Gout Symptoms And Gout Causes

Gout is a very severe form of arthritis and occurs when there is a profusion of uric acid built up in the body. Uric acid is a waste product and builds up due to overloading of the organs including the liver and kidneys. As soon as there is a build up of Uric acid present in the body the consequence can include such as antagonizing pain in the joints all the way through the body, especially appearing in the big toes. Uric acid build up can also result in painful kidney stones.

It is difficult to predict when an attack of gout will occur. Symptoms can develop rapidly over a few hours and usually last for 3-10 days. After this time, the joint will start to feel normal again and any pain or discomfort should eventually disappear completely.

The sooner symptoms are treated, the more quickly the pain will pass. You may experience symptoms every few weeks, months or years, but it is impossible to predict when the condition will recur. Sixty-two per cent of people experience a repeat attack of gout within a year. However, some people only ever experience one attack in their lifetime.

Many times the gout attack can be relentless and very excruciating; equally it often awakens one from sleep when the attack occurs.

Gout symptoms can be broken down into three key stages:

1. The first symptom of gout is acute (sudden and severe) joint pain, usually in the joint of the big toe. Symptoms often develop during the night, although they can occur at any time. Other symptoms of gout include:
Swelling of jointsInflammation of jointsShiny red skin over the affected jointsItchy and flaky peeling skin over the affected joints

The intense pain that gout causes can make walking and getting around difficult. Even the light pressure of a bed cover or blanket can be painful.

It is at this stage when gout starts to cause injury to the body. The blood becomes incapable of breaking down the elevated level of uric acid and it begins to crystallize and then be deposited in joint spaces. This is when the agony and swelling occurs. Attacks by and large come about during the nighttime and if not treated can continue for weeks at a time. If not treated still the attacks turn out to be more brutal and keep going for longer periods of time.

2. The second stage of gout is the time when an attack of gout has subsided and at this time there are no symptoms but it is because the body's immune system is stabilizing itself for extra attacks on the uric acid crystals which have become overly concentrated in the blood. If the gout sufferer does not achieve treatment by this stage the disease can be very problematical to control.

3. The third and final stage of gout is when it becomes chronic, which is the nastiest and most destructive stage of the disease. By this stage the gout has caused lasting impairment to the joints and in specific cases the kidneys as well. Equally at this stage the affiliated joint can grow to be deteriorated and cause crippling pain. In extreme cases the kidney can lose its functions, which can subsequently lead to kidney failure and death. Gout is a disease like many others which builds upon itself if not treated at the opening stages. It is vitally important to recognise the gout symptoms at the earliest stages before irreversible damage is done. There are many cases of people achieving an effective cure.

View the original article here

Avoiding Foods That Cause Gout Can Help Alleviate The Painful Symptoms of Gout

For anyone that suffers from the pain of gout, knowing the foods that cause gout or increase the symptoms of gout is a good thing to know.

Gout is caused by excess uric acid. Uric acid is actually a waste by-product formed when purines, which are an organic compound, breakdown. Normally our kidneys filter out the uric acid but if there is too much then the kidneys cannot keep up. Crystals from the uric acid then form around joints causing severe pain. One of the most common spots for gout to appear is the big toe.

Foods that have a high concentration of purines can cause your gout to flare up. Foods such as red meat, lamb, pork and organ meats do have high levels of purine and should be avoided.

So all that sounds pretty simple right? Well actually no not really. I would like to know what exactly I should be avoiding on a daily basis. Can I eat that yummy hot dog from the street vendor or should I stick to packing a daily boring lunch.

As with anything moderation is the key. It is really hard to avoid all foods that have purine in them. Some foods will affect you more than others and over time you will know which foods will trigger an attack.

Usually when we think of foods that cause gout we tend to think about just meat. However certain vegetables can also cause gout. Some vegetables that fall into the category of foods that cause gout are cauliflower, mushrooms, beans, and peas to mention a few. Although some of these do not even contain purines they are still responsible in producing high levels of uric acid which as we already know is a cause of gout.

