People suffering from lupus recall incidences when the disease flares up, disappears, and then return. Lupus affects almost 5 million people worldwide and is one of the most painful chronic autoimmune diseases that can damage almost all parts of the body including the joints and other organs. About 15000 new cases are being discovered in the US alone yearly as reported by Lupus Treatment Centers. Experts say that the cure of this disease has never been discovered but can be managed by through a combination of management efforts as well as a change of lifestyle.
Diagnosis of Lupus
It is challenging to diagnose Lupus since the symptoms for this disease is vague and can be easily be confused for other conditions. Doctors mostly review the history of an individual with that of close relatives. With these reviews, doctors are aiming at finding issues such as signs of systemic inflammation as Lupus affects both the external and internal organs. Most doctors will rely on both their observation and tests to make lupus diagnosis, which involves a series of tests and not just one analysis. It can often take years before a doctor makes a conclusive diagnosis since it could require that many criteria are put into consideration.
Once a patient discovers that they have Lupus, it is prudent that they seek medical attention by visiting their doctor regularly for check-ups and to find lupus Treatment that will work for them. Lupus is usually treated with changes in lifestyle and using tested medications that can be used to suppress the symptoms of the disease.
Treatment of Lupus
Lupus Treatment is primarily focused on managing the symptoms of the disease rather than finding the cure. The disease is inherited mainly through the DNA. Most doctors at first will prescribe drugs that treat specific symptoms such as aspirin for pain and diuretics for fluid retention. For acute conditions, doctors will prescribe corticosteroids that are likely to have a lot of unpleasant side effects to ease the symptoms and the pain. This drug might cause serious conditions such as wasting of muscles and osteoporosis which could require constant monitoring and other costs which come from additional medical care.
When steroids fail to manage the condition, doctors go for more serious medications. They often suppress the whole immune system leading to serious problems in the long run if their are encounters with infection. Harsh side effects could follow this treatment which includes hair loss, blood disorders, increased susceptibility to disease, and muscle atrophy.
Most of lupus treatment options available do not take into consideration the body as a whole but focuses only on isolated systems with separate doctors dealing with different parts. Most of the lupus patients are under the care of rheumatologists and other doctors based on the areas they are affected. Doctors like the nephrologists for are often involved for patients with kidney complications and dermatologists for patients with skin issues. This specialization, however, fails to take into consideration the fact that all the body parts are interchangeably related and interconnected in the sense that when one body part suffers the other will suffer too.
The Underlying Root Cause Of Lupus
Functional medicine recommendations in Lupus Treatment Centers tend to attend to the root cause of Lupus which can include a leaky gut, as the stomach is permeable to tiny molecules and any damage on the gut could let large molecules through. Toxins and microbes could leak through a damaged gut causing inflammation and health problems such as Lupus. The gut comprises about 80% of the immune system of an individual and is the number one cause of conditions such as Lupus.
Gluten intolerance it is the leading cause of leaky gut and body inflammation and has been linked to many diseases. Most of the disorders of gluten intolerance are not manifested as digestive problems rather as neurological issues, cognitive impairment, sleep disturbance, and fatigue. Another cause of Lupus are toxins such as heavy metals like mercury and infections such as viruses, bacteria, and fungus as well as stress.