Rheumatoid Arthritis, the Leading Adult Crippler

Rheumatoid arthritis sufferers can now sign up for a program called “Let’s Talk RA” which has been developed by the joint partnership of the American Arthritis Foundation and Bristol-Meyers Squibb, a leading pharmaceutical company. With this program patients learn to aggressively manage their arthritis problems. They receive a free Let’s Talk RA communication kit, surveys to assess their health, and a number of informational booklets.

An essential part of the treatment for RA is for patients to be able to actively participate in their own program. The “Let’s Talk RA” communication kit gives them a good start, and the American Arthritis Foundation does everything it can to keep them motivated and fighting their disease aggressively.

Speaking Out for Osteoarthritis Sufferers

You may have heard someone say, ‘Oh, he just has osteoarthritis’ which makes the disease sound like it’s no big deal. For sufferers, though, it’s a very big deal. The pain and debilitation the disease causes them makes them want to give up playing in the game of life and spend their time sitting on the sideways. John Elway, who used to play football for the Denver Broncos, has become the spokesperson for an American Arthritis Foundation program called “Game Plan for OA”. He explains strategies to help control OA to patients. He also encourages them to “get back in the game”.

The American Arthritis Foundation participates actively in the fight and research surrounding the disease. It accumulates data from clinical experts and researchers who work in related-disciplines and compiles it into an annual report which highlights all of the achievements in the arthritis field during the past year. The AAF also takes responsibility for funding researchers who are working on finding ways to control inflammatory arthritis, a severe form of the disease that destroys the patient’s joints.

Even with all of the research that’s going on, during the years of 1985 through 2006, the number of arthritis patients rose from 35 million to 46 million. In fact, when it comes to chronic, debilitating diseases, arthritis ranks second only to heart disease. Thank goodness the American Arthritis Foundation is out there pouring time and money into the control of this serious “epidemic”.

Patient Care is a Crucial Issue

The task the National Arthritis Foundation has taken on is threefold: to make sure arthritis patients are getting the best care available, to educate patients and the general public about arthritis, and to generate funds for continued arthritis research. Membership in the foundation is at about 1000 people who include people with arthritis, health professionals, caregivers, and others who have an interest in stopping arthritis. The foundation is run by a council of elected officials as well as an executive committee.

As a nationwide, non-profit health organization, the goal of the National Arthritis Foundation is to promote all that is necessary in order to prevent new cases of arthritis, control existing cases, and work towards a cure of the country's top crippler, arthritis.

There are approximately half a million people who volunteer to work with the National Arthritis Foundation. With 150 branch offices around the country, it takes a lot of dedicated workers to help arthritis patients fight their disease and win back some of their quality of life. Many books and in-depth booklets are available which give patients and caregivers tips on how to relieve pain and cope with arthritis symptoms.

The Arthritis Foundation has provided extensive funding for arthritis research over the years. Since 1948 it has donated over $3 million to arthritis research. It also continuously funds more than two thousand health professionals and scientists in their quest to find 21st century solutions to the age-old problem of arthritis.

About three quarters of a billion people in America suffer from arthritis. The National Arthritis Foundation is their leading advocate in getting legislation introduced and passed which will help this huge percentage of the population who suffer from the pain and disability of arthritis.

More Americans become disabled because of arthritis than by any other cause. As long as this is the case, the National Arthritis Foundation will stand behind them with its mission of preventing and curing the various forms of arthritis. The foundation publishes a magazine six times a year called "Arthritis Today". In its magazine the mission of the organization is made perfectly clear. Americans should spare no effort or expense in order to eradicate this terribly debilitating disease from our society.

Arthritis affects dogs in much the same way it afflicts humans. It comes in a number of different forms, each of which can cause pain and joint damage. Inflammation in joints is the biggest cause of dog arthritis. Once the dog gets the disease, it's just a matter of time until his inflamed joints get worse. In a young dog, the joints are cushioned with cartilage. Arthritis destroys the cushion, and the dog experiences more pain just trying to walk around. Damaged nerve endings also contribute to the level of pain. Although he's still the same dog inside, his body is betraying him.

Coping with Your Dog's Arthritis

It's hard to see your faithful old pet sleeping all the time instead of being up and active the way he's always been. The more his joints deteriorate with the arthritis inflammation in them, the less he will want to move. Remember how he used to gallop up and down stairs so wildly? Now he won't want to try the stairs at all.

What about the way he used to hop in the car, tail wagging, ready to take a ride? You'll probably have to help him into the car now. In fact, you're probably doing more and more for him all the time. You've reached a point when you really should take him to the vet to find out what's ailing him for sure and what can be done to make him feel better.

Relief for your Dog's Arthritis

There's help for your ailing pet as near as your local vet. The vet will prescribe medications for the dog that will start taking care of the arthritis pains right away. Although they are effective in the short term, there is no cure for arthritis, and medications can cause side effects. The drugs can be pretty costly, too. But, when you think of the years of love he's given you, don't you think he's worth it?

