How Can I Help Myself
Dont be too hard on yourself that means don’t feel guilty because on some days you cant be as active as others. Psoriatic arthritis can affect any age group, not just those in later life! Just because you may look fit and well to others, is not a reason for you to justify yourself to them when you are feeling unwell.
Good compliance with your medications is key, as is keeping up with regular hospital visits with your rheumatologist and dermatologist.
Make sure you get the best out of your hospital visits in the time allocated to you. Go over in your head the things you need to get covered in the consultation. Make sure you know of all the side effects on treatment options offered to you talk these over with your consultants and specialist nurses at the hospital clinics.
Try to keep a positive approach to your illness, learn to live alongside it.
If you need to talk about your feelings, make sure you do, choose a caring person you can relate to. Sometimes a problem shared is indeed a problem halved.
If you feel you need some support, ask a family member or a friend to come with you to the hospital appointment. This can sometimes be very helpful, if the doctor is firing questions at you, there may be some things you forget, that a partner can help with too. Make it a team effort, feel supported. Remember you are always entitled to get a second opinion if you are unsure about previous medical advice given.
Nsaids And Other Medications
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are drugs that are frequently used to ease inflammation, pain, and stiffness. NSAIDs can be rubbed on the skin or taken orally. These drugs prevent an enzyme called cyclooxygenase from making a hormone-like chemical called prostaglandins, one of the bodys biggest contributors of inflammation.
These products are inexpensive and often prescribed for people with achy joints. Some you can get over the counter. They are also used to relieve headaches and reduce fevers. Prescription-strength ibuprofen and other NSAIDs are associated with an increased risk for GI bleeding that can become worse when combined with alcohol.
How Will Psoriatic Arthritis Affect Me
The effects of psoriatic arthritis can vary a great deal between different people. This makes it difficult to offer advice on what you should expect.
Psoriatic arthritis can cause long-term damage to joints, bones and other tissue in the body, especially if it isnt treated.
Starting the right treatment as soon as possible will give you the best chance of keeping your arthritis under control and minimise damage to your body allowing you to lead a full and active life with psoriatic arthritis.
You dont need to face arthritis alone. If you need support or advice, call our Helpline today on . Our advisors can give you expert information and advice about arthritis and can offer support whenever you need it most.
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Alcohol And Arthritis Drugs
Yet another means by which alcohol is believed to worsen arthritis is by interfering with arthritis drugs.
Long-term consumption of alcohol can cause liver damage. When it reduces liver function, this means that alcohol can interfere with the metabolism and clearance of drugs. This could lead to either toxicity or reduction in the efficacies of these drugs.
Therefore, alcohol can increase the side effects of arthritis drugs or render them ineffective. Both scenarios are bad for arthritis patients because their pain and inflammation are then not well controlled.
The risk of liver damage through excessive alcohol consumption is significantly increased in arthritis patients who are also receiving DMARDs such as methotrexate.
Similar risks are also present when alcohol is mixed with acetaminophen.
However, even non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs, which are the most common drugs prescribed for arthritis, are affected by alcohol. People who mix alcohol and NSAIDs run the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and stomach ulcers.
Habits That Make Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms Worse
For the millions of people living with the effects of rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that can cause chronic pain and joint deterioration, effectively managing symptoms is an important part of maintaining a healthy quality of life. As with any medical condition, rheumatoid arthritis can affect everyone differently. Working with a Beverly Hills rheumatologist to find an individualized arthritis treatment plan that is most appropriate for each patients circumstances is the best method to find what is the most effective, be it medication, physical therapy, lifestyle modifications, or a combination of treatments.
In addition to professional medical care, there are a number of practical steps that every rheumatoid arthritis sufferer can take to help keep pain at bay and to stay healthy and active even after a diagnosis.
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Drinking More Alcohol Leads To Larger Psoriasis Lesions
Alcohol has been shown to worsen flare-ups and skin lesions. A study of more than 1,200 people with psoriasis found a direct relationship between the amount of alcohol they consumed and their Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score. The more alcohol a person drank, the larger their skin lesions were. The authors of the study wrote that the connection between alcohol and psoriasis symptoms seemed stronger in women but noted that the association has also been found in men.
More research is needed to determine if any types or amounts of alcohol are safe for people with psoriasis.
Unusual Things That Make Osteoarthritis Pain Feel Worse
Lack of sleep, feelings of helplessness, and chronic dehydration are all culprits.
Sam Edwards/Alamy
Osteoarthritis, or OA, is a disabling disease of the joint that occurs most often in the knees, hips, hands, and spine. In fact, one-third of U.S. adults older than 65 have osteoarthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , and OA in the knee is a major cause of disability.
