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Arthritis Diet – Relieve Your Pain

Posted by herbmaster on Nov 29, 2009 in Uncategorized

People who suffer from arthritis are always looking for ways to relieve their pain.  One way to ease or even prevent it is through an arthritis diet.  There are some arthritis diets that some people will swear by, but have never been proven to make a difference.  There are some diets that make a definite difference according to health experts.

First we’ll take a look at some arthritis diets where there’s little or no evidence that they actually make a difference.  One of the most common arthritis diets is to eliminate potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, and most peppers.  While the diet won’t do any harm, it hasn’t been proven to affect arthritis at all.  Another arthritis diet seeks to reduce the acids in one’s body eliminating sugar, coffee, red meat, most grains, nuts, and citrus fruits.  It’s intended to be followed for just one month.  People may feel better because they lose weight which reduces the stress on their joints, but again there is no evidence to support this.  It also excludes many sources of vitamin C which is essential in fighting arthritis.  Drinking green tea has been shown to reduce the effects of rheumatoid arthritis in mice, but there are no conclusive results on human studies yet.  Shark cartilage is supposed to relieve arthritis.  Animal and lab studies show promise, but there are no human studies to support this yet. 

Not let’s take a look at some arthritis diets that have been shown to work.  Switching fats can reduce inflammation.  Eating fats found in red meat and poultry have actually been shown to increase inflammation.  Switching to cold water fish can help reduce the inflammation.  Using corn, safflower, and sunflower oils also helps.  Another arthritis diet is the ASU (avocado-soybean unsaponifiable).  It has been shown to relieve osteoarthritis, stimulate cartilage repair, and lessen a patient’s need to NSAIDs to control pain.  Ginger has been shown to ease pain and inflammation as well as protect the stomach from gastrointestinal effects from taking NSAIDs.  Glucosamine is a supplement that relieves pain in some patients with osteoarthritis.  It helps the body rebuild cartilage, but can take up to two months to see the effects.  If you are allergic to shellfish, check with your doctor before taking this as it is derived from crab, lobster, or shrimp shells.  Before taking any supplements talk with your doctor as some can interfere with or worsen side effects from your medications.     

Of course the best arthritis diet is a good old-fashioned well balanced diet.  Eat 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables, and go easy on fats and cholesterol.  A heart healthy diet is especially important to patients with rheumatoid arthritis as studies have shown a link between this disease and heart failure.  Vitamin C is good for repairing body tissue.  Vitamin D helps absorb calcium, build bone mass, and prevents bone loss.  Calcium helps strengthen your bones.  If you are on medication, ask your doctor if he/she recommends taking vitamins.  Some medications can create vitamin or mineral deficiencies.  When choosing your arthritis diet, be sure to talk with your physician as different types of arthritis have different needs.

DISCLAIMER: This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read.
Since natural and/or dietary supplements are not FDA approved they must be accompanied by a two-part disclaimer on the product label: that the statement has not been evaluated by FDA and that the product is not intended to “diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”

Aching joints runing your life? Are you looking for joint pain relief? Visit our site: joint pain. Our joint pain site will help you to find the best natural supplements and lubrication for your joints. Get the most up-to-date joint health information, articles, and products at our site: joint pain.

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A Brief Look at Arthritis

Posted by herbmaster on Nov 27, 2009 in Uncategorized

Arthritis also is the leading cause of disability. Nearly 7 million people in the U.S., including 20% of people with arthritis, are unable to perform major life activities such as working or housekeeping because of this disease. Arthritis sufferers endure more days in severe pain, experience more days with limited ability to perform daily activities, and have more difficulty performing personal-care routines than people without arthritis. As with other chronic pain conditions, arthritis has negative effects on mental health. Some forms of arthritis also make your RealAge older.

The Definition of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis, known as Still’s disease when it affects children, is a condition that causes inflammation of joints and associated pain, swelling, and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis causes the body’s own immune system to attack joint tissue, breaking down collagen, cartilage, and sometimes bone or other organs. This chronic disease varies between people and fluctuates over time, often marked by symptoms that improve only to re-emerge later. In some cases rheumatoid arthritis is mild and lasts only a few months (this kind of rheumatoid arthritis is called type 1), while in others the disease becomes progressively complicated by disability and other health problems, lasting many years (this is called type 2 rheumatoid arthritis).

