Smoking and lupus
- Thread starter Kasia
- Start date
theos
The Living Force
Considering that tobacco has anti-inflammatory properties, I would venture to say no. As with all autoimmune disorders, the first course of action when seeking relief is to address the diet. Have a look at the ketogenic diet thread for more information.
Here's a link from Sott regarding the anti-inflammatory properties of nicotine: http://www.sott.net/article/237552-Nicotine-is-an-Anti-inflammatory-Cure-for-H1N1-Flu-Virus
The problem with the vast majority of research on smoking or tobacco is that they very biased against smoking at the outset so researchers are simply affirmatively answering their own questions. There's also the issue of funding. Most studies are funded by anti-tobacco organizations or Big Pharma companies that want to sell their smoking cessation products.
This show on smoking aired on the Health and Wellness show yesterday: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sottradionetwork/2015/06/19/the-health-and-wellness-show-the-truth-about-tobacco-with-richard-white
Here's a link from Sott regarding the anti-inflammatory properties of nicotine: http://www.sott.net/article/237552-Nicotine-is-an-Anti-inflammatory-Cure-for-H1N1-Flu-Virus
The problem with the vast majority of research on smoking or tobacco is that they very biased against smoking at the outset so researchers are simply affirmatively answering their own questions. There's also the issue of funding. Most studies are funded by anti-tobacco organizations or Big Pharma companies that want to sell their smoking cessation products.
This show on smoking aired on the Health and Wellness show yesterday: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sottradionetwork/2015/06/19/the-health-and-wellness-show-the-truth-about-tobacco-with-richard-white
There are, also, two SOTT articles on what's what with tobacco smoking:
http://www.sott.net/article/139304-Lets-All-Light-Up
http://www.sott.net/article/280903-Lets-all-light-up-What-you-dont-know-about-tobacco
The first is an article written by Laura. The second is a video done by the SOTT editors. Both are excellent, along with the radio show linked to by Odyssey, which is also excellent and very informative.
http://www.sott.net/article/139304-Lets-All-Light-Up
http://www.sott.net/article/280903-Lets-all-light-up-What-you-dont-know-about-tobacco
The first is an article written by Laura. The second is a video done by the SOTT editors. Both are excellent, along with the radio show linked to by Odyssey, which is also excellent and very informative.
Kasia
Jedi Master
I know pretty much about tobacco, smoking it and about keto diet.
Although tobacco has a lot of a advantages, it does not mean that everyone should smoke it, I guess. Not everyone needs it. Even Cs has confirmed it.
I wonder if smoking tobacco by some people who are prone to lupus (especially cutaneous one) is a good idea, as from my own experience and from what some people who are suffering from clinical or subclinical cutaneous lupus have been writing on Internet, sometimes smoking tobacco intensifies their skin symptoms of lupus.
Unfortunately, I’ve had to quit smoking, although I’m on a paleo/keto diet. I’ve noticed it started to trigger skin symptoms of lupus. I’ve tested it a couple of times. I smoked organic tobacco.
Although tobacco has a lot of a advantages, it does not mean that everyone should smoke it, I guess. Not everyone needs it. Even Cs has confirmed it.
I wonder if smoking tobacco by some people who are prone to lupus (especially cutaneous one) is a good idea, as from my own experience and from what some people who are suffering from clinical or subclinical cutaneous lupus have been writing on Internet, sometimes smoking tobacco intensifies their skin symptoms of lupus.
Unfortunately, I’ve had to quit smoking, although I’m on a paleo/keto diet. I’ve noticed it started to trigger skin symptoms of lupus. I’ve tested it a couple of times. I smoked organic tobacco.
I don't know of any study regarding lupus specifically. But from knowing other people who suffer from a wide range of auto-immune reactions, I think it's hard to tell because very often, they smoke because they need to relax and get some relief from the horrible pain they go through (often a sign that the inflammatory factors and roots of flareups are there already, and about to "act up"). So, often, it gets blamed on tobacco right after the fact, but it is really the culprit? I don't know.
My boyfriend has an autoimmune condition too. He stopped smoking, and that was when he suffered the most from it. All his symptoms exacerbated. And others with the same condition (Hydradenitis Suppurativa) reported the same.
But, indeed, everyone is different, and every condition may have different triggers.
I hope the diet is helping you!! May I ask if you've got a professional diagnosis regarding your lupus symptoms (genetic test for markers, etc.)? I'm just asking out of curiosity, since sometimes it's very hard to tell exactly if it is lupus or something else. The sets of symptoms, from what I read, can be very similar to the ones in other autoimmune reactions.
My boyfriend has an autoimmune condition too. He stopped smoking, and that was when he suffered the most from it. All his symptoms exacerbated. And others with the same condition (Hydradenitis Suppurativa) reported the same.
