Arthritis Relief Inc
An Introduction To Arthritis
Arthritis is a disease that is second only to heart disease when it comes to the cause of disability. In 2005 nearly 46 million adults in the U.S. alone were diagnosed with Arthritis. It can occur in teenagers as young as 15 and affects nearly 300,000 children. Arthritis can affect not only joints but also other parts of the body. Making these body parts become painful, swollen and causes difficulty in movement. Arthritis is more prevalent in women than in men, many think that there is nothing they can do to help them suffering from Arthritis. Actually, there is!
Be vigilant. There are more than 100 types of arthritis, which means it makes self-diagnosis near impossible. If you begin to feel stiffness or pain around the joint area, this can be an indication that you may have been or are developing some form of arthritis. This can happen gradually or over an extended period of time. Either way, you should consult your doctor as soon as the symptoms persist for more than a few days. Only a doctor will be able to give an accurate diagnosis. Once diagnosed, take an interest in learning more about the type of arthritis you have been diagnosed with. Being aware or educated about arthritis can actually make you feel more confident, because it can help you understand and manage your disease better, and in doing so, may lessen the pain and create more relief from the associated symptoms.
There are many activities or things that can be done to help prevent and relieve the symptoms of arthritis. You need to take care of your joints. Becoming obese has a huge impact on the amount of pressure or stress placed on your limbs, so it is advisable that you try to remain in your recommended average weight. It is easy to damage not only joints but muscles when lifting or moving heavy weights. Have your medication revised by your doctor. Make it a priority to lose weight. All those extra kg’s put unnecessary stress on your joints such as your ankles, knees and hips. It can cause more pain and even contribute to worsening the disease.
Several drugs for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis have been approved by the FDA, which may be more effective for you in relieving the symptoms of some types of arthritis. Never go against medical advice when it comes to taking your prescribed medication. Always take your medication as instructed by your doctor and never stop taking it abruptly: the consequences of which can be dire. You may not see immediate benefits from taking the medication. This is because some drugs take months before you actually start to see the benefit of using them. Very often, taking a new drug will cause you to experience side-effects that may be uncomfortable and difficult to deal with, but this is usually only short term, and will most likely gradually fade away so long as you keep taking the medication. If you are in any doubt about the medication you have been prescribed or find the side-effects to be very severe, contact your doctor immediately. Sometimes, certain drugs work for some people and sometimes not. So it is important that you bring any severe side-effects to the attention of your doctor.
Janie Jonah
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/an-introduction-to-arthritis-83209.html
Benefit Of Glucosamine Liquid Vitamins For Arthritis
Nothing makes you feel old quite like the onset of arthritis. Painful joints that prevent you playing your favorite sport, taking long walks, or even simply getting out and about, can have a dramatic effect on your life. Taking a regular dose of liquid glucosamine can reduce the pain and swelling linked to arthritis, helping you to remain active and feel youthful and energetic.
Osteoarthritis is an inflammation of your joints which is caused by a reduction in the amount of cartilage that naturally supports and protects them. Arthritis suffers tend to limit their movement to reduce the amount of pain they feel, but this can actually make their condition worse and cause muscle atrophy. For this reason, arthritis treatment focuses on pain control to keep us active and keep our muscles working.
Although one of the benefits of glucosamine is a reduction in the pain of arthritis, it also has properties that can slow the development of the disease. It is a natural derivative of cartilage and is necessary to build healthy joints. There is some evidence that taking a glucosamine supplement orally can help to rebuild cartilage to cushion your joints more effectively.
Taking glucosamine as a liquid vitamin has many advantages. It is easier to swallow than a vitamin pill, tastes batter, and will be absorbed more easily because your body will not need to break down the solid particles of a tablet. Easier absorption means that the effects of the glucosamine will be felt more quickly, bringing more rapid relief from joint pain. Fewer doses are required to achieve the same effect, and liquid vitamin supplements can work out considerably cheaper than their tablet counterparts.
Glucosamine is available in many liquid vitamin supplements such as ‘Drinkables Joint Care’ and ‘Flexicose’. In these liquid supplements glucosamine can be combined with other substances that can contribute to healthy, pain free joints including Chondroitin Sulfate and Omega 3 fatty acids.
Although glucosamine liquid supplements are now widely used, there is little regulation on the advised dose or the purity of the glucosamine in the liquid. As a guide, you should make sure any one dose of liquid glucosamine supplement contains 1500mg of glucosamine. This should be Glucosamine Hydrochloride, rather than Glucosamine Sulfate to get the highest concentration of beneficial glucosamine. If you are unsure which supplement you should choose, you may want to get a recommendation from your doctor.
