Day-to-Day Living
Societal Expectations and Lupus
People with lupus often find it hard to live up to many...
What You Need to Know About Neuropsychiatric Lupus
From fatigue to depression to psychosis, neuropsychiatric symptoms are both a common...
Cold Weather, Symptom Flares, and Lupus
Cold weather can bring lupus flares with it, but the reasons behind these flares are not fully understood. How can you prepare yourself for the cold months? Most people with lupus are, unfortunately, very familiar with symptom flares. The triggers that cause...
Skin Bacteria, Infections, and Lupus Flares
Skin Bacteria, Infections, and Lupus Flares: What’s the Relationship? Lupus disrupts the microbes on the skin and makes people with lupus more vulnerable to skin infections, which can cause flares. We are not alone in our bodies: an entire world of microorganisms lives on our skin and inside our...
Alcohol: Impacts on the Body & Risks with Lupus
Research into the potential health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption on the body can seem to change with the seasons. But, the known risks, including negative interactions with medications, are well documented. Is it bad for a person with lupus to drink alcohol? Unfortunately, the answer to that...
Patient Self-Efficacy and Lupus
Medical compliance, or the proper use of prescribed therapies and medications, is important to the health of people with lupus, but approximately 50% of people with lupus are noncompliant. Why? And how can this be fixed? Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that...
Patient-Reported Outcomes, Quality of Life, and Lupus
Many aspects of lupus can't be recorded with tests. Patient-reported outcomes help Lupus Warriors and researchers better understand the impact of SLE. For Lupus Warriors, trusting your instincts is the way to go. You know the early warning signs of your flares. You know your...
Lupus Self-Management and Communication Strategies
An essential part of successful self-management (the management of one’s own condition and symptoms) is to communicate with others, not to do it on one’s own. What is self-management? Self-management is the continuous engagement in your illness, by actively participating in the...
Students and Lupus
What do you do when your child has lupus and it’s time to go back to school? School can be great for children. Not only is it a place where knowledge is absorbed and people shaped into good citizens, but it is also a place that fosters socialization...
Hydration and Lupus
Water is vital to good health. What does water do for you, and how do you get enough of it? We need water, and quite a bit of it: According to the Mayo Clinic, we need approximately 2.7 liters (for women) to 3.7 liters (for...
Swimming, Sun, and Lupus
Summer brings with it many fun activities for people with lupus, including swimming, that may have health benefits. However, it also has its challenges. Summer is a mixed bag for people with lupus! Summer trips mean travelling, and travelling with lupus has many...