Keeping your pet comfortable in his twilight years should be a high priority for you. Your vet will be able to advise you in the best ways you can help your pet. Keep in mind, though, that because pets don't live as long as humans, your dog is getting old long before you will.

The dog's skeletal system is as important as the human's skeletal system. It promotes normal condition among dogs by providing the body with framework, protecting the internal organs and in providing a full range of motion. The system is composed of bones, cartilage and ligaments. In order for the dog to continue its normal activities, these bones and joints should not be damaged.

Canine arthritis occurs when there is an inflammation in the joints of a dog. Dogs of all sizes, breeds and ages can develop arthritis though older dogs are more prone to this disease. Canine arthritis is categorized into two; degenerative joint disease and inflammatory joint disease.

Degenerative joint disease is also called osteoarthritis. This happens when the cartilage that protects the bones that make up the joint is damaged. Damage in the cartilage is caused either by normal stress on abnormal joints or abnormal stress on normal joints. Degenerative joint disease is further subdivided into two; primary and secondary. There is no known cause for primary degenerative disease while secondary disease can be the result of hip dysplasia, patella luxation (loose kneecap), osteochondritis dissecans, trauma and ruptured cruciate (knee) ligaments.

Inflammatory joint disease is another type of canine arthritis. This type can be caused by either infection or immune0mediated diseases. It usually affects multiple joints and is accompanied by fever, anorexia and all-over stiffness. Inflammatory joint disease is further subdivided into two; infectious and immune-mediated diseases. Infectious disease can be caused be bacteria while immune-mediated disease is caused by weakness in the immune system. Hereditary can also be the cause of this type of arthritis.

Reluctance to walk, climb stairs, jump or play are signs of arthritis in Beagles. Gradual limping and swelling around a joint can also be seen. Your dog will also show tenderness when flexing a joint and may hold its breath or stop panting when an affected joint is moved or used. Decrease in appetite is also present in canine arthritis.

Severe arthritis can be treated usually through surgery. But there are some cases when surgery is not needed anymore. Non-surgical treatment of arthritis includes painkillers, exercise, rest and diet. Dog owners should carefully read the product label of dog foods to check its content. But the amount of food and frequency of feeding should be regulated as well to prevent obesity. Exercise is another step to prevent obesity in dogs. But Beagles with arthritis should only have limited and gentle exercise. They should also be restricted from doing strenuous activities.

Arthritis is much the same in dogs as it is in humans. Canine arthritis is caused by inflammation in the joints. There are two major types of the disease: degenerative and inflammatory. Degenerative arthritis is also known as osteoarthritis. In dogs with this form of arthritis, the cartilage that cushions the joints wears out or is damaged allowing the bones to rub together painfully.

Joint Wear Causes Arthritis Symptoms

Canine arthritis is more likely to strike older dogs. It comes on as the joints experience years of stress during which the joints just plain wear out. Due to the fact that dogs live shorter lives than humans do, their arthritis symptoms will develop much earlier in their lives.

Relief for Arthritic Dogs

The second kind of arthritis a dog can suffer from is inflammatory joint disease. In this case, your dog develops severe inflammations in response to an infection in his body. You can tell he's suffering from this type of arthritis if he whimpers or yelps when touched. It's hard to live with knowing he is in such pain. Luckily there are medications available which will relieve his pain. You can ask your vet about prescription meds, or you can find others available at a pet store.

If your dog has put on a few pounds with age, your vet will probably want to put him on a special diet that includes lower calorie foods. The more weight he puts on, the more strain on the joints. Exercise is another good way for your dog to fight the symptoms of arthritis. You can have surgery done, too, but be prepared to pay a great deal for it.

If your dog is getting older, you need to watch him for signs that he is becoming arthritic. If you think he is, make an appointment with your vet where you'll be able to discuss the best way to keep him as comfortable as possible.

Osteoarthritis

Arthritis of this type is also called osteoarthritis. The progress of the disease has something to do with what happens to the cartilage. Our joints have cartilage in between. This is a crucial location for cartilage because it actually pads the joint. It therefore ensures that the joints do not sustain any damage due to movement. The cartilage is also what keeps us free from pain.

A number of circumstances cause the cartilage to deplete and even go away. Without the cartilage, joint bones come into direct contact. This results in harm to the bones and soreness during both movement and inactivity. The joints are affected one at a time. Not all joints are also affected by the condition. The joints that typically suffer from it are those on which weight and pressure are often put. These are the joints in the hips, knees and spine. The fingers are an exemption. They may all suffer as a group.