Having arthritis doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the active way of life you are used to. Taking a regular dose of liquid glucosamine can ensure that arthritis has a very limited impact on your life and you can stay as active as ever. There is even a suitable liquid glucosamine supplement for dogs if you find Rover can’t keep up with the new active you!
Rebecca Prescott
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/benefit-of-glucosamine-liquid-vitamins-for-arthritis-127174.html
Get Rid Of Arthritis Pain Forever
I know the secret to getting rid of arthritis pain forever and it is not taking drugs. A few years ago I accidentally discovered how to rid one’s self of arthritis pain, naturally.
Osteoarthritis affects joints in a different way depending on their location in the body, causing various symptoms. 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.
Collagen is the essential protein in cartilage; it forms a mesh to give support and flexibility to the joint. 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. Cartilage contains a high percentage of water, but it decreases with age.
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. The cause of arthritis (osteoarthritis) and the factors leading to the deterioration of cartilage in osteoarthritis is still not understood.
Making a ginger tea, by adding a thin slice or two of fresh gingerroot to hot water, is helpful to many people I know. 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.
Natural treatment for arthritis is usually a better choice because it’s non-invasive to the body. One natural treatment method involves avoiding all inflammatory foods. Dried Montmorency tart cherries seem to be helpful for arthritis pain also.
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. 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.
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. 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.
There are a number of exercises which can benefit arthritis sufferers regardless of how much restriction of movement there is. Exercise your affected joints every day, to keep them flexible. If you have pain and swelling in your fingers, try squeezing Thera-putty made for this purpose or exercising with two Chinese chime balls. Exercise in a heated pool; it will help reduce the pressure on your joints and the heat will help you loosen those joints.
Sign up for water aerobics classes at your local community center. Even the lightest exercise can go a long way to maintaining your joint mobility and overall health. Important exercises for arthritis are range-of-motion exercises, isometrics, and some weight bearing exercises.
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. At the very least, understand what the side effects and adverse reactions are for any drug you take. Only you know which treatment option is best for you.
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. Arthritis pain relief is the ultimate goal – understanding arthritis is a good way to get there. Changing your diet to predominately fruits and raw veggies, like I did, can turn your arthritis pain around almost overnight.
Helen Hecker
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/get-rid-of-arthritis-pain-forever-126348.html
Arthritis Pain and Natural Cure
Ayurveda is used widely to treat Arthritis. According to the Ayurveda, arthritis is caused due to an excess of ama and lack of agni. The reason for this is nothing but poor digestion and a weakened colon. This results in the accumulation of undigested food and also building up of waste matter. Poor digestion in the system allows toxins to accumulate in the body. Along with this the problems with the colon let the toxins to reach the joints.
Therefore, the only way to treat arthritis is by stimulating the digestive fire which is the agni and to reduce the ama.
Ayurveda identifies and distinguishes three categories of arthritis. These categories are corresponding to vata, pitta, and kapha. For treating this condition properly, it is crucial to carefully diagnose which type of arthritis you have.
There are three types of Arthritis according to Ayurveda. These include:
- Vata
- Pitta
- Kapha
Vata
If arthritis is due to vata in your body, your joints will crack and pop. The joint then become dry. they are not swollen if excess vata is not the cause for arthritis.
Pitta
The arthritis which is caused due to Pitta is characterized by inflammation. The joint becomes swollen. The joint also becomes painful even without having any kind of movement. The knee looks red and feels hot to the touch.
Kapha
In kapha-type arthritis, the joint tends to become stiff and swollen. The joint also feels cold and clammy rather than being hot. A little movement in the joint tends to increase the pain than reducing it.
General Treatment of Arthritis
Depending on an individual’s lifestyle, his diet, and his emotional pattern, either vata, pitta, or kapha goes out of balance and this can lead to arthritis. After that, a particular dosha slows down agni which is the digestive fire. This results in the toxic, sticky by-product of insufficient digestion and this is known as ama.
Vata is the main active dosha. Vata brings the ama into the colon. After that, from there it travels through the system. Vata then gets in the bone tissue and in the joints. This gives rise to the stiffness and pain characteristic of arthritis.