Rheumatoid arthritis most often affects the wrist and finger joints closest to the hand, but can also affect joints in the feet and throughout the body. Anyone can be affected by rheumatoid arthritis, but women are more likely to develop symptoms, which most often begin between the ages of 20 and 30. The causes of rheumatoid arthritis are not yet understood, but many effective strategies have been developed to manage its symptoms.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms and Signs
The main symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is joint stiffness in the morning, often in the hands or feet. Stiffness that persists for an hour or more, or swelling and pain that lasts for more than six weeks, may be indicative of rheumatoid arthritis. Joint discomfort is typically symmetrical, i.e. both hands will hurt or feel stiff, not just one. Early rheumatoid arthritis symptoms also may include fever, excessive tiredness, or pea-sized lumps called “nodules” that can be felt under the skin.

Other possible rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include anemia, appetite loss, and the accumulation of fluid in the ankles or behind the knee. In children, symptoms may include shaking chills and a pink rash may follow the characteristic painful and swollen joints.

Why Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Painful
How joint pain and the destruction of cartilage are related is not fully understood. Cartilage itself does not cause pain because there are no nerve structures in cartilage to transmit pain signals. Most likely, the pain of rheumatoid arthritis is caused by the irritation of other tissues in and around the affected joints. This irritation may be caused by chemical-messenger substances, such as prostaglandin E2, that are associated with the disease process. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce pain because they inhibit the production of prostaglandins.

Other Conditions That Can Cause Pain
Pain and stiffness similar to rheumatoid arthritis symptoms can be caused by many other conditions. Even if injury or infection can be ruled out, anything from bunions to fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome can cause pain.

Only a medical professional can identify many sources of joint pain, because similar symptoms can result from other autoimmune diseases, from serious conditions such as cancer, or from many other kinds of arthritis.

The Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis
The causes of rheumatoid arthritis are not fully understood, but important contributing factors have been identified. The self-destructive immune response of rheumatoid arthritis may be caused by a combination of genetic susceptibility and an environmental trigger. Changing hormones also may play an important part in the disease, possibly in response to an infection from the environment.

More than one gene has been linked to risk for rheumatoid arthritis. Specific genes may increase a person’s chance of developing the disease, and also could partially determine how serious his or her condition is. However, since not all people with a genetic predisposition to rheumatoid arthritis actually have the disease, other factors must be important.

A specific environmental trigger has not yet been found, but some research suggests that infection by a virus or bacterium leads to rheumatoid arthritis in genetically susceptible people. This does not mean that rheumatoid arthritis is contagious. People with rheumatoid arthritis appear to have more antibodies in the synovial fluid in their joints, suggesting that there may be an infection.

Low levels of hormones from the adrenal gland are common in people with rheumatoid arthritis, but how hormones interact with environmental and genetic factors is unknown. Hormone changes may contribute to the progression of the rheumatoid arthritis.

Aching joints runing your life? Are you looking for joint pain relief? Visit our site: joint pain. Our joint pain site will help you to find the best natural supplements and lubrication for your joints. Get the most up-to-date joint health information, articles, and products at our site: joint pain.

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Arthritis and pain tolerance

Posted by herbmaster on Nov 27, 2009 in Uncategorized

Pain is something that everyone needs to deal with since it is a fact of life.

But for many people, pain takes on a very dramatic meaning, especially when the pain comes from a condition called arthritis.  This condition affects the entire body and inflicts pain on the bones, tendons, and muscles. To alleviate the pain, some people have resorted to the use of arthritis pain relief medications.  Some have a higher pain tolerance or pain threshold and do not need to take medication to stop arthritic pain. 

