Symptoms and Treatment of Lupus
The treatment of lupus depends on what symptoms are experienced by sufferers, as there can be many. Most common is the appearance of a red colored rash over the cheeks and nose. In severe cases of lupus the rash covers the whole body and wherever the rash appears it is aggravated by exposure to the sun. Therefore the first thing that the treatment of lupus addresses is reducing exposure to the sun. Lupus can bring on bouts of fever and joint pain is experienced. Other symptoms of lupus range from hair loss, depression or headaches, to mouth ulcers and chest pains. The treatment of lupus becomes difficult when only one part of the body is affected.Lupus is not a contagious disease, so treatment is unlike those where the disease can spread. The treatment of lupus is difficult because it is an autoimmune condition where the body creates antibodies that attack its own tissues. The symptoms are similar to those of other diseases, so the treatment of lupus can often be delayed in absence of any diagnosis. Both these factors make the treatment of lupus a very difficult proposition.
Systemic lupus can affect any of the main organs of the body such as the lungs, in which case inflammation would occur, possibly leading to pneumonia. Due to this, the treatment of lupus often starts with the treatment of the symptoms rather than the disease itself. For example, if the kidneys are affected then the only symptoms could be swollen ankles and some abnormality in the blood and urine reading. The treatment of lupus would only address those particular symptoms.
The treatment of lupus, when diagnosed, often starts with corticosteroids. Patients are generally asked to look out for flare-ups and at the first sign start using a stronger sunscreen. Are there any natural remedies for the treatment of lupus? Doctors advise a vitamin and mineral supplement along with conventional medication. Calcium, folic acid and vitamin D, help strengthen bones and skin. The treatment of lupus can also include relaxation techniques, as reduced stress levels is itself an effective treatment for flare-ups and skin rashes.
The Lupus Foundation of America spends a lot of time researching the treatment of lupus, its causes, and prevention. It funds research for the development of experimental prototypes and new approaches. Even junior investigators are given grants for 2 years in order to help find a cure or natural remedy. At the moment, general scientific knowledge of the autoimmune system is not very strong, and so the treatment of lupus is still restricted to addressing the symptoms only.
Prescriptions by Dr. Balch
