Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis - A Review Of 3 Methods Used

Know If You Have It

Rheumatoid arthritis is a special type of arthritis that affects a person's immune system as much as it affects the joints, bones, and muscles. Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis the moment its symptoms appear is crucial for its treatment and prevention. If not acted on immediately, the chances of lasting joint damages and loss of mobility functions become higher. That means that people with advanced rheumatoid arthritis can become disabled.

This is why rheumatoid arthritis has to be diagnosed as early as possible. You should consider seeing your doctor if you suffer from any of these symptoms:

Thickening of the Joint's Lining. Anytime that you feel the swelling in the joints had subsided but the area doesn't seem to be the same as it used to be, there is a high chance that the lining around the joints have already thickened. If you do have this condition, then you might just have rheumatoid arthritis. It should also be the time you go to a health care specialist for a more accurate diagnosis.

Swelling, Pain, Stiffness, Redness, and a Warm Sensation on the Joints. There are a lot of joints in the body. Following that concept, rheumatoid arthritis can possibly strike anywhere. If you feel any chronic pain on any part of your body, more particularly in the knees, neck, and shoulders, it is possible you have arthritis.

Chronic pain means that the pain recurs from time to time. Arthritis comes in different forms. If you merely suffer from joint pains, what you may have is not rheumatoid arthritis. But it is always best to have it checked so that the symptoms can be properly addressed.

Loss of Movement. Once you feel that your motor skills are affected by the chronic pains you are experiencing, then you must be on the advanced stages of rheumatoid arthritis already. By this time, you should have the right kind of medications prescribed so that every time you feel the pain, you have something to relieve it.

Methods Used For The Diagnosis Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

To diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, the doctor would need to perform a series of test on the patient. Here are the different methods that a health professional would use to determine if a patient does have rheumatoid arthritis.

X-ray. X-ray is the most basic type of medical diagnosis procedure. Doctors normally request this first because it gives them a good image of the body part where arthritis usually strikes. While this method alone cannot confirm the presence of the disease, it can certainly rule out the possibility that the pain is caused by some other diseases. Doctors also use x-rays to compare the progression of the disease on the patient over a certain period of time.

Latex Test. The latex test is the procedure used to specifically diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. This diagnostic process examines the blood and checks it for antibody known as the rheumatoid factor.

Whenever there's an inflammation on the joints and its lining, the body reacts by secreting this type of antibody. Once the rheumatoid factor is detected in the blood, then there would be no doubt that the patient has rheumatoid arthritis.

Sedimentation Rate Testing. After the doctor has rightfully determined that their patients are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, then the next thing they need to find out would be the blood's sedimentation rate. To do this test, a blood sample is drawn and is made to settle for some time. If the sedimentation rate is high, then it means that the patient is suffering from an active type of inflammation.

We have described the 3 most common methods used for rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis. It's practically a cliche that prevention is better than cure, but it is still true. So if you suspect that you may be suffering from this problem, make sure to see your doctor right away so you can confirm your actual health status.

Diet For Rheumatoid Arthritis - What Foods Are Bad For Joint Pain?

When it comes to developing an adequate diet for rheumatoid arthritis, the food you eat is less important than the foods you don't eat! Treating rheumatoid arthritis symptoms can be as simple as avoiding certain foods that are known to aggravate pain and inflammation.

First of all, make sure that you completely avoid any food you may have allergies to. Allergic reactions lower the amount of antioxidants in the body, leading to the release of antibodies which in turn lead to an inflammatory response. Many people are unknowingly allergic to gluten, so cutting it out of your diet may also prove beneficial. If you're not sure you have any allergies, you can find out by gradual eliminating certain foods to see if you notice a difference.

Next in line of importance is getting rid of saturated fats, which come primarily from meat and dairy products. It is particularly important to avoid steak, bacon, and hi-fat cuts of meat. Cream and butter can also be very unhealthy. These foods will increase inflammation in the body, so if you consume a lot of saturated fat, you may experience a great deal of relief by cutting it out entirely. It may even be worthwhile to become a vegetarian for a while to see if it alleviates your symptoms.

A diet for rheumatoid arthritis should also avoid refined sugar, processed foods, salt, MSG, and caffeine. Although alcohol consumption is generally discouraged, there is some evidence that moderate use may actually reduce the risk of developing arthritis.

Another food to avoid when forming your diet for rheumatoid arthritis, oddly enough, are the "night-shade" vegetables. These include tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, and peppers. Some people have a sensitivity to these types of vegetables that greatly aggravate their RA symptoms. Overly acidic fruits like oranges and lemons should also be avoided.

Low Thyroid & Irregular Heart Beat May Be Related

Research reports have linked low thyroid & irregular heart beat, as well as more serious conditions arising from undiagnosed hypothyroidism. Briefly, here we look at the numerous symptoms of hypothyroidism and the importance of regular physicals, which include simple tests for thyroid levels.

Hypothyroidism is a condition that occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. It can be mild or severe and is typically treated with a synthetic thyroid replacement hormone. Some disagreement exists among health care professionals as to whether mild hypothyroidism should be treated, at all. However, it is recommended that the condition should be monitored closely and that person's suffering from mild hypothyroidism should see their health care professionals regularly.

In rare cases, hypothyroidism can occur in infants and children. Currently all newborns born in the United States are screened for the condition. Though rare, it causes serious developmental and growth problems.

In teens, the condition slows down growth, both in weight and height. With proper treatment, teens typically "catch up" with their age group.

The risk of developing the problem increases with age, with the highest risk group being older women. The American Thyroid Association recommends that all adults should be tested every five years, beginning at the age of 35. Other conditions, such as Addison's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes increase the risk of developing hypothyroidism.

The symptoms of hypothyroidism usually develop slowly over several months or years and are often confused with other illnesses or simply the aging process, itself. The symptoms include coarse and thinning hair, fatigue, weakness, sluggishness, depression, memory problems, trouble concentrating and constipation. The skin is cold, dry and has a yellowish tint. The fingernails and toenails are brittle.

Women suffering from the condition may have heavy menstrual periods lasting longer than normal. Less commonly, an enlarged thyroid gland develops, along with swelling of the extremities and face. There may be hoarseness, muscle aches and cramps. It is easy to see how these initial symptoms may be misdiagnosed and treated incorrectly or ignored.

Thyroid hormone is necessary for the proper function of all systems of the body. Research has linked low thyroid & irregular heart beat, as well as a slow heart rate, with weaker coronary contractions and reduced output. In other patients, an abnormally fast heart rhythm (tachycardia) has been noted, which improved with thyroid hormone replacement therapy. In other words, if left untreated, hypothyroidism can cause serious health problems.

Check with your doctor, if you believe you are experiencing symptoms of hypothyroidism. For more information about the heart and normal heart rhythms, please visit the Heart Health Guide.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Causes, Symptoms and Remedies That You Ought to Know

Rheumatoid arthritis is a kind of arthritis and it is also related with the pain and inflammation of joints. It is a chronic joint disease which usually damages the joints of the body. Usually the inflammation of the joint lining tissue is responsible for the damage of joints. In the condition of this type of arthritis inflammation is responsible and it is misdirected to attack the joints. It is often referred to as RA.

Some of the important facts -

1. Inflammation in the joints results into pain, stiffness and swelling in addition to other symptoms.

2. Due to inflammation, the other organs and systems of the body also get affected.

3. Inflammation must be stopped or at least slowed immediately and permanently otherwise it will damage the affected joints and other tissues.

It is different from other types of arthritis. Though rheumatoid arthritis mostly affects the joints but it is said that it is the disease of the entire body. Besides the joints, it can affect many organs of the body. So sometimes it is referred by the name of systematic disease.

The exact cause of the rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. But some of the common factors which contribute towards the condition of this type of arthritis are hormones, genetics (heredity) and possibly infection by a virus or bacterium.

There are different types of symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis but joints are always affected. Joints of hands, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles and feet are always affected by the problem of rheumatoid arthritis. The rheumatoid arthritis may affect shoulders, hips and jaws which are having the larger joints. Some of the important symptoms are -

Stiffness: In this condition the joints are not in a position to move. Person suffering from this problem are unable to stretch their arms, legs, or finger properly. They are unable to move their different parts of body in different direction.

Swelling: Affected area becomes swollen and puffy.

Inflammation: Some of the important sign of inflammation are redness, tenderness and warmth.

Pain: In rheumatoid arthritis pain appear from different direction. There may be pain due to inflammation or swelling of the joints and the tissues surrounding. From individual to individual, there is a variation in the pain.

Some of its general symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, malaise and weakness or loss of energy.

Person suffering from this type of arthritis has to take proper care of their diet, medications, exercise, yoga etc which directly affects its improvement.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment - What Are Your Options?

Deciphering the Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Puzzle

There are a variety of different rheumatoid arthritis treatment options available to people who have been diagnosed with this illness. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition that does not go away by itself. Medical studies indicate that women are more likely to get this disease than men. However, this illness is something that can strike anybody regardless of age or gender. That said, there are a variety of treatment options available should you be diagnosed with this illness.

The very first thing you need to understand is what a rheumatoid arthritis treatment option offers you; it is a way to manage your symptoms, not a cure. Rheumatoid arthritis is a lifelong chronic illness, so once you are diagnosed it is likely something you will have to live with for the rest of your life.

A Few Quick Facts About RA

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the synovial lining of the joints. This in turn causes the joints to become inflamed, tender, and painful. These joints often fill up with fluid, which causes diminished range of motion and makes even normal movements difficult.

In addition, there are a variety of other serious symptoms associated with RA. For example, other symptoms may include muscle weakness, generalized fatigue, and heat, pain and swelling in the vicinity of the affected joints. And if the joint inflammation is not managed through early intervention, permanent joint damage and disfigurement may eventually result.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment Options

Keep in mind that treatment mainly involves the management of symptoms for those who are diagnosed with RA. Given the fact that this particular illness has the potential to destroy one's joints, it is critically important that treatment begin as soon as the illness is confirmed. The most popular treatment options revolve around the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-malarial medications that are known to provide some relief of RA symptoms, and prescribing other disease modifying anti-rheumatic medications (DMARDS). You and your doctor will likely spend considerable time finding the exact drug regimen that provides the most relief for your symptoms.

In addition to prescription drugs, it is very important that you speak to your doctor about the different exercise programs that are available to help people who have RA. The reason why this type of physical therapy is so important is because it can help enhance your range of motion as well as help your body cope with many aspects of the illness. Proper regular exercise will help you retain range of motion in your joints, which in turn helps manage some of the symptoms you may experience. In addition, you may find some relief from adhering to a special rheumatoid arthritis diet; many RA sufferers report modest to marked improvement of their symptoms after implementing dietary changes.

In summary, the treatment that is best for you will ultimately be determined between you and your doctor. The best rheumatoid arthritis treatment approach typically involves some use of medication while at the same time making sure to get rest, proper nutrition, and the necessary physical therapy and exercise that your body needs.