Medically speaking, pain tolerance refers to just how much pain a person can withstand before breaking down emotionally or psychologically. In some cases, it may also refer to how much pain a person can endure before passing out. However, some people afflicted with arthritis claim that pain tolerance may also refer to the body and mind’s ability to incorporate or endure pain on a daily basis and, thereby negating pain as a  hindrance.  It is very interesting that pain tolerance can be actually developed by training the mind and the body to “ignore” pain. However, the use of the term “ignore” might be a misnomer in this case.  Patients who refuse to take arthritis pain relief medications attest that those who have pain tolerance don’t so much as ignore pain as they do simply “live with it.”  The idea is that people with a high level of pain tolerance have developed a threshold that can be similar to people with alcohol tolerance.  Other people can drink a lot without getting drunk. Some people can take pain more frequently and at higher levels compared to most people. 

Pain tolerance is still the subject of much debate in scientific circles. There are many patients who claim that it is real and that they can actually demonstrate their ability to withstand pain. On the other hand,  people who have taken arthritis pain relief medications claim that the said drugs can dull the mind’s ability to drown out the sensation of pain. They further claim that the dulling sensation also prevents them from performing other daily tasks. 

However, despite reported side effects, most prefer to stick to using arthritis pain relief medication. For one thing, most people would rather not have to spend the time needed to grow accustomed to the pain. Another obvious reason is that not everyone can develop a high tolerance for pain. In some ways, pain tolerance is affected by a person’s psychology and outlook.

Deciding who needs to take drugs to control arthritis is an important task for a pain control specialist or doctor. Since a person’s state of mind determines how much a person can mentally handle before breaking down, a doctor cannot simply decide if medication is needed without a thorough consultation. In addition, there is also the possibility of developing drug dependence due to long-term use of arthritis pain relief.

Whether patients can develop pain tolerance when taken off arthritis pain relief treatments is arguable, at best. Not everyone has the same threshold of pain as those who don’t take the medication, and others may simply be capable of enduring more pain. The choice to take medication or not is not the only factor to be considered. Other determinants such as physical conditioning, psychological state, and other physiological factors also have an effect on the development of pain tolerance.

Aching joints runing your life? Are you looking for rheumatoid arthritis or joint pain relief? Visit our site: rheumatoid arthritis. Our rheumatoid arthritis site will help you to find the best natural supplements and lubrication for your joints. Get the most up-to-date joint health information, articles, and products at our site: rheumatoid arthritis.

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Arthritis: Not Just for the Senior Citizens

Posted by herbmaster on Nov 27, 2009 in Uncategorized

There is a general misconception that arthritis is an age-related medical condition that afflicts only the senior citizens or the elderly. It may be true with osteoarthritis, the most common type of joint disorder that usually affects adults of both sexes in their middle age. But what most people don’t understand is that there are other types or causes of arthritis. 
Arthritis, also known as joint inflammation, is defined as an inflammation of one or more joints and  involves the breakdown of cartilage resulting in pain, swelling, and limited movement.
Cartilage is responsible for protecting the joints and serves as a shock absorber when pressure is placed on the joint during walking or running. It allows for the smooth movement of our limbs. Without cartilage, the bones will rub together and can cause pain, swelling (inflammation), and stiffness.  Doctors usually prescribe arthritis pain relief and anti-inflammatory drugs to help alleviate the pain.
Arthritis, or joint inflammation, can be due to the following causes:
·    Broken Bones;
·    Infections that are usually caused by bacteria or viruses;
·    An autoimmune disease (the body attacks itself because the immune system believes a body part is foreign); and
·    General “wear and tear” on joints.
Generally, as soon as the injury heals, the inflammation disappears. The infection is treated and the disease is cured. However, there are some injuries and diseases wherein the inflammation remains stubbornly and continuously causing pain that may lead to deformity. This condition is known as chronic arthritis. 
People suffering from arthritis experience the following symptoms:
·    Joint pain
·    Joint swelling
·    Stiffness, especially in the morning
·    Warmth around a joint
·    Redness of the skin around a joint
·    Reduced ability to move the joint
Arthritis is a condition that can occur in men and women of all ages.  Other types of arthritis include:
·    Rheumatoid arthritis (in adults)
·    Osteoarthritis ( middle age and above )
·    Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (in children)
·    Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
·    Gout
·    Scleroderma
·    Psoriatic arthritis
·    Ankylosing spondylitis
·    Reiter’s syndrome (reactive arthritis)
·    Adult Still’s disease
·    Viral arthritis
·    Gonococcal arthritis
·    Other bacterial infections (non-gonococcal bacterial arthritis)
·    Tertiary Lyme disease (the late stage)
·    Tuberculouus arthritis
·    Fungal infections such as blastomycosis
Osteoarthritis, being the most common type, is a chronic disease which causes the cartilage between the bone joints to deteriorate and may cause painful sensation and/or stiffness. New pieces of bones, called bone spurs, may grow around the joints as a result of osteoarthritis. Until now, there is no known reason yet as to the cause of osteoarthritis but it is generally being associated with aging. However, factors such as metabolism and genes can play a role in its development.
There are many factors to consider before your doctor can prescribe arthritis pain relief treatment plan such as the particular cause of arthritis, affected joints, severity of arthritis, and how the condition affects your daily activities. Age and occupation will also be taken into consideration.
Eliminating the underlying cause of the arthritis is one of the goals for treating arthritis. However, not all cause are curable like in the cases of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Relieving pain and  discomfort as well as prevention from further damage becomes the focus.
Lifestyle changes and exercise can greatly help in improving the condition of those suffering from arthritis.  Medications such as arthritis pain relief and anti-inflammatory drugs can be taken in addition to exercise and lifestyle changes.
Arthritis and pain tolerance

