October is also Lupus Awareness month. Lupus is not easily diagnosed, so do you know the signs?
Many symptoms of Lupus mimic those of other illnesses and can come and go over time, making diagnosis difficult. For instance, Lupus is often misdiagnosed as Anaemia.
If you have any of the following Signs and Symptoms, see a Rheumatologist as soon as possible. Lupus can affect any organ system of the body, including the heart, kidneys, lungs, blood, joints and skin. So it is important to detect Lupus early.
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May is Lupus Awareness Month. Many symptoms of Lupus mimic those of other illnesses and can come and go over time, making diagnosis difficult. For instance, Lupus is often misdiagnosed as Anaemia.
If you have any of the following Signs and Symptoms, see a Rheumatologist as soon as possible. Lupus can affect any organ system of the body, including the heart, kidneys, lungs, blood, joints and skin. So it is important to detect Lupus early.
For more information, keep up to date with,
Lupus Foundation of Jamaica
Location: 7 Barbados Avenue, Kingston 5. JA.
Website: www.lupusfoundationjamaica.org
Ph: 876-754-8458
Instagram: @lupusfoundationja
By: Gabrielle Burgess
If you liked this Blog, follow Suga Lifestyle Online, on Instagram (@sugalifestyle), Twitter (@sugalifestyleja) or like the Suga Lifestyle Facebook page.
Yoga is the gift of India to the world, thought to be the union of the Soul with God. Yoga equips one with a sound mind, peaceful spirit, healthy body and cures diseases. It does all of this in various ways.
October was Lupus Awareness month and I handed off some information to my Lupus Warriors that they could use for the months and years ahead.
The main areas that Yoga benefits everyone including persons with Lupus, are improved Flexibility and Mobility, Physical Energy, Pain Management, Stress Management, Mood and Coping, Cardiovascular and Respiratory Efficiency, Circulation, Strength and Stamina.
Other than relieving symptoms of Lupus, Yoga also helps with Insomnia, Strengthens the Immune system, Improves the Digestive process and Calms Anxiety.
Therefore Yoga helps to achieve and maintain an overall Healthy Lifestyle.
Lupus Awareness should go beyond the month of October and I would like my Readers to achieve and maintain a Healthy Lifestyle, so I found Yoga Practices in Jamaica that I recommend near you.
Recommended list with Contact Information for some Yoga Studios/Groups in Kingston, Ja:
As Lupus Awareness month comes to an end, I would like to hand off some information to my Lupus Warriors that you can use for the months and years ahead.
Lupus can negatively impact joint health and flexibility. Persons with Lupus may suffer from a variety of symptoms such as:
â— Painful/Swollen Joints
â— Chest Pain associated with breathing
â— Extreme Fatigue
….and the list goes on.
I have had clients with Lupus that wanted to increase their level of fitness and lose weight, but because of fatigue, they could not handle aerobics.
Yoga is the gift of India to the world, thought to be the union of the Soul with God. Yoga equips one with a sound mind, peaceful spirit, healthy body and cures diseases. It does all of this in various ways.
The main areas of benefit of Yoga and Lupus include improved:Â
â— Flexibility and Mobility
â— Physical Energy
â— Pain Management e.g. relieves inflamed, swollen ankles
â— Stress Management e.g. increased self-control, confidence, discipline
â— Mood and Coping
â— Cardiovascular and Respiratory Efficiency
â— Circulation, Strength and Stamina e.g. relieves swollen joints and lessens fatigue
Other than relieving symptoms of Lupus, Yoga also helps with Insomnia, Strengthens the Immune system, Improves the Digestive process and Calms Anxiety.
Therefore Yoga helps to achieve and maintain an overall Healthy Lifestyle.
The two types of Yoga to consider are Beginner/Restorative Yoga and Hot Yoga/Bikram Yoga.
For persons with Lupus, especially Lupus flare ups, I recommend Beginner/Restorative Yoga because it is quite gentle, using pillows and blankets for support, which is ideal for joint issues.
Hot Yoga/Bikram Yoga is more strenuous and should be avoided by novices.
***Persons, especially those with Lupus should always talk with a Doctor before beginning New Exercises***
Conditions to be Cautious about when doing Yoga:
â— High Blood Pressure: Be careful when bending over
â— Neck issues: Instead of looking up, look straight ahead e.g. Warrior pose
â— Pregnancy: Cannot do Prone exercises or exercises such as ‘Downward Dog’.
***When there is Inflexibility, use a Block by the Knee. For Back and Hip issues, use a Towel/Blanket***
How Yoga Helps with Stress
Stress is a state of mind. Stress occurs when something feels wrong or you have it on your mind persistently. It is not a disease, but I believe it can give birth to several diseases such as Ulcers, Hypertension, Migraines, Heart attacks etc.
