Systemic Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune condition, that causes inflammation to various parts of the body, including, your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.
What are the symptoms?
All cases of Lupus are different, that is why it is typically difficult to diagnose. Signs and symptoms may come on suddenly or can develop slowly, they may be temporary or permanent - it really varies person to person. The majority of people with the condition experience flares, where symptoms are worse for a period at a time.
Symptoms include:
Fatigue
Fever
Joint pain, stiffness or swelling
Rash on the face which covers the cheeks and bridge of the nose (known as a butterfly rash)
Body rashes
Chest pain
Skin lesions which worsen with sun exposure
Fingers or toes that turn white or blue when exposed to cold, or during stressful periods
Shortness of breath
Dry eyes
Headaches, confusion and memory loss
Causes
Lupus is more common in women around 15-45 in age. Whilst there are no certainties about Lupus, it is likely that it results from a combination of your genetics and environment. It appears that if you have a line of Lupus in your family, you are likely to develop the condition when you come into contact with something in the environment that can trigger Lupus. Here are the some potential triggers:
Sunlight
Infections
Medications
Diagnosis
Lupus is a disease which is typically difficult to diagnose, because its signs and symptoms often mimic those of other ailments. There will be a variety of tests conducted to diagnose Lupus, including the following:
Complete blood count
Erythocyte sedimentation rate
Kidney & liver assessment
Urinalysis
Antinuclear antibody test
Chest X-ray
Echocardiogram
How it is treated conventionally?
While there's no cure for Lupus, treatments can help control symptoms. The medications most commonly used to control Lupus include:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Antimalarial drugs
Corticosteroids
Immunosuppressants
Biologics
How does Surrey Centre for Nutrition work with Systemic Lupus?
Understanding what triggered your Lupus in the first place is the key to improving your symptoms and supporting you back to health. Using functional medicine we look to identify any causative factors which may include food reactivity, imbalanced gut health, the presence of pathogenic infections both systemically and in the gut, toxins and chemical exposures, and often stress. We will identify these triggers through completion of a detailed health history and functional medicine timeline, along with functional and nutritional testing where necessary. From here we can target what we have found using a personalised approach to diet, nutrition, and lifestyle. Each protocol is entirely individual and based upon our investigations.
Are you ready to work with us to reach your health goals?
If you or someone you know is suffering from the symptoms or conditions listed above, Surrey Centre for Nutrition may be able to help. We typically work with clients for 3-6 months depending on your health concerns. Are you interested in working with us?
Book a discovery call to see how the Surrey Centre for Nutrition can help
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