Arthritis Treatment: Psoriatic Arthritis - Diagnosis and Treatment Options

There are more than 100 different types of arthritis. The term arthritis is derived from the Greek, "arthron" meaning joint and "itis" meaning inflammation.

Despite the multiplicity of conditions encompassed by this term, there are some forms of arthritis which are much more common than others. Examples include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, pseudogout, and psoriatic arthritis (PA).

PA is a chronic, systemic, autoimmune-driven inflammatory form of arthritis that occurs with increased prevalence in patients who also have psoriasis, a skin condition. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, between 10% and 30% of people with psoriasis develop PA.

Symptoms of this condition may be mild. However, many patients develop severe arthritis with pronounced stiffness, joint swelling, pain and limited range of motion. One distinguishing feature of this disease is the extensive involvement of the ligaments and tendons adjacent to joints. The tendon and ligament involvement may be quantitatively greater than the joint involvement.

The tendons that appear to be involved most often are the Achilles, patellar tendon of the knee, tendons of the elbow, and the tendons of the fingers and toes.

Patients with PA can develop painful swelling of the fingers and toes. The swelling can be so profound that the digits look like sausages. They are sometimes referred to as "sausage digits." An unusual, but devastating form of PA can cause mutilation deformity of the fingers.

Skin involvement with psoriasis is not usually difficult to spot although it is important to examine all areas where the rash can occur including the scalp, behind and in the ears, armpits, belly button, gluteal crease, and inguinal region.

The finger nails and toe nails may show tiny pits or actually seem to lift off the nail bed. These changes are sometimes misdiagnosed as being due to fungus.

Systemic symptoms and signs may be present. A large percent of patients with psoriatic arthritis develop inflammatory eye disease. Significant morning stiffness, lasting an hour or more, and fatigue are also features of this disease.

PA can also attack the axial skeleton- the spine.

Treatment of PA resides in making the proper diagnosis and initiating aggressive therapy. The diagnosis is suspected clinically and may be confirmed using imaging procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs such as methotrexate and sulfasalazine can be helpful for the peripheral tendon and ligament inflammation. Usually though, patients require biologic therapy in order to obtain remission. Tumor necrosis inhibitors such as Enbrel, Humira, Remicade, and Simponi may be quite useful.

Homeopathic Remedies for Gout

Homeopathy is a holistic therapeutic method which uses several treatment options for successfully managing gout. Homeopathic treatment's basic concept is to treat not only the symptoms, but rather the whole body, as well as the mind, by utilizing your body's own curative powers.

Homeopathic treatments for gout symptoms are simple formulations composed of natural ingredients, that wont result in any negative effects on your health and wellbeing.

The main benefit of gout pain therapy through homeopathy is the fact that it treats the actual issues that result in the condition, by giving very small dosages of treatment that will be absolutely safe.

There are several known homeopathic remedies that provide enduring relief from the pain caused by gout.
Some of these are listed below:

Arnica is known as an effective homeopathic remedy for gout, and for various other forms of pain or aching. Arnica comes in many forms like gels, tinctures and pills. It is often taken internally along with being applied externally. The pills and external cream may be used jointly for faster relief.

Belladona is a popular gout therapy and it is great for rapid relief from pain and swelling. This comes as tablets and ought to be taken as per the medication dosage recommendations. Make use of belladonna for effective management of acute attacks with swelling and pain.

Calcera Flourica (Calcium Flouride) is beneficial when the fingers and toes as well as other small joints are experiencing gout. It can be employed for severe throbbing and pain, in which there is highly noticeable inflammation of the impacted area.

Rhus Toxicodendron is useful if your gout attack is unexpected with a high level of swelling. Rhus Toxicodendron can be used for greater management of pain and swelling as a result of all types of arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

Besides these few, there are many other recognized homeopathic remedies for gout symptoms. Several may also be used to reduce the effects of the high concentrations of urate in the body. They may also even assist you in getting far better control of the impacted joints, which can suffer permanent damange from gout if not looked after.

Homeopathic remedies for gout will assist you to deal with the swelling, stiffness and pain of a serious gout attack. And they can also help you treat the long term underlying causes of gout, and help you be free of gout forever.

Important Factors In The Treatment Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

There is no pain greater than having to limp around due to unexplainable throbbing sensations in your joints. Sometimes it is even accompanied by fever and chills that can last for hours. When feeling down and sick to the core, the idea of reaching out for a readily available treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is certainly at the forefront of your mind. Unfortunately, this particular autoimmune disorder has no known cure yet, only some basic remedies that can help alleviate the symptoms and slow down the progression of possible damage to the joints.

Before delving into remedies, it is important to understand one of the most dreaded diseases on American soil. Rheumatoid arthritis, or normally called RA, usually manifests as painful swelling and stiffness in the ball joints of both arms and feet, and at certain times, the eyes and lungs. This painful sensation usually disallows free movement.

What makes RA easier to diagnose is its symptoms manifestation, which usually starts in the morning and is quite unlike other arthritic conditions. Stiffness, soreness and potentially crippling sensations can last for at least two hours to almost a full day. Loss of energy and appetite accompanied by slight fever are also prevalent. In the worst cases, it can also create a dry mouth and eyes and at other times, nodules can be easily felt when touching the skin underneath one's elbows and hands.

These days, however, rheumatologists have a wide range of ways to alleviate symptoms via effective treatments intended to lessen the amount of inflammation, stiffness and pain. Patients who have undergone such therapeutic protocols usually enjoy significant remission effects which can make them functional again. But adequate attention must be given as the efficiency of treatments can still vary from patient to patient.

The most common and immediate form of prescription given by expert rheumatologists are DMARDs (or "disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs") and NSAIDs (or "non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs") which sometimes are accompanied with a low dosage of corticosteroid. These drugs are not meant to cure but rather to control the painful symptoms like swelling, stiffness and fever.

When patients want longer lasting remedies, homeopathic constitutional treatments must be done to guarantee longer lasting efficiency. This means curing both past and present RA symptoms using holistic remedies. Such treatments usually involve rhus toxicodendron, kalmia latiflora, kali carbonicum or bichromicum, and other holistics that provide naturalistic essences.

Whether treatment consists of synthetic, homeopathic or perhaps both, the use of occupational and physical therapies is also vital in addressing such a crippling disease. Affecting a larger majority of women than men, relaxation techniques and meditation are also great ways to alleviate the triggers. Regular consultation must also be sort to guarantee proper monitoring of the diseases progression.

Indeed, there can be nothing more upsetting than finding out you have RA. Fortunately, medical science has continually been conducting research to find appropriate treatments for rheumatoid arthritis. For you to enjoy the utmost effectiveness of any treatment, early detection through immediate consultation at the first sign of arthritic pain will most definitely yield positive results.

Locking, Grinding, and Popping Knee Problems - Should I Worry?

Locking, popping, and grinding are not just dance moves.

Knee problems also share those same characteristics.

Because you aren't a soda can firecracker or a soda can it's expected that hearing popping sounds in the leg is definitely an indicator that some thing is wrong. The reality though is the fact that popping sounds happens normally whenever motion occurs in the joints.

A small imbalance in the leg cap (Patella) or the motion of various ligaments over the joint can provide a popping sound. If it's an instance nevertheless where this sounds is actually associated with discomfort then one has reason for concern. Grinding and locking tend to be better indications of the physical condition in the leg, however the discomfort element is also extremely important in these cases.

Popping

As mentioned earlier unless accompanied by discomfort then a popping sound is actually completely normal, if however there's discomfort then its frequently a sign the anterior cruciate tendon (ACL) has been torn. ACL maybe torn in two pieces or even there may just be an incomplete tear, the degree of harm will determine therapy applied.

In the event that ACL is actually ripped apart then surgical treatment followed by rehabilitation is going to be essential, but also for incomplete tears one simply need to avoid activities for some time as the damage will self heal.

Grinding

Whenever cartilage deterioration occur the bones of the leg combined has a tendency to grind with each other leading to immense discomfort and creating a grinding seem. Normally, this is brought on by rheumatoid arthritis symptoms that hardly ever occur in people under fifty.

The deterioration caused by rheumatoid arthritis symptoms is permanent. Patella tendonitis (runner's leg) may also trigger deterioration of cartilage and therefore the pain sensation and grinding seem. Runner's leg is easily the most likely reason for the grinding sound in the legs of young people, particularly sports athletes.

Locking

You might find yourself enjoying a game of baseball and suddenly you're unable to flex the lower-leg or you might be kneeling then find that you're not able to straighten your lower-leg to get up; at these times you're encountering a phenomenon referred to as locking which can be very agonizing.

Pseudo locking is really a reaction to discomfort and functions just like a kill switch in which the leg locks into place whenever stress in the area turns into extreme. True locking is a result of physical issues in the leg, resulting in the leg being rigid, not able to flex or extend.

Overall, the important thing to note is that everyone faces issues with their knees popping, grinding, and locking. If you're also experiencing pain, it's important that you either consult a doctor or perform a therapy routine at home.

Swollen Fingers and Feet - A Symptom That Needs Medical Attention

Swollen fingers and feet could be a symptom of a serious disease; the good news is that the disease is in its first phase, but swelling is a symptom that needs medical attention.

Knuckle - cracking is a signal for lack of calcium in one's organism. Deformed and painful joints of the fingers are a symptom of osteoarthritis; keep in mind that such changes often occur in people suffering from gout.

Painfully swollen joints /redness appears also/are a symptom of polyarthritis and need immediate medical attention.

The shape of one's hands holds clues about disease dangers; quite long ago was found out that the wider the palms, the better health; however, people with broad palms and short fingers are susceptible to blood circulation disorders, primarily high blood pressure.

Narrow palms with thin fingers and pale skin usually indicate nervous system issues such as sensitive response to abrupt changes in temperature, atmospheric pressure, or time zones, as well as to rasping sounds and emotional problems.

If you feel your fingers abnormally swollen it could be a result of fluid retention likely due to an underactive thyroid, which means that it produces insufficient quantities of hormones that regulate metabolism and proper functioning of our body; slow metabolism results in fluid retention and excessive weight gain.

If longitudinal wrinkle - like rumples begin to appear on your fingertips, you should pay attention to the endocrine system because you could possibly suffer from hypothyroidism or diabetes mellitus. If your fingers are crimson, the problems are related to the digestive system. In case the fingers are dark-red or even purple, your kidneys and liver need medical attention. Itching on the sidewise surface of the index finger could be a signal for colon disorder.

Pay attention to the condition of the joints because some conclusions could be drawn, such as too flexible joints in combination with low general muscle tonus of the fingers indicate problems with the liver and gallbladder.

Swollen joints - swelling when combined with redness, warmth, pain and stiffness in the joints could be caused by traumas, fractures, rheumatoid arthritis, arthrosis, gout, osteomyelitis, osteoarthritis, mucopolysaccharidosis/aka MPS or Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome/, and so forth. Elderly and overweight people are more predisposed to swelling of the joints.

