Posts Tagged 'Arthritis'

Beat Osteoarthritis Pain

Friday, June 18th, 2010 No Commented
Under: Arthritis

Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint syndrome (DJD), is the most common form of arthritis and by far the most prevalent form of joint inflammation. More than half of adults over age thirty suffer some form of it. In fact, it affects about 16million Americans.

Osteoarthritis results from the breakdown of the cartilage between the bony surfaces that form affected joints. This degeneration leads to bony growths (‘spurs’) next to affected joint. Cartilage in joints deteriorates from stress, overweight, or injury and typical trouble spots include the fingers, feet, knees and hips.

The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain and stiffness. These symptoms can be greatly minimized by the eating habits or diets of its sufferers. There are different types of food you can incorporate into your diet to help you fight the scourge. They are categorized as follows:

  • Antioxidant-Rich Foods
  • Antioxidants help in fighting free radicals in the body. The free radicals roam about the body, attacking and destroying healthy tissue, including the tissue found in the joints.

    Vitamins A, C and E, as well as the mineral Selenium, are powerful antioxidants and they are readily available.

    Vitamin A, beta carotene and the carotenoids are found mostly in apricots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, mangoes, papaya and dark-green leafy vegetables. It is also found in liver, turkey, and milk.

    Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant in many fruits, such as grapefruit, papaya, kiwi, pineapples, tomatoes and red peppers. Fruits and vegetables should be as fresh as possible. Only cook or microwave them for a short time if you have to, because vitamin C is heat-sensitive and easily destroyed by cooking or processing. Cutting these foods after cooking those (rather than before) helps to maintain the vitamin C content

    The primary sources of vitamin E are vegetable oils such as sunflower and safflower; sunflower seeds, nuts, avocadoes, wheat germ, whole grain breads and cereals, peaches, spinach, broccoli, asparagus, dried prunes and peanut butter.

    Selenium has been proved to help keep the immune system functioning properly, apart from its antioxidant activity. Good sources of selenium include salmon, tuna, swordfish, sunflower seeds, oysters, shrimp, and cracked wheat bread.

    The mineral Boron also possesses some antioxidant properties although it is not considered a true antioxidant. It is important in maintaining overall health and helps to keep some cells from releasing free radicals. Studies have shown that people whose boron intakes are low have more risk of developing osteoarthritis.

    Good sources of Boron are apples and cauliflower with their skins.

    If you choose to take these antioxidants as food supplements, the recommended daily doses are as follows:

  • Vitamin A- 5000IU
  • Vitamin C- 500- 4000mg
  • Vitamin E- 100-400 IU
  • Selenium- 55-200mcg
  • Boron- 3mg for adults
  • Getting Rid Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

    Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 No Commented
    Under: Arthritis

    Many people with a chronic problem of rheumatoid arthritis know only too well that they cannot stay without using formulas to check the progress of this debilitating disease. Yet they also respect the wisdom of using natural remedies. Natural solutions have the ability to draw from nature the beauty and soothing quality of its elements. They come unchanged and have no side effects, which is more than can be said about pharmaceutical products.

    Before we look at a few of these remedies, let us see what we are avoiding in pharmaceutical products. After all, someone could ask what it is we are afraid of in these other products.

    The matter is rather simple. Take aspirin for example. It is a very good reliever of pain and it even calms down swelling of joints in rheumatoid arthritis. You could ask why with such a pain killer of world repute and with an equally strong anti-inflammatory effect should have to worry anybody. It is true. It will not cause heart trouble of mess up lung tissue like some of the steroid based medicines. But with continued use, it will cause you bleeding in the gastrointestinal region.

    So, do you still want to know what is on offer naturally?

    – The Devil’s claw: so called from the appearance of hooks on the fruit of this plant, it has been used for longer than Christianity has existed. The people of South Africa have used it to treat rheumatoid arthritis, pancreas trouble, skin conditions and even fever. It has been proven to contain harpagosides and the painkilling ingredient, vioxx.

    – Fatty acids (the omega-3): our bodies are not producers of omega-3 fatty acids but they need it. There have been studies to test the validity of the claim that these have any assistance to offer the rheumatoid arthritis patient. From salmon fish and other cold water fish, they are found in oil and have a way of dissuading persistent swelling. Since most fish now have traces of mercury, you can obtain your supply of omega -3 fatty acids in oil extracted, screened for chemicals and packed as capsules.

