiction. But, low-dose naltrexone treatment may also reduce lupus pain and inflammation. Medications are designed to impact the body in a particular way, towards a particular goal. What they do in the body, the drug action,...
Anxiety, Chronic Stress, and Lupus Symptoms
About 37% of people with lupus have also been diagnosed with anxiety. Feelings of chronic stress can permeate your life and these feelings shouldn't be ignored. Anxiety is a sense of fear or panic that intrudes into your thoughts, keeps you awake...