Understanding Arthritis (Arthritis #1)
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
Categories: Arthritis Tags: Arthritis, Understanding
Do I Have Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Recognizing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Watch this and more health videos at: www.answerstv.com
Categories: Arthritis Tags: Arthritis, Rheumatoid
Preventing Arthritis Pain (Arthritis #3)
If you knew you could lead a life free from arthritis pain—wouldn’t you? Watch this video for advice on how to do just that!Watch More Health Videos at Health Guru: www.healthguru.com
Categories: Arthritis Tags: Arthritis, Pain, Preventing
Arthritis: Causes, Symptoms,treatment
Arthritis is a term that groups together over 100 rheumatic diseases and other related conditions that cause stiffness, swelling and pain in the joints of the body. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints, which results in pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited movement. Arthritis is a chronic disease that will be with you for a long time and possibly for the rest of your life. Arthritis is one of the most rapidly growing chronic conditions in North America. Arthritis is due to the wearing down of cartilage, which is the material that cushions the ends of the bones. Because it can affect multiple other organs of the body, rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a systemic illness and is sometimes called rheumatoid disease. While rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic illness, meaning it can last for years, patients may experience long periods without symptoms. Typically, however, rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive illness that has the potential to cause joint destruction and functional disability.
Doctors donât know the exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis.
Causes include injury (leading to osteoarthritis), abnormal metabolism (such as gout and pseudogout), inheritance, infections, and unclear reasons (such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus). The causes of arthritis depend on the form of arthritis. Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment. When most people think of arthritis, they think of a condition that most often strikes the older population. No one knows exactly what causes juvenile arthritis.
Symptoms often include pain, stiffness, swelling, redness, and heat in the joints. Symptoms, which include stiffness, swelling, pain and joint damage, are a result of the inflammation of the joints in the body. Symptoms usually do not last a lifetime and tend to disappear after several months or years. Symptoms of arthritis include pain and limited function of joints. Symptoms can range from an annoyance to the complete inability to use affected joints. Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis come and go but it is a lifelong condition.
Treatment can include patient education, self-management programs, and support groups that help people learn about:Treatments, How to exercise and relax ,How to talk with their doctor, Problem solving. Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis may involve:Lifestyle changes,Medicine,Surgery,Regular doctor visits,Alternative therapies. Treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis with transdermal estrogen. Treatment of arthritis depends on the particular cause, which joints are affected, severity, and how the condition affects your daily activities. Treatment, therefore, aims at reducing your pain and discomfort and preventing further disability. Treatment for most forms of arthritis includes medications, exercise, and rest. Treatment of juvenile arthritis is designed to reduce swelling, maintain movement of affected joints and relieve pain, as well as identify, treat and prevent complications.
Patients with autoimmune diseases have antibodies in their blood that target their own body tissues, where they can be associated with inflammation. Patients with recent joint injuries or surgery, or patients receiving medications injected directly into a joint are also at a greater risk for developing septic arthritis. Patients with severe damage to bone or cartilage may need reconstructive surgery, but it cannot be performed until the infection is completely gone. Patients receiving corticosteroid injections into the joints for osteoarthritis may want to weigh this treatment method against the increased risk of septic arthritis.
Drugs can be used for pain relief, to reduce swelling, and to stop the disease from getting worse.
Some forms of arthritis may also affect other areas of the body, such as the skin, heart, or kidneys. Psoriatic arthritis usually starts out as psoriasis, a condition where areas of the skin become inflamed and covered with silvery grey scales. âAutoimmunityâ is a condition whereby the immune system(which normally wards off foreign invaders of the body, such as infections)turns and attacks the bodyâs own tissues, such as skin, joints, liver, lungs,etc. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause other problems in the body, such as vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels), osteoporosis (loss of bone density), lung disease, rheumatoid nodules (small bumps) under the skin, and blood disorders.
Arthritis Statistics: Arthritis is a widespread problem throughout the world, with many people experiencing some form of the disease. As the stateâs population continues to age, the number of people affected by arthritis is expected to continue to increase. An diagnosis of arthritis is based on the pattern of symptoms, medicalhistory, family history, physical examination, X-rays and lab tests.
