MARGATE, Fla. – There’s new hope for an estimated 1.5 million Americans living with lupus, which is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes painful inflammation throughout the body.
“It’s a disease that can actually affect multiple organ systems so it is a very complex disease, it can affect everything from your hair loss to your heart, it can cause strokes, lung issues -- it can damage your kidneys and obviously cause arthritis,” said Dr. Jigar Shah, a rheumatologist with HCA Florida Northwest Hospital.
He said two recent studies looking at different aspects of lupus show promise.
One involves an experimental drug that could address a form of lupus that affects the skin, the other is a pill in phase two trials that may prevent systemic symptoms and even reverse damage.
“A lot of these medications now are really targeting different cell lines to prevent the symptoms, prevent them from developing joint pain or heart issues and so forth like that,” Shah said.
Another study found that as ethnic diversity grows in the U.S. more cases are being identified in this population representing an overall increase of 40 percent, which researchers say is actually in line with changing demographics in America.
Along with dieting, a simple way to reduce your risk of diabetes is the old “10 for 10″ rule: Walk for 10 minutes within 10 minutes of eating.
According to the American Diabetes Association, walking for 10 minutes after a meal improves blood glucose levels compared to taking a stroll at other times of the day.