Archive for the ‘Non Fiction’ Category

Rheumatoid Arthritis – The Basics

Sunday, November 29th, 2009
Joseph Vishnev Said:

What is it?

It is a form of arthritis that causes pain, swelling, stiffness and even possibly loss of movement in affected joints. It is mostly prevalent in the wrist and fingers and women are much more prone to it than men. It starts between ages 25 and 55 and may have its symptoms even disappear for a period of time. The severe form of rheumatoid arthritis can last a lifetime. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means the arthritis results from your own immune system attacking your own body’s tissues, which results in these various abnormalities.

How to Tell?

There are no quick and sudden “red flags” to tell that you have an onset of rheumatoid arthritis, although there are some common traits that you can watch out for. If you are experiencing lasting joint pain in any part of your body pay immediate attention to it. If that then progresses to either joint swelling or joint stiffness, especially if there is tenderness or pain when touching a joint you should immediately contact the doctor. Problems in using or moving a joint normally, or warmth and redness in a joint especially if they persist warrant a visit. If any one of these symptoms lasts longer than 2 weeks, see your regular doctor. Keep in mind that if you have a fever, feel physically ill, or suddenly have a swollen joint you might want to see your doctor sooner.

Treatment

The pain and inflammation of arthritis have commonly been treated using medications, local steroid injections, and joint replacement. All of these approaches have been met with varying levels of success.

Today’s researchers are working to develop treatments to forestall joint erosion even before it elevates to noticeable status. People whose joints are already damaged by arthritis can benefit from today’s research.

Most arthritis medications fall into three categories: those that relieve pain; those that reduce inflammation or the body process that causes swelling, warmth, and redness; and those that slow the disease process and limit further damage to the joints.

Pain relievers such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) and NSAIDs such as Motrin (ibuprofen) are used to reduce the pain caused by many rheumatic conditions. Some forms of NSAIDs have the added benefit of decreasing the inflammation associated with arthritis. But, nothing is without a price, as one of the more common side effects is stomach irritation, which can create a “catch-22″ situation that can force the reduction of the dosage or medication.

Biological products are a new class of drugs used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. They differ from conventional drugs in that they are derived from living cell culture systems and are not chemically manufactured as regular drugs. There are four licensed biologics. Of those three help reduce inflammation and structural damage of the joints by blocking a protein (TNF) involved in immune system responses. Elevated levels of TNF are often found in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

There are also devices designed to fight rheumatoid arthritis. These are preparations that mirror hyaluronic acid – a naturally occurring body substance that lubricates the knee joint. These are injected directly into the knee joint to help relieve pain, increase joint movement and stop further progression of the disease.

Electrical nerve stimulation is another set of devices used in rheumatoid arthritis treatment. These devices modify the brain’s perception of pain thereby restoring normal activities to the patient, albeit not really curing the cause of the problem. There is ongoing research to see if these devices, coupled with more potent drugs, which would otherwise be very painful to administer, to accelerate the treatment.

With proper treatment, the pain and swelling from rheumatoid arthritis will get better, and joint damage might slow down or stop. The patient will find it easier to move around, and will feel better.

Common Sense Tips

Exercise and good diet together significantly improve physical function and reduce arthritis related pain in people older than 60 who are overweight or obese, according to both the Arthritis Foundation and the American College of Rheumatology. Further research shows that physical activity decreases joint pain, improves function and a person’s mood and outlook, and delays disability.

Regular exercise also helps to reduce the pain and fatigue of many different kinds of arthritis and helps people work and do daily activities which directly relate to their sense of independence. Various motion, strengthening, and endurance exercises using muscles without moving joints, as well as aerobic based exercises are extremely beneficial in decreasing joint fatigue, strengthening muscles and bones, increasing flexibility and stamina, and improving the general sense of patient health.

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Getting Rid Of Arthritis Pain Overnight Naturally With Diet

Friday, November 27th, 2009
Helen Hecker Said:

There is a little-known natural, diet solution to curing oneself of arthritis pain, which I discovered quite a few years ago. Arthritis sufferers today are still continually seeking relief from their arthritis pain. The first step when looking for solutions to an arthritis pain problem is to understand how arthritis works.

