Everything About Arthritis

Friday, Apr 10th, 2009 by EstelleB | 0 Comments
Filed under: General | Tags: , , ,

by  George Harper

One in three adult Americans suffer from some form of arthritis and the disease affects about twice as many women as men.

Arthritic diseases include rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, which are autoimmune diseases; septic arthritis, caused by joint infection; and the more common osteoarthritis, or degenerative joint disease. Arthritis can be caused from strains and injuries caused by repetitive motion, sports, overexertion, and falls. Unlike the autoimmune diseases, osteoarthritis largely affects older people and results from the degeneration of joint cartilage. Other forms are discussed below.

Arthritic joints can be sensitive to weather changes. The increased sensitivity is thought to be caused by the affected joints developing extra nerve endings in an attempt to protect the joint from further damage.

Signs and symptoms
All arthritides feature pain, which is generally worse in the morning and on initiating movement, and resolves in the course of time. In elderly people and children, the pain may not be the main feature, and the patient simply moves less (elderly) or refuse to use the affected limb (children).

When faced with joint pain, a doctor will generally ask about several other medical symptoms (such as fever, skin symptoms, breathlessness, Raynaud’s phenomenon) that may narrow down the differential diagnosis to a few items, for which testing can be done.

Arthritis and fever together are pointers towards septic arthritis (see below). This is a medical emergency, and requires urgent referral to a rheumatologist.

Diagnosis
The various types of arthritis can be distinguished by the pace of onset, the age and sex of the patient, the amount of (and which) joints affected, additional symptoms (such as psoriasis, iridocyclitis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and rheumatoid nodules), and other clues.

Blood tests and X-rays of the affected joints are often performed to make the diagnosis. X-rays can show erosions or bone appositions.

Screening blood tests: full blood count, electrolytes, renal function, liver enzymes, calcium, phosphate, protein electrophoresis, C-reactive protein and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Specific tests are the rheumatoid factor, antinuclear factor (ANF), extractable nuclear antigen and specific antibodies whenever the ANF is found to be positive.

Treatment
Treatment options vary depending on the precise condition, but include surgery, and drug treatment, reduction of joint stress, physical and occupational therapy, and pain management. There are also numerous herbal remedies that purportedly treat arthritis, including Harpagophytum procumbens. For specifics, see the articles on the individual conditions listed below.

In March 2005, researchers at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in the USA found that a diet rich in oily fish raised the body’s production of an anti-inflammatory fat, and may thus reduce the effects of arthritis. According to their study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, this diet worked best when combined with low aspirin doses.

About the Author
George Harper writes for http://www.arthritisresolved.info where you can find out more about athritis and other topics.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_65331_23.html

What Are Bone and Joint Disorders?

Tuesday, Apr 7th, 2009 by EstelleB | 0 Comments
Filed under: Joint Pain, Symptoms, Treatment | Tags: , , , , , ,

by Kevin Lauren

Disorders that affect the musculoskeletal system are common and range from mild problems, such as gout, to more severe problems such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The most common symptoms are pain and physical disability, which can have a major impact on people’s lives. Some 30 percent of North Americans have symptoms related to their bones and joints, but people rarely die from these conditions. Treatments for bone and joint disorders include medications, physical therapy, surgery, and nutritional therapy.

Who is at most at risk of bone and joint disorders?

Adult bone mass is determined by the amount of bone formed during childhood, with accumulation (known as peak bone mass) complete by age 35. Bone mass is influenced by a number of factors: up to 80 percent of bone mass is influenced by genetic factors, while about 20-40 percent is environmental.

Diet and lifestyle A life-long diet low in calcium and vitamin D is one of the major risk factors for many bone disorders. Smoking and heavy alcohol consumption, which are often accompanied by poor nutrition and lack of physical activity, are also associated with low bone density. Gout is often associated with a rich diet and heavy alcohol consumption.

