Systematic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Introduction:
Autoimmune
diseases are increasing nowadays and the factors causing these diseases can be
genetic, environmental, hormonal, and lifestyle. One of the autoimmune diseases
that badly affects the human body's immune system by attacking its own tissue
and vital organs is systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The vital organs can
include joints, skin, lungs, kidneys, brain, and blood vessels, affecting women
more than men. Also, many studies showed
that this disease affects people's work and employment that more severe
symptoms less likely to stay at work.
The signs and symptoms of SLE:
SLE can
cause many problems by attacking the healthy organs of the human body and the
signs and symptoms can be:
1- The person
can be fatigued and tired, especially with flare-ups of the disease
2- Skin rashes
with fever cause him to stay in bed
3- The joints
will be swollen, inflamed, and causing pain.
4- The vital
organs affected by the disease caused him to have lung, cardiac, kidney, and
immunological problems.
5- Can affect
the digestive system and cause weight loss, reduced appetite, mouth ulcers,
nausea, and vomiting in some cases.
6- The disease
can affect the brain and nervous system and cause seizures, headaches, memory
problems, and psychosis.
These signs
and symptoms can impact badly on human normal life and cause him to be stressed
and enter into depression so physiological, physical, and social support is needed.
Diagnostic tests to identify the disease:
To diagnose
SLE the doctor will do a full physical assessment with symptoms identification
and will request an x-ray with imaging test for brain, heart, lungs, joints,
and muscles. Lab tests include antinuclear antibody, complete blood count,
liver function test, kidney function test, complement components (C3 and C4),
erythrocyte sedimentation rate, rheumatoid factor, antiphospholipid antibodies
and lupus anticoagulant test.
The treatment of SLE:
The
treatment of SLE is to manage the signs and symptoms especially severe symptoms
that include the vital organs that can be dangerous to patient life. The goal
of treatment is to prevent flare-ups, manage symptoms, and reduce organ damage.
The treatment path started to reduce inflammation and pain with nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroid medications that can help the
patients. Moreover, antimalarial drugs that can reduce skin problems and lung
problems with BLyS-specific inhibitors that work on specific immune responses
in the body. If the patient has worse symptoms or is in severe cases the doctor
can prescribe immunosuppressive agents or chemotherapy to manage the severe
damage of the organs.
Lifestyle modifications:
Lifestyle changes can't cure SLE. But they can
help handle symptoms, improve quality of life, and lower the risk of problems.
You will also need to find a balance for your physical and mental health to
improve your life expectancy and prognosis. The lifestyle modifications can be:
1-
Avoid
active and passive smoking The patient with SLE must avoid sitting beside
smokers so that he can inhale smoke leading to lung problems and the smoker
patients must quit smoking.
2-
If the
SLE patients want to go out sun block must be applied to avoid direct sun
contact that can cause skin problems.
3-
Prevent
infection by being away from the person who has the infection with precautions
and must take the vaccination required with a doctor's advice.
4-
Eat a healthy diet with all ingredients that give
strength, boost immunity, and prevent infection diet by having proteins,
carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and calcium that are important to body
health.
5-
try to avoid sources of stress or manage
stress because stress can worsen SLE problems.
6-
Do
exercise regularly that can strengthen your body and increase your well-being
without causing harm or injuring yourself by doing light exercise, walking,
yoga, and meditation that cause your body to relax and refresh with the
doctor's advice.
Conclusion:
SLE disease is a serious disease that is
genetic and can appear because of environmental and lifestyle factors. If the
person knows that one of the family members has the disease, so must go to the
nearest doctor to do a test to identify the disease as early as possible. The
prevention of the disease is better than quire and staying healthy and safe.
References:
Systemic
lupus erythematosus (SLE). (2023, January
31). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/lupus/facts/detailed.html#sle
Systemic
lupus erythematosus: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (n.d.). https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000435.htm
Lifestyle
changes to manage Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) - Western New York Urology
Associates. (n.d.).
https://www.wnyurology.com/content.aspx?chunkiid=19779