Arthritis: An Overview

Sep 27
Arthritis
Keith George asked:

The rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis which is occurring in people who suffer from recurrent bouts of joint pain, swelling and deformity. Millions of people suffer from arthritis pain. There are several types of arthritis, like osteoarthritis, gout, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis each with a big number of forms of this disease. To coupe with this you need a safe and effective treatment.

There are drugs that block the effects of TNF and they have been found to be very effective in reducing inflammation. It also help in slowing down the rate of disease progression in rheumatoid arthritis. The psoriatic arthritis may affect most joints in an oligoarticular pattern, meaning a few scattered joints are affected and the joint inflammation does not have the symmetrical pattern seen in rheumatoid arthritis. In total there are over 100 different kinds of arthritis, all of which affect one or several joints in the body.

Most persons with arthritis should exercise, they should not jog or run or engage in sports that cause your feet to pound on the ground, such as tennis or rope-jumping. It is possible that you are unable to squat because the nature of your arthritis and downright prevents that. If this is the case do not force the squat as it is not an exercise for all. A proper function of the hip area is very important for pain free backs and knees. But the stiffness caused by arthritis can hinder this function and create a situation, where you can end up having even more pain, than what would be caused by just inflammation or joint degeneration.

There is not yet a cure for arthritis but much can be done to reduce pain and have a good joint function. Science will sooner or later bring us a cure for arthritis and in the meantime there are many different forms of alternative medicine which can bring arthritis pain relief. These are some of the most common drugs used to combat the pain of arthritis and there are many others used for all forms of arthritis and its related conditions.

To lessen the pain of arthritis there are some things you can try. As shown in studies some people with arthritis seem to have difficulty metabolizing copper from the food they eat, leading to increased pain. People with arthritis also tend to feel much better all day if they are not stiff when they wake up in the morning. The condition can vary from day to day.

Most people with arthritis believe that they should rest their muscles and joints, but resting is the worst thing you can do. The more we learn about the disease and the forms it has the more we learn to treat ourselves and one important part is exercise, adapted to every single person.

The Spondylitis Association of America sells books, posters, videotapes, and audiotapes about exercises for people who have arthritis of the spine. There are a couple of health programs that touch on the balancing and flexing exercises that can eliminate arthritis and wipe out its pain. Blending the most powerful of these stretches into an effective home routine, a routine that can be accomplished in moments every day. The natural arthritis medication is a viable and safe option that can be taken with confidence.

What actually is considered a good arthritis medication as the alternative medicines and natural cures is rather uncertain due to the fact that they are not always regulated and tested in the same way as pharmaceuticals. The disease modifying medicines are used with cases which involves damage to the immune system. We all hope that these problems will be solved in the near future.

Sep 20
Arthritis
Helen Hecker asked:

After years of aggravating joint pain I finally found relief from my arthritis pain, naturally, and you can do it too. I got rid of my arthritis symptoms and arthritis pain forever by making one simple change in my lifestyle. I stopped eating all junk food.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease of the joint cartilage and bone. It’s often thought to result from continuous “wear and tear” on a joint. There are other causes of arthritis such as congenital arthritis with congenital defects, trauma and metabolic disorders. And osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. When people refer to arthritis they usually mean osteoarthritis not rheumatoid arthritis, which can be detected by blood tests. Osteoarthritis cannot be diagnosed using blood tests. Arthritis is usually found in the joints of the fingers, feet, knees, hips, and spine.

The ability to make repairs to the cartilage becomes very limited as cartilage cells age. Damaged joints cause pain and arthritis sufferers are constantly looking for ways to relieve this pain. Our joints are uniquely designed to provide flexibility, support, stability, and protection.

Genetic factors are thought to be involved in about fifty percent of osteoarthritis cases in the hands and hips and a somewhat lower percentage of cases for the knee. An inflammatory response causes cytokines to gather in injured areas and cause inflammation and damage to body tissue and cells. It’s known to play a role in a systemic form of arthritis - rheumatoid arthritis and other muscle and joint issues associated with autoimmune diseases. Genetic researchers report a higher incidence of osteoarthritis between parents and children and between siblings rather than between husbands and wives.

