1, the diet should be light and diverse
There is growing evidence that excess weight, certain vitamin deficiencies, and the type of diet can affect rheumatism. In addition, people with rheumatism can benefit from a healthy balanced diet that includes enough vegetables, fruits and grains, moderate sugar and salt. Daily intake of the recommended dose of vitamins is also a very important part of a healthy diet. A good diet can improve overall health and help control weight and regulate immunity. Also dermatomyositis and lupus patients and some rheumatoid patients avoid seafood and shiitake mushrooms. Dermatomyositis should be careful to avoid foods that increase photosensitivity such as: celery, figs. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathy and osteoarthritis should take as much as possible of the nutrients and trace elements needed in the body, including protein, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin D. Strive for a balanced diet, do not be partial, drink more calcium-rich milk, and supplement with foods or supplements that may be beneficial in relieving joint symptoms, such as fish oil, algae, cordyceps, royal jelly, ginseng, apple cider vinegar, garlic and honey. Excessive intake of high-fat foods is not advisable, and patients taking hormones for a long time should not consume too much high-sugar foods. Prohibit smoking and alcohol, especially for patients taking drugs that can damage the liver, such as methotrexate, or patients with aseptic necrosis of the femoral head, and prohibit heavy alcohol consumption.
Patients with gouty arthritis are often over-nourished and overweight, and their blood uric acid increases. Therefore, whether the acute joint pain is onset or not, we should strictly limit the intake of high purine foods that produce uric acid, including animal liver, kidney, brain marrow, pancreas, mackerel, gravy, broth, sardines, shrimp, peanuts, lentils, soybeans and mushrooms and algae. We advocate the intake of low purine foods such as milk, eggs, flour products, taro, cheese, Chinese yam, lotus root, potatoes, corn and fresh fruits and vegetables. Since purines are easily soluble in water, cooking and consuming meat products in soup can reduce purine intake. Maintaining normal weight can help control gout and reduce uric acid.
2. Pay attention to dietary hygiene
In the summer, bacteria reproduction, eating leftovers, leftovers and spoiled fruits, unwashed fruits and vegetables are easy to infect enteritis, bacillary dysentery, fever, low immunity, infection induced disease activity. It is also studied that ankylosing spondylitis and intestinal infections are related, so extra attention should be paid. Drinking thin rice at noon, eating hot pot at night until you can hold up, and then having a few cold beers …… The eating habits of hot and cold and less and more during the summer months can increase the incidence of gastroenteritis, which may trigger an attack of ankylosing spondylitis. Some harmful microorganisms may depend on certain foods for reproduction, and the intake of such foods can contribute to the proliferation of germs that produce toxins, which enter the body with bacterial antigens that can enhance certain adverse immune responses and aggravate the condition of ankylosing spondylitis. Therefore, ankylosing spondylitis should pay more attention to the daily diet. It is recommended that patients with ankylosing spondylitis should first avoid foods that have significantly triggered and aggravated the condition in the past. In addition, it is important to develop good dietary habits and pay attention to hygiene. Overeating and unclean diets increase the chances of intestinal disease, increasing the incidence of ankylosing spondylitis and aggravating the condition. Diet, you should pay attention to protein and vitamin supplements, such as beef, mutton, chicken can be cooked with angelica, astragalus, wolfberry and other drugs and eat. Vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, black fungus and kelp can help reduce symptoms. The rich protein and trace elements can promote the metabolism of muscles, bones, joints and tendons and help repair the damaged areas. It is okay to have a sip with friends in the summer, but you should drink properly, and remember not to drink cold drinks, frozen beer, etc.
3, exercise moderate, avoid excessive intensity of exercise, summer can swim, but the water temperature can not be too cold
Summer itself sweating, depletion of fluid, Western medicine said sweat take away more salt and potassium ions, if excessive activity, will cause more sweating, low sodium, low potassium, deficiency, weakness, nausea, loss of appetite and other discomfort. Swimming is a beneficial exercise for the whole body. Swimming keeps the spine in its normal physiological curve, and the movement in the water makes it easier to promote the movement of stiff and painful joint areas, which has the effect of improving pain and relaxing joints for patients with spinal lesions. However, water temperature control during swimming is key and swimming in cool water should be avoided as much as possible. Because ankylosing spondylitis patients themselves are afraid of cold, and cold water on the bone and joint lesions and other aggravating factors, so patients should try to swim in a warm pool.
4, living in moderation, timely increase and decrease clothing, regulate emotions
The summer heat, to take a proper nap, so as to keep the afternoon energy. Early to bed, early to rise, do not stay up late, not enough rest, resulting in low immunity.
The weather in summer is unpredictable, sometimes hot, sometimes cool, especially after the rain, so it is necessary to increase and reduce clothing in time, avoid direct blowing of electric fans or air-conditioning set too low, the appropriate temperature is 27 degrees, greedy for cool, comfortable, leading to colds, low immunity, inducing disease activity.
Summer heat, emotional impatience easily, while avoiding overwork, super physical and mental work, but also pay attention to emotional stability, excessive physical, mental and emotional stimulation can lead to the patient’s own stress regulation ability to decline, and thus aggravate the immune system disorders, remind the majority of patients to avoid overwork and emotional ups and downs, to self-adjustment.
