Tips to Lead a Better Life with Lupus

Lupus is a medical condition that causes inflammation throughout the body. It is a chronic autoimmune disease and can cause permanent organ damage when severe. Sometimes, it can also cause deaths. The commonly occurring symptoms of this disease are fatigue, ulcers in the mouth, loss of appetite, rashes, fever, pain or swelling in the muscles and joints, swollen glands, swelling around the eyes, headaches, and sensitivity to the sun.

After one is diagnosed with lupus, they would need to adopt some lifestyle changes. Doing so will help reduce the intensity of symptoms and flare-ups. Just be sure to talk to your doctor about combining any lifestyle, diet or natural tips with prescription medications:

1. Exercise
People affected with lupus should inculcate the habit of regular exercise. Yoga is quite beneficial for this condition. Regular exercise reduces joint pain and improves body strength. Exercising is also an effective way to reduce stress. However, consult a doctor before planning an exercise routine. Of all the lifestyle tips for lupus, this works wonders for patients in addition to medications.

2. A balanced and healthy diet
Maintaining a well-balanced and healthy diet is essential. As joint pain is a common symptom, one needs to add calcium to their diet. Patients should plan their diet chart in consultation with the doctor/dietician. This is amongst the central lifestyle tips for people suffering from lupus.

3. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential in this medical condition. People suffering from lupus cannot be exposed to too much sunlight; hence, vitamin D supplements need to be added to the diet.

4. Stop smoking
Among the lifestyle tips for lupus, quitting smoking is the most essential. Smoking leads to the escalation of inflammation. Additionally, it can lead to atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries, which should be avoided.

5. Avoid alcohol
Alcohol needs to be avoided as it can react with certain medications prescribed for this condition.

6. Limit the exposure to sunlight
The exposure to sunlight needs to be limited, as it can cause flare-ups and worsen the symptoms.

7. Stress reduction
Stress has a high potential to cause flare-ups in patients. Hence, patients need to be stress-free in order to avoid the escalation of the symptoms. This is one of the major lifestyle tips for lupus.

Besides this, family and friends of those suffering from this condition should educate themselves about it. They should be able to provide emotional support when required. Moreover, efforts should be made to understand the disease and how it will affect the patient. People suffering from lupus need to talk openly to their loved ones about the disease to make them aware of the condition.

With these lifestyle tips for lupus, people can attempt to lead a normal life. These small changes will soon become a habit with time and lead to major health benefits.