Rheumatoid Arthritis | Health And Wellness Tips

Arthritis–Can it be Prevented?

Arthritis–Can it be Prevented?
Karen Cole-Peralat

Overview of Arthritis
Effective help is currently available for people to proactively manage arthritis and enjoy life to the fullest. But the actual prevention of arthritis itself is yet another story.
With rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the membranes or tissues lining the joints become inflamed. There is no known way to prevent any form of this disease, including osteoarthritis, adult-onset arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The exact causes of all these conditions are unknown.
It’s very important for people who fear they are at risk of rheumatoid arthritis to realize that at this time there are no medications to take or lifestyle modifications to make that can completely prevent this crippling disease. However, by making changes to your weight and diet and engaging in moderate exercise, you may be able to slow or even halt the disease’s onset and progress.
But you can only really take the measures needed to control arthritis after it is diagnosed. Until it is known for sure if certain bacteria or viruses trigger the disease, contact with people suffering from it will not change your risk of developing it.
Traditionally, medications and physical therapy have been used to manage the disease. A massive amount of nutrient research has also shown the effect diet and supplements have on the body’s healing processes. Lifestyle changes can also make a big difference.
Causes of the Disease
Joint injuries caused by accidents or overuse increase the occurrence of some types of arthritis. You can also inherit certain genes that may increase your risk. More research is needed to find out how to reduce the disease’s onset from these factors.
Some individuals have an inborn tendency to degenerative joint disease because they have changes in the structure of the important protein-building blocks of the articular cartilage which covers the surface of their joints. These seemingly small but significant abnormalities predispose their joints to wear and degeneration. In other cases, joint injuries may contribute to the development of DJD.
No foods have been definitively shown to cause or exacerbate arthritis in most individuals. A variety of diets and “hand-me-down” information exists about certain foods and arthritis, in particular the night shade plants, but none of it has been proven.
There is a rare form of arthritis called Spure which is caused by allergies to wheat products. Avoiding those will eliminate this disease. Associated features include weight loss, diarrhea and osteoporosis. Consult your health care provider if this is a concern.
There are things you can do to reduce your risk for getting certain types of arthritis or to reduce disability if you already have arthritis.
Overweight and obese people have a higher frequency of arthritis. Excess weight increases risk for developing osteoarthritis in the knees, and possibly in the hips and hands. Women are at special risk. In men, excess weight increases the risk for developing gout. It’s important to maintain your recommended weight, especially as you get older.
Arthritis Prevention Programs
The Center for Disease Control has implemented programs in several states to reduce the onset and consequences of arthritis. The National Arthritis Action Plan: A Public Health Strategy delineates the actions necessary to better understand the arthritis burden in the USA and helps to fully apply known and effective interventions.
This document represents the combined efforts of nearly 90 organizations, such as the Arthritis Foundation, government agencies and many other groups and individuals with an interest in arthritis prevention and control.
The NAAP proposes a nationally coordinated effort for reducing the occurrence of arthritis and its accompanying disability by focusing on these three areas:
1. Surveillance, epidemiology and prevention research to strengthen the science base.
2. Communications and education to increase awareness and provide accurate information about arthritis.
3. Programs, policies, and systems promoting increased quality of life for people with arthritis and facilitating arthritis prevention measures.
The CDC continues to accumulate scientific knowledge on the benefits of physical activity. Because healthy eating reduces a person’s risk of becoming overweight, good nutrition plays an important role in preventing knee osteoarthritis. In addition, moderate physical activity is essential for maintaining the health of joints.
The information outlined in this article is originally from: HealingWithNutrition.com, Arthritis Facts, Disease Prevention and Treatment Strategies, http://www.healingwithnutrition.com ; Center for Disease Control, Framework for Arthritis Prevention and Control, http://www.cdc.gov ; Web MD Health, http://mywebmd.com ; and the University of Washington Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, http://www.orthop.washington.edu , Frequently Asked Questions About Arthritis.
About the Author
Executive Director and President of Rainbow Writing, Inc., Karen Cole-Peralta writes. RWI at http://www.rainbowriting.com/ is a world renowned freelance writing, copyediting, ghostwriting, graphics and CAD, search engine optimization, publishing helpers, internet marketing, free professional services, and supercheap dedicated web host and website development corporation.

