The content in this blog is based on my experiences and the guidance I have received from my Care Team based on my own needs. Before beginning, trying, or experimenting with anything mentioned in this blog, you
I get asked all the time, "What is Lupus?" So in honor of World Lupus Day, I went straight to the source!
What is Lupus?
Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years. In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs (“foreign invaders,” like the flu). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. Autoimmune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues (“auto” means “self”) and creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.
Lupus is also a disease of flares (the symptoms worsen and you feel ill) and remissions (the symptoms improve and you feel better). Lupus can range from mild to life-threatening and should always be treated by a doctor. With good medical care, most people with lupus can lead a full life.
Those that know me well know that I am a major fan of IVillage's email updates. While some may see it as spam, I love these emails. I like the information that it pieces together in an organized web-based power point fashion. The other thing I like about it is that there is no rush for me to read the email - sometimes if the topic doesn't really interest me I just toss it in the trash. But to be honest, when reviewing my subscription with IVillage, that doesn't happen very often. :)
A good bit of people feel that fibromyalgia is in the arthritis family, personally I believe this but I don't have any medical proof to state it as fact. Well this morning's newsletter from IVillage was about 10 Foods to Reduce Arthritis Pain. And you know me, I'm all about eating. So I checked it out. And just my luck, of all the food listed the only thing I like are the grapes and garlic (no not together lol). Oh well, but I thought some of you with a more adventurous palate might enjoy the Mediterranean Diet, which contains anti-inflammatory nutrients.
I've often said that spending more time on the beach or living in the Mediterranean would probably help my stress/pain/symptoms, I didn't know that following their culinary ways could sooth it! Hmm... maybe I will keep looking. But I will keep some highlights of this anti-inflammatory diet in mind when I'm planning my next meal... especially on days I'm really swollen. :)
But for now, sipping cool lemonade while day dreaming of being on the beach seems to help me the most.
According to the Tennessee Department of Health, in 2010 more than 960 people were living with HIV in the Hamilton County area. And there are more than a million people across the country battling the virus today.
"It's like knowing if you're pregnant or not. It's just something you need to know," says Mark Treadway.
According to the Tennessee Department of Health, in 2010 more than 49 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in the Hamilton County area. The same year, 10 people died as a result.
"The problem with HIV is identifying people with HIV, linking them into care and retaining them in care," says Dr. Jay Sizemore.
"That's why I volunteer at these things... it's not for me, it's for the people coming after me, and there are a lot of people out there. And 20% of the people out there don't even know they have it," says Mark Treadway.
This article was so well written that I brought it directly to my blog. While I normally discuss my current diagnosis, I feel that we can never do enough to promote Awareness, Testing, Education, and Prevention for HIV. I am also friends with Mark Treadway and have been a patient of Dr Jay Sizemore's, both quoted in the article.
