By Deborah Bamisaye
In the last edition, the meaning of auto immune disease, causes, symptoms and more were discussed, you need to grab a copy if you missed out on that. Asking what else is there to know? Let’s check these out:
Does Water have a Role?
Drinking water itself does not directly treat autoimmune diseases, but proper hydration plays an important supportive role in managing them and potentially preventing flare-ups. Water helps by:
– Reducing inflammation
– Supporting immune function
– Promoting kidney health
– Improving medication efficacy
– Maintaining gut health – but you have to drink it right, as there are wrong ways of drinking water. That is a topic for another day.
Also, water quality matters – contaminated or polluted water can worsen immune dysfunction or trigger autoimmune issues. So, drinking clean, filtered water is essential.
One can say: ‘Drinking enough clean water is a simple but vital lifestyle habit that supports immune balance and overall health in autoimmune disease management.’
What Doctors Got to Say on Autoimmune Diseases
Below is the list of some notable Nigerian Doctors Specializing in Autoimmune Diseases:
– Prof. Segun Oguntona (Professor of Rheumatology, Olabisi Onabanjo University)
– Dr. Mary Agu, Dr. Efe, Dr. Fasanmade Opeoluwa, Prof. Dr. Osun-Kalu, Dr. Okocha, Dr. Banse, Dr. Ademola. These doctors are recognized for their expertise in diagnosing and managing autoimmune diseases in Nigeria.
They each talked about:
1. Awareness and Diagnosis
– They emphasize that autoimmune diseases are often underdiagnosed due to overlapping symptoms with other conditions and limited awareness among both patients and healthcare professionals.
– They advised that physicians should always consider autoimmune causes when patients present with unexplained chronic symptoms, especially if viral and other common causes are ruled out.
2. Access to Treatment
– Prof. Segun Oguntona highlights the severe impact of autoimmune diseases, which can lead to complications like kidney and heart failure, blindness, and lung defects.
– He points out the high cost of treatment, especially for biologic drugs, which are often not covered by health insurance in Nigeria. This financial barrier prevents many patients from accessing the most effective therapies.
– Also, he calls for government action to include autoimmune disease medications under the National Health Insurance Scheme to ease the burden on patients.
Specialist Shortage
– There is a significant shortage of rheumatologists and autoimmune disease specialists in Nigeria. For example, only one pediatric rheumatologist was trained in the last two years, making access to expert care difficult for many patients.
The Way Forward:
– Early Diagnosis: Doctors recommend increasing awareness and screening for autoimmune diseases, especially when patients have persistent, unexplained symptoms.
– Access to Medications: Advocacy for government and health insurance coverage of essential drugs, especially biologics, to improve patient outcomes.
– Lifestyle and Diet: Nigerian health experts also encourage supportive lifestyle measures, including: eating nutrient-rich, anti-inflammatory foods (e.g., spinach, ugu, plantain, okra, ginger.)
– Maintaining a healthy gut with fermented foods.
– Managing stress, getting adequate sleep, and regular exercise.
– Holistic Care: Hospitals like Nizamiye and Cedarcrest in Nigeria offer a holistic approach, focusing on prevention, education, and individualized treatment plans for autoimmune patients.
On Research and Innovation
Nigerian doctors are aware of global advances, such as donor cell therapies and precision medicine, but emphasize the need for more local research and improved healthcare infrastructure to make these innovations accessible to Nigerian patients.
Prof. Segun Oguntona – Urges inclusion of autoimmune drugs in health insurance; highlights treatment cost.
Dr. Mary Agu, Dr. Efe and others talked about the provision of diagnosis and management medical tools; they advocated for early recognition and holistic care.
Rheumatologists in Nigeria have stressed shortage of specialists and need for more training and awareness.
For Prevention and Management
Nigerian Health Experts advised the inclusion of anti-inflammatory food on our tables, stress management, and lifestyle modification.
They all agree that early diagnosis, improved access to modern treatments, lifestyle changes and government support are crucial for better management and outcomes in autoimmune diseases.
The doctors have rightly advised and following is key, do not forget the wise words as read, ‘Stop fueling the menace of self-protest; go ahead and sleep like a queen (king,) move your body like a dancer, and banish stress like a man of God banishes evil spirits.’
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