Tag: Arthritis

5 Sure-Fire Tips For Treating Your Arthritis

5 Sure-Fire Tips For Treating Your Arthritis
Susan Easton

The numbers can rattle you down to your bones if you let them. Millions upon millions of American adults suffer from arthritis, and that’s not including folks around the globe in other countries. In fact, arthritis tops the list as one of the most common chronic conditions in the United States and most other Western nations.
The numbers are much worse when you consider that arthritis pain and other arthritis symptoms are so hard to live with many times. Arthritis symptoms can include debilitating pain in your joints and in your bones. It can lead to the inability to move certain limbs, or extreme stiffness in others.
Arthritis pain could steal you ability to feed yourself with utensils, to be able to pick up your grandchildren, or to even get out bed in the morning. Other arthritis symptoms can include swelling, burning sensations in your joints, aches and pains in indiscriminate parts of your body, and redness.
Arthritis is actually a family of a whole host of different disorders. And to find the arthritis pain relief and treatment for you, you must know your particular type of arthritis. The two main kinds of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis (OA). There is also gout, and some even consider fibromyalgia a form of arthritis.
Each type has its own arthritis treatment. For osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, for instance, to get arthritis pain relief some experts recommend alternative herbal remedies, or even your standard supplement treatments such as vitamin C, vitamin D, and calcium.
The top sure-fire arthritis treatment tips involve a little of such remedies, as well as some physical things you can do to better protect your joints.
1. Be kind to your joints. OA starts as excessive wear and tear in your joints. So one of the best ways to reduce the risk of this is by avoiding repetitive motions, which can include swinging a tennis racket, golf club, picking up packages at work, and other things you do the same way over and over.
2. Lose weight. Another way to be the kindest to your joints is to drop the load they have to bear. In other words, lose weight. Talk to your doctor about what a healthy weight is for you if you’re overweight.
3. Eat right. Some experts believe that calcium-filled dairy foods, and vitamin packed fruits and vegetables, can go a long way as an arthritis treatment and prevention method.
4. Know your drugs. NSAIDs work well against some forms of arthritis pain, but they also come with risks. Remember Vioxx? Acetaminophen, the drug in Tylenol, works well, too, but it can also lead to kidney and liver problems in excessive doses. So don’t take these drugs without your doctor’s advice.
5. Know your herbal remedies. Glucosamine and chondroitin have finally been proven as effective remedies for arthritis pain. But talk with your doctor before you take them.
There is no guarantee that any of these arthritis treatments can help you not become part of that frightening arthritis statistic, but the beauty is, no matter how much they work for your arthritis pain, they will definitely benefit your overall health. So it’s a win-win situation no matter how you look at it.

About The Author

This article about arthritis is submitted by Susan Easton, writing for http://www.arthritisinfosite.com.

Your Diet, Nutrition, and Arthritis

Your Diet, Nutrition, and Arthritis
Lee Dobbins

Arthritis symptoms often come and go without warning so it is
hard to attribute the addition or elimination of certain foods
to the relief or onset of symptoms. But studies show that adding
foods rich in certain nutrients, while eliminating some other
foods, can help relieve some symptoms of arthritis. If you have
arthritis, you might want to discuss dietary changes with your
doctor and you may find that you can control your pain with less
drugs and better eating.

Research has shown that a diet that has too many calories can
aggravate RA (rheumatoid arthritis), and 5% of sufferers in a
different study showed a flare-up of symptoms after drinking
milk. In other studies, reducing the intake of fat, red meat and
dairy products is shown to help relieve pain. Some other foods
that are suspected of aggravating your levels of pain include
tomatoes, white potatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, corn, lemons,
grapefruit, wheat, rye, eggs, coffee and sugar.

While limiting some of the foods you eat, you may also be able
to help relieve arthritis symptoms by eating more of certain
foods, or taking supplements. In 1998, Finnish researchers
discovered that the lactobacillus helped improve symptoms of RA.
In this study, mice which were given lactobacillus were found to
be less apt to develop arthritis and their immune systems were
better equipped to handle it in those that did..