Alexis Kenne
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Categories: Arthritis Tags: Arthritis, Causes, Symptomstreatment
The Facts And Details On Arthritis
More than 21 million Americans have osteoarthritis. Approximately 2.1 million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.
The causes of arthritis depend on the form of arthritis. Causes include injury (leading to degenerative arthritis), abnormal metabolism (such as gout and pseudogout), inheritance (such as in osteoarthritis), infections (such as in the arthritis of Lyme disease), and an overactive immune system (such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus). Treatment programs, when possible, are often directed toward the precise cause of the arthritis.
If joint pain, swelling, stiffness, redness, loss of motion or deformity occurs, medical evaluation by a health-care professional is warranted. Even minor joint symptoms that persist unexplained for over one week should be evaluated. For many forms of arthritis, it is essential that patients have an early evaluation as it is clear that this can both prevent damage and disability as well as make optimal treatment easier.
Arthritis is a joint disorder featuring inflammation. A joint is an area of the body where two bones meet. A joint functions to allow movement of the body parts it connects. Arthritis literally means inflammation of one or more joints. Arthritis is frequently accompanied by joint pain. Joint pain is referred to as arthralgia.
Arthritis is classified as one of the rheumatic diseases. These are conditions that are different individual illnesses, with differing features, treatments, complications, and prognosis. They are similar in that they have a tendency to affect the joints, muscles, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons, and many have the potential to affect internal body areas as well.
There are many forms of arthritis (over 100 have been described so far, and the number is growing). The forms range from those related to wear and tear of cartilage (such as osteoarthritis) to those associated with inflammation as a result of an overactive immune system (such as rheumatoid arthritis). Together, the many forms of arthritis make up the most common chronic illness in the United States.
For many patients with arthritis, mild pain relievers such as aspirin and acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be sufficient treatment. Studies have shown that acetaminophen given in adequate doses can often be equally as effective as prescription anti-inflammatory medications in relieving pain in osteoarthritis.
Since acetaminophen has fewer gastrointestinal side effects than NSAIDS, especially among elderly patients, acetaminophen is often the preferred initial drug given to patients with osteoarthritis. Pain-relieving creams applied to the skin over the joints can provide relief of minor arthritis pain. Examples include capsaicin, salycin, methyl salicylate, and menthol.
Arthritis sufferers include men and women, children and adults. Approximately 350 million people worldwide have arthritis. Over 40 million people in the United States are affected by arthritis, including over a quarter million children! More than half of those with arthritis are under 65 years of age. Nearly 60% of Americans with arthritis are women.
Symptoms of arthritis include pain and limited function of joints. Inflammation of the joints from arthritis is characterized by joint stiffness, swelling, redness, and warmth. Tenderness of the inflamed joint can be present. Loss of range of motion and deformity can result. Certain forms of arthritis can also be associated with pain and inflammation of tendons surrounding joints.
Some forms of arthritis are more of an annoyance than a serious medical problem. However, millions of people suffer daily with pain and disability from arthritis or its complications.
Moreover, many of the forms of arthritis, because they are rheumatic diseases, can cause symptoms affecting various organs of the body that do not directly involve the joints. Therefore, symptoms in some patients with certain forms of arthritis can also include fever, gland swelling, weight loss, fatigue, feeling unwell, and even symptoms from abnormalities of organs such as the lungs, heart, or kidneys.
The treatment of arthritis depends on which particular form of arthritis is present, its location, severity, persistence, and any underlying background medical conditions of the patient. Each treatment program must be customized for the individual patient.
Treatment programs can incorporate home remedies, nonprescription and prescription medications, joint injections, and surgical operations. Some treatment programs involve weight reduction and avoiding activities that exert excessive stress on the joint. The goal of treatment of arthritis is to reduce joint pain and inflammation while preventing damage and improving and maintaining joint function.
Not every person with arthritis requires medical attention. For example, some patients with osteoarthritis have minimal or no pain and may not need treatment. However, for those with persisting joint symptoms, the ideal steps to take should lead to a proper diagnosis and an optimal long-term treatment plan. This plan must be customized for each person affected, depending on the joints involved and the severity of symptoms.
