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Arthritis is a very common chronic health problem. In fact, it is the leading cause of disability in adults in the United States. Statistics anticipate that by the year 2020, approximately 60 million Americans will be affected by one of more than 100 different types of arthritis or musculoskeletal disorder. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting approximately 12% of Americans 25 years of age and older.
The pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis is often treated with common oral pain medications, including traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), acetaminophen, and more recently, COX-2 inhibitors. However, there is ongoing and new controversy as to the value, risk, and benefits of these drugs. These include gastrointestinal (GI) and cardiovascular (CV) risks. With the recent withdrawals of two COX-2 inhibitors due to CV safety concerns, and the CV and GI risks of NSAIDs, there is a need for natural and safe treatment options for chronic pain conditions such as osteoarthritis.
It is very important to manage your pain effectively. Because there are so many types of arthritis, symptoms will vary, as well as the part of your body that is affected. Could be any joints! neck, back, hips, knees, hands, shoulders, feet or ankles. Remember that not all back pain is related to arthritis, hence the importance of getting an accurate diagnosis using adequate diagnostic testing. Sometimes it is necessary to consider surgery. Be sure to investigate the most recent & the latest surgeries available
Pro-inflammatory foods increase inflammation. They increase your pain from the inflammation and may also raise your risk for chronic disease. Loading up on junk foods, high-fat meats, sugar and fast foods increase inflammation in your body. This is due in part to the unhealthy fats used in preparing and processing these foods, especially trans fats and saturated fats. Processed meats like lunch meats, hot dogs and sausages, contain chemicals such as nitrites that are associated with increased inflammation and chronic disease. Saturated fats are also found in meats, dairy products and eggs. While all of these foods are important source of minerals and vitamins, you don't need the extra saturated fat. These foods also also contain fatty acids called arachidonic acid. While some arachidonic acid is essential for your health, too much arachidonic acid in the diet may make your inflammation worse. Be sure to choose low fat milk and cheese and lean cuts of meat, which will not promote inflammation.
Diets high in sugar have also been associated with inflammation, obesity and chronic disease such as diabetes. It's important to eliminate high sugar foods such as sodas, soft drinks, pastries, pre-sweetened cereals and candy.
Another source of irritation comes from the nightshade family of plants. Some vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, pappers and eggplant may actually make pain from inflammation worse. These vegetables are part of the nightshade family of plants and contain a chemical alkaloid called solanine. Solanine can trigger pain in some people. While there isn't any formal research findings that back the claim about nightshade plants, some people believe they get relief from the symptoms of pain and inflammation. Other whole fruits and vegetables are important to eat for their vitamins, minerals, and natural antioxidants.
Rheumatoid Arthritis results in more than 9 million physician visits and more than 250,000 hospitalizations each year.
As Rheumatoid Arthritis progresses, chronic inflammation ultimately destroys cartilage, tendon and ligaments in the elbows, shoulders, knees and ankles.
Rheumatoid arthritis often strikes women and men in the prime of their lives.
Symptoms can increase in severity over time, or they may remain relatively constant
over the years.
"Early detection and treatment can make all the difference in preventing the disease's progression, says Dr. William Robb, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Northwestern University. "If the cycle of inflammation can be interrupted early enough, then the cartilage damage is prevented. In advanced cases of Rheumatoid Arthritis that don't respond to medications and lifestyle changes, patients can usually be treated successfully with surgery to reconstruct areas damaged by the disease," Robb says.
Although there is no known cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis, scientists are increasingly discovering the importance of various functional mechanisms in the body that
can greatly influence the development and progression of the disease.
The oxidative damage caused by free radicals is a pivotal mechanism implicated in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis.
Sex hormones strongly influence the integrity of bone and muscle tissue, and shape many of the general clinical effects of rheumatoid arthritis.
According to a recent presentation at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, doctors from the University of Alabama at Birmingham revealed that women who drink at least four cups of decaffeinated coffee a day are more than twice as likely to develop Rheumatoid Arthritis. Drinking regular coffee had no relationship to the disease.
"Women who drank regular coffee did not have the increased risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis -- so it seems as if there is something about the decaffeinated coffee that is increasing the risks," says lead author Dr. Ted Mikuls, an assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. That "something" is probably the chemicals used in the decaffeinating process, according to Dr. Eric Braverman, an integrated physician and RA expert.
"For many years, making decaffeinated coffee involved the use of some potent chemical solvents, some which may still be in use today," Braverman explains. "Over time", he says, "these chemical residues build in the body, taxing the immune system. Eventually", he adds, "that continual assault may be what leads to a variety of autoimmune diseases, including Rheumatoid Arthritis."
A study in a current issue of the Annals of Behavioral Medicine indicate that patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had past episodes of serious affective disorders, like major depression or generalized anxiety disorder, had levels of fatigue that were up to 10 percent higher than other patients.
Read more on Rheumatoid Arthritis here
.