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Lupus
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease. It Symptoms
causes inflammation in the body and blood. • Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
Lupus can affect the lining of the heart, • Pain
lungs, skin, joints and many other organs. • Swelling or stiffness in joints
• Hair loss
When you are healthy, your immune system • Low-grade fevers
protects your body from bacteria, viruses, • Mouth sores
chemicals and toxic substances. When you • Skin rashes (this includes a butterfly
have lupus, your immune system thinks your rash from sun exposure)
own tissue is foreign and attacks it. This • Chest pain with deep breaths
causes inflammation. • Foamy urine
• Numbness or weakness in your arms
How is lupus diagnosed? and/or legs
We diagnose lupus through a series of visits
and tests. You will likely need: Flares
• Visits with a rheumatologist who A flare is an increase in your lupus activity
specializes in lupus with signs and symptoms that can be
• Blood tests measured. Your doctor will tell you if your
• Urine test flare means you need to change your
• Skin or tissue biopsy treatment. Track your symptoms and
triggers and share any changes with your
Causes doctor. Lupus can flare after times when the
Though the cause of lupus is not known, it disease has been quiet. When flares are
may be caused by: severe, seek medical help.
• genetics
• environment Triggers
• the makeup of your tissues • Sun, sun lamps or tanning beds
• Sulfa drugs
Who is at-risk to develop lupus? • Medicines that make you more
Anyone can get lupus, but it is more sensitive to the sun
common among certain groups of people. • Stressors like infection, viral illness,
Lupus is more common in women between stress and pregnancy
the ages of 15-44. The highest rates are
among women who are: Avoiding Triggers
• African American • Always use sunscreen and wear
• Hispanic clothes that block UV rays
• Asian • Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps
• American Indian • Plan pregnancies
• Avoid stress
• Talk to your doctor if you take sulfa
medicine
Fatigue Tracking Symptoms
Fatigue is very common. It is important to Track your symptoms. Call your doctor if
know the difference between fatigue and you have any new symptoms or if your
flares. You can manage fatigue with proper symptoms get worse. Call if you have:
exercise, sleep and a healthy diet. • A butterfly-shaped rash over the
• Listen to your body and know your cheeks or a red rash with raised
limits. round or oval patches
• Do daily aerobic exercises. • A rash that lasts for 2-3 days on skin
• Allow for short periods of rest that was exposed to the sun
throughout the day. • Alopecia/bald spots
• Plan ahead. Focus on the most • A cough that lasts over 24 hours or
important activities. shortness of breath
• Save energy by shopping online. • Frequent sores in the mouth or nose
• Cook meals in advance. that last a few days
• Accept fatigue and don’t blame • Joint stiffness or swelling in two or
yourself. more joints that lasts for a few weeks
• Ask family and friends for help when • Constant chest pain that gets worse
you need it. with deep breaths
• Join a support group to learn more • Urine that is bloody and/or foamy
tips for fighting fatigue. • Swelling in your ankles or around
• Try to have good sleep habits and eat your eyes (especially in the morning)
a healthy diet. • New seizures
• New weakness or numbness in your
Lupus Treatments arms and legs that does not go away
Most people with lupus can lead normal
lives with treatments. Some common Health Screenings
treatment options are: Lupus can lead to other health problems. It
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• Acetaminophen (Tylenol ) can cause clogging of the arteries and heart
• Anti-inflammatory medicines such attacks, heart failure or strokes. Lupus
as ibuprofen, naproxen, meloxicam patients should be screened for:
and celecoxib • High blood pressure
• Immunosuppressive medicines such • High cholesterol
as hydroxychloroquine, • Symptoms of concern for heart
corticosteroids, mycophenolate and attacks
azathioprine • Bone health
• Infusion treatments such as • Retinal (eye) exam
cyclophosphamide and belumimab
Manage Your Diet
Medicine to plan meals, find
Hydroxychloroquine: • Use myplate.gov
diet tips and learn more about
• Do not crush, break, or chew healthy types of foods.
• Take with food or milk to avoid • Eat more berries and citrus fruits
stomach upset (Ask your pharmacist before
• Have an eye exam every year drinking grapefruit juice), fruits and
• Safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding
vegetables in a variety of colors, Managing Lupus Symptoms
nuts/seeds, olive oil, whole grains. There are ways to manage your lupus
• Eat foods that are sautéed, steamed symptoms. We have some tips for treating
or roasted. Raw vegetables can common lupus symptoms.
increase bloating or diarrhea.
Mouth Sores
Preventing Infections Try the options below to manage your sores.