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What Men and Women Crucially Need to Learn About Dandruff

Posted by herbmaster on Nov 24, 2009 in Uncategorized

Dandruff can be very uncomfortable as it is most of the time related with other indications of poor personal hygiene like halitosis, or body odor. It’s very uneasy for men and women who experience visible dandruff flakes. Dandruff is more than ever associated to personal hygiene predicaments and often invites bad impressions. Dandruff is non-living skin cells that have withered and heap up on your scalp. Ignoring it could only lead to a more severe concern and one of them is having an itchy scalp progressing to hair fall.

Dandruff is dead skin cells dropped off on your scalp; despite the fact that skin shedding is a normal thing to come about. People once in awhile shed skin and this is at the same time applicable for your scalp, it also sheds skin which then becomes flakes or dandruff. It is vital that you only shed skin in a temperate manner and not excessively which might need some treatment. However some people shed excessively and have a lot of dandruff than other people, its level is of great variance from person to person. Work on this for possibly a week and see if it lessens your dandruff.

You should at the same time be sure that the foods you eat are nutritious; stay away from an unhealthy diet, like eating plenty of meat. Studies have certified that if you eat foods that are low in vitamins and minerals, you shed more skin and your skin cells will lack nutrition. You need to eat foods that have plenty of vitamins and minerals and eat a lot of vegetables and fruits. Fruits including oranges, grapefruit and mangoes are naturally rich in Vitamin C which you can include in your daily eating plan so as to deal with your dandruff condition. Another great way to get vitamin C that concentrates mainly in your hair and the good health of your scalp is supplements like Provillus. Provillus is an all-natural supplement that gives essential nutrients so it doesn’t only stop hair loss, it also strengthens the body.

Making sure to clean your hair everyday is a big ameliorating factor to control dandruff; you need to keep your hair clean, in order for your hair and scalp to stay healthy. You are at the same time required to take into account the hair care products you use, particularly the shampoo that you apply on your hair. Dandruff shampoo or strong shampoo can ultimately injure your scalp and hair if you habitually apply it everyday. There are dandruff shampoos that you can check out and try and see if it will be effective for you. The main purpose is to make sure that your scalp does not gather up plenty of dandruff to the point that your becomes entirely itchy.

Selecting the right shampoo that is appropriate for you can often times belengthy, but you need to do it to ensure you do not harm your scalp on every occasion that you wash your hair. Extreme application of dandruff shampoo can hurt your scalp and can result to diminishing of hair. Nevertheless, do not surrender and be immediately annoyed as it will give you a lot of benefits and can solve your hair problems. It can be after a few more tries before you get it but the benefits this will give you are worthwhile. Your doctor may be able to recommend a different variety of medicated shampoo for you.

Make sure you take care of your hair; this uncomplicated and simple guide most of the time is just what people need to address their dandruff problems.

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