Consider everything listed here only as an indicator of possible health problems; keep in mind that this is not diagnostics, but only a reason to consult your GP. Do not wait too long before seeking a professional medical advice.

Check for more information about swelling and swollen fingers at the author's website.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet That You Must Follow

A rheumatoid arthritis diet is associated with primary medications given by your physician. This is helpful in fighting or overcoming joint symptoms present in all of arthritis.

Gout, for one, is a kind of arthritis that is treatable through diet adjustments. What a person eats will predict on what a person may become, with or without arthritis. If the person eats the main cause of his arthritis, expect that the disease will worsen. Compared to other treatments, sticking with your diet regimen is more effective in getting the energy needed by the body and at the same time preventing certain complications and manifestation of symptoms.

People who have arthritis must first consult his or her physician or a dietician in order to know the appropriate food for the disease. There might be contraindications in the food which you prefer. The important thing is, one must strictly follow the guidelines in proper food choices and ingestion.

Food allergens

Medical practitioners believe that there are certain foods which has allergens that can trigger more arthritic episodes. In that case, these food types must be completely avoided or otherwise minimized to acceptable use.

In particular, foods which are considered as stimulants should be the ones to be avoided. These include caffeinated food and drinks, specified veggies, additives, chocolates, salt, red meat, and some dairy products. If a particular food tends to show unacceptable effects, then you should stop eating it.

Foods That Can Help Reduce The Symptoms Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

There were studies that show certain foods that can reduce the different symptoms of arthritis. These are the types of food that should be included in the diet but with appropriate moderation and not taken in large doses.

According to studies, oranges, plant and fish oils have the ability to actually reduce inflammation of the joint thus reducing pain on the affected site. Oils mentioned tend to decrease tenderness of the joints as well as fatigue. Other dietitians would recommend veggies and fruits that are organically grown.

When it comes to easing rheumatoid arthritis, consumption of cold water fish like salmon and tuna can be given because of the natural presence of omega-3. Vitamin D can also help to reduce the symptoms of arthritis to get better.

What is the best rheumatoid arthritis diet?

Something balanced would be the best. This would be the answer of the majority of nutritionists. A well-balanced food preparation can help in reducing the symptoms. The plan should include lesser intake of sugar and sodium.

What are the foods to avoid?

Do away with cholesterol, saturated fats and foods which are tempting to eat but has less nutrients in it. Junk foods must also be avoided for they contain high preservatives which means high sodium content.

Alcohol should also be avoided because alcohol tends to worsen the condition of arthritis.

Watch out for foods that contribute to weight gain because obesity is one factor for the condition to worsen. The heavier a person is, the more excruciating it is for the joints to bear the weight most especially if the disease is already progressing.

Follow these recommendations of a rheumatoid arthritis diet and you can surely expect something positive in reducing the symptoms caused by arthritis.

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How You Can Get Arthritis In The Fingers

Did you know that arthritis can also attack your fingers? Arthritis in fingers is also a common symptom of arthritis. Our hands are one of the most important parts of our body. We almost can't do anything without using our hands.

Each of our fingers has a different function. What if one of our fingers is disabled? Can we still do what we want? Possibly, yes, but it will be more difficult the more advanced the arthritis is. And by difficult, I mean painful; even worse, as arthritis advances, you may cause even more damage to your finger joints, making even more difficult to move your fingers.

The types of arthritis that typically attacks our fingers are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis commonly affects those of more advanced years, but rheumatoid arthritis can affect anyone of any age.

Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis that is a result of years of wear and tear on the joints. Eventually the body is unable to keep up with the damage, and the connective tissue is unable to regenerate to its former elasticity. When this happens, it can harden and crack, allowing the bones of the joints to come in contact, resulting in pain. Do you crack your knuckles? This is one way to induce wear and tear of the finger joints, which can result in arthritis in fingers down the line.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder; basically, your immune system, for some reason, starts to attack the tissues around your joints, resulting in damage similar to that in osteoarthritis. This damage happens on a quicker timetable when compared with osteoarthritis, however, and those with rheumatoid arthritis will often eventually experience arthritis in fingers.

In both cases the symptoms are the same: joint pain, swelling, cracking sounds, stiffness and immobility. While the arthritis is not yet advanced, you may only experience some swelling and joint pain, which may go away in time. But you may also hear some cracking sounds when you move your finger joints, which is a sign of damaged connective tissues. Eventually, if the arthritis in fingers gets worse, your fingers may become immobile and deformed, as the flexibility and mobility of your fingers is lost.

The pain of arthritis in fingers can be relieved through a variety of treatments. Just as with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, there are medications that can relieve the pain and reduce the inflammation. Some less advanced cases may also be treated with physical therapy, while more advanced cases may require special surgery to restore mobility. There are also a variety of natural remedies that can be used to treat arthritis when it attacks your fingers, though the most important of them involve a healthy diet and lifestyle, in order to help your body fight the effects of arthritis.

Arthritis Information & Some Ways To Prevent Getting This Terrible Disease

Arthritis is a very common but complex disease. A most common symptom is
the joint pains in the different joints in the body. These joints could be
at the elbows, knees, hands, wrists, or even the hips and different parts
of the body. The two most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and
rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is caused by
the breakdown and subsequent loss of the cartilage in the joints.
A cartilage is a rubbery tissue (soft bone) that cushions bones at the joints.
Osteoarthritis can be caused by any constant activity that wears and tears
the cartilage. Thus, excessive running or jogging for many years, when
the joints are pounded by the weight of the body, may eventually lead to
osteoarthritis. Obesity also increases the chance of an individual in
acquiring arthritis since the heavy weight of the body stresses the knees.
Some individuals are born with abnormal joints. These joints are susceptible
to more wear and tear. Persons with this condition should take care in
not over-stressing the joints unnecessarily.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease that
causes chronic inflammation of the joints, and sometimes an inflammation of
the tissue around the joints and other organs of the body. Autoimmune
diseases are diseases wherein the body's immune system attacks its own tissues.
The immune system is the body's defense against infection and intruders.
The antibodies in individuals with autoimmune diseases attack their own
body tissues. Rheumatoid arthritis may lead to the destruction of the
cartilage, bones and ligaments. There is no known correlation between the
pain caused by arthritis and the amount of damage to the joints.

Arthritis becomes more common in aged individuals. However, there are cases
when persons below 45 already experience the symptoms of arthritis. A good
way to prevent arthritis is by maintaining a body weight proportional with
your body mass and height. Obesity is a leading cause of arthritis. One
avoids obesity by moderating the intake of fattening food. Those with
acute obesity are advised to see a physician for the proper advice.
Contemporary research indicates that arthritis is one of the health problems
resulting from obesity, including heart problems and high blood pressure.

The best prevention to arthritis is not to put undue stress to the joints.
This means having the proper warm-up routines before exercising, taking periods
of rest when engaging in physically stressful work, and relaxing
the joints by stretching and exercising the joints, especially when taking
long car or plane rides. Daily exercise is also recommended as a preventive
measure for arthritis.

Taking in calcium strengthens the bones and the cartilage. Thus, the proper
dose of calcium supplements would help in reducing the risk of arthritis.
New research findings indicate that the vitamin D absorbed by your skin from
the sun makes the bones stronger. That is because vitamin D has a relevant
effect on the health of the bones. But during fall and winter, where one
is not so much exposed to sunlight, there is not much body absorption of
vitamin D. Hence, it is advisable to take in supplements of this vitamin
to continue giving strength to the bone during the less sunlight seasons.

Fibromyalgia Food & Diet Research

The generation of excess free radicals and/or a deficiency in antioxidant status may play a pathophysiological role in numerous illnesses including fibromyalgia. Research has shown that FM patients have signs of increased oxidative stress as measured by protein peroxidation. In addition, decreased levels of red blood cell magnesium, plasma selenium, and thiols (essential in antioxidant handling of free radicals), have been observed. Magnesium deficiency results in the loss of red blood cell glutathione, selenium is involved in glutathione peroxidase activity, and thiols are a class of organic sulfur derivatives (including glutathione and alpha Lipoic acid) that act as reducing agents.

Diet can have a profound effect on antioxidant levels in the human body. The effect of a vegetarian diet on antioxidant levels has been the source of considerable research in recent years. Plasma total antioxidant status can be significantly increased in people following a vegetarian diet and after consuming a meal high in fruits and vegetables. Vegetarian diets are associated with increased magnesium intake and glutathione levels.

The first objective findings that indicate a vegetarian diet may benefit fibromyalgia patients come from a 1993 study published from the University of Oslo, Norway. They placed fibromyalgia patients on a 3-week vegetarian diet and measured peroxide levels, plasma fibrinogen, and serum lipid before and after the diet. At the end of the study, there was a decrease in serum cholesterol that was positively correlated with reduction in body weight, mean serum peroxide levels fell, and mean plasma fibrinogen levels decreased, and subjectively, seven of ten fibromyalgia patients reported an increase in health status in the form of improved well-being and reduced pain.

More recently, there have been three published studies examining the role of the vegetarian or vegan diet in the treatment of fibromyalgia. The first study (Hanninen et al., 2000) addressed the potential role of antioxi9dants from a vegan diet in fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The University of Kuopio, Finland, researchers examined living foods (LF), a type of vegan diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, seeds, sprouts, and nuts. The results of this study showed that significantly higher levels of serum carotenoids (lutein, lycopene, alpha carotene, and beta carotene) and flavonols (quercetin, kaempherol, and myricetin) were found in the LF groups fibromyalgia patients who consumed the LF diet reported significant improvements in joint stiffness, pain, and general health. The authors attribute the beneficial effect of the LF diet to the increased antioxidant and lignin levels as well as to the positive change in intestinal micro flora.

Researchers in Finland also investigated the effect of a 3-month uncooked vegan diet on fibromyalgia symptoms. Again, the diet was understood to be rich in lactobacilli based on the findings of the previous LF investigators. Those on the vegan diet reported a significant decrease in pain and morning stiffness and improvement in sleep quality and general health. Patients in the vegan diet intervention group also lost weight over the 3-month trial. Prior to commencing the diet, 50% of the fibromyalgia patients had a body mass index (BMI) of 25 and greater, but after 3 months on a vegan diet, all had a BMI below 24.

The most recent investigation into a raw vegetarian diet also had beneficial results (Donaldson, Speight, & Loomis, 2001). All subjects in this study were fibromyalgia patients who participated in a dietary intervention using a mostly raw, pure vegetarian diet. Subjects were instructed to consume fresh fruit, salad, raw vegetables, carrot juice, nuts, seeds, whole grains, tubers, flax seed oil, and extra virgin olive oil. They were instructed to avoid alcohol, caffeine, corn syrup, dairy, eggs, all meat, refined sugar, and hydrogenated oils and were given an unlimited quantity of dehydrated barley grass powder (Barley Green). A live instructional or video presentation was made available to all subjects. No further motivational encouragement was given. Validated instruments such as the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (GIQ) and the SF-36 Health Survey were used in follow-up assessment.