Patients with arthritis should wear comfortable, lightweight and easy to put on and take off clothes. Patients who are sensitive to climate change should pay attention to protection against cold and humidity during the change of seasons and avoid wind and rain. Long sleeves and long pants should be worn to bed in summer, and bamboo mats and beds should not be slept on.
5.Sun exposure
About 40% of SLE patients are allergic to sunlight, that is, the ultraviolet rays in sunlight can aggravate the skin and systemic symptoms of SLE patients, manifesting as increased erythema after sun exposure, while some patients without skin damage can also cause relapse of the disease after prolonged sun exposure. Therefore, patients with SLE should avoid strong sunlight exposure. Certain drugs such as sulfonamides, tetracyclines and certain foods such as celery, figs and shiitake mushrooms can increase photosensitivity and enhance the effect of ultraviolet light, so they should be taken sparingly.
What substances in daily life are photosensitive?
Photosensitive foods: mud snail, ashwagandha, purple clover, snow lettuce, fennel, amaranth, capers, celery, radish leaves, spinach, buckwheat, parsley, safflower, rape, mustard, figs, citrus, lemon, mango, pineapple, etc.
Photosensitive herbal medicines: dahurica dahurica, geranium dahurica, thorny mustard, bupleurum, salvia, etc.
Photosensitizing Western medicines: sulfonamides, aspirin, sodium salicylate, tetracycline, paracetamol, Librium, oral contraceptives, estrogen, etc.
Photosensitivity dermatitis often occurs between a few hours and 24 hours of exposure to photosensitizing substances and can be red papules, blisters, and edema, mostly on exposed areas of the skin, usually with varying degrees of itching. Once you have photosensitive skin disease, you should look for allergens to avoid as much as possible, and do not receive sunlight or ultraviolet lights in the room during the attack period, and it is best not to scratch to avoid skin infections. In mild cases, cold water wet compresses can be used, and some antihistamines can be taken orally and some soothing and anti-itching drugs can be used externally, if the condition is more serious, hormonal drugs need to be added under the guidance of a doctor.
During the summer season, it is best not to go out from 10:00 to 4:00 p.m. When you have to go out for long hours, you should try to wear long pants and long-sleeved clothes. Young and middle-aged women should preferably choose sunscreen products containing both SPF and PA coefficients, and when exposed to strong sunlight for more than 1 hour, the SPF value should be increased accordingly. Travel and trips to the beach must be coated with sunscreen products with SPF 20 or more, and repeated every two hours to avoid sunburn. Photosensitivity is not only due to UV rays, but other components of light can also cause photosensitivity, so the highest long-sleeved clothing to cover the skin and sunscreen alone cannot completely avoid photosensitivity.
However, patients with arthritis of long duration are often combined with reduced bone mass or osteoporosis, and sunbathing can help with calcium absorption and increase bone mass. Except for arthritis patients with significant photosensitivity, active tuberculosis, heart failure, and fever, patients should sunbathe more often. The time should be chosen in windless and sunny weather, with 9-11 a.m. (summer) or 15:00-17:00 p.m. (winter) being appropriate. Start with 5 minutes of daily exposure in summer, gradually increase the exposure time until about 30 minutes per day, and if there is no uncomfortable reaction, it can be gradually increased to 60 minutes per day.
6.Dry syndrome health care.
(1) Eye care: using artificial tear drops (5% methylcellulose) and improving the environment (such as using humidifier) can alleviate dry eye symptoms, reduce corneal damage and discomfort, and reduce the chance of infection.
(2) Oral care: Patients with dry mouth should prohibit smoking and alcohol, and avoid the use of drugs with anticholinergic effects that inhibit salivary gland secretion, such as atropine and scopolamine. The residual function of salivary glands can be stimulated with sugar-free gum mother (chewing gum) to improve its function. Pay attention to oral hygiene and good oral care, make sure to remove food residues with toothpicks after meals, and rinse your mouth regularly to reduce dental caries and oral secondary infection. When oral ulcers occur, use saline cotton ball to scrub the local area first, then use 5% methotrexate to rub, avoid using gentian violet, so as not to aggravate the symptoms of oral dryness. For oral secondary infections, common Candida-containing infections can be treated with mycoplasma, etc.; for purulent parotitis occurring with poor saliva drainage, antibiotics should be used early to avoid abscess formation.
(3) Skin care: For dry, flaky and itchy skin caused by sweat gland involvement, use less or no alkaline soap and use neutral soap. Change clothes and bedding regularly to keep the skin dry. Those with skin lesions should be cleaned and changed according to the condition of the lesions, and antibiotics can be used appropriately in case of infection. If you have dry and itchy vagina or burning pain during intercourse, you should pay attention to the hygiene of the pubic area and use appropriate lubricants.
(4) Respiratory care: Keep the humidity in the room at 50%-60% and the temperature at 18℃-21℃ to relieve the symptoms of dry cough caused by dry respiratory mucous membrane and to prevent infection. Nebulized inhalation can be done for patients with sticky sputum that is difficult to cough up. If necessary, antibiotics and chymotrypsin can be added to control infection and promote sputum excretion.
(5) Psychological care: Because of the long duration of the disease, patients are often depressed, so in addition to good basic care, psychological counseling of patients should be done to improve their anxiety, eliminate pessimism and mental burden, and treat the disease with a positive attitude. In addition, health education for patients is also very important, advocating healthy living and learning self-care is one of the important factors to improve patients’ quality of life.