Tag: lupus

Living And Coping With Arthritis – How To Stay Active

Living And Coping With Arthritis – How To Stay Active And Independent
Richard Clement

Arthritis pain can be frustrating.Nagging and crippling
arthritis pain can continue day after day. How much happier
would you be if you could stop your arthritis pain right now and
feel great all day? Knowing the nature of the disease can really
bring you the right answers.

What is arthritis ?

Arthritis comprises over 100 different diseases and conditions.
The word arthritis means “joint inflammation”. When joints are
inflamed, it causes pain and usually also limits movement of the
joints that are affected. For many people, arthritis pain has a
large impact on their life. Arthritis is second only to heart
disease as a cause of work disability. Arthritis limits everyday
activities such as walking, dressing and bathing for more than
16 million Americans. Each year, arthritis results in 750,000
hospitalizations and 36 million outpatient visits. Arthritis is
not just an old person’s disease. Nearly two-thirds of people
with arthritis are younger than 65 years including nearly
300,000 children. Arthritis affects children and people of all
racial and ethnic groups but is more common among women and
older adults. The disease can affect different parts of the
body. Two of the most common forms are osteoarthritis and
rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the
joint lining becomes inflamed as part of the body’s immune
system activity. RA is one of the most serious and disabling
types, affecting mostly women. Rheumatoid arthritis is two to
three times more common in women than in men and generally
strikes between the ages of 20 and 50. Both sides of the body
are usually affected at the same time. Symptoms of RA differ
from person to person but can generally include:

Joint tenderness, warmth, and swelling.

Pain and stiffness lasting for more than 1 hour in the morning
or after a long rest.

Joint inflammation in the wrist and finger joints closest to
the hand .

Fatigue, an occasional fever, and a general sense of not
feeling well . Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of
arthritis. It is a degenerative joint disease in which the
cartilage that covers the ends of bones in the joint
deteriorates, causing pain and loss of movement as bone begins
to rub against bone. OA commonly affects the joints of the
fingers, knees, hips, and spine. Osteoarthritis is more common
in older people because they have been using their joints
longer. Using the joints to do the same task over and over or
simply using them over time can make osteoarthritis worse.
Younger people can also get osteoarthritis. Athletes are at risk
because they use their joints so much. People who have jobs that
require the same movement over and over are also at risk.
Injuries to a joint increase the risk of arthritis in the joint
later on. Excess weight can accelerate arthritis in the knees,
hips and spine. The most common symptom of Osteoarthritis is
pain in the affected joint(s) after repetitive use. Joint pain
is usually worse later in the day. There can be swelling,
warmth, and creaking of the affected joints. Symptoms of OA may
greatly vary. Some patients can be debilitated by their
symptoms. On the other hand, others may have remarkably few
symptoms in spite of dramatic degeneration of the joints
apparent on x-rays. Symptoms also can be intermittent. These 2
forms have very different causes, risk factors, and effects on
the body, yet they often share a common symptom—persistent
joint pain.

What are the causes of arthritis ? Primary OA is mostly
related to aging. With aging, the water content of the cartilage
increases and the protein makeup of cartilage degenerates.
Repetitive use of the joints over the years irritates and
inflames the cartilage, causing joint pain and swelling.
Eventually, cartilage begins to degenerate by flaking or forming
tiny crevasses. Inflammation of the cartilage can also stimulate
new bone outgrowths (spurs) to form around the joints. Sometimes
osteoarthritis follows an injury to a joint. For example, a
young person might hurt his knee badly playing soccer. Then,
years after the knee has apparently healed, he might get
arthritis in his knee joint. RA is an autoimmune disease. This
means the body’s natural immune system does not operate as it
should; it attacks healthy joint tissue, initiating a process of
inflammation and joint damage. RA is a type of chronic arthritis
that occurs in joints on both sides of the body (such as hands,
wrists or knees). This symmetry helps distinguish RA from other
types of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs most frequently
in the 30-50 age group, although can start at any age. It is
strongly associated with the HLA marker DR4 – hence Family
history is an important risk factor. The disease affects
Females:Males in a 4:1 ratio. Other conditions can also cause
arthritis. Some include:

Gout, in which crystals build up in the joints. It usually
affects the big toe.

Lupus , in which the body’s defense system can harm the
joints, the heart, the skin, the kidneys, and other organs.