Knowing the foods that cause gout is good but it is not the only thing we should be aware of to avoid a gout attack. We should be aware that obesity can also be a cause of gout. The extra weight that a person carries tends to put a strain on their kidneys. The kidneys in turn do not perform at optimal levels, thus they do not filter out all the uric acid.

Another cause of gout that many people are probably aware of is alcohol. Beer and whiskey seem to have more of an effect on a person's gout than wine but everyone reacts differently. Best to avoid it all together.

By learning about the foods that cause gout we can hopefully have success in treating our gout. If we do not treat our gout properly we could end up causing permanent damage to our body joints.

Remember before you embark on any treatment to seek the advice of a medical professional.

View the original article here

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms and Treatments

Any kind of joint disorders definitely need certain medications and some medically indicated procedures to relieve muscle aches. But these kinds of interventions would never suffice to fully treat rheumatoid arthritis since there is still a need to know more things when it comes to its treatment. More importantly, experts must find accurate ways in dealing with this condition since it is believed to be a risk factor of cardiovascular diseases.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation that affects various organs and tissues but mainly on the synovial joints. Pain is more likely to be experienced by someone having this condition as well as swelling on the affected part. Stiffness is also possible. In some cases, joints tend to lose their functions most especially if left untreated.

Experts have confirmed that this disease is a hereditary type. This means that it can run from generation to generation. Its causes may be due to the combination of some genes and other factors triggering the disease. The most common individuals who are unlucky to acquire this disorder are those having the human leukocyte antigen or HLA. This group of people have higher chances of developing rheumatoid arthritis compared to those who never acquired that particular gene.

There are instances when the symptoms of this disease can be intermittent or recurrent but it is typically reliant on the degree of inflammation. Sometimes, the disease only attacks the sufferer if the tissues are inflamed. The most common symptoms include: swelling in one or more joints, lack of appetite, body weakness, mild hyperthermia, severe pain in one more joints and morning stiffness.

Knowing that rheumatoid arthritis is considered to be a systemic type of disease, it is very important for everyone to fathom that the joints are not the only parts that can be affected. In fact, there are cases where other vital organs can be perturbed as well. To exemplify, this disease can also cause an inflammation to the glands located in the mouth and eyes leading to the dryness of the affected organ.

Today, the study of determining more causative agents of this condition conducted by several health care professionals is still underway. Nevertheless, it may only be a matter of time before the most accurate treatment can be discovered. Experts also concluded that an aberrant increase of uric acid is not the only triggering factor of rheumatoid arthritis. Other agents leading to this disease may also include: excessive intake of alcoholic beverages, dehydration, fever, surgical procedures and the adverse reactions of some medications.

Knowing that some causes occur during the activities of daily living, it is imperative for a person to do lifestyle modifications to dwindle the chances of developing this disorder. Such measures include: switching to a healthy diet, consistent physical exercises, moderate drinking of alcoholic drinks and parrying too much activities that are strenuous.

The bad news is that there hasn't been any type of drug or procedure that can completely cure rheumatoid arthritis. Nonetheless, certain drugs are available which can at least suppress the attack. By preventing the exacerbation of this disease, one could fully improve his or her quality of life.

There are also drugs that can prevent the attack of rheumatoid arthritis. However, many of these medications can have major adverse reactions so it is important for physicians to prescribe those that have lesser side effects only. Other forms of treatment can include: sufficient rest, physical therapy, good nutrition and some drugs to suppress the immune system.

Finally, it is always important to consult with your doctor if you are experiencing another episode of rheumatoid arthritis. That way, the doctor can immediately find a way to manage it.

View the original article here

Could Gout Home Remedies Seriously Cure Gout Symptoms?

For anybody who is among the list of unlucky ones who may have gout, you're probably knowledgeable about the many gout cures that claim to work miracles for gout agony. The fact is that gouty arthritis is actually a complex ailment that will impact each of its patients in sightly different ways.

Some individuals put up with occasional reactions without having evident warning. These sufferers in many cases are surprised at their particular episodes part way through the night with the well known great toe gout attack. These are amazingly agonizing instances that not only spoil a good night's sleep, but generally continue on for several days that follow.