Surgery is generally reserved for those patients with arthritis that is particularly severe and unresponsive to the conservative treatments. Surgical procedures can be performed to relieve pain, improve function, and correct deformity. Occasionally, joint tissue is surgically removed for the purpose of biopsy and diagnosis. Doctors who specialize in joint surgery are orthopedic surgeons.
Currently, prevention of arthritis focuses on avoiding joint injury and early diagnosis and treatment. Research clearly demonstrates that early diagnosis and treatment can result in less damage, deformity, disability, and even mortality in rheumatoid disease.
The treatment of rheumatoid disease is not only more effective but easier when administered early.
Additionally, maintaining overall good health and strength with exercise and good nutrition can be helpful in preventing joint disease.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Part One
Rheumatoid arthritis affects 1.3 million Americans. Research advances and drug development have helped control this chronic disease. Noted UCLA Rheumatology expert Dr. Michael Weisman, presents an update on the latest treatments in the first of two lectures. Series: The Coming of Age Lecture Series [7/2008] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 14860]
Categories: Arthritis Tags: Arthritis, Part, Rheumatoid
Home Remedies for Arthritis
The term ‘Arthritis’ is derived from the Greek words ‘arthron’ meaning ‘joint’ and ‘itis’ meaning inflammation. It refers to more than 100 different types of arthritis conditions. The common denominator for all these conditions is joint and musculoskeletal (bones and muscle) pain. Arthritis is not just a disease of the old though many older people do have arthritis.
Arthritis is a joint (the area of the body where two different bones meet) disorder. Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, pseudogout, psoriatic arthritis, and fibromyalgia are some common types. As a degenerative joint disease, it is the major cause of disability in older people. So it is better to consult physician as early as possible if any of the following symptoms persists. Let’s discuss the symptoms, diagnosis, and cure for arthritis.
Causes of Arthritis:
1] Old age is the most common reason for arthritis. As one ages, the cartilage on his joints wear off. Too much damage sustained by the joints would lead to arthritis. Throughout the years, the cartilage in the joints would begin to thin out.
2] Obesity and too much physical activities are the other common causes.
3] Genetics has a major role to play in all families and often diseases can be found even before they start showing signs, simply by looking at your family history.
4] The onset of childhood arthritis may follow an infection or injury, but these events do not cause the arthritis. With childhood arthritis, the body’s immune system stops working properly.
Arthritis Symptoms:
-Pain and limited functionality of joints
-Inflammation of joints
Types of Arthritis:
Rheumatoid Arthritis: This type of arthritis is not restricted to any particular age. It can happen to you at any age.
Osteoarthritis: This is the most common of the types of arthritis. It has been discovered to be the cause of severe strain and the wearing away of the cartilage in the joints of the foot.
Gout: This type of arthritis is associated with foot complications. It affects the big toe most of the time.
Juvenile arthritis: Unfortunately, children are not left out of this deadly disease known as arthritis. Juvenile arthritis affects mostly children before the age of sixteen, which is why it is called Juvenile arthritis.
Treatment of Arthritis:
1] Physical therapy
2] Splinting
3] Cold pack application
4] Paraffin wax dips
5] Anti- inflammation medications
6] Immune-altering medication
7] Surgical operations
8] Cheese – It is an excellent source of calcium for bones, and protein for muscles and other joint-supporting tissues.
9] Banana – It is perhaps a rich source of potassium, but has also good sources of arthritis-fighting vitamin B6, folate, and vitamin C.
10] Green tea – It contains hundreds of powerful antioxidant chemicals called polyphenols and may help prevent or ease symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
11] Salmon – It is among the richest sources of healthy fats, making it an ideal source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Surgical operations are the best solution for long-term treatment. Joint replacement surgery is one of the most popular surgeries these days. Medications along with proper diet & exercise are fruitful in controlling the pain, but they can’t cure arthritis.
Read About Home Remedies also Read about Home Remedies for Arthritis and Home Remedies for Asthma
What Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Do?
Understanding the effects of RA on the body. Watch this and more health videos at: www.answerstv.com
Categories: Arthritis Tags: Arthritis, Rheumatoid
Arthritis, Nutrition and You!