Twenty subjects returned surveys as requested over the course of the 7-month trial. A 33% improvement was noted in FIQ scores after 2 months, and this increased to 46% after 7 months. Quality-of-life scores increased over the course of the intervention, particularly in the areas of recreation, health, socializing, and participation in organization. SF-36 results were significantly higher compared to general population norms, however, after 7 months, the general health, vitality, role emotional, and mental health scores were no longer different. Significant improvement in the areas of physical performance, exercise tolerance, flexibility, and range of motion were recorded by a physical therapist. Handgrip strength and isometric shoulder endurance did not improve.

Vegetarian and vegan diets have been and continue to be of interest to those investigating other rheumatic disorders. Previous studies have shown that vegetarian or vegan diets can be of value in reducing RA symptoms. Most recently, a 1-year controlled study involving RA patients showed that a vegan diet (free of gluten) improved symptoms, possibly related to a diminished immune response to exogenous food antigens. The combined studies suggest that changes in the gut immune system can influence the course of rheumatic symptoms.

By Deirdre Rawlings, ND, PhD, MH, CNC.

Dealing With Arthritis? Learn the Types and Symptoms

There are varying types of arthritis, and your arthritis symptoms will depend upon the type. Any form can affect several different parts of the body, and there are often several factors behind the cause. Here is a brief overview of several types and their associated symptoms.

Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis that impacts the joints of the spine. It also goes by the names of Marie-Strumpell disease and rheumatoid spondylitis. The joints-vertebrae-become inflamed, and can cause severe, chronic pain. This inflammation can further impact other organs, such as the eyes, heart and lungs. Symptoms include low back and buttocks pain or stiffness. Pain can spread to the neck, shoulders, ribs, hips and thighs. Fatigue and anemia are may happen as well.

Another form of arthritis is bursitis, which usually affects the hips, shoulders and elbows. However, in some cases it can also be felt in the knees, heels are in the big toe. Since bursitis is the effect caused by repetitive motion in the joints, some athletes are prone to it, but bad posture can be a cause as well. Symptoms are pain and stiffness in the joints which become more intense when the joint is used. The joint may also swell and become warm to the touch.

Both adult and juvenile arthritis symptoms are much the same, including pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints. Symptoms aren't constant, but usually come and go. Since a child may not mention these symptoms, parents should be on the lookout for children limping, being unusually clumsy, or not wanting to get involved in physical activities like they normally would.

In older people, osteoarthritis is the most common form, as long-term everyday use of the joints is part of the cause. Symptoms will vary, depending on which joints are impacted. Many with it in their fingers don't even know it until it's revealed by an x-ray. Symptoms are the standard pain and swelling, however the pain will fade over time.

If the body has too much uric acid, gout is a potential problem. The symptom of this form of arthritis is intense pain-usually in the big toe. The toe may become swollen, red and warm to the touch. While the toe is the most common place for gout, it can also manifest itself in the wrists, ankles and knees. Symptoms may not show themselves again for several years, but if left untreated, the crystals formed by the uric acid and destroy a portion of the bone.

Next in the list of types of arthritis, we have rheumatoid arthritis which is caused by an overactive immune system. Generally, the symptoms start out as minor stiffness and pain which may come and go, but it will get worse overtime and become more frequent. If this arthritis can be caught within the first few months of manifestation, treatment is most effective.

If you feel you have any of these types of arthritis, or notice any of these arthritis symptoms, you should see your doctor. You have a greater chance of dealing with it properly if you can treat it in its early stages.

Yeast Makes Fibromyalgia, Crohn's Disease, Arthritis, and Autism Worse!

Several studies have proven yeast to be directly related to irritation and worsening symptoms of Fibromyalgia pain, Crohn's disease, Arthritis pain, and Autism. Yeast can cause excess swelling and/or pain to these conditions and exaggerate the symptoms of Autism in children and adults.

Fibromyalgia is chronic widespread pain all over the affected persons body, typically in muscle, connective tissue, nerve endings, and joints. It is more than just pain though, it is included with a long list of symptoms like muscle spasms, tingling, nerve pain, weakness, cognitive dysfunction ("Brain Fog"), chronic sleep disturbances, and more. Yeast can increase and exaggerate all of these symptoms.

Crohn's Disease is an inflammatory disease of the intestines (Gastrointestinal Tract) causing a wide variety of symptoms. It primarily causes severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and/or weight loss. Just like with Fibromyalgia, yeast can increase the effects of these symptoms tremendously.

Arthritis is a group of conditions causing damage to the bodies joints. There are over 100 different types of arthritis; to name a few common ones, there is Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Septic Arthritis, Gouty Arthritis, and Juvenile Arthritis. The most commonly associated symptom is pain, however it differs from type to type.

Autism is a development disorder in the brain caused by lack of social interaction and communication and by restrictive and repetitive behavior. Autism is not well understood in the medical world, but does have a strong genetic base. It is not characterized by one symptom, rather by a triad of symptoms including impairments in social interaction, impairments in communication, restricted interests and repetitive behavior. All which appear to be worsened by the consumption of yeast.

Ankylosing Spondylitis - Young People With Chronic Arthritis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a particular type of arthritis. It particularly affects the joints of the spine and sacroiliac linking the pelvis (hip bone) to the column. This disease often also affect other joints such as knees, ankles, toes, hips and rib cage. When it begins before the age of seventeen is called Juvenile Ankylosing spondylitis (JAS).

The EAJ and diseases linked to it are rare but constitute a significant proportion of all young people with chronic arthritis. The EAJ can occur in 1 in 1,000 children, and appears much more frequently in boys than in girls. It usually starts in puberty or adolescence.

The cause of the EAJ is unknown. However, it is known that children who inherit a gene called HLA B27 on one or both parents are more likely to develop the disease than children who do not. Furthermore, the EAJ is rare in white children have the gene HLA B27 (approximately 8% of the normal population has this gene). In addition, the B27 does not cause disease itself. It is believed that bacterial infection of the intestinal tract or the genito-urinary tract may trigger the onset of AD.

SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE

In children, the EA usually begins in the ankle, knee or hip. Some months or years later, other joints may be involved, particularly those of the spine or sacroiliac. The disease behaves differently in each person.

The first symptom may be the enthesitis EAJ, a painful inflammation of tendons and ligaments at the site where they attach to bone, usually near or around the joints. The pain is usually in the joint (as in rheumatoid arthritis) but with a joint. In children, this type of pain occurs most often under or behind the heel below the toes or around the kneecap.

About one fifth of patients develop EAJ eye inflammation called iridocyclitis or uveitis. Can occur in one or both eyes, and usually accompanied by acute eye redness, sensitivity to sunlight and pain. Other complications (which can affect the heart, kidneys or spinal cord) are very rare.

Topical corticosteroids can be used to treat eye inflammation. Surgery usually is not required, but in a few cases of severe joint destruction may necessitate hip replacement.

THE DIAGNOSIS OF EAJ

The diagnosis of the EAJ is made on the basis of clinical history, physical characteristics of joint inflammation and tissue and the results of certain laboratory and radiological examinations. Experienced doctors in the care of children with JAS will make a careful assessment of arthritis; ask carefully about enthesitis and look at the physical examination, spinal mobility tested, sacroiliac pain and chest movement with breathing. There is no specific laboratory test for EAJ, but tests can be very useful. Blood tests showed that children with EAJ not have rheumatoid factor or antinuclear antibodies, which are common in other types of juvenile chronic arthritis. The genetic marker HLA B27 is not an anomaly in itself, but its presence correlates with the development of EAJ in a child with arthritis. This means that the test for HLA B27 is an important test, but diagnosing EAJ.

Radiographs of the sacroiliac joints, which must show changes to make a clear diagnosis of AD in adults, may be normal in children with JAS, or show those changes over time, when the individual is an adult. Keep in mind that the plates of the sacroiliac joints are usually difficult to interpret in younger kids because bones are growing along the joint.

The EAJ can resemble other diseases, and physicians should be careful to make a proper diagnosis. There are several diseases associated with AD who have other problems besides arthritis. These include: Crohn's Disease, ulcerative colitis (inflammation of the intestines), Reiter syndrome (arthritis with inflammation of the eyes and loose lower urinary tract infection), psoriasis. All of these can occur in children.

THE TREATMENT OF EAJ

The treatment of children with JAS is individualized according to the specific problems of each patient, depending on how severe are the disease and its complications. This treatment is performed, ideally, with the help of a multidisciplinary team which can achieve combine individual efforts to benefit the patient. Its members are: pediatric rheumatologist (doctor with highly specialized training and experience in caring for children with rheumatic diseases such as EAJ) physical therapist (the professional responsible for developing appropriate exercise programs for children with JAS, to be carried out in the gym and at home, with the goal of rehabilitating the patient), occupational therapist (which will ensure that the child can physically perform well in school, p adapt elements to it, and get to live as independently as possible) psychologist, nutritionist, ophthalmologist, orthopedist and other doctors who can become involved the treatment of youth.

An Overview Of Neck Arthritis

Neck arthritis can cause pain and affect the ability to turn and use the neck normally. It can be caused by the natural aging process or can be part of a larger arthritis disease called rheumatoid arthritis. A person may at first believe they simply have a stiff neck from sleeping wrong, but soon they will realize the pain and stiffness is not going away and that is when they discover they are suffering from it. It is important at this point to seek a doctor's advice on how to deal with the issue.

Any type of arthritis can severely affect a person. Arthritis is when joint and bones have swelling and cause movement to be impaired. Arthritis is most often associated with aging and usually occurs in older adults. This is because it takes time for the arthritis to settle into joints and bones. However, most arthritis is treatable and can be managed through a doctor's care.

If the neck arthritis is caused by a degenerative, age-related, condition then the symptoms may not be noticed early. In fact, the symptoms of degenerative neck arthritis can be seen on an x-ray long before they are felt by the person. However, in general the symptoms of neck arthritis include pain, stiffness, problems moving the neck and pain going into the head and shoulders. Symptoms can also include pain in the arms, problems with arm movement, weakness in arms or legs, clumsiness and headaches.

The treatments for neck arthritis vary. Treatment may be restricting the neck movement through the wearing of a brace. Using heat or massage therapy is another option. Typically, pain relief medications are used. Certain exercises may also help. The treatment is usually related to how sever the pain is and how severely effected the person is by the neck arthritis.

Neck arthritis is something that you will likely have to live with. It is hard to prevent, but thankfully there are many treatment options to help with the pain and discomfort you are feeling. This is a very globally condition, meaning that it can affect more then just your neck.

Getting treatment is important to being able to fully function and not suffering from side effects of the arthritis. It is possible to live a normal life with neck arthritis, but it all depends on your ability to handle the condition and your mindset in dealing with it.

Rash on Legs With Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Often when women feel the onset of rheumatoid arthritis - more excruciatingly the joint pain, a rash on the leg or both legs may appear and it can be extremely difficult to find the right solution or supplement to put it to rest.

