In this blog post, I describe the infrared sauna benefits for Lupus. You might not know what kind of condition "Lupus" is though, so therefore I've included a short introduction of the pathology:
What Is Lupus? Lupus 101
"Lupus", or "systemic lupus erythematosus", is an autoimmune disease (1; 2; 3). With "autoimmune" I denote a health condition in which your body's immune system attacks your own cells.
Different types of Lupus exist, although I won't break those types down in order not to overcomplicate my argument. To keep it simple: if you've got Lupus, you're probably experiencing one or more of the following symptoms:
- joint issues, especially on the chest
- (chronic) inflammation, which is frequently visible on the face
- low energy
- ulcers, especially in the mouth
- abnormal body temperature regulation
- higher risk for infections
- poorer circulation
- cognitive and brain issues
Lupus can give you heavier or less heavy symptoms over time, depending on how much the condition affects you. Females and people with darker skin are more at risk for getting Lupus.
It's currently not exactly known what causes Lupus, although several factors play a role. Nevertheless, both genetic factors, as well as environmental ones, play a role. Hormones affect the trajectory of the disease as well, although you can argue that these are reducible to environmental factors.
The risk factors for getting Lupus, among others, are autoimmune issues in the family, a history of viral and bacterial infections, hormonal imbalances, reactivity to the sun, smoking, and low vitamin D levels. (4; 5; 6). Avoiding toxin exposure and preventing yourself from overexposing yourself are two main strategies to manage Lupus symptoms.
The bottom line?
In Lupus, your body's immune system attacks your own cells - the result is a decline in overall health. Your daily health choices affect whether you get the pathology and also how your symptoms are managed. Let's, therefore, look at how infrared saunas can help you:
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