Our minds and bodies are in sync with each other and there are some things that the Doctor cannot help us with all the time. It is how you manage your mind or the stress.
Yoga assists with the control of Breath, especially during Physical Postures called Asanas. It is important during Exercises to Breathe properly and to find strength, balance and comfort within each posture. Breathing properly involves deeply inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. That is just scratching the surface with Breathing Techniques and Yoga.
5 Yoga Poses that Help with Lupus:
***Do NOT Perform Poses Unsupervised and without proper Instruction/Demonstration***
1. Auspicious Pose / Swastikasana (Seated with hands on the knees. Legs are folded so that left ankle resides between right thigh and knee and vice versa.)
Photo: www.findhomeremedy.com
It Relaxes the Nerves and should be done for 5 minutes with one area of focus.
2. Camel Pose / Ustrasana
Helps with Overcoming Pain, Increasing Lung Capacity, Improving Circulation and Respiratory Health.
Gabby from Suga Lifestyle demonstrating how Yoga can help with Lupus Flare ups at the Lupus Foundation of Jamaica’s Annual Seminar last October 23, 2016.
Position should be held for 10-15 seconds.
3. Viparita Karani
Helps to Improve Blood Circulation.
There are two versions but it should be done preferably against a wall.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body attacks itself.
It is a disease of flares and remissions involving issues with mainly the joints, skin and kidneys. My client, who I also went to University with, Danelle Pinnock, has been battling Lupus for 5 years and is currently experiencing a flare-up.
She called upon GW Art to do a commissioned piece for her. The small, canvassed, wall art was to depict Jesus surrounded by purple butterflies. Purple is the colour that symbolises Lupus Awareness. October is Lupus Awareness month as well.
I am happy that I fulfilled Danelle’s vision and request. She felt truly blessed by her GW Art piece and dedicated it to all Lupus warriors, stating, ‘Your restoration is found in Christ’.
GW Art’s (8*10)” Acrylic on Canvas Wall Art commemorating Lupus Awareness Month
Although I have helped to uplift her spirits on the UHWI ward, Danelle’s Lupus condition has developed in a way that causes various complications leaving her in a state where she needs constant care and very expensive medication. Please check the link below to view her story. She would greatly appreciate any assistance she could get, whether monetary or simply just your prayers.
Help Danelle Pinnock’s fight against Lupus | Medical Expenses – YouCaring
https://www.youcaring.com/danellepinnock-898698
In recognition of Lupus Awareness month, here are also some facts about Lupus from Cleveland Clinic, including some that you may not know:
1. Lupus affects nine times more women than men, and more women of color than white women.
Women of childbearing age (13 to 49) are far more likely to be affected.
Genetics also plays a role.
2. Lupus symptoms can differ greatly from person to person. Some symptoms are common to other conditions, which can make diagnosis difficult.
Common Lupus symptoms include:
â— Constant fatigue (often misdiagnosed for iron deficiency)
â— Achy joints
â— A butterfly shaped rash around the cheeks and nose (Often treated by a dermatologist as a skin issue only)
â— Hair loss
â— Blood clots
â— Sensitivity to light
â— Chest pain when breathing
â— Mouth sores
â— Swelling in the extremities or around the eyes (Often misdiagnosed as a circulatory problem or kidney condition)
3. Lupus is a disease of flares and remissions.
Lupus flare-ups can be mild, or they can be severe. At least 75% of people with Lupus have arthritis and skin rashes. Half have kidney problems often shown with swollen feet/ankles. Lupus patients are also more vulnerable to infection than most people.
4. Diagnosis begins with a simple blood test.
An anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) blood test can be ordered upon suspicion. A negative ANA test result usually rules out Lupus.
***ANA test results will come back positive in virtually everyone with Lupus. However, some people will have a positive result even though they do not have Lupus. When the test comes back positive, other criteria have to be examined.
In those cases, the patient’s symptoms are usually compared with a list of 11 criteria for Lupus. If they meet four or more of the criteria, they are usually diagnosed with Lupus.
5. Treatment depends on the type of flare-ups experienced.
Mild swelling and joint pain may be treated with acetaminophen or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen.
Plaquenil, an anti-malarial drug that treats skin rashes, arthritis, and sometimes fatigue.
Rashes may be treated with topical steroid creams and corticosteroids, while immuno-suppressants treat serious kidney problems.
Diagnosis and treatment of Lupus keeps getting better.
Many persons with Lupus have a mild form. Proper medication can help persons with severe Lupus control their flare-ups and live productive lives.
***Stay tuned for tips on how YOGA can help persons with Lupus***
By: Gabrielle Burgess
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