Lupus does require good self-care. It is essential for the lupus patients to learn to recognize the body’s warning signs of a flare. Warning signs do include increased fatigue, joint pain, rash, or fever. Any sign of these symptom shows that it is time to take care of the body, and take steps to control your symptoms.

Stress may trigger lupus symptoms. This makes it necessary to keep the stress level as low as possible. Always make it a point to keep the daily schedule as simple as possible. Keep your list of obligations to others to a bare minimum. It is a must to exercise regularly. A daily walk will reduce stress; clear the head, improve the mood, and help fight fatigue. The relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga and guided imagery are helpful in calming down the body and mind.

Fatigue is common in people with lupus. Therefore plenty of rest is required..
The patients suffering from lupus must take short breaks from the usual daily activities. The work hours must be cut down or should get help with parenting responsibilities. Regular exercise will boost energy and helps in staying in good condition. Walking and swimming are excellent exercise for people suffering from lupus.

In case, if depression is contributing to fatigue, get prompt treatment from the doctor or a mental health professional. Take care of the skin. Use corticosteroid creams to relieve skin symptoms that are particularly troublesome.

Exposure to ultraviolet light, as from sunlight, can trigger skin rash, joint pain, or fatigue, which makes it necessary to minimize the exposure to ultraviolet light.
Strong sun rays must be avoided.

It should be remembered that a healthy lifestyle not only improves the quality of life but may also reduce the chances of having more frequent and severe flares Smoking should be avoided. By developing a support system of family, friends, and health professionals, the patient could reduce the impacts of the disease to a big extend.
 

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 29th, 2008 at 9:59 am and is filed under Lupus. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.