Benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage in Lupus Treatment-London

Enhancing lupus treatment: What are the benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage?

Autoimmune diseases like lupus are pretty common nowadays. Lupus is a long lasting autoimmune condition where your immune system mistakenly attacks your healthy tissues, leading to a wide range of symptoms that can appear all over your body. But you should not worry, because there are complementary treatments like Manual Lymphatic Drainage, in Islington/Barnet or in an area near you, that can help you reduce flare risks and improve symptoms and your general well being. Let’s see what lupus is, its causes and what MLD can do for you!

What is Lupus?

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease where your immune system (that in normal conditions protects your body) attacks your own healthy body tissue.

This attack causes inflammation, and in some cases permanent tissue damage, which can be widespread – affecting your:

skin,
joints,
heart,
lung,
kidneys,
circulating blood cells,
and even your brain.

If you are dealing with lupus, you may experience periods of illness (flares) and periods of wellness (remission). Flares can be mild to serious, but always unpredictable. However, once you get your treatment, you will be able to manage the disease.

What is the main cause of lupus?

The main cause of lupus, in most cases, is unknown. Experts think that a main cause might be the union of two factors: genetics + environment. In other words, if you have an inherited predisposition for lupus, it may develop when you get in contact with something in the environment that triggers the disease.

What can trigger lupus?

Sunlight. Exposure to the sun may bring on lupus skin lesions or trigger an internal response if you are susceptible.
Infections. There are cases where having an infection can initiate lupus or cause a relapse (when your immune system is compromised for any external factor, it can trigger lupus).
Medications. Some meds can trigger lupus, for example:

certain types of blood pressure medications,
anti-seizure medications
antibiotics.

Note: Patients who have drug-induced lupus usually get better when they stop taking the medication. It is unusual that symptoms persist even after the drug is stopped (but has happened in a few cases).

Are there risk factors for lupus?

Yes, there are factors that increase the risk of lupus; next we mention some of them:

Gender. Most seen in women than men.
Age. Lupus can affect people of all ages, However, it’s most often diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 45.
Race. Most seen in: African Americans, Hispanics and Asian Americans.
Environment
Stress

What are the types of Lupus?

There are different types of lupus like:

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is the most common form, which affect multiple organs and systems.
Cutaneous lupus (affects your skin).
Drug-induced lupus (when meds induce the development of lupus symptoms).
Neonatal lupus (seen in newborns).

How can I know if I have lupus?

Lupus can be difficult to diagnose because its signs and symptoms often mimic those of other conditions. Although, the most distinctive sign is a facial rash that looks like the wings of a butterfly unfolding across both cheeks( seen in many patients, but not all cases).

Symptoms of lupus

Symptoms can vary from mild to severe and may include:

joint pain,
skin rashes,
fatigue,
fever,
stiffness,
swelling,
butterfly-shaped rash on the face that covers the cheeks and bridge of the nose,
rashes on the body,
skin lesions that appear or worsen with sun exposure (sunlight sensitivity),
fingers and toes that turn white or blue when exposed to cold or during stressful periods,
breathing problems,
chest pain,
dry eyes,
headaches,
confusion and memory loss

How is lupus diagnosed?

If you have any or many of these symptoms visit your GP for a diagnosis. Sometimes, the diagnosis can be challenging due to the varied symptoms.

What are the available treatments for lupus?

Lupus treatment involves a combination of medication, lifestyle changes, MLD and regular monitoring by your healthcare providers.

What are the benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage in Lupus treatment?

Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) has been explored as a potential treatment approach for autoimmune diseases like lupus. Research suggests that lymphatic dysfunction plays a significant role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other autoimmune conditions. Some of the benefits that MLD when treating lupus are:

Reduce skin photosensitivity.
Improve immune reactions in SLE.
Reduce inflammation and stiffness.
Improving hand function in systemic sclerosis patients.
Reduce photosensitivity and disease flares by reducing specific cell types associated with lupus pathogenesis.
Boosts immune system
Stress and anxiety relief

In short, MLD has beneficial effects on symptoms associated with these autoimmune conditions like lupus. For that reason, you should look for the best specialist in MLD technique. If you need advice or need more information, please be my guest, I´m always glad to help!

If you need advice or have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us in Mill Hill and Islington. We are always glad to help. If you like this blog, please share!