Ayurveda tries to remove the ama from the joint. It also mainly attempts to bring it back to the colon and later eliminating it. For being able to do this, we need to keep the colon clean and the best way to determine the kind of arthritis. Once you determine that, you can start remedies which are recommended for the specific type of arthritis. If you do not know which kind of arthritis it is, whether vata, pitta, or kapha arthritis, you can safely take 1 teaspoon of triphala at night. You can take that along with 1/2 to 1 cup warm water.
If you kind of get to know which kind of arthritis it is, you can follow this. Along with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon with warm water, use the following for treatment:
Use Haritaki for vata-type arthritis Use Amalaki for pitta-type arthritis Use Bibbitaki for kapha-type arthritis
Ayurveda suggest general techniques to increase the intensity of the digestive fire which is agni. This is done to burn up the toxins which are posing threat to the body.
Natural Solution: Arthcare Oil – An Anti-inflammatory Herbal massage oil.
Arthcare is an anti-inflammatory herbal oil which not only gives a relief from joint pains but also strengthens the bone tissues, the skeletal and the neuromuscular systems, giving a comfortable movements of joints and muscles.
http://www.ayurvediccure.com/arthcareoil.htm
You can follow some diets, any of the below and start getting treated for arthritis
You can use selected foods and herbs
You can use detoxification diet
Normally, a three- to five-day detoxification diet is prescribed to people having this kind of problem. You can have plenty of vegetables, juices, spices and herbs. These are usually taken during the fast. This food habit lasts till the body shows signs that the digestive fire is really burning strong. Also importantly, these signs include a return of the appetite. These signs also create a feeling of lightness apart from creating a feeling of giving a clear coating to the tongue.
Use of Enemas/ Cleaning Colon
There are enemas and other means of cleaning the colon. These are used very often to help detoxification in the body.
Gemstone Therapy
Use of Ruby, garnet or other “hot” gems which are set in gold are also used for all three kinds of arthritis.
Also there is a use of herbal, medicinal or essential oils to treat arthritis.
Several oils could be applied to the skin. These oils help the body clear toxins. They also help you relieve pain and restore mobility in your legs.
There is an oil names Mahanarayan oil. This oil helps in improving flexibility, stiffness, and muscle fatigue. This oil also removes pain. The oil is mixed with sesame oil and applied to the places where there is pain. This oil also breaks up the blockages. After the oil application, you can take warm heat, yoga, and bath. You can also take a mild exercise as this can further improves this situation.
Narayan oil is another good oil if you have muscle and joint pain. This can also be used for lower body circulation apart from being used for reversing imbalances caused by aging.
Avipattikar churna is used to ingest for rheumatism.
Heat Therapy
In this kind of treatment, the patient will be asked to sit in a sauna. He may also be told to have steam applied directly to the affected areas.
Use of herbs, spices and bitters
There are various herbs, spices and bitters which are being used in Ayurveda. These herbs are often applied externally or they are ingested inside the body. These methods of treatment are believed to cleanse the body. They also do a great deal to relieve pain and stiffness. Some herbs which are used include Mint, ephedra, golden seal, gentian, nirgundi, eucalyptus leaves. Apart from that herbs like prasarini, quassia, coptis, scute, phellodendrom, aloe, guggul, du huo, ligusticum, Siberian ginseng, myrrh, and yucca are also used.
Using all the above methods of treatment, one can successfully treat arthritis. In most cases, the oil used tends to be every effective especially for people in the older age who will not be able to take specific kind of treatments like yoga or exercise to treat arthritis.
Dr John Anne
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/arthritis-pain-and-natural-cure-85953.html
Septic Bacterial Arthritis in Joints of Dogs
Septic Arthritis (in other terms as Bacterial Arthritis or Infectious Arthritis) is an infection in the fluid and tissues of joint cavity most commonly caused by bacteria. It is considered a dangerous form of acute arthritis in dogs because just like other bacterial infections, the bacterial can get into dog’s bloodstream and carry an infecting organism into other parts of the body. Bacteria can cause infectious joint disease by tick-borne diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and by fungal infection. On Septic Arthritis, the primary bacterial sources, based on clinical search and studies, were associated with abscesses, bite wounds, enteritis, dermatitis, cystitis and/or endometritis after birth.