• Get a pneumonia vaccine. If your sores do not improve, talk with your
• Get your flu vaccine during flu doctor about other treatment options.
season (October to February). • Alum powder - Apply for 60
• If you are on immunosuppressive seconds and spit. (Do not swallow).
medicines or high doses of steroids Do not rinse with water for 24 hours.
do not get live vaccines (mumps, Avoid frequent use.
rubella, measles, chickenpox, oral • Oral hygiene - Brush your teeth
typhoid vaccine, yellow fever, nasal twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
flu vaccine and live zoster vaccines). and floss daily.
• Wash your hands often. Wash your • Quit smoking - Smoking increases
hands after you use the bathroom, your risk for gum disease and mouth
blow your nose or touch areas in sores.
public spaces and before you eat or • Magic Mouthwash®- Apply for 60
touch your face. seconds and spit (do not swallow).
Use up to three times daily.
Pregnancy Planning ®
• Meet with a rheumatologist and a • Benzocaine - Apply to sores up to
high-risk obstetrician before trying to four times daily and do not swallow.
Avoid frequent use.
get pregnant.
• Wait until your disease has been Thinning Hair
stable for at least six months to get • Vitamin B complex/biotin
pregnant. Pregnant patients with supplements - Daily use helps
active lupus are at higher risk of high strengthen the nervous system and
blood pressure, miscarriages, the body’s skin and hair.
preterm delivery, excessive bleeding • Thyroid check - If you have hair
after delivery and/or blood clots in loss, feel fatigued and/or have cold
the leg or lung. sensitivity or hot flashes, talk to your
• Pregnancy can cause a lupus flare. doctor about getting your thyroid
• Ask your pharmacist about the risks hormone levels checked.
and benefits of taking your • Multivitamin and minerals - Take
medicines during pregnancy. Do not a multivitamin daily to make sure
get pregnant while taking certain your body gets the vitamins and
medicines like Mycophenolate, minerals it needs.
Methotrexate, or while on infusions.
Joint Pain
Quit Smoking • Omega-3 supplements - This fatty
Smoking is a known lupus trigger. Talk to acid is found in soybean, canola oil,
your doctor if you need help quitting. flaxseed and fish oil. Omega 3
supplements have anti-inflammatory
benefits which can help with joint • Drink milk - Milk at bedtime may
pain, stiffness and swelling. help you sleep.
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• Turmeric - Turmeric is an ancient • Talk to your doctor - If you snore at
herb used in cooking which may help night or are often tired in morning,
reduce swelling in joints. Turmeric is talk to your doctor.
safe but high doses or long-term use • Keep a sleep diary - Keep track of
may cause stomach upset and any triggers you find that keep you
thinning of the blood thinning. If you awake and tips that help you sleep.
are pregnant or on blood thinners, • Melatonin - Ask your doctor if you
talk to your doctor before you start should use melatonin as a sleep aid.
this herb.
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• Glucosamine Sulfate - This may Exercise
work to relieve joint pain. Talk to Exercise helps with joint pain by keeping
your doctor before starting this joints flexible. It also helps you relax and
supplement if you are pregnant or on sleep better. Exercises like yoga, walking,
a blood thinner. water aerobics and swimming are good for
patients with lupus.
Sun Sensitivity
• Sunscreen - Carry 70 SPF sunscreen Yoga
or higher and be sure that it blocks Yoga helps the body relax. Restorative and
UV-A and UV-B rays. Both are chair yoga are helpful for all forms of
harmful to people with lupus. Apply arthritis. Some forms of yoga should not be
sunscreen to all areas of the body, done without instruction or supervision.
even those covered by clothes.
Reapply sunscreen every three hours, Find UW Health yoga resources. You can
especially if you are in the water. use the Arthritis Foundation resource at
• Protective clothes - Wear long arthritis.org to find a yoga studio near you.
sleeves, hats, pants, and scarves You can also choose a yoga DVD that
when you go outdoors on a sunny includes modified poses and step-by-step
day. Wear clothing that includes UV instructions.
ray blocking protection.
• No tanning - Do not use tanning Water Aerobics
beds and sun lamps. Walking in water is good for joint pain and
damage. Water supports the body’s weight,
Trouble Sleeping which lowers stress on the joints and helps
• Get enough sleep - Maintain a with pain. Walking in water also strengthens
regular sleep routine. Go to bed and and builds muscle. Heated pools—about 82
wake up at the same time each day. to 88 degrees—can help soothe pain. Cooler
Limit daytime naps to 30 minutes. water might not feel as good, but you’ll still
• Avoid caffeine and nicotine - Stop get the benefits. To find out more about
eating and avoid caffeine and warm water pools visit:
nicotine for at least two hours before https://www.uwhealth.org/conditions/lupus.
you go to sleep. You can use the Arthritis Foundation
• Exercise - Regular exercise can help resource to find pools near you at
the quality of your sleep. arthritis.org.
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