Psoriatic arthritis tends to be ones first suspicion as to the cause, but what is clear though is that rashes appear at many different times and should not be strictly associated with the ailment you are suffering from at that time, although it's perfectly acceptable to draw a correlation between the two.

So, if you are using NSAID's to treat the swelling around the joints then these themselves could be the culprit as the effects of these are well documented today.

Common prescription medicines for rheumatoid arthritis include Plaquenil, Norco and Ibuprofen, and aside from such treatment affects as liver damage, heart disease and heart palpitations or arrhythmia which can lead to cardiac arrest, they can also give you a rash.

If you are using more than one prescribed NSAID then don't be afraid to chop and change between the two.

NSAID's are just one way to treat joint pain and you shouldn't feel they are the only means you can seek pain relief.

In fact prescription drugs do nothing to stop the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, rather they just numb the pain so if you are using these solely to treat rheumatoid arthritis, in no way are you helping the remission process.

If you want to keep using NSAID's but resorting to just one supplement still doesn't help, then you should seriously start thinking about changing your lifestyle habits so you can incorporate different therapies to treat the pain.

Exercise is the best form of treatment, specifically swimming. By increasing your muscle strength you immediately provide support to the joint and an almost instant lift in your health and how you feel.

Low impact sports are best so as to avoid stress on the joints, and don't be afraid to use natural supplements which include omega 3, 6, 9 proteins, ingredients like reishi and capsaicin, and supplements like vitamin D and magnesium, which is the only element which has been proven to increase bone density by some 11% over the course of 9 months, as was carried out by the Journal Medicine in 2009.

Once you're off the NSAID's and in to a more proactive and positive lifestyle, it's highly unlikely that any rash on the legs will remain.

Rheumatism - Fibromyalgia, Symptoms, Treatment Cure

An inflammation of the fibrous or connective tissue of the body is called Fibromyalgia or Rheuatism.

It is characterized by general muscle pain, constant fatigue, and several localized tender points with these symptoms.

Known commonly as rheumatism, it is now called Fibrositis, fibromyalgia, and fibromyositis by the medical community.

Causes and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia

There is no known cause of fibromyalgia.

It may be genetic, or related to the geographical place a person lives. Those who suffer fibromyalgia will complain to have three general symptoms: joint and muscle pain, stiffness, and fatigue (usually caused by sleep disturbance).

However, pain is the predominant symptom with pain without apparent reason, aches, and stiffness of multiple muscles, joints, and tenderness in soft tissue. Additionally the pain will move from one part of the body to another. It is most common in the hands, neck, arms, shoulders, chest, legs, hips, and back.

The fatigue results from the individual's chronic pain coupled (disturbing sleep) It is common for the inflammatory condition to produces various enzymes that are known to cause fatigue.

Some additional symptoms can include diarrhea, tension headaches, difficulty swallowing, numbness or tingling of the extremities, and recurrent abdominal pain. It is well known that stress, anxiety, depression, and lack of sleep will increase symptoms.

Who Is at Risk of Getting Fibromyalgia

Women of child bearing age are the most at risk, followed by the elderly. Men and children are the least at risk, but they also suffer with this disease.

Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia

As the symptoms of fibromyalgia are vague and generalized, diagnosis is difficult and frequently incorrect.

As a sufferer may also have other nerve and muscle disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, the diagnosis may further complicated. There are no tests yet available to specifically diagnose fibromyalgia, so the diagnosis is generally made after simply ruling out other conditions.

However, as there is usually so much stress related to sufferers of fibromyalgia, it is now being diagnosed as a psychological condition (perhaps wrongly)

The Treatment of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia has no known cure. Therefore, doctors (and the patients themselves) have to look to alleviating the symptoms.

A good way to do this is to include in your daily life exercise, sufficient rest, lessons in stress management, and a "clean" diet.

A clean diet will exclude coffee, red meat, processed food, and other difficult digestible foods, but include a multitude of fresh fruits and vegetables. Vitamin supplements are also helpful. Ginger, ginseng, ginkgo biloba, and garlic are also helpful.

One's daily exercise will include various forms of aerobic exercise, with getting the heart rate to good levels, for 20 minutes or more.

Care must be made not to do exercises that could cause additional muscle and joint pain (i.e. if you are lifting weights, use minimums instead of maximums).

Warm up and cool off at each exercise session.

From medications, some muscle relaxants and antidepressants have been helpful, but are not good for the long term. Analgesics should be used sparingly.

Medical Treatment

Conventional medicine will resort to medication and some physiotherapy. However massage has proven very helpful, as well as acupuncture and acupressure (shiatsu). There are other alternative therapies as well.

Prognosis of Fibromyalgia

As fibromyalgia is a chronic illness, the general symptoms will both improve and then worsen.

The symptoms can last for months to years. If you think you have it then make sure you consult your doctor as soon as possible.

Muscle Arthritis - Symptoms and Treatment Explained

Myositis is the medical term for inflammation of muscle tissue and one type of muscle arthritis is dermatomyositis. (Without the rash, the condition is called polymyositis.) In this form, there is soreness and inflammation and pain in the muscles but there is also an accompanying dry rash affecting the skin. This rash is commonly seen on the face and neck, chest and back and the shoulders. Heart muscle may also be affected as well as the lung tissues. It is usually dusky and a purplish red color. This is an autoimmune condition and is treated with anti-inflammatory medications including steroids.

Another disease that can be considered muscle arthritis is called fibromyalgia. Along with muscle pain and aches, fibromyalgia can produce pain in the joints and other connective tissue like tendon and ligaments, as well as fatigue, depression, headache, anxiety, sleep problems and numbness in the extremities. To have this diagnosis, symptoms must last at least three months and at least 11 of the 18 trigger points associated with FM must be tender to the touch.

Treatment for FM has until very recently been simply medications directed at relieving pain and specifics for other symptoms, but now medications specifically for fibromyalgia have reached the market and can be prescribed. About 2% of the population has symptoms of FM.

Another muscle arthritis is the systematic illness called lupus. Usually joints are affected but some lupus patients also have muscle aches and pain associated with the condition. Lupus is treated with corticosteroids and other immune system modifiers. Symptoms of lupus can include a butterfly shaped rash across the face, fevers, fatigue, multiple joint arthritis and many other symptoms. Blood work can help to make the diagnosis. Lupus is also an autoimmune disease and the cause is not known. It is about ten times as common in men as it is in women.

Finally, there is polymyalgia rheumatica. The symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica are moderate to severe muscle pain and the location is almost always in or near the neck, shoulders and hips and can come on very suddenly. In virtually every case, a person with polymyalgia rheumatica will have an abnormally high red blood cell sedimentation rate. This disease is often associated with a serious vascular affliction called polyarteritis or sometimes giant cell arteritis in which blood vessels become inflamed. However, prompt treatment usually controls both conditions or polymyalgia rheumatica alone.

A corticosteroid like prednisone is usually given and will produce a remission which can last some time. If the condition recurs, the drug is restarted and can control symptoms. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications are also used. The disease may also go away on its own but this can take a year or more.

One last form of muscle arthritis is a side effect of drugs given to lower cholesterol called lipid reducing drugs or statins. While not common, this condition called rhabdomyolysis can have serious implications including kidney and heart damage. Persons taking statins need to report any unusual muscle aches and pains to their physicians at once.

While muscle arthritis can be painful and frightening, most forms of it do respond well to treatment. The most important thing is to report muscle pains to a physician, learn the cause, and to then use appropriate treatments for whichever condition is to blame.

Neck Arthritis - Its Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Medicine has many names for neck arthritis. Doctors refer to this condition as cervical spondylosis or degenerative disk disease. But whichever name they have for it, it is very important that the nature of this disease is made known so that the proper way of treating it may be carried out.

Neck arthritis has a lot of causes. Although it is very hard for doctors to tell a patient exactly what made them acquire the disease, they can certainly instruct them what to do whenever the diseases strikes.

The Symptoms of Neck Arthritis

You probably have neck arthritis if you are suffering from severe neck and shoulder pains, as these are the body parts that neck arthritis commonly targets. Although such pains are concentrated in and around these areas, it is not impossible that you are going to suffer from episodes of headaches as well.

Aside from such unbearable pains, it is also common that neck arthritis patients experience a certain level of stiffness around their necks as well. This stiffness is characterized by the person's inability to bend or turn their necks and heads from one side to another.

Since neck arthritis affects the shoulders, the pain may possibly shoot down from the tips of the shoulder down in to a certain part of the arm. Along with that pain, there would also be weakness and numbness in the arm area. These two sensations are caused by neck arthritis. It is not a different type of problem altogether, although the arms are far from the neck. There are also instances that the symptoms are felt on both arms and cause the hands to be clumsy.

Unfortunately, the pain doesn't always end in the arms alone. More often than not, it also goes down into the legs as well. The same type of pain is felt. A decreased level of sensation and vibration will also be experienced around the leg and foot area, whenever neck arthritis attacks.

Another noticeable symptom of neck arthritis would be problems with urination. There are instances that the patients of this disease urinate a little too often than they used to. Some, on the other hand, have the need to urinate immediately. This is the reason why urinary incontinence in patients with neck arthritis is a little too common.

The Causes of Neck Arthritis

Neck arthritis is commonly caused by the changes in a person's cervical spine. A person's body changes as he ages. And this is the main reason why the instances of neck arthritis are rather common to elderly people. Following the same principle, calcium build ups and bony growths can also be the cause of this disease.

When a person's body changes, more particularly in these areas, certain nerves are affected. Some of them are inflamed, compressed, or pinched. These are the main reasons why the symptoms of neck arthritis show. Blood flow may also be affected due to this disease.

Treating Neck Arthritis

The primary treatment for neck arthritis is to restrict the movement of the neck. To do this, a cervical collar may be used. In certain cases that a collar is not sufficient to do the job, a brace has to be fitted around the neck. These devices become necessary to treat the disease.

But if mere treatment is not enough, there might be a need to perform a surgery. Usually, surgery becomes an option to the patients that complain of severe and unbearable pains. And if there are notable neurological deficits, surgery is very likely to be suggested by the doctor as well. Neurological deficits are characterized by difficulty in walking, total weakness of the hands, and problems in the bladder area. Any determined compression in the spinal cord is also enough reason to go for surgery.

These are the basic facts associated with arthritis in the neck. Knowing all of these would cause people to understand the disease better and act accordingly. Neck arthritis really is a very serious disease. Therefore, it has to be addressed the moment it is diagnosed.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: How Homeopathy Treated This Form of Arthritis in Less Than 3 Months

A 47-year-old woman suffered for severe knee pain, which had being going on untreated for three years, gradually getting worse. At this point the pain would spread to her ankles; her knee pain, which was not constant but frequent, would increase when bending her legs or just by sitting down.

