Lungs: Symptoms include coughing up blood.
Skin: Skin rashes, particularly on the face, appear if lupus is affecting the skin.
Some common symptoms, regardless of where lupus attacks, are fatigue, weight loss, unexplained fever, sores in the mouth, and hair loss.
There’s no cure for lupus, but you can control the symptoms. Dietary changes are one way to help relieve some of the pain and discomfort. Some medications alleviate discomfort for some varieties of lupus, and corticosteroid creams are used for skin rashes.
Arthritis: Making your joints ache
The word arthritis literally means “inflammation of the joints.” Most forms of arthritis are autoimmune diseases, a result of a misinformed attack by the immune system on part of the body. Some of the more common forms of arthritis caused by inflammation are
Rheumatoid arthritis
Gout
Systemic lupus erythematosis
Degenerative joint disease
Some of the symptoms of inflammation associated with arthritis are redness, joint pain, warm swollen areas, and limited ability to bend the joints.
Research has shown that certain foods, such as those in the nightshade or Solonacea family (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, bell peppers) contribute to inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) for some people. About 10 percent of people have sensitivities or allergies to the nightshade family and, as with any sensitivity, this situation can increase the risk of arthritis. Anti-inflammatory foods such as fish oil help reduce the inflammation of RA and OA.
Looking at osteoarthritis
In osteoarthritis, inflammation of the joint compresses the nerves and causes the shock-absorbing system between the joints to degenerate. Osteoarthritis is also known as age-related arthritis, and with good reason: It affects more than 70 percent of adults between the ages of 55 and 78. The majority of those affected are women.
Osteoarthritis may also be caused by obesity or long-term overuse of a joint during work or in sports. Repeated motion and injuries contribute to the inflammatory process in arthritis. For example, a football player who injures himself is more susceptible to arthritis in the affected area. A joint injury at a younger age can mean osteoarthritis later.
Although osteoarthritis isn’t curable, you can manage its pain and other symptoms. Some doctors advise taking acetaminophen for pain, and lifestyle changes may also relieve some of the tenderness. Exercise helps keep the joints moving and can help with weight loss, particularly if that’s relevant to the osteoarthritis. (We cover exercises to mitigate inflammation in Chapter 20.)
Experts also recommend getting plenty of rest, keeping the joints protected, and eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. Part of that includes drinking enough water to keep the joints and the rest of the body hydrated.
Recognizing rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the lining of the smaller joints in the hands and feet, often leading to bone deterioration and joint deformity. Some sufferers experience intermittent flare-ups, and others see the symptoms and pain go into a remission-like dormancy for long periods of time.
More than 1.3 million Americans suffer from RA — about 1 percent of the country’s population. It occurs two or three times as often in women as it does in men and generally occurs between the ages of 30 and 60, although it can occur in teens and even children.
No one knows the cause of RA, although researchers have a list of suspects; some believe it’s triggered by an infectious bacteria or virus, and others think it may be linked to a female hormone, resulting in the high differential between the number of women who develop RA over men. Many researchers believe smoking plays a role as well, at least by weakening the body’s immune system.
Diagnosis includes checking for inflammation in the blood with tests such as the hs-CRP and C-reactive protein (CRP) test, ANA, and cytokine panel, and radiological studies. Approximately 75 percent of people test positive for the rheumatoid factor (RF) antibody in their blood, which may lead to RA. Having RF show up on a blood test doesn’t necessarily mean you have it, nor does not having RF mean you don’t, because about 20 percent of tests result in false positives and false negatives. Your doctor will take into account your clinical symptoms combined with these tests to determine your diagnosis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease, but it’s manageable. Doctors may prescribe certain medications to relieve the pain of rheumatoid arthritis, but people with RA can also do many things at home without medication. Applying heat and cold to the affected area can alleviate some of the pain, and exercising regularly helps keep bones and joints moving, reducing the risk of stiffness.
Following an anti-inflammatory diet and avoiding the nightshade family can aid in reducing the pain and inflammation of RA. Tobacco is also in the nightshade family, so avoid smoking as well.
Nerve attacks: Linking inflammation to multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder that showcases how violent the human body can be when it turns on itself. With multiple sclerosis, the body’s immune system eats away at the protective covering that envelops the nerves, interfering with communication between the nerves and the brain and eventually leading to degeneration of the nerves themselves. The process MS follows is irreversible. There’s no cure, but treatment can lessen the severity of the attacks.
Multiple sclerosis may be difficult to diagnose in the early stages because symptoms tend to come and go, often not resurfacing for months. Symptoms also vary greatly; they may include numbness or tingling in the arms and legs, partial or complete loss of vision, double vision or blurred vision, fatigue, dizziness, and electric shock-type sensations that occur when the head is moved in a certain way. In the most severe cases, people lose the ability to walk or talk.
MS tends to occur in women twice as often as in men, and it’s typically diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 40. If a member of your family has MS, you have a 1 to 3 percent chance of inheriting the disease. Caucasians whose families originated in northern Europe are at greater risk.
Here are several things you can do at home to relieve the symptoms of multiple sclerosis:
Cool down. Multiple sclerosis symptoms tend to flare up when your body temperature rises. Try taking a cool bath to bring your temperature back down.
Get plenty of rest. Fatigue is a common symptom, and getting rest can help you feel better.
Exercise. Keeping active with mild aerobic exercise helps build strength and muscle coordination if you have mild to moderate MS.
Watch your diet. Researchers believe multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder caused by inflammation, so look for anti-inflammatory foods.
Part 2
Deciphering Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition
IN THIS PART …
Create a spice profile that helps boost your food and your health by adding more natural and beneficial flavor enhancers.
Take a closer look at different diets and lifestyles and their effects on inflammation to make the best choices for you.
Identify