Although progress in the field of arthritis and nutrition is slow, we fully expect to see further justification of these theories as medical science progresses.Here is a brief look at the ongoing research of arthritis and nutrition. There has been a lot of research that identifies the relationship between arthritis and nutrition.
Arthritis means inflammation of a joint or joints. Arthritis is usually caused by what people eat and drink and is becoming very common in people of all ages which will probably affect 90% of people by the age of 60. Arthritis is a poorly understood condition but some scientists believe that rheumatoid arthritis is the result of a micro-organism or other foreign substance in the body. Arthritis is the general name for a group of more than 100 diseases and becomes more prevalent as we age. Arthritis is one of the most common chronic degenerative conditions today, affecting as many as 100 million people worldwide. Can the foods you eat cause or affect your arthritis? Diet is a major role player in the onset of arthritis. There are some scientific reasons to think that the foods you eat could affect certain kinds of arthritis.
Evidence shows that excessive weight and the type of diet you follow may influence symptoms of certain types of arthritis and related conditions. Research has shown several connections between food, nutritional supplements (vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids) and certain forms of arthritis or related conditions, such as gout, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, and reactive arthritis. Healthcare professionals strongly recommend that people with arthritis follow a diet based on variety, balance and moderation. The treatment for arthritis usually focuses on medications that reduce inflammation, which decreases pain and increases mobility.
Advancements have shown to be extremely effective in both preventing and managing many forms of arthritis by all natural nutritional supplements. Nutrition and exercise are beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers in additional to medical therapy. To give the body proper nutrition, a person has to eat and drink enough of the foods that contain key nutrients. It is almost impossible to get a daily balanced diet so the logical answer is to allocate a portion of your food budget to include a nutritional supplement product that supplies the recommended daily minimums. It is best for overall health when that can be attained through improved nutrition instead of toxic drugs. But then again, a lack of evidence doesn’t rule out the power of good nutrition–researchers could find no explicit link between red meat and RA either. Emphasis on nutrition is a meaningful choice and can give you control over your arthritis. While conventional medicine often helps to ease the symptoms, nutritional supplements can also have powerful effect in assisting keeping this debilitating condition in check.
It seems like we hear conflicting news about what we should and shouldn’t eat at every turn, but experts have pinpointed specific foods and supplements that can actually decrease the pain and inflammation caused by arthritis when combined with regular exercise. Other supplements that have been in the news a lot lately – glucosamine and chondriton – help the body repair damaged tissue, slow down joint degeneration and improve joint function and mobility. Give some of our suggestions a try: Exercise at least 3 times a week and watch your weight. Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains and adhere to a low saturated fat and low cholesterol diet. Moderate your sugar intake, consider using sugar substitutes if you drink alcoholic beverages, drink in moderation and avoid tobacco use. Take recommended supplements with your doctor’s approval. Drink eight glasses of water per day and get 8 hours of sleep each night.In addition, changes to diet and the use of certain nutritional supplements may also help to relieve symptoms. Liquid dietary supplements have several advantages over tablets and capsules. Liquid vitamins and mineral supplements have a greater absorption rate than any other form of supplementation. The effective use of nutritional supplements and natural diet saves money, pain and lives.
The first step is to insure you get the basic nutrition through proper diet and exercise. Just as it is for people without arthritis, maintaining a balance in the foods you choose is important. While exercise is important for overall health, for people with stiff joints and decreased mobility, it can really help offset the consequences of this condition. Begin your exercise program and take it slow and easy. Too much exercise, especially jogging, or anything that is hard on the joints, is not helpful and can cause traumatic arthritis. However, some mild daily exercise such as walking is generally best and does not stress the joints as does any vigorous exercise.
Studies have shown a connection between foods, vitamin supplementation, and fish oil (omega 3 fatty acids) can only help certain types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Oily fish such as wild Alaskan salmon, walnuts, freshly ground flaxseed or a good omega-3 supplement may help reduce the inflammation and pain of arthritis. Research also suggests that a diet rich in Omega 3 EPA may help reduce the pain of inflammation associated with some forms of joint pain. For example, Omega-3 fatty acids from plant foods such as flaxseed and oil, nuts and seeds, avocados, olive and canola oils (just to name a few) is renown for preventing and even reversing osteoarthritis.