There are more than 100 different types of medical conditions that can affect your joints; it’ll be difficult to treat your condition effectively unless you know exactly what your diagnosis is; get diagnosed. Arthritis is usually found in the joints of the fingers, feet, knees, hips, and spine.

Proteoglycans are large molecules that help make up cartilage; they bond to water, which ensures the high-fluid content in cartilage. The combination of the collagen meshwork and high water content tightly bound by proteoglycans creates a resilient, slippery pad in the joint, which resists the compression between bones during muscle movement. Collagen is the essential protein in cartilage; it forms a mesh to give support and flexibility to the joint.

As chondrocytes (the cells that make up cartilage) age, they lose their ability to make repairs and produce more cartilage; this process may play an important role in the development and progression of osteoarthritis. 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.

Injuries sometimes can be the start in the arthritic disease process; osteoarthritis can develop years later even after a single traumatic injury to a joint or near a joint.

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.

Studies done on antioxidant vitamins question the value of these supplements; it’s clearly better to consume these antioxidants in living foods because they may also need to work with other nutrients present in the foods to work properly. Dried Montmorency tart cherries seem to be helpful for arthritis pain also.

Supplements that help any disease or ailment include vitamin B12 — the methylcobalamin type not cyanocobalamin, and has to be sub-lingual — dissolves slowly under the tongue; and vitamin D3 especially if you can’t get a daily dose of 15-20 minutes of sun on your arms and legs so you can make your own vitamin D3.

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. One natural treatment method involves avoiding all inflammatory foods.

With natural treatments there will be fewer, if any, side effects or adverse reactions. Nutrition experts say it takes a combination of supplements, that no one supplement can relieve arthritis pain, build cartilage, etc.

Try massaging your fingers or other affected joints with coconut oil twice a day. Not a food, but many, including one well-known professional golfer, still wear copper bracelets and swear by them.

For arthritic fingers, a good exercise is to put your finger tips together and press hard and release, then repeat several times. Don’t just sit there, keep moving. Even if you don’t think you can exercise, you can do some movements. Exercise in a heated pool; it will help reduce the pressure on your joints and the heat will help you loosen those joints.

Exercise your affected joints every day, to keep them flexible. Whatever you do, keep moving; don’t sit when you can stand, don’t stand when you can walk. A good exercise routine is the key to beating arthritis and arthritis pain.

At the very least, understand what the side effects and adverse reactions are for any drug you take. For conventional treatment of arthritis – if you do choose to take drugs or medications, be very careful and read the labels thoroughly. Let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other drugs, herbs or other supplements you’re taking, to ward off any adverse drug reactions that might occur from the combining of different drugs or supplements.

More and more doctors are investigating the benefits of alternative therapies and most don’t object to patients trying them. Stopping the progress of your arthritis as well as stopping your pain should be your number one goal. Begin your treatment program with a diet change, exercise and weight loss plan to see results and pain relief fast.

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Rhuematoid Arthritis: What Are Your Best Treatment Options?

Thursday, November 26th, 2009
Nick Preston Said:

Recent research is providing interesting insight into beneficial treatments for arthritis, especially in the area of rheumatoid arthritis. Those who are one of the more than 4 million North Americans with rheumatoid arthritis have more treatment options then ever before, with several of these options, especially when used together with one another, showing great promise for effectively managing rheumatoid arthritis.

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Before we dive right into these highly effective treatment options, it is important to get a firm grip on what this beast called rheumatoid arthritis actually is. Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is a form of arthritis in which the body’s immune system turns on itself and begins to attack the joints throughout the body. This causes swollen, painful joints, fever and many times deformity of the joints. Those between the ages of 20-40 are most commonly diagnosed, except in cases of juvenile RA, in which children 16 years of age or younger are typically affected.

Rheumatoid arthritis is three times more likely to affect women then men, and has been shown to favor certain geographical regions with a high concentration in North America. If left untreated, RA will cause rapid degeneration and will quickly begin to deform the joints it affects, especially those in the wrists, hands and fingers. It is also commonly found in the elbow, shoulder, neck, jaw, feet, ankles, knees and hips.

The affected joints will usually feel hot, consistent with the inflammatory process occurring in these joints. One of the landmark signs of rheumatoid arthritis is that the same joints will be affected on both sides of the body.

What Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatments are Most Effective?

Until recently prescribing expensive and slow-working drugs known as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, or DMARDs, was the favorite treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. While medication may certainly be warranted and beneficial in some cases of RA, research is revealing that a combination of dietary changes along with supplements and herbs as well as physical activity in the early stages of RA is proving to be a highly effective method of managing RA.

As any health professional with tell you, prevention is always more effective than any cure, and rheumatoid arthritis is no exception. Vitamin D therapy, either through diet (dairy products – especially milk) or supplements (Vitamin D3 – cholecalciferol) has been shown to prevent auto-immune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes. Dosages up to 2000 units have shown promising results and also have been shown to reduce a key factor in chronic inflammation throughout the body, which commonly occurs alongside RA.

Blunting the autoimmune response while at the same time reducing inflammation throughout the body is the best way to effectively manage rheumatoid arthritis. Periodic fasting can be very helpful in deadening the autoimmune response, as can taking probiotics (supplements containing beneficial microorganisms). Supplementing your diet daily with between 2-3 grams of the Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA also is very beneficial in diminishing the autoimmune response. Identifying and addressing any food allergies or sensitivities, which will typically aggravate autoimmune diseases, is quite essential.

It is worthwhile to note that while treatment for rheumatoid arthritis may involve introducing several supplements to your diet, supplements that are meant to enhance your immune system should be avoided. Since the immune system is already overactive, stimulating it through herbs such as Ginseng, Echinacea or others may actually make your RA worse.

Inflammation is a key factor in rheumatoid arthritis treatment. The more inflammation present, no matter if it is due to a localized injury or part of a system-wide chronic condition, the worse your RA symptoms will be.

Reducing inflammation is possible through supplements and herbal therapies. Omega-3 fatty acids including EPA and DHA have shown positive effects in improving joint function that are enhanced by GLA, a key element in the herb Evening Primrose. Restricting arachadonic acids, which are plentiful in eggs, red meat and organ tissue such as liver, from your diet also helps to minimize inflammation within the body.

Beyond nutritional and dietary treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, herbal therapy can also be an effective means of reducing inflammation and pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Tumeric, Astaxanthin and Ginger extracts may reduce the need for medications for RA if used judiciously. However, it would be wise to seek expert advice before using these herbal remedies as drug interactions and gastrointestinal problems are possible.

Physical activity, especially in the early stages of the disease, is showing excellent results in slowing the progression and diminishing pain associated with RA. It has been shown to provide huge

improvements in joint function, fitness and mental outlook. Resistance training utilizing exercise bands and tubing along with endurance training, sports and stretching at least two times per week may well slow the progression of the disease.

Interestingly enough, however, those with severe rheumatoid arthritis actually did worse when physical activity was introduced into their regular routine. As a result it is important not only to identify RA symptoms early but also to begin rheumatoid arthritis treatments as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately there is no cure for RA, but the quicker you begin to manage it, the better results you will see and the slower your disease process will progress. Living with rheumatoid arthritis is never simple nor easy, but pursuing natural treatments for RA can improve the results you see in the short term and also greatly improve your long-term quality and quantity of life.

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Arthritis Pain Relief – Getting Help Now Naturally

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
Helen Hecker Said:

I finally found relief from my arthritis pain, naturally, and you can too. Arthritis sufferers today are always seeking relief from their arthritis pain.

As a result of arthritis, the bone just beneath the cartilage undergoes changes that lead to a bony overgrowth and the tissue that lines the joint can become inflamed, the ligaments can loosen and the associated muscles can weaken. Osteoarthritis affects joints in a different way depending on their location in the body, causing various arthritis symptoms. Unlike some other types of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis is not systemic – it does not spread throughout the entire body.

Proteoglycans are the large molecules that help to make up cartilage; they bond to water, which ensures a high-fluid content in cartilage. Cartilage contains a very high percentage of water, but it decreases with age. Cartilage is slippery tissue that coats the end of the bones.

Aging cells could be a factor in the development of arthritis and specifically osteoarthritis. Some possible causes of arthritis include lesser known: bleeding disorders, like hemophilia, that cause bleeding to occur in the joint; disorders such as avascular necrosis, that block the blood supply closest to the joint; and conditions like hemochromatosis, which causes iron to build-up in the joints. Genetic factors are thought to be involved in about 50 percent of osteoarthritis cases in the hands and hips and a somewhat lower percentage of cases in the knee.

A recent study in Great Britain touted the beneficial effects of cod liver oil in osteoarthritis; relieving pain and stiffness, and starting to reverse the destruction of joint cartilage within just 24 hours. Natural arthritis treatment is usually a better choice because it’s non-invasive and usually anti-inflammatory if living foods are consumed. Nutrition experts say it takes a combination of supplements, not just one supplement to relieve arthritis pain, build cartilage, etc.

Make all-fruit smoothies using a base of two bananas, add one 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. If you really want to get rid of your arthritis pain forever it may take a radical change in your diet and an ongoing commitment to it. I started eating a diet of living foods (fruits, raw veggies, raw nuts and raw seeds) which caused my arthritis to disappear and therefore relieve me of arthritis pain; this should be tried for at least 30 days; it would eliminate any foods that might be culprits.

With natural arthritis treatments there will be fewer, if any, side effects or adverse reactions. An acid diet, that is any foods that are not alive, is considered to be inflammatory to the joints.

Dried Montmorency tart cherries seem to be helpful as a natural treatment for arthritis pain for many people. For a natural approach and natural treatment for arthritis make an appointment with a naturopathic doctor – a naturopath; ask around for referrals in your area.

Keep a basket of arthritic treatment aids for arthritic hands (Thera-putty, hand grips, Taiji Chinese chime balls, etc.) to use at bedtime or while watching television. Exercise is good for any joint affected by osteoarthritis. Fight arthritis through plenty of movement and exercise! Your body has 147 joints that are in motion every day of your life; keep them moving!

A good exercise routine is the key to beating arthritis and keeping arthritis pain at bay; so keep moving as much as possible. Stretching and warming up the joints should always be the first step in your exercise routine to make your joints more flexible, but be careful in the morning; you may need an hour or more of moving around first; you can start by moving your limbs around in your bed a few minutes before you get out of bed. Whatever you do, keep moving; don’t sit when you can stand, don’t stand when you can walk or walk in place.

Drugs commonly used for arthritis pain can cause ulcers, heart disease, liver or kidney damage. Let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other drugs, herbs or other supplements you’re taking, to ward off any bad or adverse drug reactions that might occur from the combining of different drugs or supplements. If you’re planning to take any of the non-prescription NSAIDs for arthritis, make sure you understand what bad effects they can have on the stomach, liver and kidneys; discuss this with your family doctor or rheumatologist.

Knowing more about arthritis and osteoarthritis and how it works will ultimately help contribute to relief of your arthritis pain. And stopping the progression of arthritis as well as stopping your pain should be your number one goal. Once you understand the facts about arthritis and the possible causes and remedies and treatment approaches you can take, you’ll be on your way to recovery and pain will go away forever.

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Facts And Information

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
Riley Hendersen Said:

There are a lot of myths and rumors surrounding rheumatoid arthritis. Mystery seems to surround everything from what actually causes the disease to potential ways to cope with the pain associated with it. The simple truth is that this particular disease can present in a number of different ways and how severe it is will really dictate the best path to consider for coping.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that affects the joints within the body. It can cause such things as pain, swelling and stiffness. The disease itself tends to present systemically, which means if one side of the body has it, the other likely will, too. For example, if left knee shows signs of a rheumatoid condition, the right will, as well. In addition to stiffness and pain, rheumatoid can bring with it deformities in extreme cases, a sense of overall fatigue and even fevers.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that doctors are still researching to figure out exact causes. What is known is that this particular condition can come and completely go away without leaving behind permanent damage. It can also present with flare-ups that come and go over time. In some cases, unfortunately, the disease persists for years on end, bringing with it permanent damage.

Rheumatoid arthritis is most common in people in the middle age of life, but it can strike children at times. While the exact causes are unclear, many doctors believe it can come from such things as genetics, hormones, and even environment. Women tend to be more likely to get this condition than men.

Dealing with rheumatoid arthritis can be a very difficult task that will come with both good days and bad days. The pain can be unbearable at times, but the good news is there are very effective ways of coping with it. What works for one patient, might not work for another. Fortunately, there are a lot of different treatment options.

When it comes to treating rheumatoid arthritis, doctors strive to achieve a few things. The primary goals of any treatment are to reduce pain and swelling, stave off joint damage and help people feel better while staying active. The last two points are particularly important when the disease strikes the very young and very active. Since cures can often be worse than the condition, the goal here is pain reduction without quality of life reduction.

Depending on the severity of the case of rheumatoid arthritis, a doctor might prescribe such things as anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the swelling, which often helps with the pain. In some cases, painkillers will be advised, but many try to steer clear of this option. Other forms of treatment include gentle exercises to keep the range of motion good, cold compresses, injections and so on. The key, again, is to preserve quality of life while also preventing any permanent issues.

Since rheumatoid arthritis can sometimes be a lifelong condition, it can bring with it some emotional problems, as well. To help patients cope, there are even support groups that can be of real benefit.

Living life with rheumatoid arthritis isn’t easy, but it can be done effectively when patience, persistence and a willingness to overcome are all present. The best advice is to take it a day at a time and do what’s necessary to cope to make living with rheumatoid arthritis possible.

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Living with Arthritis Pain

Monday, November 23rd, 2009
Riley Hendersen Said:

One of the most important factors of living with arthritis is learning to successfully manage the joint pain and stiffness that inevitably comes along with the disease. Luckily we live in a time period where there are many good treatment options for arthritis pain ranging from over-the-counter creams to prescription injections which can actually help to stop the disease’s progression. Lifestyle changes, such as exercise, may also help to decrease arthritis pain.

For mild arthritis pain, an over-the-counter cream or non-prescription analgesic may be all you need. There are a variety of capsaicin creams on the market that seem to temporarily relieve mild arthritis pain. Although they generally have a combination of ingredients which includes capsaicin, which is the ingredient in chili peppers that makes them hot. When applied to the skin, these creams deplete a pain neurotransmitter called substance P. This temporarily desensitizes the area to pain. The relief from these creams is temporary and the product must be reapplied regularly. Also over-the-counter products like acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen are also excellent for reducing swelling or inflammation of arthritic joints.

If your arthritis pain becomes more severe and begins to interfere with your daily routine, your doctor may prescribe a prescription medicine to help your condition. These medicines can range from prescription strength non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug to medicines containing a narcotic pain relief agent if your doctor feels your arthritis pain is severe enough.

There are several treatment options available for those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is the form of where the body’s immune system attacks the joints causing arthritis. Doctors can also prescribe immunosuppressant drugs which will help slow the body’s attack on itself. New drugs called biologics are also available for those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Biologics can decrease arthritis pain in those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

Your arthritis doctor will probably also talk to you about lifestyle changes that can help relieve your arthritis pain. These lifestyle changes can include things such as rest and relaxation, proper diet and exercise. Contrary to popular belief, exercise is important for those suffering from arthritis. Range of motion exercises can help relieve joint stiffness as well as maintaining normal joint movement.

Weight-bearing or strengthening exercises help increase muscle strength which in turn protects and supports the joints. Aerobic exercises can help those suffering from arthritis lose weight, which helps by taking stress off injured joints. Some studies also show aerobic exercises may actually help to reduce joint inflammation associated with arthritis.

There are many things you can do to help you live successfully with your arthritis pain. These things include activities, such as exercise, or rest and relaxation. You may also choose an over-the-counter pain medication or ointment to help relieve aches and pains. In the case that your arthritis pain becomes severe, your doctor may prescribe a prescription pain medication to help ease your aches. Whatever form or severity of arthritis pain you have, there is a treatment option available to help you live successfully with your condition.

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Arthritis Pain Relief – What You Need To Know About Natural Treatments

Monday, November 23rd, 2009
Helen Hecker Said:

There is a little-known natural solution to curing oneself of arthritis pain, which I discovered many years ago. Getting rid of arthritis pain, without drugs, was one big relief for me.

Arthritis pain can be experienced whenever a stiff or swollen joint is used. There are more than 100 different types of medical conditions that can affect your joints; it’ll be difficult to treat your condition effectively unless you know exactly what your diagnosis is; get diagnosed. Sometimes arthritis occurs in the wrist, elbows, shoulders, and jaw but you generally don’t find it there.

The ability to make repairs to cartilage becomes limited as cartilage cells age. Joints are designed for normal and painless movement and are primarily supplied by the synovium and cartilage. Collagen is the main protein found in all connective tissues in the body, including the muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

Aging cells may be a factor in the development of arthritis. One possible cause of arthritis is the inflammatory response due to the over-reaction of the immune system to an injury or other assault in the body, like an infection. 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.

With natural treatments there will be fewer, if any, side effects or adverse reactions. Many have told me that going off dairy products and gluten containing foods relieved their arthritis pain entirely. Not a food, but many, including one well-known professional golfer, still wear copper bracelets and swear by them.

Watch your diet closely – load-bearing joints are affected by excessive weight; they are the hips, knees, feet and spine. For natural treatment for arthritis make an appointment with a naturopathic doctor, called a naturopath; ask around for referrals. A study in Great Britain touted the beneficial effects of cod liver oil on osteoarthritis; relieving pain and stiffness, and reversing the destruction of joint cartilage within 24 hours.

For snacks, choose raw nuts without salt instead of lifeless roasted nuts. And avoid all inflammatory foods, if you can.

Try massaging your fingers or other affected joints with coconut oil twice a day. If you really want to get rid of your arthritis pain forever it may take a radical change in your diet and ongoing commitment.

Important exercises for arthritis are range-of-motion exercises, isometrics, and some weight bearing exercises. For arthritic fingers, a good exercise is to put your finger tips together and press hard and release, then repeat several times. Even if you don’t think you can exercise, you can do some movements. At bedtime try putting on a pair of stretch gloves to help reduce the pain and swelling in your fingers for those of you who have arthritic fingers.

Whatever you do, keep moving; don’t sit when you can stand, don’t stand when you can walk. Try to keep painful joint areas in motion, even in a limited manner. A good exercise routine is the key to beating arthritis and arthritis pain – keep moving.

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.

If you’re planning to take any of the non-prescription NSAIDS for arthritis, make sure you understand what bad effects they can have on the stomach, liver and/or kidneys and discuss this with your doctor. For conventional treatment of arthritis – if you do choose to take drugs or medications, be very careful and read the labels thoroughly.

One should not only search for relief of arthritis pain but work on preventing it. Knowing more about arthritis and how it works will ultimately help contribute to the relief of your arthritis pain. More and more conventional doctors are investigating the benefits of diet and alternative therapies.

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Learning What Arthritis Is Can Teach Us If We Have It

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
Jason Hobbs Said:

Has one ever speculated if he had some illness? Current day’s technological era has massive information regarding various health issues that can be useful and somewhat scary also.

Through the informative medium of newspaper journals, movies, television serials, and certain internet websites loads of information on countless illnesses that severely wreaks the humans can be found out by an individual. Subsequent to the understanding of several diseases, an individual more often than not questions oneself whether I have it? This holds especially true while searching for the most suspicious and dreadful reason for what causes arthritis?

From the approval of the phrase “ignorance breeds fear”, it has stressed many to get well-informed about certain disease that permits to finely speculate the impacts of the disease. On the other hand, this technique also ensures every individual to become more meditative for asking himself the question, “Do I suffer from this?” Meticulously, this trend can be understood with evaluating the query of “what causes arthritis”.

At The Junction Of The Joints:

The illustration of certain aged citizen pertaining to some joint illness comes in the mind immediately after hearing the term “arthritis”. Although, scientifically it is more crucial to find out what causes arthritis? A majority of arthritis produces pains and swelling of the joints. Joints are nothing but the connection points of two bones. Certain instances of bone joints are elbow and knee joints.

With the pass of time, an inflamed joint can transform into extremely damaged and irreparable condition. Certain defined kinds of arthritis are also capable of affecting the eyes or heart. In the broad list of arthritis, certain kinds of arthritis solely affect children, or are concerned to an individual’s immune system or ageing. Hence, it is essential to distinctively speculate the roots of what causes arthritis?

It is advised for every individual to detect himself for the illness after speculating what causes arthritis. This particular method makes an individual believe that pain is his constant colleague, because without soreness it is impossible to foresee any indicating marks, which are usually important while diagnosing a specific ailment or deficiencies.

An arthritic patient is expected to feel continuous inflammation, weight reduction, respiratory problems, redness, soreness, and heat indicating a severe form of arthritis. However, feeling severe arthritis soreness and uneasiness does not simply indicate that there are no curing alternatives.

Forms of Arthritis:

A patient diagnosed with arthritis may be of two major kinds rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. The arthritis that mainly occurs to old aged persons on the fingers, knees, and hips is known as osteoarthritis. Simultaneously, weakening of the immune system that causes arthritis is known as rheumatoid arthritis. It makes the sufferer weak with fever.

Subsequent to perfectly evaluating what causes arthritis, an individual needs to immediately consult a doctor, if he thinks that there is an indication of the illness. The doctor is the lone person who is capable enough to detect what causes arthritis and its curing methods.

An arthritic patient needs to thoroughly illustrate the range of soreness and its core. The doctor may suggest X-Rays and blood screenings to detect the type of arthritis and the reason what causes arthritis.

After the proper diagnosis the doctor will then confer about several finest cure alternatives available. The doctor is also bound to recommend certain drugs that may cure the immobility features, twinges and pain.

Suppose the patient does not get any relief with these medications, at such time other non-surgical curing techniques such as resting the inflamed joints, indulging in certain slight physical activities, resting the inflamed region with an ice packet, and taking a bath in lukewarm water will be suggested.

Further, if still no relief is obtained by these methods and drugs then it is an alarming condition and the doctor needs to be contacted instantly. At that point of time the doctor may suggest for a surgery with providing thorough details by illustrating the crucial question what causes arthritis and why there is a need of surgery.

Hence, it is firmly advised to detect confidentially the indications or occurrences of the disease immediately after discovering the fact of what causes arthritis. By this way, it will be easy to take appropriate help at the right time in order to live an arthritis free life.

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Effective Natural Arthritis Pain Relief Treatments

Saturday, November 21st, 2009
Helen Hecker Said:

I discovered several years ago a little-known natural solution for curing arthritis pain. I found relief from my arthritis pain, naturally, and you can do it too. To get the arthritis pain relief you’re seeking it’s helpful to understand how arthritis works.

There are more than 100 different types of medical conditions that can affect your joints; it’ll be difficult to treat your condition effectively unless you know exactly what your diagnosis is; get diagnosed. As a result of arthritis, the bone beneath the cartilage undergoes changes that lead to bony overgrowth and the tissue that lines the joint can become inflamed, the ligaments can loosen, and the associated muscles can weaken.

The combination of the collagen meshwork and high water content tightly bound by proteoglycans creates a resilient, slippery pad in the joint, which resists the compression between bones during muscle movement. Collagen is the main protein found in all connective tissues in the body, including the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Damaged joints cause pain and sufferers are constantly looking for ways to relieve the pain.

Aging cells may be a factor in the development of arthritis. 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. Genetic factors are thought to be involved in about 50% of osteoarthritis cases in the hands and hips and a somewhat lower percentage of cases in the knee.

If you really want to get rid of your arthritis pain forever it may take a radical change in your diet and an ongoing commitment. Gluten may be a culprit in arthritic diseases including fibromyalgia; avoid wheat, barley, rye, spelt, triticale, kamut and oats (although not a gluten grain it gets contaminated at the wheat mills). One natural approach is to consume foods that are known to help relieve arthritis pain or prevent arthritis.

Many have told me that going off dairy products and gluten containing foods relieved their arthritis pain entirely. Make highly nutritious raw applesauce using a food processor and put in 3-4 cored pesticide-free apples, with the skin on, and mix for a minute; so much better for you than canned highly processed applesauce and add 1/4 tsp. cinnamon or two tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseed for another boost. Watch your diet closely – load-bearing joints are affected by excessive weight; they are the hips, knees, feet and spine.