But, indeed, everyone is different, and every condition may have different triggers.
I hope the diet is helping you!! May I ask if you've got a professional diagnosis regarding your lupus symptoms (genetic test for markers, etc.)? I'm just asking out of curiosity, since sometimes it's very hard to tell exactly if it is lupus or something else. The sets of symptoms, from what I read, can be very similar to the ones in other autoimmune reactions.
Kasia
Jedi Master
I suppose that not tobacco per se is to blame, but probably hydrazine it contains. Maybe some people including me are too sensitive to it.
http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/hydrazin.html
"Hydrazine is used in agricultural chemicals (pesticides), chemical blowing agents, pharmaceutical intermediates, photography chemicals, boiler water treatment for corrosion protection, textile dyes, and as fuel for rockets and spacecraft […].Small amounts of hydrazine have been detected in tobacco smoke".
Thanks God I have only a subclinical version of skin lupus detected by Quentec. Classical lab tests have proved nothing wrong.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Quantec/564484603648387
On a daily basis it is actually completely asymptomatic. I guess, palo diet I’m on helps to keep lupus in grip (I can’t be on a strict keto – too skinny and prone to accumulating too much iron).
In the past too much sun, grains, too much sugar, food additives and even a small amount of wine triggered a classical symptom of skin lupus – a “butterfly” on the face – fortunately only very subtle, and intensified fatigue. And now smoking tobacco…probably because of hydrazine in it…
I'm going to carry our some more experiments on me. Maybe I should try out other tobacco brands.
Kasia said:
Hmm, it could be. But you said you used to smoke organic tobacco, so it's a bit weird in my opinion.
Do you eat any nightshades? (tomatoes, potatoes, bell peppers, etc.) Those are known for causing inflammatory reactions. (Tobacco is a nightshade too, but we don't eat it.)
One thing you may want to try is to test for your vitamin D levels. A lot of people with lupus-like symptoms tend to lack some, and need to take supplements (well, actually apparently most people lack vitamin D!).
For iron, testing for markers of hemochromatosis might be good. (We have an extensive thread about this here). Some skin reactions can be due to that, if the liver is overloaded.
In any case, glad to hear that you don't suffer anymore thanks to the diet. :D If you don't miss smoking, maybe it was never for you. No need to force it, IMO.
The following things come to mind, on top of what others have mentioned.
If smoking is causing a flare up it potentially suggests a sluggish liver/detox system, and/or systematic oxidative stress.
Searching the internet suggests people with lupus have problems with chemical stressors (i.e. things that need the liver to be working well). This thread may help?
Heavy metal toxicity and iron overload should probably be ruled out.
A few other possibilities. One of the most common causes of systematic inflammation (mostly effecting blood vessels and skin) is homocysteine. Some people with lupus seem to have high levels of homocysteine.
High homocysteine can be a sign of a MTHFR mutation (as well as heavy metal toxcicity), a MTHFR mutation also results in a slow detox system.
There does seem to be some correlation between lupus and MTHFR mutations aswell fwiw
Either way, supporting the bodies detox systems will probably help a lot.
If smoking is causing a flare up it potentially suggests a sluggish liver/detox system, and/or systematic oxidative stress.
Searching the internet suggests people with lupus have problems with chemical stressors (i.e. things that need the liver to be working well). This thread may help?
Heavy metal toxicity and iron overload should probably be ruled out.
A few other possibilities. One of the most common causes of systematic inflammation (mostly effecting blood vessels and skin) is homocysteine. Some people with lupus seem to have high levels of homocysteine.
High homocysteine can be a sign of a MTHFR mutation (as well as heavy metal toxcicity), a MTHFR mutation also results in a slow detox system.
There does seem to be some correlation between lupus and MTHFR mutations aswell fwiw
Either way, supporting the bodies detox systems will probably help a lot.
Kasia
Jedi Master
There is probable some hydrozine in organic tobacco, as well, I guess...
From time to time in a tiny amounts. But I tolerate them well.
I suplement it, but maybe too little.
I've already tested for all possible hemochromatosis markers. I'm clean. But still I'm prone to become iron overloaded. I'm going to detox myself with EDTA again. I'm feeling there is a rub...
Here: http://omicsonline.org/open-access/biotransformation-of-hydrazine-dervatives-in-the-mechanism-of-toxicity-2157-7609-5-168.pdf it says:
Actually, I miss it a bit :)
Kasia said:
How about trying a pipe? This way you could find if that's not something in the rolling papers that your body doesn't like.
Kasia
Jedi Master
Possibility of Being said:
I suppose I would have to move out
My husband would probably think I have already gone nuts totally ;)I was using various rolling papers, but who knows, maybe there is something harmful for me in one of them...I'll have to check it, as well. But first detox.
