Everyone has a fever from time to time, and this applies to symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, and muscle pain. This is certainly not ideal, but pretty normal. However, what is not normal is that these symptoms last for multiple months and years, even coming and going. People in this boat, alongside many other symptoms that affect quality of life, may have a condition called lupus.
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks several organs, causing widespread inflammation. The skin, joints, heart, lungs, kidneys, and even the nervous system are common targets of lupus. More than 200,000 people in the United States suffer from lupus today.
Lupus symptoms vary with individuals, ranging from joint pain and persistent fatigue to more severe complications like kidney failure or neurological disorders. The exact causes of lupus are unknown, but a combination of genetic predisposition, environmental triggers, and hormonal influences are thought to contribute to its development.
Despite its chronic nature, lupus has natural treatment options. These include anti-inflammatory diets, stress relief practices, and supplementation with key nutrients. You can find out more about the natural treatment of lupus, as well as further information on its causes, symptoms, risk factors, and other relevant details.
What Is Lupus?
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune condition characterized by inflammation in different organs and parts of the body. Autoimmune conditions are conditions in which the immune system attacks the body’s own cells. Lupus affects the kidneys, lungs, nervous system, skin, heart, musculoskeletal system, and circulating blood cells.
There are four main types of lupus but the most common is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), affecting around 205,000 people in the United States. In fact, when healthcare providers refer to lupus, they refer to SLE. The other types of lupus are neonatal lupus (a rare condition affecting infants occurring when maternal autoantibodies are passed through the placenta), cutaneous lupus (a type of lupus limited to the skin), and drug-induced lupus (caused by certain medications).
What Are the Symptoms of Lupus?
The symptoms of lupus are broad due to the condition’s multi-organ and multi-system nature. However, the general symptoms are joint pain, chronic fatigue that is unresponsive to rest, weight loss, and fever. Lupus symptoms can range from mild to potentially life-threatening.
The exact symptoms a person experiences typically depend on the organs affected. The organs most affected are the skin, lungs, and the joints. Individual differences also influence the symptoms a person presents with. Here are some of the possible symptoms of lupus, grouped on the basis of the organ or system they affect:
- General: Fever, chronic fatigue, weight loss
- Skin: Rashes (usually in the shape of a butterfly on the nose and cheeks, known as malar rash), alopecia (hair loss), sores in the mouth or nose, Raynaud’s phenomenon (fingers and toes may turn blue, white, or red)
- Musculoskeletal: Arthritis (characterized by joint pain and stiffness), arthralgia (joint pain), myalgia (muscle pain), leg swelling
- Pulmonary: Painful breathing (especially when breathing deep), shortness of breath
- Cardiovascular: Pericarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart muscle), myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation), vasculitis (blood vessel inflammation), low blood cell counts, blood clots, atherosclerosis (thickening of arteries due to fat and cholesterol buildup), and coronary artery disease
- Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
- Neurological: Headaches, dizziness, anxiety, depression, confusion, memory problems, seizures
- Kidney: Nephritis (inflammation of kidneys), kidney failure
The severity of symptoms depends on the extent of immunological dysfunction and the individual’s age and gender. Lupus is usually more severe in men, children, and older adults. Children are at the highest risk of severe complications from lupus. Children have more skin, kidney, and neurological manifestations, while older adults have more pulmonary manifestations.
What Are the Causes of Lupus?
The exact cause of lupus remains unknown, but it is believed to be due to an interplay of genetic and environmental factors, as with most autoimmune disorders. Hormonal and immunological factors are also believed to play a role.
There is a genetic predisposition to lupus development, implying that people with family members with lupus have a higher risk of developing lupus. However, genetics is not a guarantee that the condition will arise, and this is well-demonstrated in twin studies. Imagine a person with lupus who has an identical twin; the chances of the other twin having lupus is around 40%. This number falls to less than 10% among fraternal twins.
Therefore, genetics alone does not account for lupus development, which is where environmental factors come into play. Environmental factors like ultraviolet (UV) light from sunlight exposure and viruses can increase the risk of developing the condition in genetically predisposed people. Other environmental factors like medications, smoking, silica, and hair products may contribute to the development of lupus.
Hormonal influences, especially estrogen, and immunological involvements are other factors that can potentially trigger lupus. The mechanism behind these factors and their relationship with lupus is unknown.
What Are the Risk Factors of Lupus?
Lupus risk factors include sex, race, family history, and age. Although anyone can have lupus, these factors greatly increase the chances of having the condition. The specifics of the risk factors are outlined below.
- Sex: This is the strongest risk factor for lupus, and women are nine times more likely to get lupus. The increased incidence may be due to hormonal differences, particularly estrogen.
- Race: African Americans have the highest prevalence of lupus, followed by Hispanics and Asians, with White people having the lowest risk. Geography also appears to play a role within races, as Black persons in Africa have a much lower prevalence compared to Blacks in the United States.
- Age: Lupus is most commonly seen between ages 15 and 45, which also represents the childbearing age in women. The risk of lupus decreases significantly after menopause, although still twice as much as men.
- Family history: People with direct relatives who have lupus are more likely to have lupus.
Natural Treatment Options for Lupus
The natural treatment of lupus includes diet, supplements, chiropractic, and the right lifestyle changes, usually involving adequate sun protection and stress relief. Treatment goals for lupus are to manage symptoms, prevent or limit symptom flare-ups, achieve and maintain remission, prevent or limit organ damage, and improve quality of life.
Here are some of the natural treatment options for managing lupus and achieving remission:
Nutritional Therapy
Clinical Nutrition can help manage lupus and its symptoms by reducing inflammation in the body, regulating immune function, and managing stress. There is no specific diet plan for managing lupus, and any food or drink that can provide these benefits can potentially improve gut health. The role of supplements in managing lupus is perhaps more pronounced.
