What is Arthritis and are their natural alternatives to drugs without side effects?

What is Arthritis?

Most people are familiar with Arthritis since it is a common health issue today. At any given time of day you will see commercials on television, hear commercials on the radio and see ads in magazines regarding Arthritis. Considering the amount of revenue spent on advertising, Arthritis is not clearly understood. It has become a term used referring to joint pain or joint disease. Most people are not aware that there are more than 100 different types of Arthritis. It affects people of all ages, sexes and races. It is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. with more than 50 million adults and 300,000 children affected with some type of arthritis. Arthritis is more common among women and is most likely to occur with aging people.

The most common arthritis symptoms are swelling, pain, and stiffness in the joints and decreased range of motion. The symptoms may not always be consistent but come and go and can be mild, moderate or severe. The symptoms may stay the same for many years, or may progress or get worse over time. Chronic pain, inability to do daily activities and make it difficult to walk or climb stairs can be the results of severe arthritis. Arthritis can cause permanent joint changes such as knobby finger or knee joints. Most people do not realize that some types of arthritis can also affect the heart, eyes, lungs, kidneys and skin as well as the joints.

Types of arthritis:

Degenerative Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. This occurs when the cartilage-the slick, cushioning surface on the ends on bones- wears away, the bone rubs against bone, which in turn causes pain, swelling and stiffness. Over time when this happens the joints can lose strength and pain may become chronic. Some of the risk factors for Osteoarthritis(RA) include excess weight, family history, age and previous injury.

Inflammatory Arthritis

The purpose of the immune system to protect the body. But the immune system can go awry. In the case of arthritis, it may mistakenly attack the joints with uncontrolled inflammation, potentially causing the joints to erode and also may damage internal organs, eyes and other parts of the body. Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA) and Psoriatic Arthritis are both forms of inflammatory arthritis. It is believed that a combination of genetics and environmental factors can trigger autoimmunity. There are environmental risk factors that can trigger Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and smoking is one those for people with certain genes.
Early diagnosis and treatment is critical for those who have autoimmune and inflammatory types of arthritis. Slowing the disease activity can help minimize or even prevent joint damage. The main goal is remission and this may be achieved through methods including diet and supplementation.

Infectious Arthritis

There are a number organisms that can infect the joints and possibly trigger inflammation. These can be a virus, fungus or a bacterium. Some examples of organisms that can infect joints are salmonella and shigella (food poisoning or contaminated food), chlamydia or gonorrhea (sexually transmitted diseases) and hepatitis C (a blood-to blood infection through shared needles or transfusions). Timely treatment with antibiotics may clear the infection, but sometimes arthritis may become chronic.

Metabolic Arthritis

Purines are a substance found in human cells as well as many foods. Uric acid is formed as the body breaks down purines. Many people naturally produce more uric acid than is needed. If they are not able to eliminate the excess acid, it can build up in the body and form into needle-like crystals in the joint. This buildup of uric acid in the joint creates extreme spikes of pain which is known as gout. Gout can come and go in episodes or, if uric acid levels aren’t reduced, it can become chronic, causing ongoing pain and disability.

There are many things that can be done to preserve joint function, mobility and quality of life. To learn more about the disease and treatment options view: www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/treatments/natural and www.arthritisfoundation.org. are excellent sources. Make time for physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight with a low acid diet are essential. New Sun Ultra R and Glucosamine/Chondroitin MSM Complex are natural supplements that are formulated to aid and assist with Bone and joint function. Next week we will cover supplements and herbs that research supports their use for aiding and assisting with arthritis.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.