    – Boswellia: the herb is a native of India and it is acidic in component structure. It works as an inhibitor to swelling. What’s more, it brings on no irritation. It has been packaged as a pill now which should be easy to obtain and use. The extended use of this by rheumatoid arthritis patients should be abserved by a doctor.

    Gamma-linolenic acid: this one is found to be contained in borage oil, evening (primose) oils and black currant seed oil. It works like omega-3 fatty acids as an anti-inflammatory.

    When you choose your medication, remember to consider your age, extent of joint damage and whether other treatments have worked before.

    Look at the following tips and build on your knowledge of this disease.

    1. There a more than 100 types of this illness. In occurrence, a single variety can probably be called a single disease. These related conditions are diagnosed as different and treated as such. The most similar thing with all is that it affects joints and the areas surrounding the joints. At risk is cartilage that prevents bones from rubbing against each other. Other varieties afflict the muscle and soft tissue too.

    2. Arthritis cannot be cured; it can be managed. With this in mind, we can begin to understand its various treatments and what they do. At this point, let us get it clearly that the best a treatment formula can do for you is reduce the amount of pain, calm down the inflammation around joints and slow down the progress of this disease.

    3. The only expert who should handle your case should be a rheumatologist. Such a doctor’s expertise is in arthritis and they understand it better, have probably treated it before and have a more truthful picture of the reality this disease is.

    4. It is possible to be limited by the effects of this disease in your functions on a daily basis. You might not be able to walk well, bend over, stoop or do stairs. Your productive hours of work might be reduced by attacks of deep pain. It is important that you begin to understand this and make provisions for it. you can relinquish some of your responsibilities at work or assign duties you used to perform to other members of the family.

    5. It cost to treat arthritis. Even when you strive to keep your treatment of this chronic illness natural, you are only lowering the cost. Herbs and supplements cost and you cannot postpone buying them like you would do with a new shirt. Healthy eating can also cost you a little. What is important to know is that everything costs. What matters is to make it worthwhile.

    6. Emotionally, there can be a strain. Before spouses begin to understanding that arthritis will not go away, it might take some time and some emotional strain. You are also bound to be shocked at the discovery, so be ready for it.

    7. An early diagnosis is probably the best thing that can happen to a sufferer of this disease. It is possible to slow it in its early stages and lead a normal life. This way, it gives you the best opportunity to fight it.

    8. As people are different, treatments favour some and not others. It will take time before you land the formula that works for you. Stay on the experimental path and stay optimistic. Patience will eventually pay.

    Stay in the know and you will be a step before arthritis. That way it will be struggling to bring you down, not you struggling to stay abreast with it.

    Exercise Therapy for Arthritis

    Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 No Commented
    Under: Arthritis

    Arthritis is a disease that affects the body’s joints, making them painful to move or to put force onto. There are over 150 different types of arthritis but the most common types are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

    Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in the joint breaks down and causes the bones to rub together. There is generally little inflammation but the joint loses shape and the bone ends thicken and develop bony growths that rub against each other. Osteoarthritis normally develops in weight-bearing joints like the hips, knees, spine, or feet.

    Rheumatoid Arthritis occurs when the synovial lining of the joint becomes inflamed and causes damage to the bone and cartilage. The joints lose shape and can vary from slight inflammation to gross deformation of the joint. Fingers, knees, wrists, and shoulders are the most common sites to be affected.

    Arthritis is common as a person ages and their joints naturally degenerate and break down. It is common in obese individuals as added stress is placed on their joints. It is also common in past sports people, especially those who played high impact sports such as football or basketball where repeated stress is placed on the joints.

    Exercise Tips

    Exercise will not cure arthritis but it can slow the process down a lot.
    Spend large amounts of time warming up and cooling down. Spend at least ten minutes slowly warming the joints with gentle movements.
    Use isometric exercises when first starting. These are exercises that do not require any movement, such as pushing against a brick wall. After a few weeks, introduce exercises that require movement.
    Use machine weights instead of free weights when in the gym. Machine weights place less stress on the joints.
    – Do not lift weights that are too heavy.
    Aerobic exercises, such as swimming and cycling, are best as they are low impact exercises that do not place much strain on the joints.
    Rest during periods of severe flaring in the joints. Working through the pain does not help and will cause further pain and discomfort.

    With arthritis there is a fine line between the right amount of exercise and doing too much. If any pain is experienced while exercising reduce the intensity of the workout and do what is possible. A light exercise workout is more beneficial than a hard one that leaves you in agony for a few weeks.