Arthritis Basics

Arthritis Basics
Adam Waxler

Arthritis affects people in a variety of ways. Joints may be stiff and creak. For others who suffer from arthritis, joints might crack suddenly, like knees upon standing. For many arthritis sufferers, pain occurs, like when trying to open a jar.
Whats it all about? Lets take a look at the basics of arthritis and learn more.
Arthritis actually means joint inflammation and has over 100 related conditions or forms of the disease. If arthritis is left untreated, it can advance, resulting in joint damage that cannot be reversed. Therefore, early detection of arthritis and arthritis treatment are important.
The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although both type of arthritis have similar symptoms, both happen for different reasons. When joints are overused and misused, the results can be osteoarthritis (OA). What happens is that the cushioning cartilage that protects the joint breaks down, resulting in the bones rubbing together. This generally happens in the knees, but can be found in the hips, spine and hands as well. And, only in the later stages of osteoarthritis will a person most often feel pain, after quite a bit of cartilage is lost.
The second type, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), refers to the bodys immune system attacking joint tissue. Still not fully understood in the medical community, rheumatoid arthritis most often starts in a persons hands, wrists and feet. Then rheumatoid arthritis advances to shoulders, elbows and hips.
Similar symptoms include pain, stiffness, fatigue, weakness, slight fever, and inflamed tissue lumps under the skin. And both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis generally develop symmetrically, i.e. affecting the same joints on both the left and right sides of the body.
A difference in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis to note is with swelling. With rheumatoid arthritis, people report soft and squishy swelling. While with osteoarthritis, people report hard and bony swelling.
Another difference between the two types of arthritis is that a person is more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis if a sibling or parent had it. While a person with a history of joint damage, either an injury or chronic strain, runs a higher risk for developing osteoarthritis.
Arthritis can affect any age group. However, while there is no specific age for arthritis sufferers, arthritis seems to focus on those over 45 years of age.
And, while neither gender is immune, a reported 74 percent of osteoarthritis cases (or just over 15 million) occur with women and a slightly lower percentage of rheumatoid arthritis cases occur with women.
Furthermore, your health, particularly your weight, plays a role in the development of arthritis. People with excess weight tend to develop osteoarthritis, especially in the knees when reaching over 45 years of age. However, losing weight can turn the odds around almost by half. Regular activity combined with exercise also reduces risk of arthritis, strengthening joint muscles and reducing joint wear.
Although there are no cure-alls for arthritis, there are a variety of pain relief treatment strategies. Aside from medications, remedies, replacement alternatives and other helpful treatment options, the four main arthritis relief aids are gentle exercise, good nutrition, a positive attitude, and rest. Education also plays a huge role to dispel old wives tales and myths that nothing can be done about arthritis.
If you suspect you may have arthritis, it is advisable to seek medical advice. The sooner you detect the arthritis and the type of arthritis the better off youll be. Furthermore, your symptoms may not be caused by arthritis, but may be caused by something else like a virus or tendonitis or other similar problem that could potentially worsen if left untreated.
Copyright 2006 Adam Waxler

About The Author

Adam Waxler publishes a series of health & fitness information products and web sites including his new resource filled with with FREE articles and tips on Arthritis Pain Relief & Prevention @ http://www.1-800-health-teacher.com/arthritis.

Arthritis and Joint Pain: Causes, Symptoms, Home Remedies

Arthritis and Joint Pain: Causes, Symptoms, Home Remedies
AyurvedicCure.com

Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints caused by the
wear and tear injury or any infection. This inflamed condition
of the joints is mostly seen in the elderly people. It comes
from two Greek words, athron meaning joints and itis meaning
inflammation. It affects almost half of the population of the
world. About 50 million people in the United States suffer from
one or the other type of arthritis. It is more common than
cancer and heart problems. In brief we can say that it is the
condition that affects the health of the bone joints in the body.

Arthritis refers to the more than 100 distinct diseases that
cause pain and swelling, and limit movement in joints and
connective tissue . The common types of arthritis are-

Osteoarthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis

Gout

Osteoarthritis results from the loss of bone tissue from the
joints and is also known as degenerative arthritis. It mostly
occurs with the preceding age. Rheumatoid arthritis affects the
people above the age of 40. It is more dangerous than
osteoarthritis as it affects the ligaments and tendons that join
the bones and muscles. Gout mostly affects men who are above the
age of 40 years and is caused by the excess accumulation of uric
acid in the spaces between the joints causing intense pain and
inflammation of the joints.

The various symptoms of arthritis are:

Joint pain

Swelling of joints

Limitation of movement

Swelling of joints

Stiffness of the joints

There are many types of arthritis and each of them has a
different cause of occurrence.

The common causes of arthritis are:

Obesity and overweight

Preceding age

Heredity factors

Hormonal changes

Weather changes

Excessive acid in the body

Nutrient deficiencies

Home remedies for Arthritis

Two teaspoons of lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey taken in a
cup of warm water twice daily is highly beneficial for the
treatment of arthritis.

Half teaspoon of turmeric powder taken with warm water twice a
day is also effective in curing arthritis.

Application of hot packs and ice packs for 10 minutes also
provides relief from joint pains.

Drinking alfalfa tea twice daily is also beneficial for the
treatment of arthritis.

Drink some radish juice with sugar added to it.

Soak Spiegel seeds in water, make a poultice and apply it on the
joints for immediate relief from pain.

Natural Solution: Arthcare Oil – An Anti-inflammatory Herbal
massage oil. http://www.ayurvediccure.com/arthcareoil.htm

Arthcare is an anti-inflammatory herbal oil which not only gives
relief from arthritis pain but also strengthens the bone
tissues, the skeletal and the neuromuscular systems, giving a
comfortable movements of joints and muscles.

