Lupus is a chronic auto-immune disease in which the immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal tissue. This occurs for unknown reasons. These attacks result in inflammation (swelling, redness, pain and warmth). There is currently no cure for lupus, but there are ways to treat it and help make your life with systemic lupus easier.
Instructions
Treating Systemic Lupus
1. Make sure you get lots of regular exercise, eat healthily, abstain from smoking, educate yourself about systemic lupus, and surround yourself with a supportive network of family and friends. Knowledge is everything! Have a healthy dialogue with your doctor, because he will be your best source of information.
2. Avoid the sun. Extensive sun exposure is bad for anyone, but especially those with lupus. If being in the sun is necessary, take the necessary precautions. Wear a hat and slather your arms and legs in a high SPF sunblock (SPF 50 or higher). Make sure the sunblock covers both UVA and UVB rays.
3. When rash flare-ups occur, make sure to apply corticosteroid cream. Avoiding the sun will also prevent rashes from occurring. Antimalarial medications also can treat rashes (as well as lung inflammation, joint pain, and fatigue, all typical lupus symptoms). Retinoids like acitretin are also useful.
4. If your flare-ups and general condition get worse with systemic lupus, you'll likely have to move forward to more aggressive treatments, such as high-dose corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. Immunosuppressants will prevent further organ damage, and in some cases, death.
5. Keep yourself physically active to prevent bone-thinning (also called ostereoporosis). Your doctor might also suggest biphosphonates, a medication for treatment of ostereoporosis.
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