Wellness

Raynaud’s Syndrome

Elizabeth · June 23, 2021 ·

(Pause while everyone looks down at their own nails)

I learned to include this little pause during my medical student lectures on Raynaud’s Syndrome and Scleroderma. As opposed to many of the other conditions I treat and teach, there is actually a very high likelihood that a handful in the audience will have Raynaud’s. This isn’t surprising given how common it is, especially amongst women between the ages of 15 and 30. It is when discussing the connection between Raynaud’s and Lupus or Scleroderma, that the wave of concern washes over some faces in the audience. What the audience members are looking for are changes in the nail bed capillaries. These changes, can be a sign that their Raynaud’s Syndrome is part of a larger autoimmune condition. Thankfully, most, if not all, will have perfectly normal nail bed capillaries and be able to sit through the rest of the lecture panic-free. But it is always a reminder that even when speaking to trainees and students, I am speaking to patients.

Raynaud’s is an over-exaggerated vascular response to cold and stress. The healthy response to cold, designed to keep us alive, becomes too strong and lasts too long in those with Raynaud’s. The color changes seen in Raynaud’s, white to blue to red, serve as a reminder of how remarkable our system is.

Get your questions answered about Raynaud’s Syndrome

[Read more…]

Race & Lupus: Understand the Connection

Elizabeth · May 25, 2021 ·

Lupus can affect anyone. And although this is true, we do not want to ignore the fact that lupus disproportionately affects certain people. We have discussed how it affects young women, but we haven’t discussed how it affects young Black women. Lupus affects 1 in every 250 Black women and when compared to the white community, the prevalence of lupus in the Black community is 3-4x higher. It is well established that Black lupus patients tend to be sicker, need more aggressive medications and have worse outcomes. And despite the amazing advancements in testing and treatment, Black patients don’t benefit from those advances to the same extent as their white counterparts.

Searching for the “why”

Although the rheumatology community has acknowledged theses differences for years, the reasons are still unclear. There are many researchers who are looking into this and just as many theories. Genetic studies seemed like a natural next step. There have been genes isolated that confer higher risk of kidney disease in Black lupus patients, but this most likely does not explain everything. Moving alongside traditional genetic research (where the search is focused on finding “the gene”), is research into epigenetics. Epigenetics is the study of when and how certain genes get turned on or expressed. Just because an individual has a “bad gene” does not mean they are destined for any particular outcome. Of course the data on this is more nuanced. But suffice it to say, genes likely do not explain the disproportionate numbers of Black Americans with lupus.

Understanding the connection between race and lupus cannot be ignored

[Read more…]

Chronic Pain & The Nervous System

Elizabeth · February 16, 2021 ·

Chronic Pain. Fibromyalgia. Arthritis. So many have to deal with the accusation that it is “all in your head.” Even if said with the best intentions, this statement is gaslighting at it’s finest. It is telling those with pain, that what they feel and experience isn’t real. Which, of course, we know it is.

What does “all in your head” even mean? That phrase is usually slung to imply that there is some psychiatric reason for the pain. That somehow the person (usually a woman) is “crazy.” Sadly, this phrase isn’t always just from our friends or family, but also from those we go to for help, our healthcare providers. The intent may not be to belittle or push aside but it hurts nonetheless. In our hurried medical world, it isn’t just easier for the patient to take a pill for all their ailments, but it’s easier for the doctor. When given 10-20 minutes, there is hardly enough time for anything besides writing a prescription. When thinking about the science of chronic pain, I keep coming back to one conclusion…it IS all in our head. Because our brain is in our head! Oversimplifying? Yes. But still helpful. Learn more about how science tells us the nervous system is implicated in chronic pain: keep reading or watch the video above

Let’s turn that phrase “its all in your head” on it’s head!

[Read more…]

Arthritis & the Heart Disease

Elizabeth · February 9, 2021 ·

Heart disease. We all know about it, we all want to prevent it and sadly, we all know someone with it. When we think of heart disease, our minds naturally think of heart attacks or maybe heart failure. We think of an overweight man with high blood pressure and diabetes, although we know women are just as affected. But did you know that inflammatory arthritis can be associated with heart disease? In fact, most autoimmune or inflammatory arthritis types can lead to disease of every part of the heart. Watch the video above or keep reading to learn more!

Learn what your doctor wants you to know about the heart + arthritis connection

[Read more…]

Why Meditation is the best medication

Elizabeth · January 26, 2021 ·

We all hear how great meditation is. And at some point we may have been advised that we should be doing it. To start a new meditation practice sounds easy, but I know first hand, it is not. It can be hard to start something so out of our norm when the benefits aren’t easily apparent. If we have chronic medical conditions, especially if they are rheumatologic, inflammatory or autoimmune, it can seem as if meditation isn’t for us. That perhaps we are too far down the “sick road” to get any benefit. But that couldn’t be further from the truth! EVERYONE benefits from a meditation or mindfulness practice – but what does it do exactly and how can it benefit you?

Prescription medication can only do so much, learn how to tap into your own body’s healing power!

[Read more…]