For part of a dietary approach try avoiding seven of the eight most allergic foods - wheat, which is the most allergenic of all, corn, eggs, milk, peanuts, fish and shellfish. If you really want to get rid of your arthritis pain forever it may take a big change in your diet and an ongoing commitment to it. So the first step in managing your arthritis is to change your diet. I think all health professionals would agree with this.

Try massaging your fingers or other affected joints with virgin coconut oil once or twice a day to help loosen them up and maintain flexibility. Nutrition experts say it takes a combination of supplements, not just one supplement to help relieve arthritis pain, build cartilage, etc. but studies done on antioxidant vitamins question their value as supplements. It’s clearly better to consume these antioxidants in living plant foods because they may also need to work together with other nutrients present in the foods to work properly - called synergistic action.

One good natural treatment method involves avoiding all inflammatory foods. And dried Montmorency tart cherries and cherries and their juice seem to be helpful as a natural treatment for arthritis pain for many people.

Gluten may be just one of the culprits in arthritic diseases including fibromyalgia. So avoid wheat, barley, rye, spelt, triticale, kamut and oats (although it’s not a gluten grain it gets contaminated with wheat during the milling process at the where it is usually milled). Many arthritis sufferers who’ve changed their diets significantly have noticed major or total improvement in their overall health.

Exercise all your non-affected and affected joints every day, to keep them flexible. Even if you don’t think you can exercise, you can do some movements no matter how small so just keep moving as much as possible. Don’t lie down when you can sit and don’t sit when you can stand. Keep your feet moving. Use the Chinese Taiji health balls, the kind with the chimes, to strengthen the finger joints. To use them hold the two balls in on hand, move them in a clockwise circle with your fingers to rotate them, then try moving them counterclockwise and do this off and on throughout the day and at bedtime. If you do have pain and swelling in your fingers, you can try squeezing some Thera-putty, which is made for this purpose. It’s available at your local health equipment supplier.

Try wearing pair of stretch gloves at night to help reduce the pain and swelling in your fingers if you have arthritic hands. A doctor I know said he has found sleeping in a sleeping bag on his bed has really helped him. If weight is an issue, try to using exercises that will help you with arthritis and in losing weight such as walking, even if just around the block a few times. And did I mention to make sure to keep moving?

Please be aware that the use of pain relievers like NSAIDs or COX-2 inhibitors do not halt the progress of osteoarthritis and may even hasten its onset. Only you know which arthritis treatment options are best for you. As for conventional treatment of arthritis - if you do choose to take drugs or arthritis medicines, be very careful, read the labels thoroughly and talk to your pharmacist about side effects and adverse reactions. Make sure you know the name of your medications and if they’ll react with any other medications you’re taking. Always know the name and dosage measurement of your drugs in case of an emergency situation.

So begin your treatment program with a diet change, exercise and weight loss plan to see the best results and pain relief fast. Your treatment plan should include an anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritis diet, lots of movement, exercise, and a positive mental outlook. Arthritis pain relief of your arthritis symptoms is the ultimate goal. Understanding arthritis and conventional and natural arthritis treatments and applying what will work for you is a good way to get there.

Sep 19
Arthritis
Helen Hecker asked:

I finally found relief from arthritis pain, naturally, and you can do it too. It was just a few years ago that I accidentally discovered how to get rid of arthritis pain, naturally, with no conventional arthritis treatment.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis; when people refer to arthritis they usually mean osteoarthritis. The pain in arthritis can be mild, moderate or severe. Sometimes arthritis symptoms can occur in the wrist, elbows, shoulders, and jaw but generally you don’t find it there.

The synovium is a membrane that surrounds the entire joint; it is filled with synovial fluid, a lubricating liquid that supplies nutrients and oxygen to the cartilage. Collagen is the essential protein that is found in cartilage; it forms a mesh to give support and flexibility to the joints. Proteoglycans are the large molecules that help to make up cartilage; they bond to water, which ensures the high-fluid content in the cartilage.

Sometimes injuries can be the start of the arthritic disease process; osteoarthritis can develop years later after a single traumatic injury to a joint or near a joint. When chondrocytes, which are the cells that make up cartilage age, they lose their ability to make repairs and produce more cartilage; this process may play an important part in the development and progression of osteoarthritis. Researchers report a higher incidence of osteoarthritis between parents and children and between siblings rather than husbands and wives.

