What causes Lupus? Genetics or inflammation?
What causes Lupus? Genetics or inflammation?
Epigenetics research is revealing we have genes that can be switched on (or off) by diet, stress, chronic infections, chronic inflammation, exposure to toxins,... that effect and influence our immune responses often becoming some form of autoimmune illness, osteoporosis,...
A group of 100 Danish (?) children who experienced starvation during WW ll
experienced much higher rates of chronic diseases despite a return to healthy diet following the war. Even after decades many of these changes persisted.
Some genes that have been “changed” can be changed back and health can improve (dramatically in many cases).
It takes time and implementing persistent new habits (stress reduction, healthy eating, exercise,…) to see these changes.
Please, anyone with a good link to articles about research please post them here.
(I know I have some but just don’t feel well enough today to look them up, sorry.
@A MyLupusTeam Member Sometimes the causes are known, The doctors have told me mine was brought on by my anti seizure drugs. Get control of my epilepsy and end up with lupus , ra , and graves dsiease. Although I did get my thyroid under control. They said i was way off the range of knowing the levels the charts would have as a guide that when they gave me the radiation tablet it just knocked it into a normal range for me. If only I could do that with lupus.
A MyLupus...
I follow a Gluten Free Diet due to allergy to preservatives. Celiac test was Negative. I do feel better on the diet my stomach, arthritis, and pain level improved by avoiding Gluten. Hope this helps you.
Inflammation is a symptom. Doctors really don't know where Lupus comes from. Genetics is when you have someone in your family that has it. I had previously mentioned I happened to have about everything on my Father's side of the family and that is by your family genes (Genetics). You can also go to a Genetic specialist to be tested for Gene but this can be costly because some insurances will not pay for the test. My husband had to get his Genetics specialist to send medical records and do a letter of appeal before they paid for his test. We had called our Insurance prior to see if their office was in-network and they said yes, but I didn't ask about the testing. So always do your homework.
@A MyLupusTeam Member, no one knows the cause of lupus. Most docs say that it's genetic. As far as the inflammation goes, this is what we get during a flare. When you have inflammation, it pushes on your joints and makes your whole body hurt. The only way to find out for sure if you're in a flare is to go see your rheumatologist and they will do bloodwork.
Also, you may have fibromyalgia which a lot of us lupies get. Google the pressure points of fibromyalgia and test yourself by pushing on these pressure points. I don't know how many positive pressure points you have to have for a diagnosis, but you can at least try this at home. Fibromyalgia is not in the joints, it's more in the muscle tissues. I know when I have a fibro flare, I have huge knots sitting right between the bottom of my neck and shoulder. I always say I look like the incredible hulk...lol.
Hope this helps!
A MyLupus...