Accompanying symptoms were a constantly bloated abdomen, insatiable hunger, cravings for sweets; she was also suffering from pre-menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, sweating, sleep problems, irritability and mood swings, frequent night urination and irregular menstrual cycles.

Despite appearing very confident and claiming to experience no emotional stress, further enquiries revealed a troubled family life (major problems with her ex husband and major problems with her teenage son). When she finally opened up, she revealed her disappointment with her life and preference to be a recluse; unlike the person she used to be, she had not become very irritable and easily angered (psychologically speaking, these two emotional symptoms at times reveal inner disappointment with one's life).

As initial approach and in order to 'treat' the entirety of her symptoms, she was prescribed the constitutional homeopathic remedy named Natrum Muriaticum in the 200c dose, to be taken twice a day for 3 weeks. As already mentioned on other pages, a homeopathic doctor or specialist prescribes not only different remedies to different patients with the same condition, but also in different dosages, depending on their exact cluster of symptoms, disease history, emotional state, personality, attitude to life and so on.

This particular patient, after the three weeks, reported an improvement of her knee pain and a moderate decrease of her other complaints. Because of the improvements, she was prescribed the same homeopathic remedy in the same posology (dosages) for the following four weeks, after which all her symptoms, including her emotional state, had dramatically improved.

A list of homeopathic remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis is on the page titled ARTHRITIS HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Gallstones Cause Disorders of the Joints

Our body contains three types of joints: fibrous or fixed joints,cartilaginous or slightly movable joints, and synovial or freely movable joints. The most susceptible to disease are the joints of the hands, feet, knees, shoulders, elbows, and hips. Rheumatoid arthritis,osteoarthritis, and gout are among the most commonly found joint disorders.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Most people stricken with rheumatoid arthritis have a long history of intestinal complaints: bloating, flatulence, heartburn, belching, constipation, diarrhea, coldness and swelling of hands and feet, increased perspiration, general fatigue, loss of appetite, weight reduction, and more. It is reasonable, therefore, to conclude that rheumatoid arthritis is linked with any of these, or similar, symptoms of major intestinal and metabolic disturbances. I have personally experienced all the symptoms mentioned above when I suffered painful bouts of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis during my childhood years.

The gastro-intestinal (GI) tract is constantly exposed to a large number of viruses, bacteria, and parasites. In addition to the many antigens(foreign material) contained in foods, the digestive system may also have to deal with insecticides, pesticides, hormones, antibiotic residues, preservatives, and colorings contained in so many foodstuffs today, as well as some large-molecule drugs such as penicillin. Possible antigens include pollen from flowers, plants, plant antibodies, fungi, bacteria, and the like. It is the task of the immune system, most of which is located in the intestinal wall,to protect us against all these potentially harmful invaders and substances. To be able to accomplish this task every day, both the digestive and lymphatic systems must remain unobstructed and efficient. Gallstones in the liver seriously disturb the digestive process, which leads to an overload of toxic substances in the blood and lymph.

Arthritis

Doctors consider arthritis an autoimmune diseaseaffecting the synovial membrane. Autoimmunity, a condition in which the immune system develops immunity to its own cells, results when antigen/antibody complexes (rheumatoid factors) are formed in the blood. Naturally, the B-lymphocytes (immune cells) in the intestinal wall become stimulated and produce antibodies (immunoglobulins) when coming into contact with these antigens. The immune cells circulate in the blood, and some settle in the lymph nodes, spleen, mucus membranes of the salivary glands, lymphatic system of the bronchial tubes, vagina or uterus, milk-producing mammary glands of the breasts, and capsular tissues of the joints.

If there is repeated exposure to the same types of toxic antigens, antibody production will increase dramatically, particularly in areas where immune cells have settled because of a previous encounter with the invaders. These harmful antigens may consist of protein particles from putrefying animal foods, for example. In such a case, intense microbial activity can occur. The new encounter with the antigens raises the level of antigen/antibody complexes in the blood and upsets the fine balance that exists between the immune reaction and its suppression. Autoimmune diseases, which indicate an extremely high level of toxicity in the body, directly result from a disturbance of this balance. If antibody production is continually high in synovial joints, inflammation becomes chronic, leading to gradually increasing deformity, pain, and loss of function.

The overuse of the immune system leads to self-destruction in the body. If this form of self-destruction occurs in nerve tissue, it is called MS, and if it occurs in organ tissue, it is called cancer. Yet, seen from a deeper perspective, the self-destruction is but a final attempt at self-preservation. The body only 'attacks' itself if the toxicity has increased to such a degree that it could cause more damage than an autoimmune response would. It certainly has no intention of committing suicide, which is what the meaning of 'autoimmune disease' suggests. When the body's cell membranes are clogged with foreign, harmful chemicals and toxic particles like trans fatty acids(as found in fast foods, such as hamburgers and french fries), it is an absolutely normal response by the immune system to attack these contaminants. To call this survival response a disease is unscientific and reflects a lack of knowledge of the true nature of the body.

Gallstones inhibit the body's ability to keep itself nourished and clean, which makes them a leading cause of toxicity. They prevent the liver from adequately taking noxious substances out of the bloodstream. If the liver cannot filter out toxins from the blood, they end up being dumped into the extracellular fluid. The more toxins accumulate in the extracellular fluid, the more severely that cell membranes become clogged with injurious materials. An autoimmune response may be necessary to destroy the most contaminated cells and thereby save the rest of the body, at least for a while. When all gallstones are removed from the liver and gallbladder, the immune system does not have to take recourse to such extreme measures of defending the body on the cellular level.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritisis a degenerative, non-inflammatory illness. It occurs when the renewal of articular cartilage (a smooth, strong surface, covering bones that are in contact with other bones) does not happen at the same pace as its breakdown. The articular cartilage gradually becomes thinner until, eventually, the bony articular surfaces come into contact, and the bones start to deteriorate. Abnormal bone repair and chronic inflammation may follow this form of damage. Like most diseases, this symptom results from a long-standing digestive disorder. As fewer nutrients are absorbed and distributed for tissue building, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain healthy sustenance of bone and articular cartilage. Gallstones in the liver impair the basic digestive processes and, therefore, play perhaps the most important role in the development of osteoarthritis.

Gout

Gout,which is another joint disease connected to weak liver performance, is caused by sodium urate crystals in joints and tendons. Gout occurs in some people whose blood uric acidis abnormally high. When gallstones in the liver begin to affect blood circulation in the kidneys, uric acid excretion becomes inefficient. This also causes increased cell damage and cell destruction in the liver and kidneys, as well as in other parts of the body.

Uric acid is a waste product resulting from the breakdown of cell nuclei; it is produced in excess with increased cell destruction. Smoking cigarettes, drinking alcoholic beverages regularly, using stimulants, etc. all cause marked cell destruction, which releases large quantities of degenerate cell protein into the bloodstream. In addition, uric acid production rises sharply with over-consumption of protein foods, such as meat, fish, pork, and eggs. Incidentally, all the aforementioned foods and substances lead to gallstone formation in the liver and gallbladder.

A person may experience several acute attacks of arthritis before damage to the joints decreases mobility and the gout condition becomes chronic.

How To Treat Arthritis Naturally Without Prescription Drugs

When you face the pain, stiffness and swelling of arthritis you want to find something that will help alleviate the problem. Your doctor may prescribe medications that will help with the inflammation and pain but these treatments often come with the potential for addiction and a list of possible side effects. This could easily leave you wanting to find other alternatives that do not carry the same risks. There are plenty of herbal and natural remedies that are used regularly for that very purpose. Knowing which ones to try comes down to locating the ones that resolve the problems you are trying to alleviate. You should also consult with your physician on any remedies that you choose to use so that you can be monitored.

Diet

The diet you consume can play a pivotal role in the effect your arthritis has on your body. One of the most obvious effects of a healthier diet is that you will be able to reduce any excess weight. This weight places unnecessary pressure on your bones and joints and increases the pain and other problems that you may feel. In addition to this benefit, some foods enhance the arthritis symptoms while others help to fight them. If you want to fight your arthritis you will want to consume a diet that is healthy and rich in omega 3 fatty acids. The more vitamins you take in the better off your body will be. Sugar, dairy and wheat only work to make arthritis worse and should be eliminated from your diet. You will begin to feel the effects of a healthy diet fairly quickly and as you lose weight you will notice many other benefits as well.

Exercise

With exercise you are helping that goal of reducing your weight, but you will see more advantages to your body than simple weight loss. Regular exercise helps your body to relax and stay mobile. If you are mobile then your joints are consistently moving. This will help to prevent the stiffness that often accompanies arthritis. An active person will have less stiffness in their joints than one who is sedentary. Stiffness is one of the most difficult symptoms of arthritis because it causes you problems moving around. You may find yourself unable to do normal tasks that you once performed easily.

Castor Oil

Castor oil has been used for many things over the years and arthritis is among them. You can use the oil as a rub when your joints become sore and swollen. Simply rub the castor oil into the joints and you will feel the relief it provides. It is also a great oil to use for massaging joints to help prevent the soreness and stiffness that you often feel. Many people have found that castor oil provides relief almost instantly.

Fluids

Taking in enough fluids is vital to your health for many reasons, but fluids have to be the right ones. The best fluid you can take in is water. It will work to release the built up toxins in your body and keep your organs functioning as they should. Water will keep you from suffering constipation problems as well. Another benefit of water is that it keeps the joints lubricated so that they move easier and more freely. You can even count on plenty of water to aid in your weight loss goals.

Ginger

Ginger was discovered to relieve pain in arthritis many years ago by the Chinese. Like many supplements, ginger works well in both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Since pain is one of the most predominant symptoms of arthritis, ginger is a favored herb among many sufferers. Those who use it say that it can take as long as three weeks before the effects are noticed. Unlike prescription pain medications, a user does not have to be concerned with addiction to ginger and does not have to worry about side effects. It can cause a slight increase in blood pressure, but otherwise is considered safe among those who take it daily.

Celery

Not all herbal remedies have to come packaged in a supplement. You can take advantage of the celery you already have in your home. The benefit of celery is that it is known to be an anti-inflammatory. This means that if you consume it you will likely see a decrease in swelling. You can opt to eat the celery if you wish or you can make a celery tea and drink it. If you choose the tea you will need to drink as much as three cups a day when the pain is at its worst.

Licorice

Cortisone is a popular medication used to treat arthritis, but it carries with is some side effects that you may not wish to contend with. If you opt to go with licorice you will not have to. Licorice offers the user the same effect they would get with cortisone without the side effects that they do not want. It helps alleviate pain when you consume the extract daily. You may notice a slight increase in blood pressure, but it carries no other serious side effects.
Glucosamine

The most popular supplement for arthritis is glucosamine. This is a natural substance that is made in the body and helps to rebuild and repair the damaged cartilage. When your body ages you do not produce as much glucosamine. Because of this your body does not repair the cartilage as easily. You are left with deteriorating cartilage in your joints. Taking these supplements can help to rebuild the cartilage and alleviate the pain and swelling that comes with arthritis. People have been taking glucosamine for many years as a treatment for their arthritis because it attacks the cause of the problem and not the symptoms. It is often combined with chondroitin to receive the maximum effect. There are some minor side effects that may occur, with the worst being a reaction in those who are allergic to shellfish.

