As I left my house Tuesday morning, I walked out to find my car covered in a mixture of dirt and ash. I walked into my room that night to the smell of campfire that had seeped in from a slightly opened window (my mistake). The smoke that has engulfed us has caused great damage to our already deteriorating air quality. However, have you realized that it may equally be damaging your health? I didn’t, until today.
Living with Lupus for about four years now I have had my good days and bad, but luckily have been doing well for a long time now. Monday morning I woke-up after a nights worth of crappy sleep to sore shoulders, a sore neck, even sore elbows, and fat swollen hands. I have woken up that way every day this week. I have had headaches, random moments of slight nausea, and been completely drained. All symptoms may be common with a Lupus flare-up, but I had been doing so well and I was so proud of that. I thought I knew my body, and I definitely thought I knew my illness, but I just couldn’t pinpoint the problem and it bothered me. What did I do wrong? Did I eat something? Am I over-working myself? Am I stressed? Am I about to get sick? Are my organs okay? Is my disease progressing? Well, it may be, and if it is, now I know why- because I’m breathing.
In an article I read earlier today, Michael Kleinman, professor of environmental health at UCI said that the tiniest particles of smoke pose the greatest health risk and can aggravate various health conditions (insert: Lupus). These particles can be penetrated into the lungs causing irritation and inflammation as well as enter into your bloodstream. Case solved.
I have to try really hard to maintain my health. It's tough to realize that the worsening conditions of our environment, in a matter of days, can so easily counteract all of my efforts.
Let's take care of our world. You may not feel the effects, but some of us do.
Living with Lupus for about four years now I have had my good days and bad, but luckily have been doing well for a long time now. Monday morning I woke-up after a nights worth of crappy sleep to sore shoulders, a sore neck, even sore elbows, and fat swollen hands. I have woken up that way every day this week. I have had headaches, random moments of slight nausea, and been completely drained. All symptoms may be common with a Lupus flare-up, but I had been doing so well and I was so proud of that. I thought I knew my body, and I definitely thought I knew my illness, but I just couldn’t pinpoint the problem and it bothered me. What did I do wrong? Did I eat something? Am I over-working myself? Am I stressed? Am I about to get sick? Are my organs okay? Is my disease progressing? Well, it may be, and if it is, now I know why- because I’m breathing.
In an article I read earlier today, Michael Kleinman, professor of environmental health at UCI said that the tiniest particles of smoke pose the greatest health risk and can aggravate various health conditions (insert: Lupus). These particles can be penetrated into the lungs causing irritation and inflammation as well as enter into your bloodstream. Case solved.
I have to try really hard to maintain my health. It's tough to realize that the worsening conditions of our environment, in a matter of days, can so easily counteract all of my efforts.
Let's take care of our world. You may not feel the effects, but some of us do.
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