Age Bone and joint disorders are more common among middle-aged and older adults. The onset of rheumatoid arthritis most commonly occurs between ages 40 and 60, and osteoarthritis between ages 60 and 80. Gout most commonly develops between the ages of 40 and 50 in men and over 60 in women. Asian and Caucasian women over age 65 have a particularly high risk of developing osteoporosis. On the other hand, African-American women tend to have a higher bone mass than Caucasians and a lower risk of osteoporosis.

Gender Osteoporosis is more common in women since they have less bone mass than men to begin with. Women who have short intervals between pregnancies or several children are at increased risk of this disease. In addition, because of the levels of estrogen – necessary to retain calcium in the bones – decrease in women after menopause, their risk increases at this stage. Women have twice the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis as men. However, gout is twenty times more common in men.

Family history Both osteoporosis and gout are conditions in which a family history increases the risk of developing the disease. A history of a maternal hip fracture after age 50 is also considered a risk factor for osteoporosis.

Treating osteoporosis

One of the most common bone diseases, osteoporosis involves a gradual loss of bone tissue, leaving the bones less dense and more prone to fracture. Osteoporosis is very common in North America, affecting over 45 million people. It is possible to slow the progress of the condition by making changes to your diet and lifestyle.

Take adequate calcium – The body does not manufacture calcium, and it is lost from the body every day. It is therefore important to maintain adequate daily intake.

Take adequate vitamin D – This vitamin is needed for normal calcium absorption by the body, as well as playing a role in the uptake of calcium into bone. It is important that you get sufficient vitamin D from your diet as well as from exposure to the sun.

Quit smoking Studies have shown that smokers have poorer bone density than nonsmokers. Quitting smoking, even later in life, may help limit bone loss. Research shows that while hormone replacement therapy protects women from bone fractures, this may not be the case in female smokers, as tobacco may have an antiestrogenic effect. In addition, smokers tend to drink more alcohol and exercise less.

Limit alcohol intake – Those who drink alcohol heavily are more prone to bone loss and fr4actures, mainly because of poor nutrition but also due to their increased risk of falling.

Exercise regularly – Regular physical activity helps increase bone mass and reduce bone loss. Weight-bearing exercises such as walking, dancing, and weightlifting are best.

Checking bone density

A DEXA scan is currently the most widely used method of measuring bone-mineral density of the spine and extremities. Scanning takes a few minutes and is a sensitive and accurate test of bone density. The report compares your values with those of a young person and with a person of your age with normal bone density (age-related bone loss is normal). You are at risk of osteoporosis if you take medication, such as steroids, that affects your bones; if you have a history of menstrual cycle cessation; if you have inflammatory bowel disease; or if you had early menopause. In such circumstances, ask your doctor about having a baseline bone scan which can be repeated over time.

Preventing and treating osteomalacia and rickets

Osteomalacia and rickets (the name given to osteomalacia when it occurs in babies and children) are caused by a deficiency of vitamin D in the body.

Increasing vitamin D

Deficiency is due to inadequate dietary intake of foods containing vitamin D, or to insufficient sunlight, which is necessary for the conversion of vitamin D in our skin to its active form (a form that the body can use). There are few dietary sources of vitamin D, but many common foods, such as margarine, dairy products, and orange juice, are fortified with the vitamin. Good natural sources of vitamin D include cod liver oil, egg yolks, butter, canned salmon and sardines (with bones), herring, green leafy vegetables, and tofu.

If you do not regularly consume dairy products and live in an area where you are not exposed to the sun for certain seasons of the year, you should consider a [http://www.usanavitamins.us]supplement that supplies at least the DRI for vitamin D (0.005mg per day).

