What your joints need

Using medication to treat and manage RA. Watch this and more health videos at: www.answerstv.com

Arthritis has been a serious medical condition most people suffer from across the globe. The disease turns ugly when people find it really difficult to been the pain and inflammation that usually occurs in the joints. This also tends to interrupt in their daily activities.

This disease is very common among people between the ages of 40 and 60. Both males and females are affected equally by this disease.

Fortunately there are many effective treatments available for arthritis, these days. You would find all types of treatment options such as natural remedies, massages, over-the-counter medications, prescription medicines and surgery.

Here is a description on the kind of medical treatments available for arthritis widely all around the world:

a) Natural remedies:

Natural remedies have gained immense popularity among people, these days. There are several reasons behind this. First wide availability of these remedies and the fact that these don’t result in side effects. Natural remedies are highly effective.

Here are some of the most preferred natural remedies for arthritis:

- Ginger: It is rich in gingerols and extremely effective in treating inflammation.

- Cinnamon: It is anti-inflammatory and work towards inhibiting the release of inflammatory acids.

- Yellow and orange fruits and vegetables: These are rich in carotenoids facilitate reducing inflammation.

- Olive oil: Extra virgin oil act as an anti-inflammatory drug and provide a good effect in case of heart disease.

b) Over-the-counter products:

Over-the-counter medicines are widely available in drug stores. Almost all these medicines claim to provide good and sometimes instant relief from painful symptoms of arthritis. Here are some of the common non prescription medicines you can go for.

- Ibuprofen: These reduce pain and inflammation.

- Acetaminophen: It is a great and one of the most effective pain relievers.

- Glucosamine and Chondroitin: These are components derived from natural joint cartilage. These are effective in alleviating joint pain.

c) Prescription medications:

You can get these only on the prescription and consultation of the health care practitioner. These medications are more effective and work really well as a long term treatment of almost all types of arthritis. Here are some of the most common prescription medicines advised for patients of arthritis.

- Vioxx or Rofecoxib

- Celebrex or Celecoxib

- Bextra or Valdecoxib

All the above mentioned medicines are categorized as COX-2 inhibitors. These work towards blocking an enzyme that can result in an inflammatory response. Other types of prescription medications include Biological Response Modifiers, Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs or DMARDs and Corticosteroids.

d) Natural therapies

There are also several natural therapies available for treating arthritis. These are quite different from natural medication. These work towards curing the disease with natural methods such as hot and cold suppression, joint protection, massage, weight reduction and exercise programs.

e) Medical related methods

These are very effective when it comes to providing relief from arthritis symptoms. There are several medical related methods such as Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation or TENS and surgery. Surgery is usually considered to be the last option in the cases of arthritis.

Treatment for arthritis is possible. You need to look for the symptoms and then rush for medical help.

If you have been diagnosed with any type of arthritis, you know how difficult it can be to live with the pain and inflammation that the condition brings with it. You may get to the point where you will do almost anything to get relief from the pain. The good news is that with the scientific advancement that have been made in the area of arthritis today, you have many options to ease arthritis pain. From the homeopathic to those prescribed by your doctor, you are very likely to find a way to ease arthritis pain that will be effective for you and your symptoms.

Your doctor is the first person to talk to about the best ways to ease your arthritis pain, since he will be able to coordinate different treatments that will work well in conjunction with one another. You should let your doctor know before beginning to take any type of dietary supplement or herbal remedy to ensure that these natural solutions will not counteract the effects of medications that you are currently taking. Your doctor will also be the best source of information on exercise, diet and other holistic treatments, such as biofeedback and therapeutic massage.

When it comes to physical activity, your level of exercise will greatly depend on the amount of damage that has been done to your joints. Most of the time, some level of strength training will be effective in easing arthritis pain, although high impact exercise like jogging is detrimental than beneficial. Your doctor or physical therapist can help you to find the best exercise program to ease your arthritis pain, and then it will be up to you to stick with it for maximum benefit.

Medications to ease arthritis pain and even reverse the effects of arthritis have come a long way in recent years. There are a number of good over the counter medications that can ease arthritis pain that is milder in nature and prescription medicines that your doctor can give you that will help to alleviate the more severe pain. There are also a number of medications available today that will help to stop and even reverse the joint damage that arthritis can cause, allowing arthritis sufferers to live pain-free for a much longer period of time.

If you are searching for ways to ease your arthritis pain, you can find plenty of information on the Internet and through your doctor’s office. The good news is that there are more options in easing arthritis pain today than ever before

Believe it or not, you have 650 muscles and 206 bones in your body, all held together by powerful joints. If something goes wrong in these vital “connectors,” arthritis can be the painful result.Watch More Health Videos at Health Guru: www.healthguru.com

Living with rheumatoid arthritis can be really very difficult as it is accompanied by intense pain and discomfort. What are their effective treatment methods and the potential side effects? Find out the expert facts in this article.

Living with rheumatoid arthritis is not a joyful situation as it involves a lot of pain and aches. The pain increases with the severity of the condition. Therefore, it is essential that you have a proper diagnosis well in time, so that you can take the appropriate action and treatment method as early as possible.

Although a cure for rheumatoid arthritis has not been found, there are a number of treatments that are available. They all primarily work to counter inflammation, as it is one of the root causes of rheumatoid arthritis.

Treatment methods

The following types of treatment methods are generally prescribed for those living with rheumatoid arthritis –

1) Prescription based Cox-2 inhibitors — these work by inhibiting the action of Cox-2 enzyme in our body, which are responsible for creating inflammation and exasperating the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Cox-2 inhibitors are known for their fatal side effects.

