Lupus patients are prone to viral and bacterial infections, and sometimes flares occur after common infections, but this risk has not been documented in clinical studies. Stress It has been the clinical impression of many physicians caring for lupus patients that severe physical or emotional stress can induce flares. In recent years, research in immunology has demonstrated that the immune responses can be affected by marked physical or emotional stress. Stress frequently leads to suppression of immune responses - thus accounting for the observation that college students have an increased incidence of colds during final exams. In lupus patients the effects of stress could be more complicated, and lead to immune activation.
Some patients feel that their lupus symptoms worsen with stress, but others report no difference.
Diet There has been little research on the possible role of diet in human lupus. Conclusion Environmental factors can clearly have important immune effects. In different individuals, various environmental factors, or combinations of factors, are probably important. Unfortunately, there are no tests available to predict which factors will trigger lupus in any given individual. Therefore, patients should know about the factors that can or do trigger lupus, so that they can become aware of whether their symptoms change in response to environmental agents and so that they may modify their habits accordingly.