Septic arthritis normally only affects a single joint and the condition results in swelling, fever, heat, and pain in the joint. With septic arthritis, the dog is likely to stop eating and become depressed. Risk factors for septic arthritis are joint problems, rheumatoid arthritis, high infection risk, and a weak immune system. Septic arthritis is commonly spread hematogenously with predisposing factors being intravenous drug usage, in-dwelling catheters present as well as underlying immuno-compromised states. Bacteria are carried by the bloodstream from an infectious focus or are introduced by a skin lesion that penetrates the joint. Septic Arthritis most commonly occurred after surgeries of the stifle joints of dogs. The joint cavity is usually a sterile space, with synovial fluid and cellular matter including a few white blood cells. Some diagnosis was based on clinical signs, joint fluid analysis, radiography, microbiology and/or response to treatment. Chronic lameness was the most common problem at presentation. Analysis of joint fluid invariably revealed large number of nucleated cells, which consisted primarily of neutrophils. Bacterial septic arthritis may often be mild and manifest as chronic lameness. Analysis of joint fluid will detect an inflammatory arthropathy but the presence of toxic neutrophils should not be relied on as an indicator of sepsis. Culture of infected joint fluid is likely to be successful if antimicrobials are not given prior to collection and if the sample is inoculated into enrichment broth. Treatment should involve antimicrobial drugs, open-joint lavage and removal of joint prostheses if the infection is associated with previous surgery.
Septic arthritis might be difficult to diagnose due to nonspecific clinical signs and radiological findings in early stage of the disease. An early diagnosis is important for achieving favorable prognosis. Diagnosis of septic arthritis was confirmed by physical and orthopaedic examinations, evaluation of radiographs and synovial fluid analysis including leukocyte and neutrophil counts, cytological examination and bacterial culture. Bacteria is one of the most common causes of infective arthritis in dogs. However, bacterial arthritis in dogs can resemble many other arthropathies and attempts to achieve a definitive diagnosis by culture of the offending organism are not always successful.
The treatment of Septic Arthritis involves determining the type of microorganism involved and its antibiotic sensitivity. Antibiotics are usually administered for a minimum of a month and analgesics (pain relief medications) are necessary to combat pain and inflammation. Other major treatment involves antimicrobial drugs, while there many other cases the dog received antimicrobial drugs and with combination of surgical procedures such as joint lavage and sometimes removable of non-absorbent suture material, arthrodesis and amputation. The surgical treatment for septic arthritis (infectious arthritis) includes removal of joint fluid. To examine white blood cells and bacteria blood tests are performed.
Wishbone
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/septic-bacterial-arthritis-in-joints-of-dogs-752481.html
Forms Of Treatment For Arthritis
Living with Arthritis Pain
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.
Riley Hendersen
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/living-with-arthritis-pain-139821.html
Knee Surgery For Arthritis
An Alarming Study Shows Arthritis knee surgery May Not Be The Best Option
With arthritis of the knee, it has been noticed that the more the patient of such a condition walks, the more the knee will hurt. Many people would thus be gravitated toward having arthritis knee surgery to get relief though there is some shocking and surprising news concerning such a course of action. According to a study conducted on arthritis knee surgery on elderly patients, it has been determined that there are potentially harmful effects to such a course of action, and that in fact, it will not significantly help improve the patient’s condition.
Severely Impacts The Health Care Community
Such a surprising outcome of studies conducted on arthritis knee surgery may severely impact the health care community, and change the way in which such arthritis knee surgery will be performed in future on the, it is believed, more than 300,000 Americans that need to get treated for knee arthritis. Such arthritis knee surgery is no doubt performed to provide relief from the pain of osteoarthritis, and for the continual worsening of the joints due to wear and tear that is supposed to affect as many as twelve percent of the senior citizen population.
An arthritis knee surgery involves clearing out the debris and also repairing the affected cartilage that may have been damaged, and it would mean making tiny incisions so that the healing process takes place quickly. The study that was conducted had two kinds of patients in their study that included those that actually had arthritis knee surgery and those that had sham surgery. It was found that the latter kind of patients had no difficulty in climbing stairs and could walk faster than those who had had an actual arthritis knee surgery.
This is indeed quite alarming and along with the cost of having arthritis knee surgery that can total as much as five thousand dollars per individual and approximately one and a half billion for the industry, can lead one to think that wouldn’t the patient be better off spending the money on something more useful and effective.
Such findings have even led many insurance companies into refusing to pay for arthritis knee surgery. In fact, there are a number of alternatives to consider such as using hot packs, taking pain relievers as well as cortisone shots, and arthritis knee surgery should only be considered as a last resort. Whatever may be the merits of such a study, it certainly does put some doubts in the minds of a number of doctors, which may lead them to using such an alternative only under certain circumstances like when the patient has an acute sports injury to ligaments.
