Long-term treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is critical for the people suffering from its symptoms of inflammation and pain. However, you can achieve the best long term care for rheumatoid arthritis if you are able to diagnose the symptoms at a very early stage and take the appropriate medical action and lifestyle changes. Find out the expert facts in this article.
Although, the genes play a very important role in the occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis, your lifestyle and diet habits also play a key role in the occurrence and progress of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
Once you're diagnosed positive, the long-term treatment for rheumatoid arthritis would consist of these 3 basic remedies: adequate rest, a well balanced exercise regimen and the regular use of anti-inflammatory drugs -- whether they are prescription based, over-the-counter or natural.
Even though prescription based and over-the-counter medications offer short-term relief from pain and inflammation, but they suffer from long-term side effects. On the other hand, natural alternatives provide effective pain relief and are free of any potential side effects on your health
However, you should discuss with your doctor in complete detail before you use natural remedies on a standalone basis or in combination as a part of the best long term care for rheumatoid arthritis.
The common prescription and over-the-counter medications used in the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are --
1) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs -- they are very popular and the over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen and aspirin fall in this category. They are effective as a short-term relief from pain and inflammation, but they might lead to serious side effects like stomach problems, ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding, if you take them in large doses and for extended periods of time.
2) Cox-2 inhibitors -- it works by inhibiting the action of the enzyme Cox-2, which causes inflammation and arthritis pain. They have earned a notorious name and bad publicity because of their fatal side effects in the form of heart attack and stroke.
To cite an example, Vioxx which is a Cox-2 inhibitor brand produced by Merck was temporarily taken off the market because of its fatal side effects. Due to these factors, people are increasingly looking towards natural alternatives for the long-term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
3) Corticosteroids -- they also help to reduce inflammation and give relief in rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. However they are only suggested for use as a short-term treatment, because they cause adverse side effects like weight gain, high blood pressure, bruising, eye problems like cataract, diabetes, thinning of bones which might lead to osteoporosis, etc.
4) Natural remedies -- omega-3 fatty acids form the best long term care for rheumatoid arthritis because of their vital importance in overall health. They contain exceptional anti-inflammatory property. Besides that they also improve brain and cardiovascular health.
Besides that, Omega 3s are also free of any side effects. They have natural blood thinning properties. So, if you are taking blood thinner medications or anti-coagulants such as aspirin as a part of medical prescription for rheumatoid arthritis, you should talk to your doctor before using omega-3 supplements. This is to ensure that you do not end up taking a lot of blood thinners, because they could have potential side effects.
Research studies show that omega-3 fatty acid supplements help in a significant way to reduce tenderness and inflammation in joints, decrease morning joint stiffness and reduce the necessity of taking other prescription drugs to reduce inflammation and pain in rheumatoid arthritis.
Green lipped mussel found in New Zealand is another amazing source of omega-3 fatty acids. It has natural anti-inflammatory property and helps to reduce joint stiffness and pain, increase grip strength and enhances joint mobility in osteoarthritis patients.
To sum up, increasing the supplementation of Omega 3s in your diet through the use of omega-3 rich sources such as fish oil supplements can be the best long term care for rheumatoid arthritis. Omega-3 supplementation is very important, especially in the Western world because their diet is very deficient in Omega 3 fatty acids.
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