Indomethacin gout remedy or Indocin is probably the most favored non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs utilized to take care of these types of serious gout symptoms. Yet what goes on as soon as the ache and inflammation is taken care of and you are feeling in most cases, normal again? Lots of gout patients are quick to leave behind their late night symptoms and waste no time returning to their typical life's routines. That's right. When it is out of sight, it's also out of mind for some.

Discover Gout Cures Free of Medication

Why don't we have a glimpse at what is causing gouty arthritis. Gout indicators come about when there is an excess amount of uric acid within your body. The build-up of monosodium urate crystals in and around the important joints ultimately translates into extraordinary soreness and inflammation. This is the gouty arthritis attack that plagues a great number of gout patients.

There are two good reasons why the body will suffer an accumulation of uric acid. If your diet regime is comprised of purine rich ingredients, an individual may be placing too much uric acid directly into a person's system. Certain people's bodies, alternatively, are unable to reduce uric acids normally. Discovering the signals and clues connected with gout symptoms has enabled quite a few gout sufferers to effectively avoid the immensely painful symptoms of gouty arthritis.

Lots of gout patients report slight pain symptoms just before bedtime. This is often accompanied by a rapid surge in specific and unpleasant pain that might peak in the course of the night and disappear over the days that follow. Dependent on just what phase of gout the patient has problems with, many of the indications can certainly be remedied with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or various other medications that offer relief from ache and irritation close to the affected joint areas.

Certain gout patients have been successful in their own search for freedom with several basic gout home remedies. In case you are willing to examine your personal experience and recognize the truth that most of the fundamental reasons for gout may be followed to an unhealthy lifestyle, you've made the initial shift in the direction of eliminating your gout problems for good.

Gout really does not have to rule your current life. Discover how you can cope with your gout without the side effects of long term drug therapies. Take back your life and recover a gout free existence.

View the original article here

Osteoarthritis: The Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis, popularly known as Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis which causes inflammation of one or more joints in the body. On being the most common form of arthritis, Osteoarthritis affects more than 50 million people all over the world.
Though the Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in the body, but it usually appears in knees, neck, hands, hips and lower back resulting in extreme pain.
The Symptoms

Some symptoms of arthritis include bony growths at the affected joints and a sensation during the movement of joint. The stiffness and pain of osteoarthritis usually begins at the age of 40 and then develop slowly. It can affect both large and small joints and can even hurt while lying down in the later stages.

The Causes

Though the medical profession cannot confirm specific Osteoarthritis causes but the associated risk factors include joint trauma in earlier days, overweight, infection in the joints, a sedentary lifestyle, aging, bone injuries, heredity, sports, repeated use of certain joins and overweight.

The most recommended way to diagnose Osteoarthritis Causes is either through x-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Doctors can also recommend other tests such as aspiration, which involves draining fluid from the joint or blood testing.

The Treatment

The best and most suggested Osteoarthritis Treatment for the patients of arthritis is physical therapy. Certain exercises are also recommended so that the joints become more mobile and the pain is decreased. A daily exercise routine also helps in reducing the pain since lack of exercise can make symptoms worse. A regular, steady schedule is best.
Besides this, losing weight can make a vast difference in pain release and other Osteoarthritis symptoms. Few studies have found that every time you loose weight, the health becomes better. Your doctor can also prescribe a medication that provides you complete pain relief and improves your condition to a great extent.

If you feel any kind of pain in the joints or stiffness in the bones, make sure to consult a specialist and in case you are already suffering from Osteoarthritis get as much information as possible about the disease.