Another food that seems to have a beneficial effect on arthritis
pain is fish oil according to a study done in the 1950’s. Fish
oil supplements can be taken but sometimes cause a fishy
aftertaste so why not simply add fish high in Omega 3’s to your
diet? You want to eat cold water fish that are wild and not farm
raised. These fish include mackerel, tuna, salmon, bluefish,
mullet, herring and anchovies.

In a study by the University of Manchester, it was found that
individuals with high levels of beta-cryptoxanthin were 40% less
likely to develop arthritis. Beta-cryptoxanthin can be found in
yellow and orange colored fruits and vegetables and is a key
nutrient in helping your immune system as well as bone and skin
health. Some foods high in this nutrient include winter squash,
peppers and pumpkin as well as papayas, tangerines and
persimmons.

Another vitamin you might want to make sure you get enough of is
vitamin B. Studies have shown that people who have arthritis are
deficient in vitamin B. Although, this could be due to the fact
that taking aspirin depletes the bodies stores of the vitamin..

The antioxidant vitamin C is an important addition to any diet
as they help neutralize free radicals which contribute to tissue
damage as well as disease. In fact, findings show that damaged
knee cartilage cells can release large amounts of free radicals.
According to the study, people who take a lot of vitamin C have
much less risk of damage to their knees. The famous scientist
Dr. Linus Pauling recommends that you take 18 grams of V-C every
day as a preventative measure for arthritis.

Another antioxidant, Vitamin E works in a similar way and
German studies have proven that it also helps to reduce pain.
Vitamin E can be found in whole grains, corn oil, wheat germ,
sunflower seed, and legumes.

A deficiency in Selenium has been shown to cause a particular
type of arthritis – Kashin-Bek disease, but this happens mostly
where the soil is deficient in selenium. Interestingly enough,
sufferers of RA have less selenium in their blood than others.
You can add more selenium to your diet with nuts, Fish, whole
grains, organ meats, and beans.

Some trials have shown that zinc can help reduce swelling and
stiffness. To get more zinc, try eating more cheese, tofu or
oysters or ask your doctor about a supplement. There have been
conflicting results in studies on zinc.

In addition to what you eat, other non pharmaceutical ways to
relive pain from arthritis include exercise, losing weight,
hot-packs, and humor.

About the author:
Lee Dobbins writes for A2z Vitamins
where you can learn more about the role that vitamins play in
your health and well being.

Insomnia – The Most Prevalent Form of Sleep Disorder

Insomnia, a most common sleep disorder, affects about one third of the American population and is classified two different ways. It can be classified by how long it lasts. Transient insomnia lasts for only a few days, short term lasts for a few weeks and chronic lasts for more then three weeks. The other way insomnia is classified is by its source. The main two classifications of this sleep disorder by source are primary and secondary.

Transient insomnia is experienced by most people at some time throughout their lives. It can be caused by stress such as worrying about the first day school or an illness in the family. Sometimes this sleep disorder occurs due to a disruption of their circadian cycle, which is a persons natural sleep cycle, caused by jet lag or a shift change at work. Transient insomnia goes away one the stress issue has passed. Short term insomnia is often caused by similar stressors as transient insomnia. If the sufferer of this sleep disorder cannot break the cycle of poor sleep, it often develops into chronic insomnia.

Primary insomnia develops without any obvious cause. Sometimes it starts as early as infancy.
Often it is the result of high metabolic rates or an overactive nervous system.

Secondary insomnia is the direct result of another cause. This sleep disorder can come from illness, medication, drugs or alcohol. Addressing the underlying cause of secondary insomnia often gives the sufferer relief. For example, if arthritis pain keeps you from sleeping, then treating the arthritis is the best way to cope with the sleep disorder.