Joint pain is the primary symptom of OA. It is caused when the cartilage in the affected area wears away, leaving the ends of the bones exposed so they rub against each other. But that isnt the only thing that can cause, or worsen, OA pain. Here are six others to watch out for.
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Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors
Tumor necrosis factor alpha is a pro-inflammatory cytokine produced by macrophages and lymphocytes. It is found in large quantities in the rheumatoid joint and is produced locally in the joint by synovial macrophages and lymphocytes infiltrating the joint synovium. TNF is one of the critical cytokines that mediate joint damage and destruction due to its activities on many cells in the joint as well as effects on other organs and body systems. TNF antagonists were the first of the biological DMARDS to be approved for the treatment of RA. These drugs began to enter the market for rheumatoid arthritis in 1999 and are now considered a part the ACR recommendations for treatment of RA. There are currently five TNF inhibitors FDA approved for the treatment of RA etanercept , infliximab , adalimumab , certolizumab pegol , and golimumab . Etanercept is a soluble TNF receptor-Fc immunoglobulin fusion construct infliximab, adalimumab, and golimumab are monoclonal antibodies and certolizumab pegol is an anti-TNF antigen binding domain-polyethylene glycol construct. While differing in structure, the efficacy and safety of the drugs is similar across the class in reducing the signs and symptoms of RA, as well as in slowing or halting radiographic damage, when used either as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate.
Alcohol Abuse Can Aggravate A Preexisting Condition Or Disease That Causes Joint Pain
A variety of illnesses and diseases can cause joint pain that ranges from mild to severe. This pain may be accompanied by inflammation, swelling and tenderness. With certain illnesses and diseases, alcohol abuse may cause a persons condition to become more severe.
Joint pain caused by the following conditions may be exacerbated by alcohol abuse:
- other types of arthritis
- rheumatoid arthritis
Individuals with these conditions may want to consider speaking to their doctor prior to consuming alcohol, this could be especially true if they take any pain relievers or other medications to manage their symptoms.
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What Tests Will I Be Required To Take During My Diagnosis And Treatments
A full case history will be taken, urine and blood tests requested, x-rays, sometimes specialist x-rays, images and scans may also be requested, plus a full examination of your affected parts i.e. back, hands, feet etc.
In summary points to remember when seeing your doctor:
Ask about your medicines:
Osteoarthritis Diagnosis And Site
Only OA diagnosed radiographically showed a significantly negative association . This group also had the greatest number of studies and included 9782 subjects. When analysing studies that combined both clinical and radiographic evidence as diagnostic criteria, no significant association was found .
Studies of knee OA predominated in our study, with 12,765 subjects across 12 studies. Meta-analyses grouped by this covariate, along with hand OA and site-unspecified OA found significant negative associations. There were no significant associations reported in the pooled analysis of hip OA, spine OA or multi-site OA subgroups.
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Common Medications To Treat Arthritis Flares
OA patients might just need some OTC pain-relieving medication such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Dr. Bose also recommends topical gels and lotions like diclofenac gel or 2 Old Goats. If that doesnt work, Dr. Ashany says joint injections of steroids may be given. RA flares are more complicated. In inflammatory arthritis, steroids are often used to try to quickly bring a flare under control, Dr. Ashany says. If only one joint is involved a steroid can be given by injection, but otherwise it can be taken orally .
In inflammatory arthritis, if flares continue to occur, this indicates that the patients regimen of maintenance medication is not adequate, Dr. Ashany says. This may lead to addition of a medication, switching one drug for another or increasing the dose of medication that the patient is currently taking.
The Worst Drinking Habits For Arthritis Symptoms Say Dietitians
If you suffer from sore, inflamed, arthritic joints , you probably have read that a glass of wine or a margarita might be just what the doctor ordered to ease your pain. Or you might have heard that stopping your drinking habit is the key to making joint aches go away. Or you might have heard both arguments and wondered which is true. After all, there are various studies that have suggested each be the case.
That means you might have to conduct a little experiment on yourself. If you dont drink alcohol, dont start now. But if you do drink, consider eliminating drinking alcohol to see if that behavior helps to remedy your pain. And remember, arthritis, which means joint inflammation, comes in many forms. Common ones include osteoarthritis, a wearing down of cartilage due to aging or injury, gout, caused by the build-up of crystals in the joints, psoriatic arthritis, which affects the skin and joints, and rheumatoid arthritis, where the bodys immune system attacks the joints and bones typically of the hands and feet.
Heres what science and a few registered dietitians have to say about beverage consumption and arthritis, and for more helpful tips, here are the Telltale Signs You Have Arthritis.
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How Alcohol Affects Arthritis
So, does alcohol affect arthritis? