What your joints need

Multiple studies have demonstrated that early aggressive management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is beneficial.

What many patients don’t understand is why this is so important. Beyond the pain, stiffness, and inability to perform activities of daily living, moist patients aren’t aware of the other insidious dangers that rheumatoid arthritis- if not optimally managed- poses.

The very substances- called cytokines- that promote the chronic inflammation of joints are also responsible for more serious problems affecting internal organs. Examples of some of these cytokines are TNF-alpha, interleukin-1 (IL-1), and IL-6.

These cytokines lead to insulin resistance, abnormal function of cells that line blood vessels, and abnormalities of cholesterol metabolism, causing increases in total cholesterol, low density lipoproteins (LDL- “bad cholesterol”), and triglycerides. The end result is a marked tendency to atherogenesis- “hardening of the arteries”.

This hardening of the arteries is associated with cardiovascular disease leading to a marked tendency to stroke and heart attack. The insulin resistance also contributes to other metabolic disturbances. These metabolic problems can be aggravated by the natural tendency for patients with poorly controlled RA to be subject to stress, poor dietary habits, and less than sufficient exercise. The bottom line is that the life expectancy of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis is shortened by ten to fifteen years compared with age-matched controls.

One study demonstrated a two-fold higher risk for coronary heart disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared with people who did not have rheumatoid arthritis (Satter N, McInnes IB. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2005; 17: 286-292).

Another study showed that women with rheumatoid arthritis who had had rheumatoid arthritis for at least ten years were three times more likely to have had a heart attack compared to women without RA (Solomon DH, Karlson EW, Rimm EB, et al. Circulation. 2003; 107: 1303-1307).

So… it is this important but little emphasized complication of the disease that must be emphasized to patients.

Fortunately, most of the data that has been accumulated related to the cardiovascular issues from RA were collected before the advent of biologic therapy. There is increasing evidence that aggressive management of RA employing the newer biologic agents can help reduce the increased cardiovascular complications related to RA. One example is a study showing that female patients with RA treated with TNF-inhibitors had a reduced overall mortality rate. Unfortunately, the same was not true for men in this one example (Jacobsson LT, Turesson C, Nilsson JA, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2007; 66: 670-675).

However other studies have demonstrated a lower rate of cardiovascular problems such as heart attack, stroke, and congestive heart failure) in patients with RA treated with TNF-inhibitors (Dixon WG, Watson KD, Lunt M, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2007; 56: 2905-2912).

So what should the approach be?

There is still a great deal of ignorance among patients with rheumatoid arthritis regarding the above mentioned complications. Currently, many patients are under the misimpression that natural remedies are good and that drugs are to be avoided, condemned, and are all-in-all, bad. What a mistake!

What rheumatologists must do is explain the reasoning behind the need for aggressive management. It should be explained that there is a narrow “window of opportunity” that makes treatment critical.

Patients should be educated as to the pathophysiology of RA and the terrible consequences that may arise as a result of less than optimal therapy.

While an open mind toward natural therapies is important, an open mind towards the value of proper medical therapies is just as critical.

It is particularly important that patients and physicians become strategic allies together to combat this medical scourge. The aim should be to induce complete remission.

Rheumatoid arthritis or RA can cause inflammation of joints and tissues and some organs of the body. When the immune system attacks the body tissues mistakenly, autoimmune diseases happen. The immune system has different organizations of antibodies and cells to fight harmful toxins in the body. However, people who suffer from autoimmune illnesses have antibodies in the blood that attack body tissues, which can cause inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis is also known as rheumatoid disease because it affects several body organs.

Patients may not experience symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis for a long time but the illness is progressive that can result to functional disability and destruction of joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis or RA has different symptoms from mild to serious. Obvious symptoms can be seen in the joints of the wrists, hands, feet and knees. Effects on oral health are less known. The disease may affect different organs such as kidneys, lungs, and tissues around the heart.

Though RA has no cure, people with RA can take different kinds of anti-inflammatory medications to relieve inflammation and pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Aspirin is known to be effective as an anti-inflammatory. Other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include naproxophen and ibuprofen. To control inflammation, prednisone is recommended but it can cause several side effects including increased pressure of fluid around the brain. Other side effects are diabetes and infection. Physicians can inject cortisone and steroids for quick relief of the joints. Anti-rheumatic medications that can modify diseases are also available such as methotrexate, gold and hydroxychloroquine can, which can delay the progress of the illness. However, be aware that using these medications can have serious side effects.

Rheumatoid arthritis can also have effects on your oral health. Patients that suffer from the disease can have gum disease and serious tooth decay because the inflamed and swollen wrist joints and hands perform the oral hygiene, which can be painful and tedious. Patients can use electric toothbrushes that have more comfortable and larger handles for a better grasp. With electric toothbrushes, cleaning the teeth is easier and more effective. In addition, RA patients cannot floss and they are recommended to use interdental cleaning. Interdental cleaners can be purchased at different department stores and pharmacies.

Salivary glands are affected by RA, which causes dryness and inflammation. People with rheumatoid arthritis can experience dry mouth or xerostomia and dry eye or keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Natural treatments can treat this problem such as consuming plenty of water and chewing gums that free from sugar or sucking hard candies that are sugar-free to stimulate salivary glands. Tooth decay will occur if there are no cleansing and antibacterial saliva effects. It is necessary to use products that contain high fluoride. In addition, practice good oral hygiene and lessen the consumption of sugar.

If you are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, it is necessary to take good care of oral health. Make sure to brush your teeth at least two times everyday and floss after every meal. Make sure to check your mouth for the obvious signs of dry mouth, teeth stains, decay and plaque. In addition, you need to watch for gum disease, bad breath and bleeding. Visiting your dentist at least three times, every year is essential. It is recommended to discuss your RA as well as your oral health issues with your dentist or medical doctor.

Arthritis is a common yet troublesome ailment. Nevertheless, learning about its causes, symptoms, and treatment can help you alleviate the pain and other debilitating effects related to it.

It is true that having arthritis can be a very troubling and even painful experience. However, if you think that you have this ailment, you can still get a head start in making your situation better. To do this, you need to fully understand what arthritis is and what its causes, symptoms, and treatment are.

Arthritis is defined as the inflammation of joints in your body. This condition is normally present among people in their 50’s, although certain young individuals may also have it. There are several factors that can cause arthritis. First is genetics. Although medical experts are not sure on how much genetics can affect the development of arthritis, certain genetic variations have been proven to contribute to arthritis. The second is age. As an individual becomes older, the cartilage of his body becomes brittle and loses its capability to repair itself. When this happens, the development of arthritis may most likely occur.

The next factor that can cause arthritis is excess weight. If the joint has to support too much load, it would have a higher tendency to become damaged. Another cause of arthritis is previous injury. When a joint has been damaged by excessive or blunt force, irregularities may form in the joint’s smooth surface. Work hazards are another cause of arthritis. Studies have proven that people who work in assembly line and heavy construction have a high tendency to have arthritis.

After you have learned the possible causes of arthritis, you should identify its symptoms. You should, however, be aware that the symptoms of arthritis are not limited to the ones below. The first symptom of arthritis is joint pain. You may feel this joint pain while moving or doing an activity such as walking, writing, typing, or throwing something. The second symptom is inflammation. You may notice your joints becoming unusually warm, red, and/or stiff.

The next common symptom of arthritis is loss of range of motion or flexibility in your joints. You may notice that you could no longer move a specific joint to a position to which you could previously move it. Other symptoms of arthritis include irregular weight loss, extreme fatigue, non-specific fever, and joint deformity.

Now that you know the causes and symptoms of arthritis, you should learn about the ways of treating it. The first method of treating arthritis is exercise. You should exercise 20 to 30 minutes a day. However, you must avoid any type of exercise that causes joint pain which lasts one hour after the workout. In addition, you should manage to get a full eight-hour sleep every night. Sleep enables your body to regenerate, thus it lets joints heal naturally. Next, you should always remember to practice proper body posture. Stand straight and do not slouch. Lift heavy objects with your hip muscles and not your back. Another treatment for arthritis is physical therapy. Ask your doctor about the appropriate type of therapy for your case. An example is hydrotherapy, which involves mild exercises in the water. Moving on, you can apply warm compress on the affected joint. Do this for 20 minutes daily until the pain and swelling would subside. For severe cases of arthritis, you need to consult your doctor about the surgeries that could cure the said ailment.

The term “arthritis” refers to the chronic inflammation of joints throughout the body. Arthritis is one of the most rapidly growing chronic conditions in North America. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is also known as wear and tear arthritis and degenerative joint disease. This form of arthritis classically affects the knee joint, the hips and other weight bearing joints. Other forms include rheumatoid arthritis and gouty arthritis.

New treatments for arthritis are constantly researched. The most common arthritis medications are non-steroid or steroid anti-inflammatory drugs which, although effective, have serious side-effects. They can have unpleasant side effects: cause weight gain, acne, osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes, cataracts and infections. The side effects of steroids impact on almost every system of the body, and the more steroids you take, the more side effects you are likely to experience.

The newest findings link arthritis not only to poor diet and obesity, but also to the overall state of the immune system. Quite recently, researchers have found a protein in the immune system that malfunctioned in patients who have arthritis or other inflammatory diseases. Doctors believe they can block this protein to reduce the need for steroids.

As the general population ages, the number of people with arthritis is growing. Today arthritis medications are aimed at baby-boomers who have spent more years living with obesity than the previous generation. Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have found that there are more cases of obesity-related arthritis among baby boomers compared to the previous generation.

What we eat often plays a large role in setting the stage for the start of arthritis. There are a few changes anyone can make to their diet to successfully offset arthritis even without using arthritis medications.

The typical North American diet contains an overwhelming amount of cooked, processed and other acid forming foods. A healthy diet should be 70% alkaline and 30% acidic. Unfortunately, the average North American diet has reversed this ratio.

Instead of eating cooked foods that are acid forming, a diet of mostly raw, fresh vegetables, fruits and reducing the consumption of meats are an excellent way to help reduce inflammation throughout the body.

To ease your arthritis symptoms without succumbing to arthritis medications, avoid foods that form acid in your body. These foods include bread, coffee, corn, honey, oatmeal, peanuts, rice, soy, pasta and wheat. When treating arthritis, stay away from saturated fats, such as butter, cream, and margarine.

Antioxidants in brightly colored fruits and vegetables offer substantial protection against arthritis. By eating more yellow and orange fruits and vegetables you will consume antioxidants called carotenoids, which can lower your chances of developing inflammatory arthritis. Some dietitians suggest that night-shade vegetables are unsuitable for arthritis patients, which means you should think twice about eating peppers, (red, green and yellow), potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants.

Build your arthritis diet around such alkaline-forming products as most berries, bananas, dates, figs, prunes, raisins, almonds, asparagus, avocado, fresh beans, beets, carrots, grapes, plums, spinach, apricots, broccoli, all kind of cabbage, cantaloupe, celery, cherries, chestnuts, chicory, coconut milk, fresh sweet corn and cucumbers. Focusing on vegetables instead of proteins will ease many other symptoms and help you reduce weight too.

Proper hydration is a must. Drink half your weight in ounces – that would be 75 oz of water for a person weighing 150 pounds. If you must drink alcohol, coffee or soda, drink an extra 16 oz of water for every alcoholic drink and cup of coffee or soda you consume in addition to the water you would normally drink.

Arthritis is a condition that takes years to develop. In many cases, arthritis can be avoided or effectively managed through the use of alternative methods that include proper nutrition, hydration and specific nutritional supplements that can reduce the damage done to aging joints.

Feeling a little itchy, inflamed and stiff in the joints? If you feel that your condition adhere to the aforementioned characteristics, then it is possible that you may be suffering from arthritis. You are just one of the millions of people around the world who are infected with this condition. Arthritis involves pain, swelling, and inflammation of joints which results from infections, metabolic disturbances or other causes.

Fluctuating pain and stiffness follow and can get worse during occasional flare-ups. Many people who are affected by this condition regularly complain of flu- like symptoms such as tiredness and depression. Therefore it is essential to treat this condition before it gets onto the next stage and halt it in its tracks. This article aims to provide an insight into several methods that can be used to treat arthritis naturally, causing minimal side effects.

The technique of acupuncture has been used for centuries by the Chinese. It is based on the theory that inserting hair-fine needles along certain energy lines can help stimulate energy flow. It is believed by scientists that the insertion causes the nervous system to release endogenous, which acts as pain-relieving chemicals. This can therefore help in reducing pain.

Alexander technique involves analyzing whole body patterns, rather then a certain part of the body which contains the symptom. It is a way of teaching improved stance to help people stand and move more efficiently. It is designed to help us maneuver in a better way and eliminate tension which is responsible for many ailments in the body which rambles on to give a greater effect during old age.

Aromatherapy is a technique similar to that of massage. It involves the use of extracted oil from flowers, plants and trees, and using it in combination with massage, baths and steam inhalation. The right mixture of essential oils can provide a number of benefits. It helps in relaxation, pain relief and decreasing tiredness.

Chiropractic has long been used to give relief from symptoms of arthritis. This technique aims to increase the mobility and relieve the body of tension and stress by adjusting the joints of the spins and the limbs, which demonstrates constrained movement.

Homeopathy has its roots in history. Developed in the 18 century, its a system of remedies based on the belief that taking tiny amount of natural substances to stimulate body own defenses against arthritis. It basically involves taking the whole body into account rather then a specific region.

Osteopathy is a method to treat arthritis which includes the manipulation of the body to restore normal action and decrease pain. This methods cant reverse profound damage done to the joints but can help in improving mobility. However this treatment is not recommended for those suffering from osteoporosis or inflamed joints.

Reflexology has been an ancient technique used by the early Egyptians and Chinese. It involves massage to the feet and the palm of the hand to help improve the state of the rest of the body. When massage will be applied to the feet or palm of the hand, it will generate a warm and comforting sensation. This is an ideal method for stress management and overall health maintenance; factors that cause arthritis.

The practice of yoga has been used for a variety of conditions. It involves a combination of breathing exercises and relaxation to cope with daily stress and help in circulation and movement of joints.

The aforementioned techniques have been the most common natural arthritis treatments. However before any of theses techniques are implemented, it is essential to see your nearest doctor to analyze your state and then use these techniques. This is because each arthritis patient will have requirements that need to be addressed individually.