One dietary natural treatment method involves avoiding all inflammatory foods. Make all-fruit smoothies using a base of two bananas, add a cup of frozen or fresh blueberries and mango chunks or substitute any other fruit and add an energy boost of two tablespoons of organic virgin coconut oil if you like; add one or two leaves of kale for even more super nutrition. Many arthritis sufferers who have changed their diets significantly have noticed major and even total improvement.

Many people have told me that going off dairy products and foods containing gluten, like wheat especially, relieved them of arthritis pain entirely. If arthritis is affecting your weight-bearing joints, keeping your weight within a normal range is important to get rid of any arthritis symptoms. Some of the foods and beverages to avoid that are inflammatory are: caffeine, salt, sugar, meat, dairy products, additives, soft drinks, white flour, white rice, alcoholic beverages, fast food, processed vegetable oils, and all refined, packaged and processed food.

Some people swear by a morning drink of pure filtered heated water with a teaspoon or so of raw apple cider vinegar (like Bragg’s) and honey to keep them free of arthritis pain but vinegar is too harsh for many. If you’re not already doing so, make a big effort to change your diet for the better.

Some of the supplements commonly reported for relieving arthritis pain (and I don’t know if any of these work) are: cherry powder, glucosamine, chondroitin, bromelain, grapeseed extract, omega-3 and omega-6, cod liver oil, manganese ascorbate, MSM, boron, niacinamide, pantothenic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. For a natural approach and for natural treatment for arthritis make an appointment with a naturopathic doctor, called a naturopath; ask around for referrals in your area.

Make sure to exercise all your affected joints every day, to keep them flexible. Important exercises for arthritis include: range-of-motion exercises, isometric exercise, and some weight-bearing exercises. At bedtime you can try putting on a pair of stretch gloves to help reduce the pain and swelling in your fingers if you have arthritic hands. A good exercise routine is important to beat arthritis and keeping arthritis pain at bay; keep on moving.

Your body has 147 different joints in motion every day of your life; keep them moving! Yes, whatever you do, keep moving; don’t sit when you can stand, don’t stand when you can walk or walk in place. To be on the safe side always check with your doctor before starting or changing any exercise program.

At the very least, understand what the side effects and adverse reactions are for any arthritis medication you take; one rule of thumb is - don’t take any medication that has been on the market for less than five years. For conventional treatment of arthritis - if you do choose to take drugs or medications, be careful, read the labels thoroughly and talk to your pharmacist about side effects and adverse reactions; make sure you know the name of them and if they’ll react with any other medication you’re taking. Once you become completely informed about arthritis you’ll be able to plan an arthritis treatment program, natural or conventional or a combination.

Changing your diet to lots of raw fruits and raw veggies, like I did, can turn your arthritis pain around almost overnight. More and more doctors are investigating the benefits of natural arthritis treatments and alternative therapies and most don’t object to their patients trying them. Relief of your arthritis pain and symptoms is the ultimate goal - understanding arthritis and arthritis treatments is a good way to get there.

Sep 12
Arthritis
Gilles Coulombe asked:

 

Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive autoimmune disease that causes chronic joint inflammation and soft-tissue swelling. Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects the peripheral joints like hands, feet, wrists, and knees and the surrounding muscles, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Rheumatoid arthritis can also involve internal organs like the lungs and heart. An autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis means the body tissues are attacked by your own immune system. Ultimately, this leads to joint destruction, functional disability, and decreased quality of life.

There are many type of arthritis namely osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Some scholars consider gout as also one of the major type. Many types of arthritis may affect different areas of the body. As mentioned above, the swelling or inflammation is the general reaction of the body. During this reaction, all the protective blood cells rush to the affected area to fight against the cause of the problem. They clear the damaged cells and repair the hurt tissues. Once the war against the causative factor is won, the inflammation goes away and area comes to its normal size with normal color.

RISK FACTORS

Smoking: Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with long-term smoking.

Stress: Persons with rheumatoid arthritis have a higher incidence of stressful life events in the 6 months preceding onset of the disease as compared to the general population.

Genetics: HLA-DR4, a genetic marker, is associated with increased chance of having rheumatoid arthritis.

Ethnicity: All races and ethnicities are affected by rheumatoid arthritis.

Environment: There is no specific environmental factor that causes rheumatoid arthritis.

Diet: There is no specific diet or food that causes rheumatoid arthritis.

