Optimal Health Articles: Arthritis

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is the inflammatory and troubling condition of joints which is characterized by pain, swelling, stiffness and deformity of joints. ^{[1, 3]} Older people are more susceptible to have an arthritic pain than the younger ones. ^[1]

Causes of Arthritis

There are so many factors that contribute to arthritis and result in deterioration of joints. These factors are:

^{[1, 3, 4]}

Types of Arthritis

There are various forms of arthritis but following are the most common forms:

1. Osteoarthritis
2. Rheumatoid Arthritis ^[1]

Osteoarthritis (OA)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is also called as Degenerative Joint Problem. ^{[1, 2, 5]} It is the most common type of arthritis and mostly senior people are affected by this problem. ^{[1, 5]} Osteoarthritis involves worsening deterioration of cartilage, which is the safeguarding element of bones. ^{[1, 2, 5]}

Causative Factors of Osteoarthritis (OA)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is caused by so many factors like:

^{[1, 3, 4]}

Mostly osteoarthritis affects weight bearing joints like knees, hips and back but commonly affects the hands and knuckles. ^{[1, 3, 5]} It starts with the deterioration of muscles that holds the joints like tendons and ligaments and then leads to the condition of deformity, stiffness and pain. ^{[1, 2, 5]} Osteoarthritis leads to brittle and weaker bones. This type of arthritis usually develops after the age of sixty but can also rarely develop before the age of forty. Women have greater risks of developing osteoarthritis than men. ^[1]

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory condition of joints that is an autoimmune disease in which the natural defense system (Immune system) of the body becomes over activated. ^{[1, 2, 3, 6]} It is a self attacking disorder in which the body’s own defense system destroys the bone cartilage which results in inflammation of joints. ^{[1, 2, 3, 6]} Rheumatoid Arthritis may leads to the following conditions:

• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Fatigue
• Anemia
• Weight loss
• Fever
• Crippling pain ^{[1, 2, 3, 5]}

Rheumatoid arthritis commonly strikes the people under forty years of age most of them are females. ^{[1, 2, 3]} Juvenile arthritis is the type of rheumatoid arthritis that affects the children under the age of sixteen. ^[1]

Dietary Suggestions for Arthritis

So many dietary factors, weight reducing programs and certain exercises contribute in reducing the severity of arthritis. Arthritis can be curable with proper dietary guidelines and some adaptations in the life style. Dietary factors have strong healing potential they not only helpful in relieving the pain and inflammation of joints but also contribute in declining the degeneration and renewal of the affected joints.

Various herbal supplements and multivitamins show their beneficial effects in the condition of arthritis. ^[1]

• Alfalfa, Cat’s claw, Shark cartilage and Boswellia are the herbs that show their favorable effects in reducing the inflammation, and helpful for arthritis.

• Glucosamine sulfate supplementation has a pronounced effect in bones and joint health.

• Calcium and Magnesium are the most important minerals that are helpful in supporting the health of bones and joints.

• Vitamins E, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin K collectively have favorable effect on bones and joint health. ^{[1, 5]}

References:

Optimal Health Articles

Monday, October 20, 2008

Arthritis

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