[LifeStyle] Samantha Ruth Prabhu opens up about suffering from myositis; know more about the autoimmune condition

[Andy アンディ]

Samantha Ruth Prabhu has opened up about being diagnosed with an autoimmune condition — something she initially hoped to share after going into remission, but said that it is “taking a little longer than I hoped”. The Family Man actor took to Instagram to share a picture with an IV drip on her hand.Expressing that she is grateful for all the love that is coming her way post her new film Yashodha‘s trailer launch, she shared, “It is this love and connection that I share with all of you, that gives me the strength to deal with the seemingly unending challenges that life throws at me. A few months back I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition called myositis. I was hoping to share this after it had gone into remission. But it is taking a little longer than I hoped.”She further mentioned that she is “slowly realising” that we don’t always need to put up a strong front.

“Accepting this vulnerability is something that I am still struggling with. The doctors are confident that I will make a complete recovery very soon. I have had good days and bad days…. physically and emotionally…. and even when it feels like I can’t handle one more day of this, somehow that moment passes. I guess it can only mean that I am one more day closer to recovery. I love you…this too shall pass,” said Samantha, 35.

Here’s what you need to know about the painful condition of myositis.

What is myositis?

According to WebMD, myositis happens due to inflammation in the muscles. As published in the Indian Journal of Rheumatology, the prevalence of this condition is around 4-22 cases per one lakh po[CENSORED]tion.

Causes 

“In most cases, the exact cause of myositis is unknown and therefore considered idiopathic,” said Garima Goyal, registered dietitian and diabetes educator.

Symptoms

The general symptoms may include muscle pain and soreness, fatigue, trouble swallowing, and difficulty breathing.

“It usually affects arms, shoulders, legs, hips, abdomen and spinal muscles. In advanced stages it may affect muscles of esophagus (food pipe), diaphragm and eyes. Patients usually experience difficulty while standing up after sitting, climbing stairs, and lifting objects,” Dr Santosh Kumar Agrawal Senior consultant Internal Medicine Marengo QRG Hospital Faridabad, told indianexpress.com.

Researchers believe that myositis may also be caused by autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus and viruses such as the common cold, flu, and HIV drug toxicity, per healthline.com.

Other symptoms are fever, weight loss, joint pain, fatigue and muscle pain, Dr Santosh said. “These conditions are usually diagnosed after clinical examination, blood work up, MR Imaging, EMG and muscle biopsy,” said Dr Santosh.

According to healthline.com, these are the following types of myositis:

*Dermatomyositis
*Inclusion-body myositis
*Juvenile myositis
*Polymyositis
*Toxic myositis

Dr Aditya Chowti, Senior Consultant- Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road, Bengaluru elucidated that myositis comes under a group of diseases called myopathy which refer to diseases that connect the muscles with the bones or the skeletal muscles. “Different forms of myositis affects different muscles. Myositis usually affects the muscles that you use for movement including your arms, legs, shoulders, hips and the muscles in the spine,” Dr Chowti told indianexpress.com.

Treatment

Dr Santosh mentioned that the condition “is usually treated with steroids and immunosuppressive drugs”.

Since there is no one medical treatment that fits all, immunosuppressant drugs are recommended along with physical therapy, exercise, stretching, and yoga which can help keep muscles strong and flexible and prevent muscle atrophy, according to healthline.com.

Diet and recovery

Goyal told indianexpress.com that “since myositis is an auto-immune condition, adapting to an anti-inflammatory diet could be beneficial for better management”.

According to Goyal, some of the key components of this diet include

*Consuming more fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains every day.
*Including foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon, flax seeds, nuts, hemp, and fish oil supplements if indicated.
*Choosing the right protein sources from plant varieties like soy and its products, legumes, pulses, yogurt, and fish instead of animal proteins.
*Processed and refined foods, pastries, and foods containing preservatives and high fructose corn syrup should be avoided.
*Whole grains and millet varieties can be chosen in place of refined flour.
*Everyday diet could include nuts like cashews, walnuts, and almonds and seeds like pumpkin, sesame, and flax seeds.
*Avoid saturated and trans fats by toning down on animal products.

“Along with the treatment and physical therapies, the right nutrition plays an important role in managing the disease. For personalised anti-inflammatory plans, indications for supplements, and special dietary requirements, it is advisable to contact your dietitian or healthcare professional,” Goyal said.

SURSA