Infection: There is no known specific infection that causes rheumatoid arthritis.

THE PROBLEM

 

The current theory is that a person who is genetically predisposed to rheumatoid arthritis encounters a trigger (infection, toxin, chemical) in the environment that starts an abnormal immune response, an autoimmune process. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when white blood cells leave the blood stream and attack the lining of the joints.

 

Fortunately, there is natural healing and natural cure for rheumatoid arthritis in order to alleviate the pain associated with the disease. Removing acidity from your blood to reach an alkaline level is well advised. A good ph levels can only help.A study by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm has also found that people who drink five glasses of wine a week halve the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

 

STATISTICS

 

The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in the U.S. is about 1% which means that it affects 2.1 million Americans. There are 3 new cases per year per 10,000 persons. Rheumatoid arthritis most often starts between the ages of 25 and 50; peak onset is between 35 and 50. It is 3-5 times more common in women and 4 times more common in smokers than non-smokers. If one twin has rheumatoid arthritis, there is a 15-20% chance the other twin will develop rheumatoid arthritis. You deserve a better life with less pain. Some natural productscan relieve your joints Fast! Advanced Joint Relief, Joint Ease and Amazing Arthritis Relief are agreat support.The choice is yours. Take action to live a better life.

 

“Alkaline Body Balance™ is an absolute must for proper body pH balance and essential for good health… I recommend… an alkaline diet, salivary pH testing, as well as drinking alkaline water. This is one of the best products I have recommended and I continue to use it daily myself. Keep up the good work!”

—Dr. William Eggerton, M.D.

 

 

JointEase Plus has saved my life! I can …begin to enjoy life again. To me it is unbelievable and I simply cannot thank you and your team enough!!!!!”

—Jennifer Bailey

Gilles Coulombe B.A. B.LL D.S.A.

For more information, go to My Site

 

 

 

 

 

Sep 11
Arthritis
Jenny asked:

Arthritis

Nearly 70 million people in the United States suffer from Arthritis and chronic joint symptoms that counts for about one in every three adults, making it one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States. The number of arthritis patients will be increasing in the near future as the population ages.

What is arthritis?

Arthritis is one of the most pervasive diseases in the United States and is the leading cause of disability. Arthritis (’arth’ meaning joint, ”it. is” meaning inflammation) consists of more than 100 different conditions that can cause pain in the body’s muscles and joints. Arthritis symptoms include joint pain, inflammation and limited movement of joints. When a joint is inflamed it may be swollen, tender, warm to the touch or red. Surrounding each joint is a protective capsule holding a lubricating fluid to aid in motion. Cartilage, a slippery smooth substance, covers most joints to assure an even, fluid motion of the joint. A damaged, narrowed and degenerated cartilage causes joint arthritis. The cartilage may be lost by the degenerative process or by inflammation making joint movement a painful process. An inflamed joint may be swollen, tender, warm to the touch or red.

Some forms of arthritis cause mild symptoms which can be controlled with proper care and treatment, for example tendinitis (as in ”tennis elbow”) and bursitis. Others are very serious and if left untreated may lead to severe disability, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Each type has a unique treatment program but the common factor among all types of arthritis is its earlier diagnosis. Earlier the diagnosis, sooner the treatment can be started, to avoid disability and permanent damage.

Major types of arthritis.

There are more than 100 classified types of arthritis or rheumatic disease. The most common ones include the following:

Osteoarthritis:

Osteoarthritis (OA), or degenerative joint disease, is one of the oldest and most common types of arthritis. It is characterized by the breakdown of the joint’s cartilage. Cartilage breakdown causes pain and movement loss because of the rubbing of bones against each other in the absence of the cartilage. It ranges from very mild to very severe and commonly affects middle-aged and older people. OA’s main target is hands and weight-bearing joints such as knees, hips, feet and the back.

Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Another common form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is typically chronic, meaning longer lasting. RA causes the inflammation in the lining of the joints and/or other internal organs, affecting many different joints, which causes pain, stiffness, warmth, redness and swelling. Bone and cartilage get invaded and damaged by the inflamed joint lining, the synovium, while the inflammatory cells release enzymes that may digest bone and cartilage. Loss of shape and alignment of the joint, causes pain and movement loss.