Viral hepatitis ,in which an infection of the liver can cause
arthritis.

What can you do about it ?

Some people may worry that arthritis means they won’t be able to
work or take care of their children and their family. Others
think that you just have to accept things like arthritis. While
there is not yet a cure for arthritis, much can be done today to
reduce pain and boost joint function. Learning how to manage
pain over the long term is essential to maintaining a good
quality of life. There are things you can do to keep the damage
from getting worse. They might also make you feel better.Here
are some simple things to do:

Lose weight if you’re overweight

Exercise regularly for short periods. Going for a walk every
day will help, too.

Use canes and other special devices to protect your joints.

Avoid lifting heavy things.

Don’t pull on objects to move them-push them instead

Use heat or cold to reduce pain or stiffness.

The pain and disability that accompany arthritis can be
decreased through early diagnosis and appropriate management.So
if you have persistent symptoms lasting more than several days –
go see your doctor. The doctor will examine you and may take x
rays (pictures) of your bones or joints to decide if you have
arthritis and what kind you have.

After the doctor knows what kind of arthritis you have, he or
she will talk with you about the best way to treat it. The
doctor may give you a prescription for medicine that will help
with the pain, stiffness, and inflammation. The good news is
that now there is a way to stop your pain with a medication .
Celebrex is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID),
specifically a COX-2 inhibitor, which relieves pain and swelling
(inflammation). It represents a huge breakthrough in the
treatment of pain, inflammation, and stiffness of arthritis.
Celebrex is believed to fight pain and inflammation by
inhibiting the effect of a natural enzyme called COX-2. Unlike
the older medications, however, it does not interfere with a
similar substance, called COX-1, which exerts a protective
effect on the lining of the stomach.Celebrex doesn’t cause the
stomach bleeding and ulcers that traditional nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might.

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About the author:
Richard Clement is an online publisher dedicated in helping
online users getting appropriate and effective medical care.
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Am I a Good Candidate for Lasik?

So many people are interested in the Lasik vision correction procedure, and want to know the benefits, the risks, and how the Lasik procedure works. One of the first things to consider is what requirements a person should meet in order to have a successful Lasik procedure. Though each individual case should be discussed with a qualified Lasik physician, here are some guidelines to see if you are a good candidate for Lasik vision correction.

First, the eye should be properly matured. This means that anyone under the age of 18 really needs to wait before a Lasik procedure is done, for it is likely that the shape of their eye will continue to change for several years. If the eye shape changes after the Lasik operation is done, the clarity of vision will be affected. Some Lasik physicians recommend waiting until age 25 in some cases.

In addition to an age cutoff, the vision prescription for the Lasik candidate should be stable for at least one year, and preferably for longer than that. This is for the same reason as above, that the Lasik procedure will only continue to be effective if the eye shape remains constant after surgery.

One comment about age cutoffs should be made with regard to Lasik surgery. There is no maximum age, as many patients in their fifties to their eighties have had a very successful Lasik procedure. The main consideration in these cases is enough tear production for successful healing and lubrication after the Lasik vision correction.

The eyes of the Lasik candidate should be healthy. This means that any person undergoing a Lasik procedure should have had no eye infection or injury for at least a year, and must have no scarring on the cornea of the eye. In addition, they must not have any recurring eye problem, such as a history of herpes infection in the eyes.

The medical history of a prospective Lasik client also plays an important part. Some chronic conditions, such as autoimmune disorders like Lupus, will prevent some people from being able to schedule a Lasik procedure. You should be very clear about any and all medical conditions that are current, or even completed ones in the past. Also, women who are pregnant or nursing should wait to have a Lasik procedure scheduled.

A good Lasik physician will also not schedule people with dry eye syndrome for Lasik vision correction. Having sufficient tear production is important, though for minor problems this may be aided by medication during the healing process. In addition, those people with eyes that dilate very widely are not good candidates for Lasik.

These are most of the most common reasons that a person should look at some other eye improvement choice other than Lasik. Most generally healthy people with standard vision problems benefit greatly from a Lasik procedure done by a trained, professional Lasik physician. Look for a good Lasik center in your area and discuss your individual case in detail.

