Lupus vs Autoimmune Diseases: Spot the Difference
When your immune system turns on you
Let’s be clear. There is nothing basic about lupus. It is a complex disease with complicated symptoms.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which your immune system mistakenly identifies normal tissue as foreign invaders and thus attacks your body. This process is helpful to the body when fighting bacteria and viruses, but does harm when these invaders are not present.
Some autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, target only one organ, such as the pancreas. Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and multiple sclerosis are other autoimmune diseases you may be familiar with.
What makes lupus different is the immune response can actually affect many organs, including the joints, kidneys, brain, and heart.
Some people diagnosed with lupus suffer only minor inconveniences, while others may suffer a significant lifelong ability.
The Great Imitator
When identifying lupus, there are many challenges in reaching a diagnosis. This is because the signs and symptoms mimic many other illnesses like Rheumatoid Arthritis. Additionally, symptoms can be unclear, come and go, or change over the course of the disease.
The first step in evaluating a patient involves a review of current symptoms, laboratory test results, medical history, and the medical history of your close relatives. Due to these limitations, there is no single diagnostic test for systemic lupus.
The American College of Rheumatology has developed 11 criteria of lupus. In order for a diagnosis to happen, four of the 11 criteria must be present.
The criteria are:
1. Malar rash – a butterfly-shaped rash across cheeks and nose
2. Skin rash – raised red patches
3. Photosensitivity – unusually strong reaction to sunlight, causing a rash or flare
4. Mouth or nose ulcers – usually painless
5. Non-erosive arthritis – inflammation in two or more joints
6. Cardio-pulmonary involvement – inflammation of the heart lining and/or lungs
7. Neurologic disorder – seizures and/or psychosis
8. Kidney disorder – increased protein or clumps of red cells in urine
9. Blood disorder – anemia caused by damaged red cells, low white cells or low platelet
count
10. Immunological disorder – when your immune system attacks healthy cells
11. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) – positive blood test not induced by drugs
To read more about the criteria, visit https://www.lupusresearch.org/understanding-
lupus/diagnosis-and-treatment/diagnosis/
Know your risk
The cause of lupus remains unknown, but there is solid evidence that genetics, epigenetic, environmental factors, viruses, and infections are contributing factors. As with any disease, it’s important to know your risk. Risk factors include:
- Gender
- Age
- Ethnicity
- Family history
Lupus can be diagnosed at any age.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), women at childbearing age—between 15 and 44—are at the highest risk of lupus. Between 10 and 20 percent of people with systemic lupus are diagnosed before age 18, but “late-onset” lupus can be diagnosed after age 50.
While anyone can be diagnosed, the disease more often affects women.
Nine out of ten adults with lupus are women. Additionally, women of African American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American descent are at higher risk.
According to the Lupus Foundation of America, relatives of people with lupus have a 5-13 percent chance of developing lupus. However, only about 5 percent of children will develop lupus if their mother has it.
Know the Signs
Lupus can affect any organ in the body and may cause a wide range of symptoms.
Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Extreme fatigue that doesn't go away with rest
- Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling in two or more joints
- Fever over 100°F
- Muscle pain
- Hair loss
- Skin sores and rashes (which may occur in a butterfly-shaped pattern across the
cheeks and nose)
- Nose or mouth sores (usually painless)
- Skin rashes after sun exposure
According to the Lupus Research Alliance, 50-90% of people with lupus identify fatigue as one of their primary symptoms. Contributing factors to fatigue have been identified as disease activity, anxiety disorders, sleep disturbances, vitamin D deficiency, and low levels of exercise.
Up to 90 percent of people with lupus will experience inflammation or swelling of the joint lining, causing arthritis, most often in the hands and wrists.
Additionally, nearly 50% of people with lupus experience a red “malar” rash. The rash is distinguished by a butterfly shape across the cheeks and bridge of the nose. Rashes may also occur on the ears, upper arms, shoulders, chest, and hands or other areas exposed to the sun.
Health Risk Range From Mild to Severe
People with lupus are at risk for a number of complications. These complications and health risks range from mild to severe.
Pregnancy Risk
While women with mild-to-moderate lupus can have complication-free pregnancies, women with lupus are still considered high risk.
Heart Disease
Inflammation can occur in the heart, the membrane that surrounds it, or can damage the heart valves.
