Why was Toni Braxton Hospitalized for Lupus?

Like Toni Braxton, you can learn to spot lupus symptoms and avoid flare ups
Like Toni Braxton, you can learn to spot lupus symptoms and avoid flare ups

When news broke that Toni Braxton was hospitalized in LA earlier this month, many fans were surprised to learn that the "Un-Break My Heart" singer has lupus. Following the incident, she reassured her Twitter followers: "Just a lupus flare up, but I promise you all that I am ok! Love you all! Thanks so much for all of your support!"
About 90 percent of those affected by the illness are women and the majority first experience symptoms during their child-bearing years, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. Lupus is a chronic disease where the body's immune system overreacts and attacks normal tissues in the body, such as the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells and heart and lungs. There are many different types of lupus and different people have different signs and symptoms. For example, the scars on the singer Seal's face are supposedly from a type of lupus that affects only the skin.

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There are a few reasons why Toni Braxton might have had a flare up from lupus. "Lupus is a disease that waxes and wanes," says Sasha R. Bernatsky, M.D., Ph.D., M.Sc., assistant professor of medicine at Royal Victoria Hospital in Ontario, Canada and a member of the Lupus Foundation of America. "Sometimes a flare happens for no identifiable reason. Some lupus patients believe that stress worsens their symptoms. Many physicians consider that inter-current infections could contribute to triggering of an lupus flare, because while the immune system is 'revving up' to fight the infection, it indiscriminately also causes lupus processes to be more active." Pregnancy and stopping medications may also trigger lupus flare ups. "Hospitalizations for lupus may be necessary in some severe forms of kidney disease, or if the disease affects parts of the heart and lung."

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Though doctors aren't sure what causes lupus exactly, many believe it's a combination of genetics and environmental triggers, such as a viral infection. There isn't a single test for lupus, but blood tests that show the presence of certain antibodies are one tool used to help people identify whether they have the disease or not. In addition to positive blood test results, patients should also have physical manifestations of lupus in order to be diagnosed, such as inflammatory arthritis, certain types of rashes, or kidney problems. In fact, one in five women may test positive for antibodies linked to lupus, such as possibly Lady Gaga, yet only 10% of them actually have the autoimmune disease.

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While there is no magic cure for lupus, there are plenty of things you can do to help manage the disease and ward off complications. "People who have been diagnosed with lupus should know that though it is a chronic and sometimes very severe disease, there are effective treatments and you can live a productive life," says Dr. Bernatsky. "Patients should follow the instructions of physicians, but also realize what they can do for themselves, in the way of stress reductions, maintaining a healthy weight and diet and exercise routine, and very importantly, stopping smoking." Dr. Bernatsky offers tips on how to keep lupus symptoms under control.

1. Take your meds.
Doctors often prescribe corticosteroids, such as prednisone, methylprednisolone and prednisolone. Other medications include anti-malarial drugs (most commonly a drug called hydroxychloroquine), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and sometimes immuonosuppressive drugs, most commonly azathioprine, mycofenolate, and methotrexate. "I find occasionally patients that are extremely resistant to treatment with drugs like azathioprine and mycophenolate because they worry about side-effects," says Dr. Bernatsky. "Though no drug is 100% free of adverse effects, these drugs are very good agents that can help people suffering from lupus."

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2. Move your body.
"For almost any chronic disease, exercise can be an incredibly important tool in self-management," says Dr. Bernatsky. Exercise can help combat many of the problems that lupus patients face, including weight gain from medications, fatigue, and problems with blood pressure and cholesterol. Exercise also combats stress, boosts mood, and helps with sleep quality. Lupus researchers at the McGill University Hospital are now studying how yoga may help ease lupus symptoms.

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3. Get your vitamins.
"Some evidence suggests that vitamins may play a role in influencing autoimmunity," says Dr. Bernatsky. A vitamin D deficiency may may hinder immune function, which can be especially harmful to lupus sufferers. Other research finds that omega-3 fatty acids could help fight chronic inflammation, so having flaxseed oil and taking fish oil may be a stay-healthy move for people struggling with autoimmune diseases such as lupus.

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TELL US: Do you know anyone who suffers from chronic illness?


--By Holly C. Corbett, Prevention

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