Fatigue And Joint Pain: Common Arthritis Symptoms

Fatigue And Joint Pain: Common Arthritis Symptoms
Mike Herman

The symptoms of fatigue and joint pain, are associated with a
great deal of illnesses and diseases, ranging from the common
flu to serious autoimmune diseases like lupus or thyroid
disorders.

And…..

The symptoms that are most associated with arthritis are those
of fatigue and joint pain.

So if you are experiencing any problems that you think to be
arthritis, consult your primary health care provider before
making any attempts at self medication.

Although a diagnosis of arthritis may be troubling, know that
although there is no cure known today for the disease, there are
a great many treatment options available to deal with the
fatigue and joint pain so that you can reclaim your life.

Generally speaking, arthritis is a condition of inflammation
around the joints in a sufferer’s body.

Any joint is open to being affected by arthritis, but the
usually affected areas include the hands, knees, shoulders, and
back.

When the area becomes inflamed, the joints swell, causing a
great deal of pain and often an overall feeling of stiffness.

Usually, arthritis causes an individual to lose a certain amount
of mobility, whether it is an inability to grasp items or
complete a given task due to a restricted range of motion.

Quite often, individuals who suffer from fatigue and joint pain
are forced to give up favorite activities simply because their
bodies are unable to perform tasks they once enjoyed.

This can include hobbies that require fine motor work, such as
needlework, gardening, or painting.

Instead of letting arthritis rule your life, take a stance and
fight back. There are many over the counter and prescription
medications that can reduce inflammation and restore lost
mobility.

Consult your primary health care provider to ensure any
medications–including those that are advertised as all
natural–will not interact with any current medications or
medical issues that you may be experiencing.

Another way to ward off the affects of arthritis is to ensure
your body is in proper health.

Work to maintain a healthy, well balanced diet that includes all
necessary vitamins and nutrients.

Exercise at least twice a week and consider taking ancient forms
of exercise like yoga or Tai Chi.

About the author:
Learn More and Get the Type of Natural Remedies for Arthritis that Will
Help You With the Fatigue and Joint Pain Associated with
Arthritis

Contraindications of Laser Hair Removal

There are people that should not have laser hair removal because of one or more specific reasons. These reasons are called contraindications, which mean, that it is inadvisable to have the treatment or procedure. The treatment could be dangerous or cause permanent side effects. Other contraindications require special treatment or medication before laser hair removal can be started.

Women that are pregnant should not have laser hair removal. Although there is not significant information regarding laser usage and pregnancy, many physicians and health care providers recommend avoiding laser treatments because of the unknown effects on the on the unborn child.

Anyone that has herpes simplex virus I or II should tell the doctor that is preforming the laser hair removal before treatments have begun. It is necessary to take a prescription antiviral medication for several days both before and after the treatment. If the hair removal is in the area of previous outbreaks, it is possible that the heat from the laser will cause a flare up of the herpes virus. If a herpes outbreak is active, either on the face or genital area, it is important to reschedule the laser hair removal treatment.

An appointment should also be rescheduled if there is any cut, broken, irritated or inflamed skin in the area that is to be treated. Rescheduling is also necessary if there is an active infection anywhere within the body.

Anyone that has the condition of albinism, which is the absence of any color pigment in the hair or skin, should not have laser hair removal. Laser light is drawn to dark pigmentation so it will not work on anyone with this condition. The same holds true for people with very light blonde, red, grey, or white hair.

People that are sunburned or have recently tanned should postpone their treatment until their skin has returned to its normal color which could take several weeks. It is important that skin is its natural color when laser hair removal takes place.

Certain oral and topical medications can cause photosensitivity or photoallergic reactions if used before laser hair removal treatments take place. Accutane should be discontinued three months before treatment begins. Tetracycline and Retin A should be discontinued six weeks before the laser hair removal process.

Anyone that suffers from certain medical conditions, such as lupus, diabetes, or epilepsy, should not have laser hair removal. Any nervous disorders which are present, need to be evaluated before laser treatment begins. If hirsutism is present, the cause should be diagnosed and treated before any laser treatment is started.

If there is a mole in the area to be treated, many people decide to have it removed before treatment. Because of the dark pigmentation of the mole, it may attract to much heat from the laser and cause burning. The same holds true for certain birthmarks and beauty marks.

If there is a history of keloid scarring, it is important to know that there is a higher danger of scarring from the treatments.

The importance of knowing the contraindications of laser hair removal can protect you from a dangerous experience.