For further information on arthritis please visit http://www.arthritisreliefhelp.info
Roger Thompson
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/knee-surgery-for-arthritis-170740.html
Are You Suffering From Arthritis?
As soon as you hear the term Arthritis you rightly picture in your mind someone with constant pain and/or stiffness often accompanied by swelling in the joints. That pretty describes it pretty well in a nutshell.
Arthritis, however, is more than that. It actually covers more than 120 different diseases. Classified as one of the rheumatic diseases, Arthritis is generally chronic, meaning that it rarely changes, or progresses very slowly. As it is an unpredictable disease, treatment can be difficult.
It is the number one cause of disability in people aged 15 and older, as well as the most prevalent disability of the working age population. It’s the leading cause of absenteeism.
It is the general consensus of medical opinion that Arthritis is a disease caused mainly by an impaired metabolism and toxemia, or poisons in the blood and tissues. High acidity in the body, which is usually is the result of incorrect dietary habits, can cause the destruction of the cartilage and bones.
Some of the factors doctors base their diagnosis of Arthritis on are the patient’s symptoms of pain, crackling sound in the joints, and difficulty in walking up and down the stairs
Arthritis pain is caused by several factors: Inflammation is the process that causes the redness and swelling in your joints. Damage to joint tissues may be the result of either the deterioration of the disease or from stress, injury or pressure on the joints. Fatigue is the most common result from the disease process, and can make your pain seem worse and harder to cope with. Lastly, depression or stress, which may be the result of limited movement or lack of doing activities you used to enjoy.
Arthritis may limit some of the things you can do, but it doesn’t have to control your life. Arthritis pain can be dealt with through proper diet, exercise, medication and determination.
By eliminating acid foods, such as coffee, tea and sugar from your diet you can greatly reduce pain and inflammation. Special exercise may help you get pain relief by natural means and increase your mobility.
It is interesting to note, according to one study, that Arthritis pain is processed in the areas of your brain concerned with emotions and fear, thus indicating a target for pain-relieving therapies.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting more than 21 million Americans. Some people suffer from arthritis pain in the extremities, though many others also suffer arthritic pain in the spine as well as the hips. Joint fusion is often the preferred surgery for relief of arthritis pain in these smaller joints.
Osteoarthritis primarily affects cartilage, which normally cushions the joints, causing it to thin and eventually wear away. It is associated with the aging process and generally refers to joint pain, stiffness, reduced joint motion, and deformity.
Rheumatoid arthritis attacks the whole body at once and is accompanied by swelling. This form is a chronic, multi-systemic disease, which is most frequently seen in children and teenagers.
It must be noted here that some medications used widely to treat arthritis and relieve pain can have side effects. Be sure to get all the medical and nutritional information you can find. It is important to consult both with your doctor and a health professional. The pain and inflammation can be totally controlled and even eliminated by natural means. It is, therefore, advisable to make an effort to explore this route before succumbing to toxic medication which may eventually lead to further grief elsewhere in the body.
More tips are available in a brochure by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) on arthritis and exercise. The Arthritis Foundation has a variety of programs that help you understand the pain and symptoms.
Ann Stewart
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/are-you-suffering-from-arthritis-160010.html
Do You Know What to Do About Arthritis?
If you or someone you love suffers from arthritis, please know that you (or they) are not alone. Chances are that if you have arthritis, you probably have osteoarthritis, its most common form. It affects over 20 million people in the United States and becomes more common with age. Osteoarthritis, or OA, is a progressive degenerative disease which eventually destroys the joints it affects.
When osteoarthritis affects a joint, the cartilage, or padding between the bones in the joint, becomes worn and thinned. This causes increased friction between the bones which in turn leads to a loss of mobility, or movement, in the joint. It will also cause new bone growths, or spurs, to form around the joints. The end result is you have a joint which is painful and does not move as well as it should until it comes to a point where the bone spurs from either side of the joint eventually meet and fuse the joint. Once fused, the joint will become rigid and will no longer function.
The older you get, the greater your risk of osteoarthritis becomes. Being overweight greatly increases your risk of being affected by this form of arthritis. Obesity also speeds up the progression of this destructive disease. It has been determined that osteoarthritis may also be caused by injury to a joint, overuse as well as chronic inflammation within the body. Most commonly you will notice symptoms of osteoarthritis in your hands, feet, spine, hips, knees and ankles.