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Lauren http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Are-Bone-and-Joint-Disorders?&id=2037479

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: What Now, Old Peoples Disease Being Caught by Kids

Sunday, Apr 5th, 2009 by EstelleB | 0 Comments
Filed under: Juvenile | Tags: , , ,

We all know that arthritis, inflammation of bone joints, is normally associated with an illness affecting people over the age of 50. Therefore it will come as a massive surprise to parents when their children are diagnosed with it. Even more surprising is the fact that approximately 300,000 children in the United States alone have some form of arthritis, and that we the public are totally unaware of this fact.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the most common type of arthritis affecting around 60,000 children. Unfortunately, doctors are not yet certain as to what causes juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, however, there are indications that it is associated with  the autoimmune system, where white blood cells are unable to differentiate between normal and foreign cells. Although being dissimilar to the adult form of rheumatoid arthritis, it is imperative that all parents be educated about this debilitating childrens disease..

The Familiar Symptoms

It is quite normal for kids to complain off and on about having sore joints and it is usually put down to growing pains. However, it may actually be more. If your child develops a limp and continually complains of sore joints  associated with rashes and spikes in temperature, like fits of fever, this may indicate that juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is present. Under these conditions it is important to get him/her into the doctors surgery asap. The quicker a diagnosis is made the less damage will occur to cartilage and the joints affected by juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Diagnosis

Luckily, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is easily diagnosed, there are a wide array of tests, available some of the more regular Diagnostic tools including blood tests, X-rays, and complete physical examinations are necessary. Other tests for other diseases known to be linked to juvenile rheumatoid arthritis may be performed, it is also likely that a referral to an orthopedic surgeon will be made to take samples of joint fluid for testing and further analysis. A diagnosis usually takes a number of days, upon receipt of the results of these tests, the pediatrician or doctor will work together with the orthopedic surgeon and any other medical professionals to develop a strategy to cure the child of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Easily Treatable

Unlike the adult variety which does not have any known cure, the good news for both the child suffering from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis along with the parents is that this form of the disease is easy to treat. Doctors can prescribe medication to help with the swelling and inflammation of the joints along with a referral to a physical therapist. Who design and implement a set of exercises to improve the arthritis and improve muscle stamina and joint flexibility. Regular exercise is vitally important to ensure that the child is protected against further arthritis by protecting bones and joints. Treatment actually serves two purposes:

1. to protect and repair the joints from damage , and
2. reducing or eliminating the inflammation and pain.

The nature of the disease makes a child’s life miserable. This disease can harm their social skills and make them irritable while hindering their physical development
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is unsettling for parents, and is likely to necessitate major changes in lifestyle to insure that their child’s overall health is ensured and wont be harmed by the disease.

About the Author
Paul Courtney contributes articles to various publications pertaining to Alternative and Herbal Medicine, for more information please visit http://www.thearthritispainreliever.com .

What You Should Know About Arthritis

Thursday, Apr 2nd, 2009 by EstelleB | 0 Comments
Filed under: General | Tags: , , , , ,

by Robert Thatcher

Should the person experience some muscle pain which lasts more than 2 or 3 days, there is a strong chance that one has arthritis.

Arthritis is a common disease that affects millions of people worldwide. This can be felt in the person’s joints, skin and organs inside the body. Should the person feel anything wrong, it is advisable to go straight to the doctor.

Doctors have discovered that there are over 100 types of arthritis. Given the number, the doctor will not be able to know which one is affecting the person without an examination.

There are 2 common forms of arthritis. The first is rheumatoid arthritis which is considered a chronic disease. There is inflammation in the joints caused by cartilage damage. Anyone who has this will suffer long term joint damage that will lead to chronic pain and disability. Pain is usually felt when waking up in the morning and will gradually disappear during the day

Rheumatoid arthritis is a problem that will not go away. This happens in three stages. The first is swelling. The second is the rapid division and growth of cells. The third is when these cells release enzymes that will eat the bone causing the joint to lose shape until the person will not be able to move it anymore.

Since this is systemic disease, it can spread and affect other organs in the body. The best way to prevent is from happening is detecting it early to prevent the person from being disabled.

This can be treated with proper medication and therapy. There many drugs available that the patient can use. Some drugs offer pain relief to reduce the inflammation. Others can just do one function.