Arthritis Caused By Aluminum Poisoning

Heavy metal poisoning has become a major health problem in recent history and will inevitably become much worse, as more countries become industrialized nations. Metals and industrial bi products seep into the water and enter the food chain.

Heavy metals have a density of over five times that of water, which means the human body is unable to successfully break down the foreign bodies and is forced to retain them. The accumulation of heavy metals trapped in the body causes toxicity to poison the bloodstream, leading to damaged kidneys, lungs, nervous system and other organs.

What is Heavy Metal Poisoning (Toxicity)?

Heavy Metal Toxicity is the level of toxic metals that has been absorbed by the body in numerous ways which usually depend on the type of metal. The four main toxic metals are aluminum, lead, cadmium, and mercury. These metals can cause various complications and indeed in many cases lead to illness and disease.

Aluminum.

Aluminum is the most common toxic metal & is found in almost everyone's body. Whether it is under your arms, in your teeth, or even on your skin, aluminum is found more than any other metal. Sources: Aluminum foil, antacids, aspirin, toothpaste, dust, auto exhaust, treated water, nasal spray, milk products, salt, commercially-raised beef, tobacco smoke, anti-antiperspirants, bleached flour, cans, animal feed, ceramics, canned food, cosmetics, and even cigarette filters.

Symptoms of aluminum toxicity.

Symptoms are thought to include Brittle Bones, Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis as aluminum is stored in the bones. Kidney disease and malfunction may also result, as the kidneys filter aluminum. ADHD, ADD, Hyperactivity, memory disturbances, and learning disabilities.

How To Get Tested?

Getting tested for heavy metal poisoning is relatively easy and can be detected through a hair-follical test, you will need to speak to your doctor in order to get tested.

How To Treat Heavy Metal Toxicity.

Although there are supplements available which claim to rid the body of these damaging metals, ones best course of action would to detoxify the body naturally.

Arthritis Pain? Stop Eating Junk Food And Get Relief From Pain Naturally

After years of aggravating joint pain I finally found relief from my arthritis pain, naturally, and you can do it too. I got rid of my arthritis symptoms and arthritis pain forever by making one simple change in my lifestyle. I stopped eating all junk food.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease of the joint cartilage and bone. It's often thought to result from continuous "wear and tear" on a joint. There are other causes of arthritis such as congenital arthritis with congenital defects, trauma and metabolic disorders. And osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. When people refer to arthritis they usually mean osteoarthritis not rheumatoid arthritis, which can be detected by blood tests. Osteoarthritis cannot be diagnosed using blood tests. Arthritis is usually found in the joints of the fingers, feet, knees, hips, and spine.

The ability to make repairs to the cartilage becomes very limited as cartilage cells age. Damaged joints cause pain and arthritis sufferers are constantly looking for ways to relieve this pain. Our joints are uniquely designed to provide flexibility, support, stability, and protection.

Genetic factors are thought to be involved in about fifty percent of osteoarthritis cases in the hands and hips and a somewhat lower percentage of cases for the knee. An inflammatory response causes cytokines to gather in injured areas and cause inflammation and damage to body tissue and cells. It's known to play a role in a systemic form of arthritis - rheumatoid arthritis and other muscle and joint issues associated with autoimmune diseases. Genetic researchers report a higher incidence of osteoarthritis between parents and children and between siblings rather than between husbands and wives.

For part of a dietary approach try avoiding seven of the eight most allergic foods - wheat, which is the most allergenic of all, corn, eggs, milk, peanuts, fish and shellfish. If you really want to get rid of your arthritis pain forever it may take a big change in your diet and an ongoing commitment to it. So the first step in managing your arthritis is to change your diet. I think all health professionals would agree with this.

Try massaging your fingers or other affected joints with virgin coconut oil once or twice a day to help loosen them up and maintain flexibility. Nutrition experts say it takes a combination of supplements, not just one supplement to help relieve arthritis pain, build cartilage, etc. but studies done on antioxidant vitamins question their value as supplements. It's clearly better to consume these antioxidants in living plant foods because they may also need to work together with other nutrients present in the foods to work properly - called synergistic action.

One good natural treatment method involves avoiding all inflammatory foods. And dried Montmorency tart cherries and cherries and their juice seem to be helpful as a natural treatment for arthritis pain for many people.

Gluten may be just one of the culprits in arthritic diseases including fibromyalgia. So avoid wheat, barley, rye, spelt, triticale, kamut and oats (although it's not a gluten grain it gets contaminated with wheat during the milling process at the where it is usually milled). Many arthritis sufferers who've changed their diets significantly have noticed major or total improvement in their overall health.

Exercise all your non-affected and affected joints every day, to keep them flexible. Even if you don't think you can exercise, you can do some movements no matter how small so just keep moving as much as possible. Don't lie down when you can sit and don't sit when you can stand. Keep your feet moving. Use the Chinese Taiji health balls, the kind with the chimes, to strengthen the finger joints. To use them hold the two balls in on hand, move them in a clockwise circle with your fingers to rotate them, then try moving them counterclockwise and do this off and on throughout the day and at bedtime. If you do have pain and swelling in your fingers, you can try squeezing some Thera-putty, which is made for this purpose. It's available at your local health equipment supplier.

Try wearing pair of stretch gloves at night to help reduce the pain and swelling in your fingers if you have arthritic hands. A doctor I know said he has found sleeping in a sleeping bag on his bed has really helped him. If weight is an issue, try to using exercises that will help you with arthritis and in losing weight such as walking, even if just around the block a few times. And did I mention to make sure to keep moving?

Please be aware that the use of pain relievers like NSAIDs or COX-2 inhibitors do not halt the progress of osteoarthritis and may even hasten its onset. Only you know which arthritis treatment options are best for you. As for conventional treatment of arthritis - if you do choose to take drugs or arthritis medicines, be very careful, read the labels thoroughly and talk to your pharmacist about side effects and adverse reactions. Make sure you know the name of your medications and if they'll react with any other medications you're taking. Always know the name and dosage measurement of your drugs in case of an emergency situation.

So begin your treatment program with a diet change, exercise and weight loss plan to see the best results and pain relief fast. Your treatment plan should include an anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritis diet, lots of movement, exercise, and a positive mental outlook. Arthritis pain relief of your arthritis symptoms is the ultimate goal. Understanding arthritis and conventional and natural arthritis treatments and applying what will work for you is a good way to get there.

How To Deal With Arthritis And Its Symptoms

There are more than 100 kinds of arthritis and related conditions. The word arthritis comes from "art her" (joint) and "it is" (inflammation). It is used to describe a wide range of diseases of the joints and related tissues that cause pain, stiffness and sometimes joint deformities and loss of function. Some kinds of arthritis also attack the skin and internal organs. You may have heard arthritis mentioned to as rheumatism or rheumatic disease: the terms are used interchangeably and arthritis specialists are called rheumatologists. The risk of getting many kinds of arthritis increases as we age.

Today, joint diseases account for half of all debilitating conditions in people aged 60 and older. Because medicine and diet are helping us live longer, more people than ever will develop osteoarthritis in the future. Other forms of arthritis also attack children and people in the prime of life. Some of these rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus are very serious. Arthritis can be a complex condition to diagnose and treat. Many people, especially as they age, develop osteoarthritis, in addition, to other kinds of arthritis, or are also being treated for other debilitating diseases, such as heart disease or type two diabetes. Moreover, because no two individuals have exactly the same symptoms, your doctor will most likely prescribe a combination of treatments adjusted specifically for you.

A team approach is recommended for treating; the severe types of arthritis.When treating chronic ailments, doctors today are increasingly open to the idea of including some complementary therapies. The cause of most kinds of arthritic condition is not known, nor is there a cure for the majority of them. Many symptoms do respond to treatment. By working closely with your healthcare team and using a combination of conventional medications, complementary therapies and exercise, you can minimize the effects of this age-old disease and remain active.

Some kinds of arthritis need early and aggressive treatment to prevent or lessen irreversible bone damage. Infectious arthritis, for example, can be cured when treated with antibiotics-if you think you probably have an infection, call your doctor at once. Joint damage from rheumatoid arthritis can be reduced or prevented with powerful drugs. If you notice any of the following symptoms see your doctor. Consent or recurring pain or tenderness in a joint that lasts for more than two weeks. Swelling in one or more joints, especially with warmth and redness. Hardness around the joints that last a minimum for an hour in the early morning. Sudden difficulty using or moving a joint normally.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Causes, Symptoms and Natural Remedies That You Should Know

Rheumatoid arthritis is much different from osteoarthritis and it has nothing to do with age. It usually strikes between 20 and 30 years old and it is an auto-immune disease. Its causes are not yet clear for the researchers, but they have reached the conclusion that women are more likely to develop this condition than men. The reasons are not understood. However, this is a serious condition that completely messes up one's life. The disease progresses in time even though the patients also experience periods when the symptoms completely disappear. It starts with affecting the joints in the hands and wrists and sufferers usually feel worse in the morning, for about an hour after waking up. The joint stiffness and pain is usually symmetrical, this meaning that both hands will be affected, not just one, or both feet, depending on the case.

There are many ways in which rheumatoid arthritis patients can obtain relief from the symptoms of the disease. Herbal remedies are one of the safest methods. Rheumatoid arthritis can't be cured, but it can be slowed down and the patients' condition and quality of life can be improved. Here are some herbs that can do that -

1. Borage seed oil - It contains anti-inflammatory substances and Omega-6 fatty acids which help the body fight inflammation.

2. Boswelia - It is efficient both in rheumatoid arthritis and in osteoarthritis. It has the power of reducing pain and inflammation and it also helps the damaged cartilage to grow. Administration of boswelia also improves the blood flow to the affected joint which means that this will be better nourished with all the minerals that the cartilage needs for preserving its condition.

3. Eucalyptus oil - It is an excellent pain killer if massaged on the affected joints.

4. Holy basil - It contains ursolic acid, strong anti-inflammatory substances. Besides, this, it is also effective in preventing cancer, so not only provides relief from rheumatoid arthritis but also has a positive impact on one's overall health condition.

5. Oregano - The compounds of this product can easily compete with the most prestigious drugs. It contains 31 anti-inflammatory agents and 28 antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that fight free radicals, responsible for damaging the cells.

6. Pine essential oil - Massaging it on the painful joints provides relief both in cases of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Its action is similar with that of cortisone drugs, but using it provokes no side effects.

Arthritis Diet: A Fast Guide

When I talk about an 'arthritis diet', I am referring to a specialised diet that a dietician or nutritionist has worked out for your specific case of arthritis. There really is no one, elite diet that will apply to all arthritis sufferers, so I will just refer to some common trends in these typical 'arthritis diets'.