Supplements are dietary products that provide additional nutrients and minerals absent or insufficient from normal diet. Supplements are a great way to make up for nutritional gaps in diet, and they also have extensive use in managing health conditions. On their own, supplements cannot treat or cure medical conditions, however, they can help in managing symptoms and improving overall quality of life when combined with other natural treatments.
Many lupus patients also adjust their lifestyles to prevent symptoms flare-ups, and their new lifestyle may not be ideal for their overall health. For instance, many lupus patients avoid sunlight, and since sunlight is essential to vitamin D production in the body, such patients may develop Vitamin D deficiency.
Here are some supplements that can help manage lupus symptoms:
- Vitamin D
- Turmeric
- Fatty fish oil
- N-acetyl cysteine
- Sodium butyrate
- Ginseng
- Quercetin
- Ginger
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic is a branch of functional medicine that focuses on the relationship between the nervous system and the rest of the body to diagnose, treat, and prevent neuromusculoskeletal disorders and their impact on overall health. The ultimate goal of chiropractic and functional medicine is to achieve holistic healing, which is long-term healing by targeting the root cause of a condition.
Chiropractors cannot cure lupus, and there is no direct link between chiropractic and the mechanisms behind its development. However, chiropractic can help manage some of its symptoms, like arthritis, joint pain, muscle pain, and headaches. Managing these symptoms can improve the quality of life of lupus patients, which is one of the goals of lupus treatment.
Chiropractic care is usually done through different adjustments and methods known as chiropractic techniques. The choice of chiropractic technique depends on the specific needs of the patient, although mobilization techniques that involve gentle, repetitive movements of the joints are the default treatment for arthritis symptoms. Manipulation techniques like Diversified, the Gonstead Technique, the Thompson Technique, and instrument adjusting tools can help in managing other lupus symptoms.
If you are in or around Panama City and you need a chiropractor to help manage your lupus symptoms, reach out to us today at The Bay Clinic of Chiropractic. Under the leadership of the very experienced Dr. Tony Salamay, we will examine your case uniquely and try to reach the best solution for managing your condition. You can contact us today at (850) 785-9372 or through our email info@thebaydoctor.com.
Lifestyle Changes
Certain lifestyle changes and practices can help manage lupus symptoms. These lifestyle practices typically target the environmental, immunological, and hormonal components of lupus, with the genetic aspect beyond the influence of any treatment option.
Below are some lifestyle practices that can help in managing lupus and its symptoms:
- Limit direct exposure to sunlight, using quality sunscreen when you will be outdoors (sun protection factor of 30 or more)
- Quit smoking
- Get properly immunized
- Be physically active
- Consider stress management activities, like yoga, meditation, biofeedback
- Maintain good sleep hygiene
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Lupus Be Cured Naturally?
No, lupus cannot be cured naturally or through conventional methods, and people with lupus have to deal with it their entire lives. However, lupus can be treated and properly managed naturally. Lupus treatment and management targets the reduction of symptoms, improvement of the quality of life, and a long period of remission.
The right natural treatment options, such as diet modifications, supplements, complementary and alternative medicine (like chiropractic), and lifestyle changes (particularly relaxation activities, physical activity, and sun exposure protection), can help manage symptoms. Ensure you speak to your healthcare provider to find the best treatment plan for you.
Is Lupus Preventable?
No, lupus is not preventable, as scientists and healthcare providers still do not fully understand its causes. Preventing a condition whose causes are unknown is an extremely difficult task. Environmental factors and genetics have been identified as potential causes of lupus, and while environmental factors can be modified, genetics cannot be altered practically.
The risk of developing lupus can still be reduced, though. Experts have identified possible triggers of the condition, including sunlight exposure, smoking, and stress. Avoiding these triggers will not prevent lupus from developing, but it can prevent flare-ups of symptoms among individuals with the condition.
Is Lupus Transmissible?
No, lupus is not a transmissible or contagious condition, and you can neither give nor catch it from someone else. Lupus is an autoimmune condition with a genetic component, meaning there is a higher risk of having the condition if family members or relatives have it. Therefore, the risk of a child having lupus if their mother or father has lupus is higher, as the genes implicated in developing lupus can be passed across generations.
However, not everyone with these genes develops lupus, and not everyone with lupus has these genes. Interestingly, a type of lupus observed in newborns, known as neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is believed to result from maternal autoantibodies passing through the placenta. NLE is an extremely rare condition, though, and only around 1% of infants with positive maternal autoantibodies eventually develop lupus.
Does Lupus Affect Pregnancy?
Lupus can increase the risk of pregnancy complications, both to the mother and the fetus. Pregnant women with lupus are at a higher risk of kidney disease, preeclampsia (high blood pressure in pregnancy), blood clot issues, headaches, seizures, and mood disorders. The risks to the baby include premature death (within 10 weeks), preterm delivery, low birth weight, and neonatal lupus erythematosus.
However, there is no evidence that lupus affects fertility. Therefore, women with lupus can still get pregnant. Also, people with lupus can still have healthy pregnancies with the right treatment plans early enough in the pregnancy.
Conclusion
Lupus is a complex autoimmune condition involving multiple organs and systems, but its symptoms can be managed effectively with proper care. Combining nutritional therapy, chiropractic, and lifestyle practices like sun protection, stress management, and a healthy diet can improve quality of life. If you live in and around Panama City, Florida, reach out to us at The Bay Clinic of Chiropractic at (850) 785-9372 or through our email info@thebaydoctor.com if you need quality chiropractic care for your condition.
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