Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome

What you need to know:

As the symptoms of this condition vary so much between individuals, they should be treated separately. You’ll find them in the appropriate sections of the body map.

As a general rule, however, any medical problems involving the blood and circulation may be relieved by making simple lifestyle changes - particularly not being overweight, giving up smoking, not having too much caffeine, alcohol or salt, trying not to be too stressed and getting sensible amounts of exercise.

Dietary changes that may be beneficial:

Increase their intake of foods rich in potassium - the best sources are dried fruits, soya flour, nuts, salads, vegetables, fresh fruit (particularly bananas) and fruit juice, muesli and other breakfast cereals, wholemeal bread and flour, white bread, eggs and cheese. Interestingly, both instant and roasted coffee are very rich in potassium, but don’t overdo it - too much caffeine is bad for your blood pressure
Eat more fibre and complex carbohydrates - wholemeal bread, again, brown rice, dried beans, lentils, oats, pasta
Have more celery, leeks, onions - and particularly Garlic, which thins the blood
Cut down on saturated fats - in all meat products, the skin of poultry and full-fat dairy products - but have more of the good mono and poly-unsaturated oils, especially olive, rapeseed, safflower, peanut and walnut. Avoid coconut and palm oils, often present in products labelled ‘vegetable oil
Throw away the salt and read the labels on every food package you buy - the average daily consumption of salt in the UK is 12gs and it shouldn’t be more than 4 or 5. Salt causes fluid retention, which pushes up the blood pressure, leading to strokes and heart disease
Eat more oily fish like salmon, sardines, mackerel, pilchards - they’re a vital addition to the diet. They reduce cholesterol, lower the risk of blood clots and are extremely heart protective

The most useful Herbs and Supplements :

A megadose multi vitamin and mineral
Vitamins C and E
Magnesium
Garlic pills
Flaxseed oil
Co-enzyme Q10
Rutin
Bioflavonoids
Selenium
Valerian
Celery seed
Pycnogenol
Lycopene

Other useful advice:

You should also be doing at least three half-hour periods of exercise a week. You don’t need to train for a marathon; anything which gets you mildly out of breath, like a brisk walk, will do. Gardening, energetic housework or a session of your favourite sport, appropriate to your condition, will also be fine.

Natural therapies can play a major part in helping to reduce blood pressure. Nutritional advice from a naturopath, Aromatherapy, bio-feedback, meditation, Yoga, Acupuncture, herbal medicine, homoeopathy are all valuable.

Back

This information is licensed for use by Wellbeing Information Systems Ltd ("WIS"), and protected by international copyright law. All rights are reserved. (email info@wisinfo.co.uk).
The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.