Indications of the Condition

Osteoarthritis is known as a degenerative condition for a reason. The term is simply an indication that the symptoms of the disease get worse through time. The symptoms however often develop gradually so you have more than enough time to discover it. Like other types of arthritis, degenerative arthritis results in some pain, swelling and tenderness. This is especially when the joint is moved or not moved for a period of time. One may also experience stiffness, a grating sensation and gradual loss of range of joint motion.

Possible Causes

Like other types of arthritis, the exact causes of osteoarthritis have not been fully found. There is a possibility though that the condition could be genetically inherited. Growing old could also be a factor for cartilage degeneration. One other enduring possible contributory factor is joint use. Frequent and intense use of joints especially when they result in joint injury may increase one's risk of osteoarthritis. Being overweight could also increase a person's risk of developing the condition. It has been determined that women and those who already have rheumatoid arthritis are at a higher risk of the disease than others.

Treatment Options

Once you develop osteoarthritis, you would have to live with it for the rest of your life. There is simply no way to cure it. Patients however should still seek treatment. Medical attention can help limit the impact and incidence of symptoms. Not every patient will be treated in the same way. Doctors will initially recommend mild and non invasive treatment. Some however may already need to be operated on. They would also have to take strong medications.

Your arthritis specialist may also recommend a number of home treatment methods. One of these is a special exercise regimen. The exercises you will be asked to perform will help you improve joint flexibility without hurting your bones. Aside from exercises, you may also have to apply compresses and use pain killers.

Living with degenerative arthritis may be a real challenge. It is possible though so you shouldn't lose hope.

About seventy-five percent of those affected are women, and 1–3% of women may develop rheumatoid arthritis is their lifetime. The disease most often begins between the fourth and sixth decades of life; however, RA can develop at any age. RA usually affects joints on both sides of the body equally. Wrists, fingers, knees, feet, and ankles are the most commonly affected.Rheumatoid arthritis is two to three times more common in women than in men and generally occurs between the ages of 40 and 60. But rheumatoid arthritis can also affect young children and older adults. Inflammation, soft tissue swelling, and the involvement of multiple joints are common signs and symptoms that distinguish rheumatoid and other inflammatory arthritis from non-inflammatory arthritis such as osteoarthritis.

The joints are usually affected initially asymmetrically and then in a symmetrical fashion as the disease progresses. The pain generally ameliorate with use of the affected joints, and there is usually stiffness of all joints in the morning that lasts over one hour. Treatments include medicine, lifestyle changes and surgery. These can slow or stop joint damage and reduce pain and swelling. To quickly reduce joint inflammation and symptoms, first-line treatment usually consists of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin and others), naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), celecoxib (Celebrex) and many others. Regular exercise is important for maintaining joint mobility and making the joint muscles stronger. Swimming is especially good.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment and Prevention Tips

1. Swimming is especially good.

2. Regular exercise is important for maintaining joint mobility.

3. Surgeries can relieve joint pain, correct deformities, and modestly improve joint function.

4. Heat and cold applications are modalities that can ease symptoms before and after exercise.

5. Apply electrical stimulation to reduce pain and improve joint mobility.

6. Corticosteroids medications have been used to reduce inflammation in RA for more than 40 years.

There is no cure from arthritis. Once you get it, all you can do is try to be as comfortable as possible while dealing with the pain, stiffness, and swelling. Therefore, it becomes obvious that the best way to combat arthritis is by taking what steps you can to prevent it in the first place.

Eating a Balanced Diet to Avoid Arthritis

Everybody needs to eat a healthy, balanced diet for the overall well-being of their health and the maintenance of their bodies. Lack of good eating habits allows body systems, such as the immune system and bones, to become weak which seriously undermines your joint health. To find your ideal diet to prevent arthritis, talk with your doctor. He knows the current status of your health and can work out a diet with you that will help you keep healthy and avoid arthritis.

Obesity plays a large role in the development of arthritis. The extra weight a person carries places much more pressure on the joints which basically causes them to wear out before they should. By maintaining an appropriate weight, you can drastically reduce your chances for arthritis. Your doctor will once again be your best resource in figuring out the appropriate weight for your body structure and height. If you find you are overweight, you need to diet slowly in order to take off the extra pounds. Never try a crash diet which can actually damage your body instead of helping.

Exercising and Taking Vitamins to Remain Arthritis-Free

We've all heard a lot about the benefits of regular exercise on the body. Exercise strengthens your whole body and helps keep your joints flexible. Some of the exercises you might try are Pilates, Yoga, and Tai Chi. In order to get started, you should take a class in the exercise you'd like to try, especially if you've never done these exercises before. By doing exercises incorrectly you can cause damage to your body, so it's best to learn to do them properly in the first place.

A vitamin regimen will help strengthen your body, your bones, and your joints. Making sure you get the right nutrients each day will help body parts deal with the stresses of constant use while your body ages. If your parents or grandparents suffered from arthritis, your risk of getting it is much higher. Therefore, the sooner you start aggressively preventing arthritis, the fewer problems you will have in your old age.