Peoples-health.com is an online information guide that provides all kinds of information related to bone injuries and Osteoarthritis. To more about the symptoms, causes and treatment of Osteoarthritis and other diseases, visit at http://www.peoples-health.com/

View the original article here

Identify Arthritis Symptoms and Find The Right Treatment

Arthritis is a disease that is characterized by inflammation and pain at the joints. Of the many different types of arthritis, osteoarthritis is by far the most prevalent, while rheumatoid arthritis affects a much smaller number of folks. These two different diseases are not the result of the same factors but the symptoms appear virtually the same. It is vital for anyone diagnosed with this illness to realise all of the options available in arthritis treatment.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a very difficult and sore condition, because the body's immune system attacks the joints, so it can appear in many places at once. Arthritis appears in any joints in the body but is most often found in the hands, hips and knees. Arthritis normally gets more severe as sufferers get older and although there is presently no cure, you can relieve the pain and stiffness in numerous ways.

Osteoarthritis is caused by degenerative wear and tear in the joints, from constant use over many years, which is why it occurs most often in elderly people. Its onset can be hastened by certain types of injuries in one's younger years,such as accidents or sporting injuries. As the joints wear down, bones begin to rub together and the body makes fluid to ease the affected areas.

Because of their speed and convenience, NSAIDs are the preferred choice of most people when it comes to picking their arthritis treatment. Celebrex, ibuprofen and naxproxen are the drugs most commonly used. These medications provide short-term relief by reducing swelling in the joints and by acting as anti-pyretics (fever reducers). Many arthritis sufferers take NSAID drugs every day just to be able to get through the day. This a very critical situation, because the life-threatening side-effects posed by these drugs are not well known and are certainly not publicised by the manufacturers.

There is a practicable alternative approach to getting relief from the pain of inflammation in the joints. Most people are not aware of the potent anti-inflammatory properties of many everyday foods. Many vegetables, herbs, spices and fish, which form part of a balanced, healthy diet, will help in reducing the pain and swelling in your arthritic joints, in as well as improving your general health and strengthening your immune system.

By controlling your diet, any excess weight that you lose will be extremely helpful in relieving the pressure on the bigger joints in your body. Loss of any excess weight will be very helpful for your hips and knees, which are most susceptible to extra poundage and which can cause a limitation in overall mobility.

Corticosteroids are another group of drugs that help to reduce swelling and give some pain relief. These medications are generally more powerful than NSAIDs and have options in how they are administered. Steroids can be taken orally or injected into the body. Certain ones, such as hydrocortisone can be injected directly into affected joints. Many sports stars perform with cortisone injections when they are carrying injuries and often cause more harm as a result.

One of the most important and least mentioned arthritis treatment options is exercise. When joints become arthritic, the old byword, "Use it or lose it, " becomes a hard and fast truth. It is important that non-impact exercise like cycling, swimming and gentle walking are used, to avoid making the problem worse. Water aerobics, in a pool, is virtually ideal for arthritis sufferers, because the water supports the joints and makes more movement possible, without undue pain.

As a last resort, patients with osteoarthritis may need surgical treatments and joint replacements. In these procedures, the arthritic joints are removed from the body and metallic or plastic replacements are fitted and matched to the bones to make an artificial joint that is less likely to suffer pain from swelling. This option is very much a last resort and involves more pain in the short term, possible substantial expense and a protractede recovery period, with no guarantee of success. Take a long hard look at all available arthritis treatments first.

Ken Charles has suffered with back pain and arthritis for many years but is still playing golf regularly, because he has found a combination of arthritis treatments that really work. Ken offers a Free Report, "101 Home Remedies For Arthritis".

View the original article here

Return to Arthritis Pain Treatment

Can Omega-3 Supplements Help Reduce Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms?

There are a variety of supplements available to those with arthritis joint pain. Glucosamine and chondroitin are most commonly associated with reducing osteoarthritis symptoms. Are these the best supplements for rheumatoid arthritis symptoms? What does research indicate regarding Omega-3, also known as n-3 fatty acid, and arthritis pain?

Omega-3 supplementation has gained most of its attention secondary to its affect on the cardiovascular system. Research supports the use of these n-3 fatty acids for people with cardiovascular issues secondary to their ability to stimulate blood circulation and reduce clot and scar formation. Most notably there is strong evidence that n-3 fatty acids reduce blood triglyceride levels and reduces the risk of a heart attack. People with other circulatory issues including high blood pressure and varicose veins can also benefit from supplementation.

