Archive for the ‘Arthritis’ Category

 
Posted in Arthritis on June-3-2008

Arthritis reliefArthritis is a disease that causes painful swelling and inflammation in the joints of millions of people worldwide. There are over a hundred different forms of Arthritis, the causes being either injury or age. The one thing that sufferers of all types of Arthritis agree on is that is causes severe pain that can be barely tolerated at times.

There is no cure for Arthritis. There are many different medications that are available both over the counter and by prescription to alleviate Arthritis pain, but none can either get rid of it completely or cure it. Every year, billions of dollars are spent on Arthritis relief products. There are a
number of different ways to find Arthritis relief. Studies have shown that dietary habits and weight control play an important part of overall Arthritis relief.

Maintaining a healthy diet is good for overall health, however for the person seeking Arthritis relief it is crucial. With the daily intake of important vitamins and minerals, you are giving your body what it needs to combat the painful swelling and inflammation that causes joint pain. When you maintain a healthy diet, you are also maintaining your weight. Overweight people tend to suffer more from Arthritis because the added weight also adds more stress to joints, particularly in the knees.

Studies have shown that vitamins B5, B6, and B12 reduce the swelling and inflammation that Arthritis causes, and vitamins C, E, and K improve bone health. Diets rich in these vitamins may assist you in finding Arthritis relief.

Another Arthritis relief method is acupuncture. Depending on the type of Arthritis that is diagnosed, some suffers have had tremendous relief with this method.

Some studies indicate that by using ergonomic products such as ergonomic chairs, this may assist in Arthritis relief by providing better blood circulation to the affected joints. Something as simple as a proper seat cushion can relieve the pain considerably because it promotes good posture.

In extreme cases, where the sufferer is in so much pain, a physician may recommend surgery to remove some of the Arthritis. This is not a standard practice however, and most likely prescription medication will be advised.




 
Posted in Arthritis on December-26-2007

osteoarthritisOsteoarthritis is a chronic dysfunction. If not treated it can become quite dangerous, and then it is termed as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease. Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage – a vital bone tissue — gets disconnected. It is this cartilage that acts as the grease between the bone joints. When cartilage — owing to osteoarthritis — disappears, the bones become stiff. Under such abnormal circumstances whenever the bones rub one feels acute pain.

There are more than 100 types of osteoarthritis. The most common one is osteoarthritis, or OA as explained above. The next in line according to the number of people affected is Rheumatoid Arthritis or RA. In this case, some lacunae in the immune system causes inflammation of the bone joints. Such a syndrome usually begins in the lining of the
joints called the synovium. With time, RA damages the bone as well as the cartilage. RA strikes both the sexes although it is more common among the womenfolk. RA affects similar joints and that too on the patients’ both sides. Rheumatoid arthritis often affects the same joints on both sides of the body.

Mentionably, chronic and acute osteoarthritis are different from each other. The chronic state continues for years on end or may even continue for a person’s lifetime. There is still no unanimity as to the exact causes of osteoarthritis, and hence there is still to evolve a precise treatment method for this disability disease.

The best means to control osteoarthritis is to follow the doctor’s advice and strictly follow the prescribed regimen. Such a systematic lifestyle can definitely lessen the painful stress. First start monitoring the osteoarthritis symptoms. Then, discuss the signs with your physician and immediately make him aware of the new symptoms that may appear. Heredity can also be a main cause of the disease. At times, several of these symptoms may come together to cause osteoarthritis. Check obesity and regulate your weight to control osteoarthritis. Too much of physical weight puts unwarranted load on the cartilage and joints. Usually, our knee and hip joints carry the lion’s share of our weight. Ensure that you do not put that extra load on these sensitive but very useful tissues called cartilage.

The reason why osteoarthritis generally happens with reference to the sportspersons is that they tend to put too much of pressure on particular parts of their bones and joints. This is exactly the reason why many players have to undergo repeated operation of the same portion of their joints over and over again. Hence never overuse the joints, otherwise there may be frequent breakdown of the cartilage. Moreover, repeated surgeries on particular joint parts can not only be expensive and a painful experience but can also weaken those affected portions.