For example, Vioxx was a popular Cox-2 inhibitors brand manufactured by Merck. It was taken off from the market due to its fatal side effects such as heart attack and stroke, which were reported by tens of thousands of rheumatoid arthritis patients. In fact, thousands of lawsuits are still pending against it till today.

2) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs — the popular anti-inflammatory over the counter prescription drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen come in this category. They are effective for the short term management of inflammation, and they provide effective pain relief. But when taken for long periods of time and in high doses, they can cause side effects such as stomach problems, gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers.

3) Corticosteroids — they are also an effective means of combating inflammation, but they are prescribed only for short periods of time due to their potential side effects such as weight gain, bruising, eye problems like cataract, high blood pressure, diabetes, thinning of the bones which might lead to osteoporosis, etc.

Due to the serious side effects of the above mentioned treatment methods; they might not be the best alternatives for people living with rheumatoid arthritis. Natural remedies such as that involving the use of omega-3 supplementation in the diet have proven much more effective and safer form of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Omega-3 fatty acids are powerful natural anti-inflammatory. They improve the brain and cardiovascular health, sharpen the memory and boost concentration, and provide many more overall health benefits. Unfortunately, over the recent years the average Western diet has become highly deficient in these essential omega 3 fatty acids.

Here is a word of caution though; Omega 3 fatty acids are also natural blood thinners. So, in case you are taking blood thinner medications such as aspirin, then you should consult your doctor before you use omega-3 supplements for alleviating the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

A lot of evidence has been found that omega-3 fatty acids effectively help to overcome the symptoms of those people living with rheumatoid arthritis. They help to reduce the tenderness in joints, reduce inflammation, decrease morning stiffness and also reduce the need of taking prescription based drugs for the purpose of pain relief in rheumatoid arthritis.

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients that are required by the body anyway for its vital functions, health and well-being. Purified Fish oil and its supplements are among the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA.

The green lipped mussel found in New Zealand is also an amazing source of omega-3 fatty acids. It is very effective in reducing joint stiffness and pain in the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and is used along with fish oil to form the best omega 3 supplements for treatment of people living with rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis sufferers today are still continually seeking relief from their arthritis pain. I found relief from my arthritis pain, naturally, and you can do it too. In osteoarthritis, any one or more affected joints experience a progressive loss of cartilage, which is the slippery material that cushions the ends of bones.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease of the joint cartilage and bone, often thought to result from “wear and tear” on a joint, although there are other causes of arthritis such as congenital defects, trauma and metabolic disorders. Osteoarthritis affects joints in a different way depending on their location in the body, causing various symptoms.

The synovium is a membrane that surrounds the whole joint; it’s filled with synovial fluid, a lubricating liquid that supplies nutrients and oxygen to the cartilage. The joints are designed to provide flexibility, support, stability, and protection. The cartilage is slippery tissue that coats the ends of the bones.

Most experts now believe that osteoarthritis results from a genetic susceptibility that causes a biologic response to injuries to the joint, which leads to progressive deterioration of cartilage. 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 rheumatoid arthritis and other muscle and joint problems associated with autoimmune diseases. It’s generally thought that inflammation plays a minor role in osteoarthritis and is more likely to be a result, not a cause, of arthritis.

For natural treatment for arthritis make an appointment with a naturopathic doctor, called a naturopath; ask around for referrals.

I eat a diet of living foods (fruits, raw veggies, raw nuts and raw seeds) to relieve my arthritis pain and this should be tried for at least 30 days, thus eliminating any foods that might be culprits. Make smoothies with fruit only using a base of two bananas, adding a cup of frozen or fresh blueberries and mango chunks or substitute any other fruit and add an energy boost of two tablespoons of coconut oil; add one or two leaves of kale for another highly nutritional boost — no one will ever know.

Keep in mind, if you take a joint supplement it should help do three things — build cartilage, relieve everyday joint pain, and enhance your flexibility and movement. Some of the supplements commonly used for relieving arthritis pain, but I don’t know if any of these work, are: 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.

One natural approach is to consume foods that are known to help relieve arthritis pain or prevent arthritis. Try avoiding the eight most allergic foods, wheat being the most allergenic; they are wheat, corn, eggs, milk, peanuts, fish, shellfish and some nuts, not all. Dried Montmorency tart cherries seem to be helpful for arthritis pain also.

The first step in managing your arthritis is to change your diet; I think all experts would agree on this. Many arthritis sufferers have changed their diets and noticed significant or total improvement.

Try to keep painful joint areas in motion, even in a limited manner. Exercise your affected joints every day, to keep them flexible. Use Taiji health balls, with the chimes, to strengthen the finger joints: hold two balls, move in a clockwise circle with your fingers to rotate them, then try counterclockwise and do throughout the day. At bedtime you can try putting on a pair of stretch gloves to help reduce the pain and swelling in your fingers for those with arthritic hands.

Even the lightest exercise can go a long way to maintaining your joint mobility and overall health. Exercise is good for joints affected by osteoarthritis. Whatever you do, keep moving; don’t sit when you can stand, don’t stand when you can walk.

If you’re going to go the conventional treatment route and take medications, ask your pharmacist for drug inserts so you can read up on the drugs and understand any side effects or adverse reactions, before taking them. At the very least, understand what the side effects and adverse reactions are for any drug you take. Conventional doctors may suggest the standard protocol for your joint pain; they tell you to take over-the-counter NSAIDS or prescribe COX-2 inhibitors, of which all have side effects.

Once you understand the facts about arthritis, possible causes and treatment approaches you can take, you’ll be on your way to recovery and pain will disappear. Begin your treatment program with a diet change, exercise and weight loss plan to see results and pain relief fast. Knowing more about arthritis and how it works will ultimately help contribute to your relief of arthritis pain.