JOINT PAIN

Joint pain is on of the symptoms of arthritis. It affects one or
more joints. Many types of injuries or conditions can cause it.
Joint pain can also be caused by the inflammation of the bursae
known as bursitis. The bursae are fluid-filled sacs that cushion
and pad bony prominences, allowing free movement of muscles and
tendons over the bone.

The other causes of joint pain are:

Joint injury

Infections like viral infections, bacterial infections etc.

Joint strains

Auto-immune diseases

Nervous system disorder

Home remedies for Joint Pain

Warm baths is the highly beneficial water treatment for the
joint pains.

Drink 15 grams of fresh bathu juice daily with an empty stomach
without adding any salt or sugar to it.

Massaging the affected area with any oil will provide relief
from the pain.

Drink a cup of papaya seed tea six or seven times daily for two
or three weeks for relief from joint pain.

Eat porridge of 2 teaspoonfuls of winter cherry with ghee and
molasses with an empty stomach for 15 days.

Diet also plays an important role in the treatment of arthritis
and joint pain. Improvement in the digestion and metabolism of
the body is very important for the treatment. Heavy meals, meat
and fish, sour fruits and fried foods should be avoided, as they
are difficult to digest. Consumption of rice during nighttime
should be avoided. Among fruits bananas are considered best as
they provide strength to the joints and grease them. Carrot
juice is highly beneficial as it strengthens the ligaments.
Besides diet rest is also important for the patients suffering
from arthritis and joint pain.

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.

Visit http://www.ayurvediccure.com for Natural Home Remedies for
Various Ailments, Diet, Lifestyle, Causes and Symptoms, Natural
Herbal Remedies and Treatment by Herbs

Arthcare Oil – Within minutes it removes the terrible persistent
misery due to Arthritis and Joint Pain
http://www.ayurvediccure.com/arthcareoil.htm

Brings relief from backaches, muscular strains, rheumatic pains,
joint pains etc.

About the author:
Visit http://www.ayurvediccure.com for Natural Home Remedies for
Various Ailments, Diet, Lifestyle, Causes and Symptoms, Natural
Herbal Remedies and Treatment by Herbs

Arthcare Oil – Within minutes it removes the terrible persistent
misery due to Arthritis and Joint Pain
http://www.ayurvediccure.com/arthcareoil.htm

Brings relief from backaches, muscular strains, rheumatic pains,
joint pains etc.

A Look at Arthritis Pain Relief

A Look at Arthritis Pain Relief
Dave Lavinsky

In a recent survey on pain conducted by the Stanford University Medical Center, arthritis pain was cited as the chief complaint among Americas seniors, with thirty-two percent of the senior population listing arthritis as the specific cause of their suffering. Arthritis does strike children and young adults as well, although it afflicts the mature segment of the population more frequently. It is estimated that 15% of the American adult population suffer from arthritis, and this number is rising, increasing the demand for arthritis pain relief.

Arthritis is a general term encompassing over 100 different medical conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system, the three most common being osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. It causes inflammation in the joints, tendons and ligaments. It manifests in every part of the body, ranging from mild joint stiffness to crippling disability. Sufferers experience the pain of arthritis differently, too; for some, arthritis is at it is most severe upon waking up, while others report that their condition worsens throughout the day. No one knows exactly what causes arthritis, but it is among the oldest of human afflictions.

The type of arthritis and intensity of the condition determine the course of treatment. There is no cure for arthritis, but there are traditional and alternative treatments that can bring arthritis pain relief. Prescription and over-the-counter medications are popular for treating arthritis pain. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is often recommended for osteoarthritis patients with little or mild inflammation, while aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen work best for patients with inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis.

The healing touch of massage may stimulate the flow of blood, bringing heat and relief to stiff joints. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture, relaxation, yoga, and even emu oil are have proven effective for many arthritis sufferers.

Heat and cold can help alleviate pain too, but since moist heat, such as that from a bath, acts differently than the dry heat of a heating pad or the cold of an ice pack, this type of treatment needs to be discussed with a doctor or physical therapist. Doctors also often recommend patients wear splints or braces to relieve joint pressure and protect them from further injury.

Another technique, called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), works by blocking nerve endings from sending pain messages to the brain, so that the pain is never felt! A small TENS device sends mild electrical pulses to the nerve endings of the painful area, which seem to scramble their message to the brain.

Medications top the list for long-term arthritis pain relief, and include several families of prescription drugs. Weight reduction, exercise, and stretching can all go a long way toward reducing stress on joints.

Surgery may be necessary for patients with severe arthritis. The operation may realign the joint or replace the damaged joint with an artificial one. Total joint replacement has resulted in dramatic arthritis pain relief and improved range of motion for many patients.

The most difficult but often the most effective pain reliever is establishing a healthy lifestyle – eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep at night, and daily exercise. All of these help ease the pain of chronic arthritis. Support groups, a good physician, and making the effort to stay informed about arthritis treatment often benefits of patients suffering from arthritis as well.
Pain Relief provides detailed information on arthritis, back, joint, lower back, natural, chronic, neck, sciatica, knee, fibromyalgia, and muscle pain relief. Pain Relief is the sister site of Acid Reflux Web.