Archive for September 21st, 2009

Typical Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

Monday, September 21st, 2009
Bernice Eker Said:

Nearly one out of three persons in the United States suffers from a joint disease. The more common type of arthritis that afflicts persons is rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disabling joint disease where chemical changes in the blood caused by inflammation have been found to take place. The inflammation is believed to be produced by the body’s auto-immune immune system attacking itself. It damages the surrounding tissues like blood vessels, nerves, skin, heart, muscles and lungs when the inflammation is left without immediate treatment.

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may start showing at an early age such as those seen in children suffering Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. Most often, the symptom begins with sudden fever accompanied by a light rash that immediately disappears. And similar to adults, persistent joint swelling, stiffness of the affected area especially in the morning or after a day’s rest are also felt.

Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may show before the age of 45 among adults. It may start as part of a severe illness usually with high fever. Sometimes the disease also develops in a subtle way without the patient noticing its occurrence until it is too late.

This happens when there is no amount of discomfort felt except the apparent loss of appetite, decrease in weight and probably a mild fever. Often, without immediate treatment deformities have developed before the disease could be pointed out as the cause. Tenderness, redness and excessive warmth on the areas affected also indicate the presence of the disease.

The inflammation of the joint usually lasts to as short as a few minutes or continue to a number of years depending on the treatment. At the onset of the disease, the tendons become shortened and the normal balance of the muscles is hampered. When the muscles are weakened they lose their strength. This is most evident in the inability to grip or make a tight fist among patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the hands.

The stiffening of some parts of the body that build up during time of rests or a night’s sleep which gradually disappears when the patient starts moving, is one of the most common rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. The stiffness results from the muscular weakness caused by the disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are most obvious in the hands and feet. It also appears in other body joints such as elbows, shoulders, hips, knees, spine and ankles. Sometimes the jawbones are involved. Among patients, the involvement of both joints on the two sides of the body and usually with the same pattern of development is due to the fact that the disease is symmetric. The symptoms may not come often to some people but they generally appear and heighten at periods of severe stress.

It is also possible that one might show symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis but may actually be suffering from other specific types of arthritis. A related but separate disease is the Ankylosing Spondylitis which shows symptoms similar to it. Sometimes, the presence of the disease predisposes the patient to other types of joint disease like cervical arthritis.

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Does Psoriasis Always Lead To Psoriatic Arthritis?

Monday, September 21st, 2009
Richard Ramey Said:

For the preponderance of persons who have been diagnosed with having psoriasis, they will most likely merely need to handle the inflammatory skin pain. This condition materializes over a considerable segment of the body for a lot of people.

However for additional folks, those flaking red blotches that arise are small in number. A further grave predicament identified as psoriatic arthritis will result for about 10% of sufferers.

Psoriatic arthritis is mainly recognized by a stinging swelling of the joints. The diagnosis of this ailment is typically arrived at due to the psoriasis followed by the inflammation later. The disease generally develops in patients between the ages of 40 and 50 years old, although in truth it could happen anytime.

Very rarely does psoriatic arthritis take place when psoriasis does not. And what’s more, psoriasis can progress for several years in patients ahead of the arthritis.

There is extremely little difference in who attains the disease; it turns up in both genders, in every age group, and in every race. Experts believe that psoriatic arthritis occurs because of a complexity with the body’s immune system, comparable to psoriasis. They too feel that it is caused by genetics and maybe environment.

There have been certain achievements in identifying a specific gene associated with the disease. And a blood test doctors can now be prescribed to locate this gene.

The results of psoriatic arthritis involve stiffness of the joints, fever, and further severe troubles such as inflammation in the lungs or heart. Major medical problems are the results of such problems, and medical therapy of some sort is often required to avert more serious problems in the future.

Psoriatic arthritis is rather analogous to other varieties of arthritis. Because that is so, it is tough for doctors to make a correct conclusion. The best ways for them to build a proper diagnosis is to observe if the patient has a record of psoriasis. Moreover they will carry out blood tests on the patient, to aid determining what the correct disease is.

Doctors also test for infection about the swollen reddened joints to facilitate diagnose. X-rays are used to test for weakening cartilage and joints. Ultimately the doctors can build a proper diagnosis.

The treatment for psoriatic arthritis varies from person to person. There are over-the-counter drugs which could aid in lessening the pain. A number of doctors possibly will prescribe anti-rheumatic medicines to help limit the growth of the arthritis. Drugs to fight malaria have additionally been prescribed to assist in treating this disease.

But there is notwithstanding a long way to go. Much study still needs to be done, and hopefully progress will be made for the future.

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DOWN WITH FLUORIDE! arthritis, neurotoxin, IQ reducer

Monday, September 21st, 2009
PaulChekLive Said:

This is one heck of a serious topic and Underground Wellness gives it a go. If you drink tap water think again. If you have children think even harder about the known neurotoxic effects of one of the aluminium industries waste / externalities. Arent teeth maintained by a healthy diet and functioning immune system?? If so then why would ingesting a rather high on the periodic table element trump diet and lifestyle?? This information is to inform you on nutrition matters. It is not intended to …

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Arthritis Pain Relief – What Are the Options?

Monday, September 21st, 2009
Bernice Eker Said:

Arthritis does not choose any specific age group because it hits children, young adults and the older population. What treatments try to do is to stop the progression of the disease, stop the inflammation and relieve the pain that debilitates patients.

Available treatments include drug therapy or medication, physical therapy and exercise, steroid shots and the more crucial option of surgery or the removal of the affected joint and bone. Any kind of treatment should be thoroughly discussed with the doctor before any action is embarked upon.

The easiest and most convenient treatment available to most patients is the drug medication. Drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen help reduce inflammation providing arthritis pain relief. Aspirin is the most economical drug used as arthritis pain relief.

However, the drug may bring occasional side effects like the irritation of the ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract and the buzzing sound in the ears. The dose usually starts at a minimum level and is gradually increased until the physician finds the level most helpful to the patient. In this way, serious side effects could be minimized. Aspirin should never be used in gout because it has shown to aggravate the condition.

Cortisone-type or steroid drugs have been proven arthritis pain relief in severe cases of most types of arthritis. More often it is directly injected to the affected area but it can also be taken orally.

Steroid therapy has been shown to be more effective against the disease among children than in adults. The risk of dependence on this drug is the real danger in this type of medication. In some cases, when there is severe recurrence of the original symptom, withdrawal happens. Steroid therapy is a long-term process and injections only provide temporary arthritis pain relief.

Traditional ways of arthritis pain relief include massage, hot baths, hot compresses and other heat applications. Massage however is not part of the therapy for those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Maintaining proper posture also helps ease the pressure on the joints and distributes the weight evenly on both sides of the person’s body.

Rest is still the best preventive measure of aggravating arthritic conditions. A ten-hour sleep everyday is advised to patients with acute cases along with periods of rest during the day if possible. This is to reduce stress and fatigue.

Patients may not tend to move because of the swelling and pain of the joints but exercise is also important as it prevents the shrinking and weakening of the adjoining muscles surrounding the joint. Physiotherapy which includes hot packs and exercise may be extremely helpful.

Diet also plays a significant role in treating arthritis. Different types of joint disease also require different sets of food. For gout patients, avoidance of uric acid-rich food is necessary to prevent the recurrence of the inflammation.

A diet rich in calcium and protein is needed for those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis as they tend to suffer from loss of appetite which may eventually result to damage and loss of the bone tissues. A weight-loss diet is recommended to patients with osteoarthritis to lessen the pressure put into the weight-bearing joints of the body.

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