IMPORTANT LEGAL DISCLAIMER:

I am not a doctor or health care practitioner. If you even suspect you have any health problem, be sure to consult a doctor or nurse or health care provider as soon as possible. This information is merely meant as info only you need to see a physician for a proper diagnosis.

Gout is a form of arthritis that affects mostly men between the ages of 40 and 50. Gout (also called metabolic arthritis) is a disease created by a buildup of uric acid.

Gout can be triggered by the same agents that cause potassium losses such as fasting, surgery, and potassium losing diuretics. Gout has the unique distinction of being one of the most frequently recorded medical illnesses throughout history. Gout is a kind of arthritis that has been known since ancient times.

Arthritis

What are the risk factors for gouty arthritis? First, Gout is a medical condition that is characterized by abnormally high levels of uric acid in the blood. Next, by

repeated attacks of joint inflammation (arthritis), deposits of hard lumps of uric acid in and around the joints, and decreased kidney function and kidney stones.

Attacks

Attacks usually go away within 3 to 10 days, even without treating them. The next attack may not occur for months or even years. Attacks usually start during the night, and moderate pain in a joint is first noticed. Attacks of gout often occur after indulging in alcohol, particularly wine or beer, or after overeating rich foods such as liver, anchovies, and gravy. Attacks tend to last a few days to a few weeks.

Diet

Increased obesity contributes to the increasing prevalence of gout in the U.S. Diet may be linked to racial dominance since diet has a large influence on gout. Diet guidelines for patients with gout have changed over time, and it is not completely clear which combination of foods is best. Severe dieting such as the all protein, low carb or fasting can cause excess lactic acid, which hinders uric acid excretion by the kidneys. In traditional diet thoughts, we are told that gout is the result of excessive amounts of alcohol, protein, heavy foods, coffee and soft drinks in your diet.

Nsaids

NSAIDs are the preferred form of relief for patients with gout. (NSAIDs - Non Steroidal Anti Imflammatory Drug) NSAIDs such as ibuprofen can reduce the pain and

inflammation slightly, although aspirin should not be used as it can worsen the condition.

IMPORTANT INFORMATiON: I am not a medical physician or giving medical advice. You must consult your family doctor or arthritis specialist for professional advice. I am only passing along research that I have been able to get from pamphlets and other research information.

Weight

Weight loss can help reduce uric acid levels in those people that are overweight. Weight loss is long term more important to the chronic gout patient than the specifics of diet. If you are interested to find out the real reason you haven't been able to lose weight and suffer from a number of health issues, Dr. Suzanne Gudakunst has created a perfect program to help you understand what is going on in your body and drugs are not the answer. There is a link at the end to her book Top Fat Loss Secret.

Bottom Line: Weight loss lowers the risk for gout. Your chances of getting gout are higher if you are overweight, drink too much alcohol, or eat too much meat and fish that are high in chemicals called purines.

Plaquenil contains the ingredient hydroxychloroquine. It is a DMARD (Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug) which has long been known for decreasing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis such as pain and swelling as well as reducing the risk that the patient will develop a long-term disability. Scientists aren't exactly sure why hydroxycholoroquine works so well in treating rheumatoid arthritis. They do believe, however, that the drug somehow interferes with the communication of cells within the immune system.

The normal prescription of Plaquenil is two doses of 200 mg. per day or sometimes one dose of 400 mg. You take the drug orally with food or milk so that the medication doesn't upset your stomach. After you've been on Plaquenil long enough for your condition to start to improve, your doctor will want to lower your dosage so that you aren't taking more of the medication than you really need. By doing this he will lower your risk of side effects.

Because of the low dosage of Plaquenil taken by the average rheumatoid arthritis patient, side effects aren't usually an issue. The most serious side effect of the drug is when a patient develops toxicity in the back on an eye. If you take Plaquenil for an extended period of time, it's essential that you have special eye exams done regularly in case you should develop toxicity.

If you should develop toxicity and allow it to develop without being treated, it can lead to major visual problems such as color blindness and even a complete loss of vision. Less severe side effects which can occur include headaches, irritability, hair bleaching or loss, nausea, weakness, and itching.

You need to take your Plaquenil on schedule every day. If you once start taking it at a certain time during the day, then you need to take it at the same time every day. It will probably take between one and two months in order for you to begin seeing improvements in your health. It may take as long as six months for you to finally be getting the full benefit of the medication.

You've probably noticed that Plaquenil is a creature of habit and wants everything done the same way day after day. If your doctor prescribes the medication for a certain length of time, do not stop taking it before then. Quitting before you've finished the regimen could result in you developing an infection. And never ever think about stopping the drug cold turkey. If you're considering stopping, talk with your doctor before you do it.