In a nutshell, to fight arthritis, the best diet is one that is high in vitamins and minerals with sufficient good quality protein. Your carbohydrate intake should be from low GI sources and limited in fast-releasing sugar. Your fat intake should be low overall, yet consuming unsaturated fatty food is essential in an arthritis diet. Limiting food that you are allergic to, can prevent an inflammatory response by the body. Foods that irritate the digestive tract and hinder detoxification should be avoided. Typically these are foods containing gluten or dairy. To get the best result for your specific case, getting a dietician to work out a plan for your arthritis diet is a good idea.

A good, well-balanced diet is important for general health, but it becomes especially important if you have arthritis. Often people will need increased amounts of certain nutrients when they have arthritis. A healthy diet is strongly linked to a strong immune system. A strong immune system gives you an advantage for fighting any disease, especially inflammatory and auto-immune diseases like arthritis. You can either consume more whole, fresh foods containing these nutrients, or you can use good quality supplements to make up the shortfall. Most of the current research doesn't really make any strong connection between your diet as cause, or as a way of treating arthritis. Many people however, believe that certain foods can ease inflammation and swelling, while others avoid certain foods that may trigger a flare up.

As a general guide, anyone should eat a diet rich in oily fish, low-fat dairy (unless have lactose intolerance), fresh fruit and vegetables. Greasy, fried foods should be avoided as much as possible. Foods containing lots of refined sugar is not healthy and could lead to many health conditions. There are many claims, especially for different sources on the internet about certain foods and arthritis diets that will 'cure' arthritis. There is little evidence of one specific food provoking or calming arthritis symptoms, except when you are allergic to that food type. Mostly these claims are linked to some kind of commercial benefit for the companies involved. It is however true that specific, goal orientated supplementation can hold benefits for arthritis.

The other key aspect is to make your eating habits a part of your daily life. You should budget time and energy to buy the right foods and plan what you are going to eat every day. If we don't plan, it is so easy to resort to fast food or processed foods.

Here are some healthy arthritis diet basics for arthritis sufferers:

Healthy Arthritis Diet 101

The key to a healthy arthritis diet is variety, balance and moderation. A variety of low GI carbohydrates, low fat proteins, and fresh fruit and vegetables are universal diet basics that all people should follow. So basically, you need carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals in the right proportions for your arthritis diet.

Carbohydrates

Lately, there has been a lot of literature about the weight loss benefits of low carbohydrate diets. You definitely do not want to go this route if you have arthritis. Carbohydrates are the best source of sustained energy, feeding your body with the calories it needs to stay healthy and fight infection and disease. Carbohydrates like bread, rice, pasta and potatoes contain fibre, essential in helping the body to stay regular and remove toxins from the bowel. Carbohydrates also contain nutrients like calcium, iron, and the vitamin B group. Carbohydrates should ideally make up a third of the total calories that we consume. This means that you should consume about 6-14 portions a day, choosing as many wholegrain varieties as possible. As an example, 1 slice of bread, 3 tablespoons of cereal or a bread roll will constitute one portion.

Carbohydrates high in fibre and with a low GI are beneficial because the make you feel fuller for longer and does not spike blood sugar levels. The high fibre varieties are more bulky, so they take up more space in the stomach, making you feel full. This means foods like pastries, biscuits, sweets and too much sugar in you tea and coffee is not healthy and places pressure on the body to process.

Protein

Eating enough protein is essential keeping every single tissue in your body healthy. Protein is found in your organs, bones, muscles and skin. The whole body is made up of about 25% protein. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. There are about 25 different amino acids, 8 of which are essential- this means that the body cannot function without them. The others can be made from these 8. Good sources of protein are fish, chicken, eggs, red meat, dairy products, beans, nuts, seeds, lentils and tofu. These all have about 10g of protein per 100g (10% protein). This means that if you eat enough calories from quality sources, you are likely getting enough protein. In fact, most modern sources say that even if you are strictly vegetarian, you will get all the amino acids you need to stay healthy. However, you would have to eat a varied, healthy diet. These sources also contain the B vitamin group, zinc and iron.

Are you getting enough protein for your arthritis diet? You typically need about two portions of good quality protein daily to keep you healthy. These portions can come from meat or vegetarian sources. Keep lean meat down to four times a week and try to have fish at least 4 times a week. The other portions can be made up of foods like soya, tofu and beans. This amount of protein should roughly equate to about 10% of your daily caloric intake. The World Health Organisation recommends 10%, which is roughly about 35g of protein. A portion is about 100 grams of whatever source you choose.

Since protein makes you feel full quickly, some diets prescribe a lot of protein rich foods and cut out carbohydrates almost totally. This leads to a loss in muscle tissue, something that you really don't want if you have osteoarthritis. This is because your body needs the energy from carbohydrates to feed muscle tissues. People suffering from osteoarthritis need good muscle tone around the joint. So diets that promote high protein intake can be toxic to the body and lead to a reduction in muscle mass.

Fats and Oils

Contrary to what some sources might suggest, fat is an essential part of a healthy diet and especially for an arthritis diet. It provides a lot of energy and helps the body to absorb vitamins. We typically need about 25 grams of fat per day. The typical western diet is unfortunately packed with fat, way too much than what our bodies actually need. The benefits of a low fat diet stretches beyond weight reduction which will improve symptoms in the long term. Patients cutting down on fat intake feel rapid relief from symptoms.

There are however two types of fat, one good for you, and the other unhealthy in high levels. Saturated fat, found in red meat, butter, cakes, pastry, and most vegetable oils are unhealthy because they lead to high cholesterol, high triglyceride levels and most importantly, high homocysteine levels. This has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and other conditions. Homocyteine levels can be lowered by following the guidelins of an arthritis diet and by supplementing with a vitamin B complex. Saturated fats block the conversion of the essential (good) fats from being used to lower inflammation in the body. They also hold bad news for those who want to lose weight. Calories from saturated fat are more efficiently stored as fat in the body compared to calories from proteins and carbohydrates. These 'bad' fats should be scarce in your arthritis diet.

On the other hand, unsaturated fats, found in olive oil, oily fish, nuts, avocados and some margarines have long lists of health benefits. People consuming olive oil every day are less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. They are good for fighting heart disease, lowering cholesterol and homocysteine and may actually reduce inflammation levels in the body. The ideal arthritis diet is one that is very low in saturated fat and sufficient in essential fats. A vegan diet (one excluding meat, fish, eggs and dairy) will definitely reduce saturated fat, but you run the risk of being deficient in vitamin D and B12. Vegans need to supplement these nutrients.

Vitamins and Minerals

The food we consume, especially fruits and vegetables contain much of the vitamins and minerals we need to keep us healthy. We should eat at least three fruit a day and a lot of vegetables with our meals. Some people with arthritis prefer to cut out some foods that they believe might aggravate their arthritis. When you cut out these foods, you are missing out on the nutrients in that specific food. A good idea might be to take that nutrient in a supplement form. Vitamins are also powerful anti-oxidants, especially vitamin C and vitamin E. Don't make the mistake cutting out citrus and tomatoes from your arthritis diet. There is no evidence that it will relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. This will also mean that you miss out on a vital source of vitamin C. There is quite a lot written about the benefits of taking higher levels of anti-oxidants in your arthritis diet. Anti-oxidants help to neutralise free radicals, chemicals that can damage cartilage and cause inflammation.

Water

70% of our body is water. Water forms an important part of your arthritis diet. For normal daily activities, we need about 1,5 litres of water a day. Drinking fruit juice, flavoured water and herbal tea can also count as fluid. Remember that coffee and alcoholic drinks are diuretics, so you end up with a overall loss of body fluid. Contrary to what some believe, water doesn't lubricate the joints, but it does help the kidneys to flush out the toxins in the body. An excess of toxins might be linked to worse symptoms. Drinking lots of fluids is linked to a strong immune system, since nutrients are carried throughout the body by means of water.

Salt

Salt is necessary to keep the correct water balance in the body. If you have hypertension problems, salt can make things worse. Most people probably eat too much salt. Do you put salt on your food without tasting it first? This can be a bad habit, since your sense of taste can adapt to less salt. More than a teaspoon of salt a day is probably too much already.

Alcohol

Alcohol need not be cut out totally from the arthritis diet. One or two drinks can actually fuel the metabolism, but obviously most alcoholic drinks contain a lot of calories, so it can contribute to weight gain. Alcohol can also exacerbate the side effects of many of the medications of for arthritis. Too much alcohol puts pressure on the liver to detoxify the alcohol. This is important because many of the arthritis medications also put pressure on the liver. Too keep things safe, men should not drink more than 3 units of alcohol a day and 21 units a week. For women, no more than 2 units a day or 14 units a week. A unit is about 1 pint of beer or cider. A glass of wine is about two units.

Controlling your weight

The best place to start a weight loss program is in the office of a dietician. These professionals are trained in the latest, most healthy ways of gaining or losing weight and in selecting your arthritis diet. Avoid wasting your time and money by following diets you found in a magazine or somewhere on the internet. If a diet claims fast weight loss, you should already be cautious, because losing weight quickly is not healthy. If you lose or gain weight, you should also inform your doctor, since it might mean that your medication has to be adjusted.

Overweight

This is one of the risk factors for developing or worsening your osteoarthritis. If you are overweight, it places more stress on the weight bearing joint. More specifically, carrying more weight than you should puts pressure on the cartilage, which may be worn out already. Remember that the cartilage is only a few millimetres thick, so the pressure can grind it away so that you eventually have bone rubbing against bone. The joints in the hips and knees are especially vulnerable. Studies show that by losing just 5 kilograms over a ten year period can reduce your risk of developing osteoarthritis by 50%.

Arthritis sufferers often become inactive because of their symptoms, leading to further weight gain. Depression because of the symptoms and the outlook can also lead to compulsive eating and a lack of motivation to exercise.

Being overweight also seems to make people with rheumatoid arthritis more prone to inflammation. Obesity also limits your options of having joint replacement surgery. Obese people are at greater risk for complications when receiving a general anaesthetic.

Besides affecting the symptoms of your arthritis, being overweight is a risk factor for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension and various types of cancer like prostate and colon cancer.

If you want to lose weight there are a few principles to discuss with your dietician:

Eat regularly: Skipping meals will make your blood sugar levels fluctuate and make you feel tired. This could also cause you to be very hungry, leading to you eating too much at once. Eat before you feel hungry.

Eat about 6 small meals that fit in with your 'arthritis diet': This fuels your body regularly, speeding up your metabolism. A sluggish metabolism tends to go into storage mode.

Cut down on sweet drinks and foods: Many foods contain hidden sugar, so read the label. Remember that fruit juice contains a lot of calories, so don't drink too much. Two glasses a day is enough. Use a sweetener or some honey in your coffee and tea.

Snack on fruit and nuts through the day: If you feel hungry between meals, rather have a handful of nuts and a fruit.