Kidney Problems
Dark urine and swelling around their eyes, legs, ankles, or fingers can be an indication of inflamed kidneys. Kidney inflammation prevents the body from adequately removing waste products and other toxins.
Diabetes
People with lupus are at an increased risk for insulin resistance and diabetes.
Neurological Dysfunction
In some cases, lupus can affect the brain or central nervous system. Headaches, dizziness, depression, memory disturbances, vision problems, seizures, stroke, or changes in behavior are indicators of neurological dysfunction.
To read more, visit
https://www.lupusresearch.org/understanding-lupus/what-is-lupus/symptoms/
Underlying Root Causes of Lupus
Functional Medicine is a systems biology-based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease. The functional medicine approach can help uncover what provoked your immune system to attack your own tissues in the first place.
Functional medicine has identified five underlying causes of lupus symptoms.
1. Leaky Gut. Leaky gut is an error in the gut lining, allowing molecules that are normally blocked to ‘leak’ through and enter your bloodstream.
2. Gluten Intolerance. Gluten is one of the leading culprits behind leaky gut and chronic inflammation, linking to over 50 different diseases. When gluten intolerance is present, antibodies are released every time gluten is consumed. These antibodies can mistakenly attack other organs.
3. Toxins. Mycotoxins, or toxic molds, and heavy metals are the two primary toxins found in those with autoimmune conditions.
4. Infections. Infections from bacteria, viruses, and other toxins are thought to be behind the development of conditions such as lupus. No single culprit has yet to be identified.
However, there are strong correlations between a number of bacteria and viruses and the development of lupus.
5. Stress. Chronic stress leads to chronic inflammation and suppresses your immune system.
Reducing Symptoms, Finding Relief
Once you identify the root cause of your symptoms, you can work with your doctor to correct the offending issue. Let’s tackle ways to improve the leading causes of symptoms.
To start, try the 4R approach to repair gut health: Remove, Replace, Reinoculate, and Repair.
Remove the bad by eliminating known offenders that negatively affect the environment of the GI tract, such as gluten, dairy, corn, soy, and eggs, as well as toxic foods, such as sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.
Replace digestive enzyme supplementation to optimize digestion, and a diet rich in nutrient-dense foods.
Reinoculate with beneficial bacteria to reestablish a healthy microbial balance. This can be done with probiotic-rich foods or supplementation.
Repair the gut by providing the nutrients necessary for healing.
Next, optimize your diet with whole, real foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, grass-fed meat and wild-caught fish, and healthy fats.
Have your doctor help you find and treat infections, and test for heavy metals and mycotoxins.
Finally, relieve stress. Adopt stress-relieving strategies such as exercise, meditation, yoga, or art. Even just 5 minutes a day spent on something you enjoy or sitting quietly can work wonders for your adrenal glands.
Anti-inflammatory Nutrients
Lupus and inflammation go hand-in-hand. To help reduce the inflammatory response, try following an anti-inflammatory diet.
Keep in mind that anti-inflammatory diets are not a specific regimen but rather a style of eating. Some diet examples include the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet.
An anti-inflammatory diet favors fruits and vegetables, foods containing omega-3 fatty acids, whole grains, lean protein, healthful fats, and spices. It discourages or limits the consumption of processed foods, red meats, and alcohol.
An anti-inflammatory diet should combine a variety of foods that are rich in nutrients, provide a range of antioxidants, and contain healthy fats.
Foods that may help manage inflammation include:
- oily fish, such as tuna and salmon
- fruits, such as blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and cherries
- vegetables, including kale, spinach, and broccoli
- beans and legumes
- nuts and seeds
- olives and olive oil
- fiber
Foods to avoid include:
- processed foods
- foods with added sugar or salt
- unhealthful oils
- processed carbs, which are present in white bread, white pasta, and many baked goods
- processed snack foods, such as chips and crackers
- pre-made desserts, such as cookies, candy, and ice cream
- excess alcohol
My hope is that this leads you on you’re on your way to better health
If you or a loved one has undiagnosed or mysterious symptoms or recurrent lupus flare-ups, contact our office to set up a consultation at [phone]. We’re here to help provide answers!
For more information regarding Lupus please refer to these resources:
· https://www.lupusresearch.org/
· https://creakyjoints.org/education/lupus-facts/
· https://www.webmd.com/lupus/guide/understanding-lupus-basics