But what does this have to do with arthritis?

Of all the supplements that have been evaluated by research, Omega-3 (specifically fish oil) demonstrates the greatest effectiveness in reducing symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Omega-3 works to help minimize the effect of Omega-6 fatty acids in the body. The Omega-6 fatty acids are considered ‘proinflammatory’ compounds. These compounds not only have an effect on the cardiovascular system but the immune system as well. As rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, supplementing with Omega-3 fatty acids help to reduce inflammation and support the immune system.

It is important to note that most benefits associated with taking Omega-3 supplements are not realized until after a minimum of 12 weeks of taking 3g (3000 mg) of fish oil (DHA/EPA). Supplementing with Omega-3/fish oil can also be enhanced by increasing the consumption of Omega-3 rich foods such as salmon, tuna, trout, walnuts, flaxseed oil, and tofu is also suggested. In addition, because Omega-3 works to offset the inflammatory effects of Omega-6 compounds, reducing the intake of these Omega-6 ‘proinflammatory’ fatty acids can also help reduce inflammation. Four major food oils including palm, soybean, rapeseed, and sunflower all contain high levels of Omega-6 and should be used sparingly.

Based on the research, Omega-3 supplementation not only demonstrates cardiovascular benefits but additional benefits in reducing inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

For more information and treatment recommendations for rheumatoid arthritis, visit:

http://www.joint-pain-solutions.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-symptoms.html

Janelle Trempe PT, ATC is a physical therapist and certified athletic trainer with 20 years experience in the treatment of orthopedic conditions. She currently works in a private physical therapy practice in California.

For free information and treatment recommendations for various joint conditions, visit her site at: http://www.joint-pain-solutions.com

View the original article here

Return to Arthritis Pain Treatment

Arthritis Symptoms Versus The Progression Of The Disease

Scientists know that the destruction of joints in people with arthritis can occur without their knowledge; and at other times it seems the progression of the disease is quite obvious with swollen joints, the inability to move, pain, and disability. There have been some studies that have found that these clinical symptoms sometimes will happen without any signs of joint wear and tear.

There are studies in the Journal of Rheumatology on Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis that focus on the relationship of clinical symptoms with using x-rays to measure joint deterioration. These studies used different approaches and they arrived at different conclusions, they did, however, have the same common point for the doctors and patients: Keep your guard up when treating arthritis symptoms. People with OA, if they are pursuing new treatments rather than just finding ways to adapt to pain and impairment, may actually delay, for years, joint damage that will restrict your activities . People in the early stages of RA, using constant and consistent control of their inflammation may slow down the development of joint damage.

Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The RA study was part of a larger ongoing study that was done by the Finnish and it focused on the early stages of RA, when joint damage is the most rapid. Scientists wanted to see if immediate and consistent control of the clinical symptoms, like the swelling and tenderness, would result in less actual joint damage in the later years of the life of the RA. The study consisted of 195 people who were being treated with different combinations of antirheumatic drugs. The people participating averaged in age of 48 years old, and 62% of them were women. The joint swelling and tenderness in their wrists was measured at the beginning of the study and then again at three months, six months, one year, two years, three years, and four years.

X-rays were taken at the beginning of the study; and 43% of the wrist that doctors examined were swollen, and 35% were tender. Four years later and with the help of medications, there were just 15% of the wrists swollen and 20% were tender and five years later the x-rays showed that there was arthritic erosion in 36% of those wrist.

The key to these results is not in the overall numbers, but in which joints ended up with the damage. There were 82% of the wrist that were swollen during the first year of the study and during the follow-up exams they developed erosion of the joint. For those who started the study with no swelling or tenderness, theirs came up in the later years and only 11% of those showed erosion. Also, 66% of the wrists that were tender during the first year and at follow-up, developed erosion, while only 7% of the wrists that were never tender developed erosion.

The conclusion reached by the scientists for anyone with RA is that early and continuous treatment of the inflammation goes way beyond controlling the symptoms and actually it does help to slow or even prevent permanent damage to the joint over the long run. The scientists did stress however that just because the arthritis is in remission of symptoms, it is not reason to stop or reduce treatments or therapies.