Exercise is needed and more of it working up to an hour a day. The benefits will far outweigh the consequences of being unfit, sick and eating away at your savings from medical expenses!
What Is Arthritis
One of the common ailments among the elderly is arthritis. A disease that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints, arthritis has been rated as the number one cause of physical disability in some countries like the United States. Unlike other debilitating diseases, arthritis can affect people of both sexes and of all races, socioeconomic levels as well as geographic areas.
Arthritis, in basic terms, means joint inflammation. A joint is where two or more bones meet, for example, the hip or knee. The bones of a joint are covered with a smooth, elastic material called cartilage. The cartilage acts as cushion to the bones, which enables the joint to move without pain. The joint is also lined by a thin film of tissue called synovium that produces a slippery fluid called synovial fluid that nourishes the joint and helps reduce friction between the bones. When any area in and around the joint becomes inflamed, it could lead to pain, swelling and even limited mobility.
Primary and Secondary
Arthritis can be segregated into two distinct types, namely primary and secondary Arthritis. Primary Arthritis is often referred to as the ‘wear-and-tear’ Arthritis, as it is associated with aging and the degeneration of the cartilage with the advent of age. In fact, the older a person gets, the more likely he or she will experience some form of primary Arthritis. Aside from age, there is no apparent cause for primary Arthritis. Secondary Arthritis, on the other hand, can be traced to an apparent cause. The breakdown of cartilage in this case can be linked to causes such as obesity, injury, hereditary, etc
Arthritis Symptoms
Arthritis affects each individual differently and at varying severity. Despite this, several general Arthritis Symptoms have been identified. They are:
*joint soreness after periods of inactivity or even overuse.
*morning stiffness that usually does not last more than 30 minutes.
*pain from weakened muscles surrounding the joint.
*decline in coordination, posture and movement due to pain and stiffness.
Who is At Risk
Arthritis often affects middle-aged and older people. Men under the age of 55 are more likely to be afflicted compared to women of the same age group. However, beyond the age of 55, women are the more commonly affected. Overall, there are more women with OA compared to men because it is believed that the broader female hip places continuing stress on the knees, which may lead to the development of Arthritis.
Risk Factors
Despite being one of the oldest forms of arthritis, the cause for Arthritis is still not completely known. However, several risk factors that may lead to Arthritis have been identified. These factors include:
Age
An important risk factor, as wear and tear plays a significant part in the development of Arthritis. In short, the incidences of Arthritis increase with age and with more use of the joints.
Obesity
Next to age, body weight is another crucial factor in developing Arthritis. This is especially so for the knees, as they are the joints that carry the brunt of the body weight. According to the Arthritis Foundation, for every pound of weight you gain, you are in fact adding 3 pounds of pressure on your knees and 6 times the pressure on your hips.
Genetics
Genetics is fast becoming a prevalent factor in Arthritis development, especially in the hands. For instance, a person may have inherited a defect in the genes responsible for making cartilage. Also, those born with joint abnormalities, for example scoliosis of the spine, are more likely to develop OA in that particular part as well.
Injury or Overusing Joints
Injuries, be it from sport or daily activity, also contribute to the occurrence of Arthritis. Athletes who have experienced knee related injuries may be at higher risk of having OA. Similarly, the stress placed on certain joints from daily repetitive motions, for example, from typing or operating machinery, may lead to the development of Arthritis later in life.
Muscle Weakness
According to the Arthritis Foundation, studies have shown that the weakening of muscles in and around the knee area can be a precursor to OA. At the same time, these studies also revealed that strengthening the thigh muscle can help to reduce the risk of Arthritis.
Other Diseases
Other than the above factors, the presence of other diseases or conditions also contribute directly to the development of Arthritis. For example, people with rheumatoid arthritis are more prone to having Arthritis. Similarly, those with conditions such as hemachromotosis or too much iron can experience chronic cartilage deterioration that may lead to Arthritis.
