Other conditions

No. Fibromyalgia is not an autoimmune or inflammatory disease. Research studies show that disease-modifying drugs, such as those used for rheumatoid arthritis, are not effective in treating fibromyalgia. Analgesics such as Tylenol ® and nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, may be helpful in lessening discomfort experienced with fibromyalgia. Multiple studies show people who get regular daily exercise are less symptomatic.

A low purine diet may be helpful for people who have a history of gout, but the list of foods to avoid is extensive and the diet is difficult to follow. Gout, caused by elevated uric acid levels, is more an issue of genetics. Usually, long-term use of gout medication, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption and drinking a lot of fluids are all effective.

Not necessarily. Many healthy people and those with many other medical conditions may have a positive ANA. Your doctor may order a battery of other lab tests that can be useful in concluding whether you might have lupus. A lupus diagnosis mostly is based on patient symptoms and a physical exam by a health professional.