The second is called osteoarthritis. This happens more often than rheumatoid arthritis but unlike the first, there is no inflammation present. The cartilage in the joint is damaged and will eventually degenerate. Pain will slightly be felt when the person gets up but this will hurt later on during the day.

Osteoarthritis can either be primary or secondary. When it is primary, it is often associated with age. It is similar to a car where the parts have to be replaced due to wear and tear. Doctors consider this to be normal as people grow older.

The secondary type is often associated with something else that has caused this to happen. Some of these factors are an injury that took place, heredity, obesity and bone density.

Osteoarthritis can be treated with medication, exercise, weight control, joint protection, physical and occupational therapy. This is done to relieve the pain and slow the progression of the disease.

Both of these are caused by different things. The common thing between these 2 types is that joint pain can happen anywhere in the body.

Given the many medications available to treat this disease, the patient has to be aware of the side effects of each before choosing which one to use. The doctor should explain these to the person in order to make the right decision.

Arthritis and it’s different forms will not go away. Since this is an insurable disease, the best thing that the doctor and others can do until a cure if found is to help the patient ease the pain the slow the growth of the disease.

About the Author
Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides arthritis resources on www.your-arthritis-resources.info.

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=35661&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet

The Known Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Monday, Mar 30th, 2009 by EstelleB | 0 Comments
Filed under: Rheumatoid | Tags: , , ,

How do our own bodies cause our immune systems to run amok? Although it’s a cryptic problem scrutinized by scientists for decades, the answers are yet to be defined. The exact causes of rheumatoid arthritis are still in the dark, but using varied researches and experimentations, some possible factors have been revealed as potential causes of the condition.

Roughly 1.2 million people suffer from rheumatoid arthritis in the United States alone. They form approximately 0.5% to 1% of the country’s adult population. Recent studies and surveys are showing a declining trend in the number of individuals afflicted by it, and this could be due to a decrease in factors linked to the causes of rheumatoid arthritis. A closer analysis of these factors could provide some useful insights into the ailment.

Middle age is often when the symptoms start to come up, but that doesn’t mean younger people don’t get afflicted. Rheumatoid arthritis affects women more than men, causing most of the damage in older women. Although most causes of rheumatoid arthritis are now identified, medication and treatment are still expensive for the ordinary income earner.

While genetic (hereditary) factors are believed to be the primary causes of rheumatoid arthritis, there’s still the necessity to trigger the condition, and this is believed to be caused by environmental factors. Some have the genetic mapping for symptomatic rheumatoid arthritis, while others are only gene carriers. This revelation points in the direction of figuring out what the triggers are for inducing the condition. There is a single gene associated with developing rheumatoid arthritis, but it doesn’t become dominant unless certain other secondary factors influence it.

With regard to environmental factors, which  can be the possible triggers, viruses and bacteria are suspected, although the exact catalyst or agent is unclear. Rheumatoid arthritis is not contagious, as it does not belong to any diseases category. Other factors believed to be causes of rheumatoid arthritis are hormonally-induced such as those secreted in pregnant and breastfeeding women. Contraceptives are also believed to modify the possibilities of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

Typically, immune system molecules known as interleukin 12 (IL-12) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) are thought to be the major causes of rheumatoid arthritis in pregnant women. These molecules produce swelling in reaction to certain external triggers and causes tissue destruction at times, which are the primary symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.  Since rheumatoid arthritis limits physical activity and causes severe joint aches, many who suffer from the condition are also susceptible to depression, anxiety and other generalized mental health problems.

All questions regarding this condition have not been resolved, but extensive research activities will soon identify the exact causes of rheumatoid arthritis, and then a cure will be found.

Around twenty million Americans suffer from arthritis and this figure will increase to 60 million by 2020. Learn what are causes of rheumatoid arthritis and how you can enjoy your life despite of arthritis at www.arthritis-treatment-guide.info/news

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