Lupus Nephritis: what Exercise Is Ok ?

Proper exercise is beneficial to the recovery of Lupus Nephritis. The patients are often accompanied by arthritis, heart problem, lung problem etc. They should avoid violent exercise and contact sports . some aerobic and mild exercise can enhance the functions of heart and liver and strengthen bones and muscles, it can prevent or relieve the complications of Lupus Nephritis remarkably. Yoga, biking, jogging are ok for them.It can improve blood circulation and enhance immunity.

Besides taking proper exercise, the patients should also pay more attention to the following items.

1. Diet

Food is a common factor in triggering the onset and relapse of lupus. Therefore, the patients should avoid the foods that cause allergy such as mango, fish, shrimp etc.

2. Avoid exposure to sunlight

Ultraviolet light can trigger the relapse of lupus activity and aggravate renal function deterioration. Therefore, the patients should avoid exposing to sunlight in hot summer. They should prepare topee, sunblocking cream and wear longsleeved clothes when going out.

3. Be alert to infections

Patients with Lupus Nephritis have to use a large dosage of hormone and immunosuppressive agents to control the disease. Meanwhile, these medicines will also weaken the immunity. The external virus, germs and other outside stuffs are very likely to invade into body thus resulting in infections. Even if a mild infection may trigger the disease. Therefore, the patients with Lupus Nephritis should be alert to infections and do their best to avoid infections.

Lupus Nephritis Photosensitivity and How to Deal With

Lupus nephritis is inflammation of the kidney that is caused by systemic lupus erythematous (SLE). Also called lupus, SLE is an autoimmune disease. With lupus, the body's immune system targets its own body tissues. Lupus nephritis happens when lupus involves the kidneys.

Have lupus, you might be photosensitive -- meaning you have an unusually strong reaction to sunlight. In fact, more than half of all people with lupus are light sensitive. More importantly, 40% to 70% of people with lupus experience an increase in lupus symptoms after being exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays, either from the sun or from artificial light.

Photosensitive people may develop a skin rash, known as a butterfly rash, which appears over the nose and cheeks after sun exposure. Other rashes might look like hives. Sunlight may cause also a lupus flare, resulting in fever, joint pain, or even organ inflammation.

Each person with lupus may have a different level of photosensitivity – just like in the general population. If photosensitivity is a problem for you, here are some ways to protect yourself from the sun:

People with lupus should not stay in the sun for extended periods and should make every effort to avoid UV rays outside, which are at their peak between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Don’t be fooled by an overcast day, because clouds don’t filter out all of the sun’s UV rays. Keep track of the time you spend in the sun. It often takes two to three weeks before skin abnormalities occur from sun exposure.

Apply sunscreen liberally: It takes at least 1 ounce of sunscreen to cover your entire body. Remember to reapply frequently. Sweat, water, contact, and clothing can all rub sunscreen off. People often forget to apply sunscreen to their necks, backs, and ears, all of which are commonly affected by photosensitivity related to lupus.

People with lupus who work or spend a lot of time outside should consider wearing clothing that has built-in sun protection or using an umbrella made with special fabric designed to block UV rays. If you are fair-skinned and have light eyes and light hair, you should be even more careful when exposed to UV rays, because people with those features are more sensitive to the sun and artificial light than people who have darker hair and skin.

Lupus Nephritis Clinical Presentation

Lupus nephritis is a serious complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; lupus) and is a major predictor of poor outcome. Most commonly, lupus nephritis develops early in the course of disease, but it can be a late complication as well (called delayed lupus nephritis [DLN]). Mortality is higher for lupus patients who develop nephritis than for those who do not.

Patients with active lupus nephritis often have other symptoms of active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), including fatigue, fever, rash, arthritis, serositis, or central nervous system (CNS) disease. These are more common with focal proliferative and diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis.

Some patients have asymptomatic lupus nephritis; however, during regular follow-up, laboratory abnormalities such as elevated serum creatinine levels, low albumin levels, or urinary protein or sediment suggests active lupus nephritis. This is more typical of mesangial or membranous lupus nephritis.

Symptoms related to active nephritis may include peripheral edema secondary to hypertension or hypoalbuminemia. Extreme peripheral edema is more common in persons with diffuse or membranous lupus nephritis, as these renal lesions are commonly associated with heavy proteinuria.

Other symptoms directly related to hypertension that are commonly associated with diffuse lupus nephritis include headache, dizziness, visual disturbances, and signs of cardiac decompensation.