There were drawbacks to this study that were small and that doesn't account for the wrists that never showed any swelling or tenderness but yet developed erosion. It can't be said whether some of the participants may have had flares of swelling and tenderness and they just missed them, although I'm not sure how that could be because when I have a flare, I always know it, or if there were instances where joint erosion was disconnected from the swelling and pain symptoms. Yet another possibility is that the x-rays just weren't strong enough to pick up on all the joint damage.
Osteoarthritis.

Now, for the study on OA, a Canadian study, also sought to explore the relationship between symptoms and long-term, objectively measured conditions of the joints. They chose people with improvement in the way they felt and who also had improvements in the actual degree of the conditions of the hip and knee joints. The studying of reasons for real improvements like this, could point to ways to help others enjoy similar healing. However, and in contrast with the RA study, the OA study did not turn up any links between the way those who participated reported feeling and the underlying progression of the disease. The 43 people who participated in this OA study had moderate to severe OA and they had participated in a previous OA study but they didn't have hip or knee replacements. The average age at the end of the seven year study was 76, and of the 43 people who participated, 77% were women.

At the beginning of the study and after the seven years, those who participated completed a questionnaire about their pain, function, and stiffness in their knees and hips and bout their use of walking aids, their general health, and health changes. The medical staff measured the range of motion and flexibility of the joints of those who participated. Tenderness, pain (when they put pressure on the joint), swelling, and warmth in the joints were also measured. Radiologists took x-rays of the knees and hips and graded the OA damage of each participant.

The responses on the questionnaire of those who participated, indicated that on the average, pain was unchanged and disability had increased over the seven year period of the study. The exception being of hip flexibility and range of motion in the left knee, which was unchanged, the averages showed that the flexibility of the joints had deteriorated. The averages of the condition of the joints seen in the x-rays showed that the joints either stayed the same or worsened.

But the averages didn't tell the whole story and for many of the measures there was a small, but significant, number of those who participated that showed some improvement. The self-reported pain showed that 25% improved, 19% said that they had improvement of their physical function and some of those who participated had some improvement in their hip or knee flexibility. In the clinical measures of swelling, tenderness, warmth, and pain there was 26% of those who participated that said they had improvement in their hip disease and 45% with some improvement to their knee disease. Even the x-rays showed up to 25% of those who participated had some improvement in a joint. But these improvements didn't show any significant associations between the changes, and those who participated, who reported improvements on their questionnaires, were no more likely than others to have improved clinical symptoms or x-ray scores.

The scientists have tried to explain why a quarter of those who participated could report improvements on the questionnaires, in the absence of any real clinical improvements, their suggestion is that those who reported these improvements had learned how to live with OA better. Some of the adaptions that the participants may have taken are steps to reduce their pain, and getting help with or eliminating painful activities like climbing stairs or sports and this also includes the possibility of higher pain tolerance.

The only caution the scientists give to doctors is that, while such coping is good, they shouldn't be complacent and ignore the wider picture and that the well-being their patients might continue, with additional medical or surgical treatment.
This study's small size, the insensitivity of the x-rays to joint changes over time, and using two sets of measurements over a seven year period of OA are the limitations of this study. OA is a condition that is notorious for flare-ups and the onset of these flare-ups can vary and are unpredictable.

Angela Carter is the owner of Coastal Health Information Services located in Savannah, Ga. Angela was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis, RA, and Fibromyalgia in 1999 and then in 2010 she was diagnosed with Sjougren's Syndrome and Gout. She has gone through every kind of therapy and taken just about every medication and supplement on the market to get pain relief. Her writings are from experience as well as extensive research on subjects that she feels would benefit her readers.

You may contact her at ACarterccis@usa.com or visit her website at http://www.ccis.web.officelive.com or her blog at http://www.chisarthritisinfo.blogspot.com

Take control of your health, arm yourself with information!

