GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND TIPS AT HOME
* Make a schedule to relax, whether you take a nap, meditate, read or do other activities that you find it restorative.
* It is important to do gentle exercises: Yoga, Tai Chi are good
* Avoid as much as possible the stress. Take relaxation techniques.
* Do not take oral contraceptives (pills) or hormone replacement therapy. Any of these treatments that manipulate the sex hormone levels can cause a reactivation or worsening symptoms.
* If you wear makeup, use only hypoallergenic products.
* Use only hypoallergenic shampoo essences.
* Avoid heavy fragrances.
* Make sure your hairdresser knows well of scalp disorders in this disease. If you have lesions on the scalp and are ignored or not taken care by her hairdresser could worsen your problem.
Eat a diet low in fat, salt and animal protein. This diet is good for improving your kidneys.
* Avoid red meat (pork, beef, goat)
* Use only canola or olive oil.
* Eat sardines very often.
* Increase intake of raw or steamed vegetables, including artichokes, broccoli, kale, beets, etc..
* Drink plenty of purified water.
* It is important to discover if there are any food allergies.
* Avoid alfalfa that interferes with protein metabolism, as well as raw cabbage, which depress thyroid function.
* Avoid eating peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, white potatoes. These foods contain a substance called solanine, which can contribute to inflammation and pain.
* Avoid exposure to sunlight, use sunscreen. Out only when absolutely necessary.
* Avoid large groups of people and those suffering from colds or other viral diseases. Autoimmune diseases such as lupus make the individual more susceptible to viral diseases.
* Avoid smoking and smokers.
* Avoid contact with any environmental contaminant, including smoke from cars, snuff, pesticides, herbicides, household chemicals, environmental sprays and perfumes. Any of these substances may worsen symptoms.
Soothing aromatherapy baths and massage may help relieve pain and inflammation. Choose three of the oily essences to add to bath water or massage oil, basil, black pepper, elemi, myrrh and pine.
Relatives of patients with SLE have an increased risk of developing the disease. Identical twins are more often concordant in the development of the disease than fraternal twins. Certain human leukocyte antigens confer a high risk, especially HLA-B8, HLA-DR2 and HLA-DR3. Congenital deficiencies of early complement components, especially C4, are also associated with higher incidence of SLE.
Racial associations mentioned above also imply a genetic influence on the spread of the disease.
Source: www.nuestramedicina.com/asp/enfid.asp?id=22
image source: www.skindisordersguide.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/lupus-erythematosus.jpg