Insomnia is not a single disorder. It is a general symptom and could have many potential causes. In order to qualify as a sleep disorder, insomnia has to meet three specific requirements. First, the person has to experience poor sleep in general, or have a problem falling or staying asleep. Second, if given the proper sleep environment and an adequate opportunity to sleep, the problem still occurs. Third, the result of the poor sleep causes some type of impairment while awake. Examples of an impairment are; fatigue, body aches and pains, inability to concentrate, mood changes, lack of energy, poor concentration, or developing an unnatural amount of worry about sleep.

Often insomnia is treated with medication, such as sleeping pills. These can be prescription medication or bought over the counter.

However, there are several other methods of treatment for this sleep disorder. Behavioral treatments include meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, visualization, biofeedback, sleep hygiene, cognitive behavioral therapy and reconditioning sleep restriction. These methods are often very successful.

Some sufferers of this sleep disorder choose holistic, or alternative, treatment. This method involves the use of herbal supplements which are not usually FDA approved. Others seek acupuncture as a way to relieve their insomnia. Passive body heating, which is the use of hot baths, is another method used.

Understanding this sleep disorder is the first step to breaking the cycle of insomnia.

A Sleep Disorder That Affects the Legs – Restless Sleep

A Sleep Disorder That Affects the Legs – Restless Sleep Syndrome

Restless leg syndrome, known as RLS, is a sleep disorder that afflicts more than 15 percent of adults.
It affects more women than men and the incidence of restless leg syndrome increases with age. Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis and varicose veins, also increase the risk of developing restless leg syndrome.

This sleep disorder is characterized by an uncontrollable urge to move the lower legs, knees and occasionally the arms. Sometimes painful sensations accompany the urge to move. People that suffer from this sleep disorder describe the feelings and sensations in different ways. Many describe a tingling, itching or pulling sensation. Still others say it feels prickly or burns. Some feel as if they have worms crawling under their skin.

The sensations which are typical of this sleep disorder can occur anytime during the day or night.
Restless leg syndrome occurring at night has a devastating effect on sleep. The symptoms can cause the sufferer to get in and out of bed repeatedly which can delay or disrupt sleep. Since sleep in repeatedly interrupted, extreme daytime sleepiness is common.

The combination of always feeling tired and the symptoms themselves can cause a person with restless leg syndrome to alter their lifestyle. Long trips, movies, concerts and eating in restaurants are some of the activities they usually avoid. Attending a long meeting at work can become very painful and uncomfortable. People that have this sleep disorder often suffer from depression.

Researchers believe that restless leg syndrome may be caused by malfunctions of the pathways in the brain that controls movement reflexes and sensations. Often this sleep disorder has a genetic base.

Restless leg syndrome cannot be diagnosed by one single test. Often standard neurological examinations show no signs of an abnormality. In many cases, a doctor makes the diagnosis of restless leg syndrome based on the description of the symptoms. They also take into account family history, and the results of a routine medical examination and blood tests.

Many times the treatment for restless leg syndrome is aimed at controlling the debilitating sensations that accompany this sleep disorder. Often iron supplements are prescribed because severe anemia has been linked to this disorder. Relaxation techniques, diet changes and the elimination of caffeine and alcohol help some sufferers of restless leg syndrome.

In most cases, this sleep disorder is treated with drugs. These drugs could include dopamine agents, benzodiazepines, opioids or anticonvulsants. Medications do not cure restless leg syndrome, but they manage the symptoms. People that suffer from this sleep disorder usually have to stay on their medications for the rest of their lives.

Another sleep disorder similar to restless leg syndrome is periodic limb movement disorder known as PLMD. There are two main differences between restless leg syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder. Restless leg syndrome occurs when the sufferer is awake or asleep; periodic limb movement disorder only occurs when the sufferer is asleep. Restless leg syndrome movements are voluntary responses to very unpleasant sensations; the movements of periodic limb movement disorder are involuntary and are not consciously controlled. Both of these sleep disorders can be effectively controlled with medical treatment.