View the original article here

Arthritis and Chronic Joint Symptoms

From the Centers for Disease Control

Are you female, Caucasian, have a lesser education, and overweight? Then you run the greatest risk of either arthritis or chronic joint symptoms. Check out the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

These statistics left me stunned. Just for openers:

Arthritis and chronic joint symptoms affect nearly 70 million Americans, or about one of every three adults, making it one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States. As the population ages, this number will increase dramatically.

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States. Double that of heart trouble. Triple that of respiratory trouble. Five times that of diabetes. Over six times more than that of stroke!

Nationally, medical care for arthritis cost nearly $22 billion in 1995 (latest figures).

Total costs, including medical care and loss of productivity, exceeded $82 billion in 1995.

Who has arthritis?

As the CDC reports: "The prevalence of arthritis is high for all demographic groups, but especially higher among women, older persons, and those with less education."

What's being done?

The CDC reports that in 1998, the "first ever" plan to address arthritis using a public health approach was released. This plan was developed by the CDC, the Arthritis Foundation, and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, with input from over 90 organizations. The plan recommended actions in "Three major areas for individuals and groups interested in reducing the impact of arthritis."

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Prevention Research
Communication and Education
Programs, Policies, and Systems

For some reason, this evokes a scene in my mind from the TV show "Star Trek Voyager" where the holographic Doctor is helping one of his patients recover from a leg joint injury. The crewman is in great pain, while the Doctor dispassionately tells the patient to "live with the pain and do the exercises". The crewman, exasperated at this attitude, complains to the Doctor that he was programmed not to hurt his patients. The holographic Doctor quickly replies "I was programmed to do no harm. However, I can inflict as much pain as I wish."

In the daily media, we are bombarded with stories about AIDS, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and Heart Disease. Yet, you hardly ever hear anything about the greatest threat to our quality of life ... Arthritis!

Let me repeat the findings of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control).

"Arthritis and chronic joint symptoms affect nearly 70 million Americans, or about one of every three adults, making it one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States. As the population ages, this number will increase dramatically."

One in Three

God forbid you are a Caucasian woman, with little education, and are 30 lbs or more overweight.

What can be done?

The CDC recommends: "We can do the effective things that are not being done enough. Research shows that physical activity decreases pain, improves function and delays disability. In addition, research studies suggest that maintaining an ideal body weight and avoiding joint injuries reduces the risk of developing arthritis and may decrease disease progression. Obtaining an early diagnosis so that appropriate management, including self-management, can be initiated may improve the quality of life for persons with arthritis. Early diagnosis and appropriate management of arthritis, including ... self-help courses, weight control, and physical activity can help people with arthritis function better, stay productive, and lower health care costs."

Has your Doctor ever told you to just keep doing your exercises, keep dieting and keep your weight down, and keep taking your medications and just try to live with the pain?

What else is your Doctor going to say? Could it be that if your Doctor said anything else it would mean committing financial suicide?

I know most doctors are hard-working and doing their best and in many cases are achieving astonishing things.

However, the pressure to use more, and drugs is overwhelming. It is not their fault! It is ours!! We go to them for a magic bullet and expect them to heal us and with not having to make any lifestyle changes. Is this fair to the doctors? Of course not!.

“I have gone through what other arthritis sufferers are going through right now. I am living proof that you don’t have to take medication, go home and learn to live with arthritis. I Cured My Arthritis You Can Too”.

Best of Health,

Margie Garrison
http://www.cureyourarthritis.com

Margie Garrison is an authority on the treatment of arthritis, a self-published author of the book I Cured My Arthritis You Can Too and her free weekly alternative health newsletter, Amazing Secrets To Fantastic Health.

Margie has raised four children, walked on fire with Tony Robbins, traveled the country, and appeared as a guest speaker on over 200 radio shows and six TV talk shows.

Because of her 43 year struggle with arthritis, unable to find answers through traditional medicine, Margie spent several years researching and found an alternative technique that enabled her to be free from her arthritis for over 25 years.

She has dedicated her life to helping people who suffer with arthritis and other ailments.

www.cureyourarthritis.com
www.yoursuccesslinks.com

View the original article here