Some other major types of arthritis include:

Anklyosing Spondylitis, Cervical Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Gout, Infectious Arthritis, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lumbosacral Arthritis, Osteonecrosis, Osteoporosis, Paget’s Disease, Psoriatic Arthritis, Reiter’s Syndrome, Rheumatic Diseases, Rheumatoid Foot and Ankle.

How to fight arthritis?

A chronic disease, arthritis can become a companion for a long time and maybe one’s lifetime. Fortunately, arthritis can be managed through a combination of medication, exercise, rest, weight-management, nutrition, and, in some cases, surgery. By avoiding excessive stress, using assistive devices to help you around the house and staying at your ideal weight will help relieve pressure on your hips and knees and protecting your joints.

The major goal for arthritis patients is the preservation or improvement of daily tasks by treatment. The best way to live and fight the disease is having a positive mental approach and the support of family and friends. This will definitely help in performing your daily activities continually.

If you are experiencing pain, stiffness, or swelling around a joint for more than two weeks now, it is a wake up call to go and see your physician. Only he can tell if you have arthritis through blood tests and x-rays, so as to become able in deciding the best treatment for your problem.

Diet Can Help Fight Arthritis:

Had your orange juice today? A recent medical study found that the chemicals responsible for the orange and yellow coloring in fruits and vegetables can help stave off inflammatory arthritis. An expert says the findings add to earlier research that showed a balanced, healthy diet can reduce the risk of osteoarthritis.

For more health articles kindly visit our website: http://www.getnutri.com/articles

Sep 10
Arthritis
Markus Skupeika asked:

Many people suffer from different types of arthritis pain. Most suffer from osteoarthritis and others suffer from rheumatoid arthritis also known as R.A. There are over 100 types of arthritis that people suffer from each and every day. All of these types of arthritis are different but all have one thing in common and that is they all can be very painful.

Anyone can experience any type of arthritis whether they are a young child or an elderly person. Arthritis pain can affect a muscle and joint of the human body. Arthritis pain at times can be unbearable. How does arthritis pain become so painful?

Arthritis is the inflammation or swelling of the joints. Arthritis over time can restrict the movement of the effected joint. The joints swell because the cartilage around the joint wears down.

Once this cartilage wears down there is no more cushion or padding the help the joint move without any friction. Without the cartilage the bones rub together causing friction which in turn causes the joints and muscles around the joint to become irritated. This can happen from applying stress or trauma on the joints and over a period of time is it will get worse. This can even be the effect from a past sports related injury.

The joints that are more susceptible to get arthritis are the knees, wrists, ankles, elbows and even hip joints. There are many different types of treatment for arthritis.

Some types of arthritis can be treated naturally and some cases will have to get a prescription from their doctor for arthritis pain medication.

Exercise is one of the best natural arthritis treatments a person can do in order to prevent arthritis in the future. Many people who suffer from arthritis believe that exercise can not only prevent arthritis but also can be a natural form of relief from arthritis pain. Exercise is critical to a person health and well being when it comes to dealing and or preventing arthritis.

There is also new natural arthritis healing products that can help provide relief from arthritis pain. Most of these can be purchased without a prescription and can help take away that annoying pain. Did you know that certain foods help lower the inflammation of arthritis? Some foods that are high in fat and cholesterol can actually cause you to experience more arthritis pain. A good diet can give you more energy through the day and help with the healing process of the joints as well.

Aromatherapy is another way to provide relief from arthritis pain. Aromatherapy is when certain aromatic oils are messaged into the inflamed joint. These aromatic oils penetrate deep inside the muscle to provide a soothing sensation and also hasten the healing of the joint. This is not a quick fix so to speak but it will help deal with the arthritis pain.

There are many new natural arthritis healing products for people who experience chronic arthritis such as osteoarthritis. Electric heating pads and moist heat packs are very beneficial in relieving the pain that arthritis causes. Swimming also provides relief from arthritis pain if the body part is used under the water. Swimming provides light resistance that strengthens the muscles, tendons, and joint without putting too much pressure or stress on the body.

More than 43 million people suffer from arthritis each day. Fortunately there are many different forms of treatment for arthritis that will help people fight the pain of arthritis. Before any medication is taken you should see your doctor and have them check to see if you have the symptoms of arthritis. Just like diabetes and cancer, scientists have not found a cure for arthritis yet but are getting closer each and every day.