When we delve into autoimmune connective tissue diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), our focus often centers on medications to manage inflammatory activity. While biologic medications and disease modifying drugs (DMARDS) have been instrumental in reducing joint damage, rashes and other manifestations, often patients still don’t feel “well.” There is a crucial aspect we tend to overlook: lifestyle interventions that can significantly impact how patients feel. From a broad perspective, physical environment, mindfulness, physical activity, sleep hygiene, and diet can positively impact disease activity in a complementary fashion to traditional allopathic therapy. In this session participants will explore why, while it is imperative to treat active inflammatory activity with immunomodulatory agents, it is equally important to treat lifestyle factors that can contribute to worsening disease activity or long-term sequelae.
Learning Objectives:
Discuss the impact of nutrition and stress on rheumatic autoimmune diseases.
Describe how physical activity and sleep disturbances influence autoimmune disease.
Identify lifestyle medicine and education interventions to optimize outcomes for patients with autoimmune disease.
