There are some things you can do to relieve some of the discomfort of Lupus. Living with Lupus, an auto-immune disorder, means living with inflammation of the joints, heart, lungs, blood, kidneys,brain, or other body organs.

The human body produces antibodies to protect your body system against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign substances. If you are suffering from Lupus,however, your immune system cannot distinguish between these foreign substances and its own cells and tissue. Your body then produces antibodies that attack its own cells, tissues, and then its organs. You may already be familiar with the pain resulting from the inflammation and damage to body organs

If you have been diagnosed with Lupus or if someone close to you is living with the discomforts of this disease, here are 10 helpful tips for getting some relief from the symptoms of Lupus:

1.Use resources such as the Lupus Foundation of America. The local chapter of the LFA may also have information about resources, support groups, guest speakers, newsletters, and other valuable information.

2. Exercise sensibly. Include general conditioning exercises in your daily routine. Walking, bicycling, swimming, and low impact aerobics can help prevent osteoporosis and muscle atrophy. Enjoy these activities by taking rest periods during exercise if you need them.

3. Control Stress and fatigue.Live your life fully, but monitor your levels of fatigue by making adjustments to your busy schedule to avoid fatigue.

4.Work with a Rehabilitation Specialist to help you manage Lupus.
Occupational therapists help to lower stresses to painful areas. They assess your workstation to ensure proper body mechanics and can recommend assistive devices.

5.Physical therapists can assist you in developing muscle strengthening programs and help you to walk , minimizing pain.

6. Vocational rehabilitation counselors can help you with job issues such as minimizing repetitive motions that bring on inflammation to hands or other part of the body.

5. Relieve pain with heat. Talk to your doctor or specialist about how to use heat to relieve pain.Moist heat soothes painful joints better than dry heat. Soaking in a hot tub, sauna, or taking a hot shower usually helps.

6. Be a Non-Smoker! Smoking can cause flare-ups and can affect circulation.

7. Consider the climate's effect on your condition.If you have Lupus, you may have noticed that you can be sensitive to changes in the barometric pressure, so you may want to consider this if the climate you live in has distinct changes in weather.

8. Practice relaxation techniques. Consult with your doctor about sensible techniques such as meditation to help you cope with the additional daily demands of Lupus.

9. Build an effective Doctor-Patient Relationship. Select a doctor who is will take the time to discuss disease management issues . You will also need a doctor who can be reached when you need medical attention.
For your part,take medication as prescribed and work out a plan with your doctor so you know when to seek medical attention.

10. Are alternative therapies for you? Be informed about Lupus and use all your resources, including support groups, to learn about the benefits of using vitamin and mineral supplements, herbal therapy,and other approaches to management the pain and inflammation associated with Lupus.

Knowledge is a powerful way to manage any health condition. Lupus affects individuals to varying degrees, but all of these tips can offer help to those having to live their lives with the discomforts of lupus.

Learn more about this author, E.M.Robinson.
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