What You Can Do About Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is by far easier to prevent then it is to treat. Prevention first consists of incorporating moderate, low intensity physical activity in your daily routine. Incorporating activities such as walking, biking and use of home exercise equipment such as elliptical trainers or stair climbers regularly throughout your lifetime has been proven to make a significant impact on preventing OA. Secondly, reducing your body weight will also dramatically decrease your risk of developing OA; some studies have found it can decrease your risk by almost 50%. Last but not least, preventing injuries to the joints commonly affected by OA will improve your chances of living without arthritis.
Is it already too late for prevention for you? If so, your greatest hope is managing your osteoarthritis, as there are no known cures for this condition. Management is available several different ways, depending on the contributing factors to your situation. Chiropractic care and Physical Therapy can provide improved joint function, many times slowing the progression of arthritis while at the same time providing relief. Your chiropractor will also be able to provide specific recommendations regarding helpful diet choices and activities.
If obesity is a contributing factor, reducing your weight will greatly reduce your pain while at the same time helping to slow the progression of damage within your joints. There is no magic pill or bullet to help you lose weight. The best way for you to reduce your weight is through eating smaller portion sizes and then increasing your physical activity level. A simple way to eat less is to eat 2/3 of your typical portion size. When done so regularly, you will decrease your caloric intake enough to help you decrease weight. The beauty of it is that you won’t suffer from the typical shortcomings of most diets which cause them to fail: leaving you feeling hungry after every meal.
Selecting more fruits and vegetables will also help you eat less, as they are dense foods – foods which contain a large volume of water. Dense foods fill you up faster and cause you to eat less at each sitting. Dark-colored fruits and vegetables, especially blue or purple ones, have been found to be very rich in agents called phytochemicals which greatly benefit your health in several different ways.
Increasing your physical activity doesn’t mean you have to start an exercise program or enroll at gym. Rather, being physically active means moving often and can be accomplished by simply doing more of the activities which you already do.
Perhaps one of the best ways you can increase your physical activity is to increase the number of steps you walk a day. The best way to help you do this is to begin using a pedometer. Keep track of the number of steps you make per day over the course of a couple weeks. Compute your average steps per day and then set a goal to add 3000 steps per day over the next 60-90 days. Once you achieve and maintain this goal for several weeks, increase your target daily steps again by another 3000 per day. If you really want to make this work for you, talk to a friend or two to walk with you. Having someone help keep you accountable is a great way to improve your follow through with any physical activity program.
Resistive exercises which target the joints affected by osteoarthritis have also been found to slow the progression of this condition. The key isn’t to see how much weight you can lift, but rather to do many repetitions of a movement using a much lighter amount of weight or resistance. 20% of your maximum has been found to be optimal in working with osteoarthritic joints. Elastic bands or weights can be used and you can very slowly increase the resistance over time.
Diet has been found to profoundly impact arthritis as well. Dietary supplements can help protect the cartilage in the joints, which is very beneficial to arthritis sufferers. Glucosamine HCl and Chondroitin Sulfate have both been found to benefit the joints. However, when taken together (in doses of 2-3 grams per day) they have been found to provide much greater benefit than what either is able to do on its own, providing better relief than prescription Celebrex.
Another supplement known as SAMe, or S-Adenosyl-methionine, has been found to be a very effective, while more expensive, aide to osteoarthritis sufferers. Doses of 400-1200mg per day have shown great results; according to one study better results than that of prescription medications for osteoarthritis, especially when 1000-1200mg are taken daily.
Relief from the pain of osteoarthritis without the side effects common to prescription medication can also be found in topical analgesics that contain menthol, camphor and/or methyl salicylate. Biofreeze, Sombra and Salonpas products have all become popular with those who suffer from arthritis and are looking for temporary relief. There does not appear to be any harm from using these products on a repeated basis, which lends to their strong popularity.
While any one of these treatments may help you with your arthritis, combining two or more of these recommendations will provide much better results. Seeking regular chiropractic care while increasing your daily physical activity (including resistive exercises), diminishing your portion size, taking supplements and using topical analgesics will give you by far the best results.
If you or someone you love has recently been diagnosed with osteoarthritis, rest assured that this is not a death sentence. Many opportunities for relief exist and with some trial and error you will be able to find solutions that are right for you.
Nick Preston
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/do-you-know-what-to-do-about-arthritis-79693.html