Living with an autoimmune condition can be challenging due to its chronic nature. Research indicates that about 4% of the global population is affected by one of over 80 different autoimmune diseases. Although these conditions cannot be cured, there are many ways to manage them effectively and improve your quality of life. Read on to learn more about managing your autoimmune disorder effectively.

Optimize your diet

Your diet plays a critical role in digestive health and inflammation, two primary components of autoimmune diseases. Therefore, consider optimizing your diet, since many modern diets are full of foods that negatively impact inflammation and gut health. For example, you can adopt an elimination diet that excludes all inflammatory foods. You can start by eliminating processed and junk foods, the two usual suspects of poor diet. Similarly, avoid pseudo-health foods like gluten-free packaged foods, since they are typically loaded with sugar and other preservatives.

Visit your doctor regularly

Many healthcare experts agree that it is crucial for people living with autoimmune disorders to work with their healthcare team closely to manage their condition. Consequently, prioritize regular doctor's visits to learn vital tips on living with your condition. In addition, your doctor can recommend medications to help control pain, swelling, depression, insomnia, rashes, and other symptoms that accompany autoimmune disorders. Likewise, you can receive medication to manage different diseases you develop due to having an autoimmune condition. For instance, chronic uveitis treatments may come in handy if you have rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis since it isn't uncommon to develop uveitis if you have an autoimmune disease.

Manage your stress properly

According to the American Psychological Association, stress lowers the number of lymphocytes in your body, so fewer natural "killer cells" are available to fight off viruses. Also, stress has been shown to cause your immune system to produce a strong inflammatory response, which may be temporarily helpful for fighting off germs. However, since your autoimmune disorder is a chronic condition, this harsh, stress-induced immune response only worsens your quality of life over time. Find and engage in stress-reducing activities like meditation, imagery, self-hypnosis, or yoga to manage stress and lower your pain.

Heal any other infections

Research has linked the Epstein-Barr virus, E-coli, Herpes Simplex 1 and 2, and other viral and bacterial diseases and pathogens to autoimmune diseases. As such, it is crucial to determine if you have any dormant illness that may be contributing to your autoimmune condition so you can eliminate it and manage your situation better. Fortunately, antibiotics can get rid of bacterial infections if you have any, and you can still take medication to lighten your viral load if you have a viral infection. This way, you can strengthen your immune system and prevent flare-ups that can worsen your autoimmune condition.

Manage your time well

Fatigue is a typical symptom of autoimmune conditions, so people with these disorders tend to cram a lot of work into short periods when they feel exhausted. However, this can leave you more stressed afterward, keeping you in a dangerous loop of extreme fatigue alternating with too stressful activities. Therefore, always spread out your activities evenly to ensure that you can accomplish things without feeling too drained at the end.

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