Lupus Explained

What is Lupus and How Can it Be Treated?

In the fall of 2017, actress and pop singer Selena Gomez spoke openly about her long-term battle with lupus and shared a photo online of the kidney transplant aftermath with her close friend and kidney donor. Gomez said in a statement, “Lupus continues to be very misunderstood, but progress is being made” and linked the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) website to further help the public understand her disease. The singer’s story of her lifelong battle with the condition and her treatment journey initiated worldwide awareness towards the autoimmune disease. It even inspired other celebrities to come clean about their own autoimmune diseases and conditions that they deal with. Furthermore, lupus patients all over the world no longer felt alone in their path to wellness, and some even felt that there was more hope going forward.

Today, lupus continues to be a common autoimmune disease that needs to be acknowledged. The Lupus Foundation of America claims that approximately 1.5 million Americans and five million people worldwide suffer from a form of lupus¹. Unfortunately, because it’s known as “the great imitator” and is capable of mimicking other illnesses, many are unaware that they have the condition until they receive proper testing to be accurately diagnosed. At LifeWorks Wellness Center, we try to help our patients to better understand lupus so that they can identify the signs and feel comfortable knowing that they have an abundance of natural treatment options to manage the symptoms.

What is Lupus?

According to the Lupus Foundation of America, lupus is “a chronic long-term autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation and pain in any part of the body”¹. It occurs when the immune system accidentally attacks healthy tissues, causing inflammation and damaging cells that affect the brain, joints, kidneys, skin, hair, and blood vessels. There are four types of lupus: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), cutaneous lupus, drug-induced lupus, and neonatal lupus. The most common form of the disease is SLE, however other factors such as medications, DNA, or specific affected areas can determine the type of lupus that a patient suffers from.

What are the Causes?

Similar to all other autoimmune diseases, there is no distinct cause to lupus, however there are many components that play into its development. The condition has been shown to run in families, be triggered or worsened by certain environmental factors, or be brought on by overuse of antibiotics or long-term medications. Symptoms of the disease are often difficult to notice initially, and one must go through a thorough testing process to be officially diagnosed. Although, some distinct early signs might include joint pain, extreme fatigue or a butterfly rash on the face. While anyone is at risk of developing lupus, 90% of those who have it are women between the ages of 15 to 45. If left untreated, lupus can cause many serious health risks such as cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, atherosclerosis, myocarditis, endocarditis, seizures and stroke.

How to Naturally Treat Lupus

At LifeWorks Wellness Center we provide a wide range of natural treatment methods to help those with lupus. Treatment plans may vary from patient-to-patient since all underlying causes of it can vary. All new patients will consult with a LifeWorks practitioner to discuss reoccurring symptoms, medications, or other conditions that they may have. From there, the practitioner will order testing to determine if lupus is the true culprit behind the patient’s conditions. If lupus is diagnosed, the physician will put together a treatment plan that would best improve the patient’s symptoms. These treatments can include a series of intravenous therapies, Ozone therapies, Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF), Chelation, Glutathione, Supplementation, Peptides and dietary changes. While there is no official cure for lupus, we can help patients manage their condition without increasing the risk of other future health issues. By following the treatment plan, patients will notice drastic changes in their energy levels, a reduction in their symptoms, and possibly put the disease into remission.

There is Hope

After receiving her kidney transplant, Ms. Gomez attended the Lupus Research Alliance annual gala in November of that same year to share her story with the audience. She revealed that the disease caused a complication called lupus nephritis, a condition in which lupus autoantibodies affect structures within the kidneys that could potentially lead to kidney failure if continued untreated. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, approximately “15-20% of people with lupus nephritis need kidney transplants or chronic dialysis in order to stay healthy”². Therefore, not all lupus survivors will experience these setbacks. However, Gomez’s heartfelt story spread more awareness to the condition and showed other autoimmune disease patients that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Lupus is an extremely complex autoimmune disease to endure. Luckily, it can be properly managed and treated with an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. At LifeWorks Wellness Center, we’ve assisted multiple lupus patients return to a normal quality of life without the use of invasive therapies. If you or someone that you know is suffering with a form of lupus or other autoimmune diseases, please call to schedule an appointment with one of our practitioners at 727-466-6789. Learn more about our treatments for autoimmune disease.

References:

1. Lupus facts and statistics | Lupus Foundation of America
2. Selena Gomez Lupus: Raising Awareness Through Her Battle With Lupus | Everyday Health