Contents
General description of the disease
Scleroderma is a disease in which the connective tissue of internal organs (lungs, heart, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract and esophagus, musculoskeletal system) and skin is affected. In this case, the blood supply is disrupted, and seals appear in the tissues and organs.
Scleroderma causes
Until now, the causes of this disease have not been established. but
- It is known that most often scleroderma affects women;
- This disease affects people with certain genetic disorders;
- Retroviruses (especially cytomegaloviruses) contribute to its occurrence;
- At risk are people whose work is associated with quartz and coal dust, organic solvents, vinyl chloride;
- Scleroderma can also be triggered by the use of certain drugs that are used in chemotherapy (bleomycin), as well as radiation;
- In addition, stress, hypothermia, chronic infectious diseases, trauma, sensitization (increased sensitivity of cells and tissues), endocrine dysfunctions, and dysfunction of cells that produce collagen contribute to the development of scleroderma.
Scleroderma symptoms
- 1 Raynaud’s syndrome – vasospasm under stress or under the influence of cold;
- 2 The appearance of lilac-pink spots that turn into seals and thickenings on the skin. Most often, they appear on the fingers, and then move on to the limbs and trunk;
- 3 Intensive coloring of the skin with areas of hypo- and depigmentation;
- 4 Painful sores or scars (small areas of thinning of the skin) may appear on the toes and heels, as well as over the elbow and knee joints;
- 5 Joint pain, muscle weakness, shortness of breath and cough;
- 6 Constipation, diarrhea and flatulence;
Types of scleroderma:
- Systemicthat affects many tissues and organs;
- Diffusethat affects only internal organs;
- Limited – appears only on the skin;
- Plaque – localized;
- Linear – babies suffer from it;
- Generalizedstriking large areas.
Useful foods for scleroderma
Compliance with proper, fractional nutrition, maintaining a normal weight and giving up bad habits are of fundamental importance in the treatment of scleroderma. Lack of nutrients during this period can provoke the development of various chronic diseases and aggravate the situation. Depending on the type of scleroderma or its localization, the doctor may give his recommendations on nutrition. Below are the common ones:
- With scleroderma, it is useful to eat a lot of vegetables and fruits, brown rice, as well as shiitake mushrooms and algae (kelp and wakame), since these foods help to strengthen the immune system and the nervous system;
- Compulsory consumption of foods with vitamin C. It is an antioxidant and helps the body fight against molecules that cause damage to tissues and cells, free radicals, as well as inflammation and infections. Foods rich in vitamin C – citrus fruits, strawberries, melon, broccoli, leafy green vegetables, Brussels sprouts, black currants, bell peppers, strawberries, tomatoes, rose hips, apples, apricots, persimmons, peaches. Of course, you need to eat them raw or cooked in a double boiler, since in this form they retain all their useful substances. Interestingly, jacket baked potatoes are also a source of vitamin C.
- In addition, it is very important during this period to consume foods rich in beta-carotene and vitamin A. They are dietary, but at the same time they support immunity and healthy skin well. In addition, with scleroderma, the level of beta-carotene in the body decreases. Carrots, spinach, broccoli, pumpkin, tomato, plum, fish oil, green peas, chanterelle mushrooms, egg yolks and liver will help improve the situation.
- Vitamin E is another powerful antioxidant. In addition, it prevents the risk of new inflammation and tissue damage, and its lack in the body leads to obesity. Sources of this vitamin are vegetable oils, nut butter, almonds, spinach, avocados, walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews, pasta, oatmeal, liver, buckwheat.
- It is good to eat high-fiber foods such as bran, almonds, whole wheat, whole grain breads, peanuts, beans, raisins, lentils, herbs, and fruit peels. Its main benefit is the regulation of bowel function.
- Also, doctors advise eating foods with vitamin D, since together with vitamins A and C, it protects the body from various infections. Vitamin D is found in fish and eggs.
- In the treatment of scleroderma, it is useful to use vitamins of group B, namely B1, B12 and B15, and their role is so great that sometimes doctors prescribe them in the form of medicines. And this is not surprising, since they improve the functioning of the body’s cells and increase its resistance to infections, improve digestion and lower blood cholesterol levels, normalize metabolic processes and improve tissue respiration, and also help cleanse the body of toxins. Their sources are some types of nuts (pistachios, pine and walnuts, peanuts, almonds, cashews), lentils, oatmeal, buckwheat, millet, wheat, barley, corn, pasta, liver, pork (it is better to choose lean), beef, meat rabbit, fish and seafood, chicken eggs, sour cream, pumpkin seeds, wild rice, beans.
- It is also important to drink at least 1.5 liters of liquid per day. It can be mineral water, juices, yoghurts, milk, compotes and green tea.
Traditional methods of treating scleroderma
It is important to remember that with scleroderma in children, they must be immediately shown to the doctor, since the disease develops rapidly in the child’s body. The following traditional medicines are suitable for the treatment of adults.
- 1 After steaming in the bath, you need to apply a bandage with aloe juice or ichthyol ointment to the affected areas.
- 2 You can also bake a small onion in the oven and then chop it. After that, take 1 tbsp. chopped onion, add 1 tsp to it. honey and 2 tbsp. kefir. The resulting mixture should be applied at night to the affected areas in the form of a compress 4 times a week.
- 3 You can take lungwort, knotweed and horsetail in equal parts and prepare a decoction from them. For this, 1 tsp. collection is poured into 1 tbsp. water and boiled in a water bath for 15 minutes. Then the broth must be given time to brew for 30 minutes and drink 3 times a day for 1/3 cup half an hour before eating or an hour after.
- 4 If pulmonary pathology is found, then 1 tsp is added to the above collection of herbs (from lungwort, horsetail and knotweed). marsh ledum, and the amount of water is increased by one and a half times (take 1.5 cups).
- 5 And if kidney pathology is detected, add 1 tsp. bearberry and lingonberry leaf with the obligatory addition of water.
- 6 If bowel malfunctions are found, add 1 tsp to the collection. three-leaf watch and bitter wormwood, also increasing the amount of water.
- 7 To treat cracks and sores on the skin, you can use decoctions of oak bark and nettle, making lotions, bandages or warm baths from them. For their preparation 3-4 tbsp. herbs or bark pour 1 tbsp. water.
Dangerous and harmful foods for scleroderma
- With scleroderma, do not starve, as hunger can cause stress and worsen the patient’s condition.
- It is very important to limit your intake of fatty foods. It should be no more than 30% of the total calories. In this case, it is better to give preference to monounsaturated fats or fats with a lower cholesterol content. This can be olive or peanut oil, avocados, olives, and gourmet nuts like pecans or macadamias.
- It is better to avoid spicy and smoked foods, as they stimulate the appetite, and overeating leads to obesity.
- Alcohol and smoking will only aggravate the situation, negatively affecting the body.
- With focal scleroderma, it is better to refrain from eating dairy products and wheat, as an allergic reaction may occur, but these are rather individual recommendations.
Attention!
The administration is not responsible for any attempt to use the information provided, and does not guarantee that it will not harm you personally. The materials cannot be used to prescribe treatment and make a diagnosis. Always consult your specialist doctor!