One natural treatment method involves avoiding all inflammatory foods. Studies done on antioxidant vitamins question the value of these supplements; it’s clearly better to consume these antioxidants in living foods because they may also need to work with other nutrients present in the foods to work properly.

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

Don’t just sit there, keep moving. Exercise your affected joints every day, to keep them flexible. Fight arthritis through proper exercise! Exercise is good for joints affected by osteoarthritis.

If you have pain and swelling in your fingers, try squeezing Thera-putty made for this purpose or exercising with two Chinese chime balls. Sign up for water aerobics classes at your local community center. For arthritic fingers, a good exercise is to put your finger tips together and press hard and release, then repeat several times.

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. Drugs commonly used for arthritis pain can cause ulcers, heart disease and liver or kidney damage. For conventional treatment of arthritis – if you do choose to take drugs or medications, be very careful and read the labels thoroughly.

The biggest secret to arthritis pain relief is to change your diet now; eat foods that are alive. One should not only search for relief of arthritis pain but work on preventing it. Following these suggestions can help you get back in the swing of things and allow you to spend your days enjoying life once more.

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Important Arthritis Pain Relief Tips And Treatments For You

Friday, November 20th, 2009
Helen Hecker Said:

Arthritis pain can be experienced whenever a stiff or swollen joint is used. The first step when looking for solutions to an arthritis pain problem is to understand how arthritis works. Arthritis is usually found in the joints of the fingers, feet, knees, hips, and spine.

The combination of the collagen meshwork and high water content tightly bound by proteoglycans creates a resilient, slippery pad in the joint, which resists the compression between bones during muscle movement. Damaged joints cause pain and sufferers are constantly looking for ways to relieve the pain. Cartilage contains a high percentage of water, but it decreases with age.

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. 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. One possible cause of arthritis is the inflammatory response due to the over-reaction of the immune system to an injury or other assault in the body, like an infection.

Nutrition experts say it takes a combination of supplements, that no one supplement can relieve arthritis pain, build cartilage, etc. For natural treatment for arthritis make an appointment with a naturopathic doctor, called a naturopath; ask around for referrals.

Supplements that help any disease or ailment include vitamin B12 — the methylcobalamin type not cyanocobalamin, and has to be sub-lingual — dissolves slowly under the tongue; and vitamin D3 especially if you can’t get a daily dose of 15-20 minutes of sun on your arms and legs so you can make your own vitamin D3.

One natural approach is to consume foods that are known to help relieve arthritis pain or prevent arthritis. The first step in managing your arthritis is to change your diet; I think all experts would agree on this. Studies done on antioxidant vitamins question the value of these supplements; it’s clearly better to consume these antioxidants in living foods because they may also need to work with other nutrients present in the foods to work properly.

Natural treatment for arthritis is usually a better choice because it’s non-invasive to the body. I know quite a few people who are drinking tart cherry juice to relieve their arthritis pain; has to the tart kind though.

Many arthritis sufferers have changed their diets and noticed significant or total improvement. Gluten may be a culprit in arthritic diseases including fibromyalgia; avoid wheat, barley, rye, spelt, triticale, kamut and oats (although not a gluten grain it gets contaminated at the wheat mills).

If weight is an issue, try to use exercises that will help you in losing weight such as walking. 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. For arthritic fingers, a good exercise is to put your finger tips together and press hard and release, then repeat several times. To be on the safe side always seek your doctor’s advice before starting or changing your exercise program.

Sign up for water aerobics classes at your local community center. Putting on a pair of stretch gloves at bedtime can help reduce the pain and swelling in your fingers, for those with arthritic hands. Even if you don’t think you can exercise, you can do some movements.

Once you become more informed about arthritis you’ll be able to plan an arthritis treatment program, natural or conventional or a combination of both. Let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other drugs, herbs or other supplements you’re taking, to ward off any adverse drug reactions that might occur from the combining of different drugs or supplements. For conventional treatment of arthritis – if you do choose to take drugs or medications, be very careful and read the labels thoroughly.

Changing your diet to predominately fruits and raw veggies, like I did, can turn your arthritis pain around almost overnight. Stopping the progress of your arthritis as well as stopping your pain should be your number one goal. More and more doctors are investigating the benefits of alternative therapies and most don’t object to patients trying them.

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