How Lupus Sufferers Can Still Enjoy a Great Summer Vacation

This summer brings, as all do, the opportunity for beach parties, camping adventures, travel and fun-in-the-sun. While most people nearly salivate at the prospect of taking time off to relax and enjoy themselves, others cringe as the wonder how the heat and sunlight will affect them. They're already on restrictions and medications anyway, not fully understanding what their malady is or why it's attacked them.

These are victims of lupus. Named after the Latin for "wolf," this is a disease in which an overactive immune system, for some reason, attacks the healthy organs of the body through their connecting tissues. Once considered fatal, research over the last thirty years has brought relief and longevity to many sufferers.

Of the two major types of the disease, the one known as "discoid" is more often the summer-spoiling culprit for many victims (systemic lupus erythematosis, or "SLE", attacks the internal organs and can be more serious). This particular version of the malady causes the skin (the largest organ of the human body) to become more light-sensitive, thus prone to burning and lesions.

But that doesn't mean that a patient can't get out there and enjoy herself (lupus attacks more women than men) in the surf and turf. In fact, with a few proper guidelines, the experiences can be just as fun and fulfilling as for a non-sufferer.

The first thing to remember is the obvious: Stay away from alcohol and smoking. While this is good advice for every person, it's doubly important for lupus patients. Both of these vices tend to break down the immune system, and rob the body of important nutrients that are needed to combat the disease. They can also wreak havoc on the effect of necessary medications, such as prednisone and cortisone ointments.