What Other Care Should People with Lupus Take?
In addition to treatment with drugs, people with SLE should take special care with their health including attention to food, adequate rest, avoiding conditions that cause stress, and strict attention with hygiene measures (due to the potential risk of infections). Ideally, avoid high-fat foods and alcohol [8] (but the use of small amounts of alcoholic beverages does not specifically interfere with the disease). Whoever is using anticoagulants after having been presented with thrombosis (often related to the antiphospholipid syndrome associated with SLE), must take special care, which is the maintenance of a “monotonous” [9] diet, that is, similar in quality and quantity every day. This makes sure that adequate anticoagulation control is possible especially for people with hypertension or kidney problems.
Another general measure is to avoid (or suspend if in use) contraceptives with estrogen and cigarettes (smoking), both conditions clearly related to the worsening of SLE symptoms. People with SLE, regardless of whether or not they have spots on their skin, must adopt protective measures against solar radiation, avoiding as much as possible exposing themselves to “light”, in addition to avoiding “sunlight” directly on the skin, because in addition to cause skin lesions, they can also worsen inflammation in internal organs such as the kidneys. Another very important measure is the maintenance of regular physical activity, preferably aerobic, which helps not only to control blood pressure and glucose but also contributes to improving the quality of bones, preventing osteoporosis, and improving the immune system.
The general purpose of health care (including medications) for people with SLE is to allow control of the inflammatory activity of the disease and to minimize the side effects of medications. In general, when the treatment is done properly, including the correct use of medicines in their doses and times, with the necessary examinations at the right times, attendance to consultations in the recommended periods and the general care described above, good control of the disease and significantly improve the quality of life of people with SLE.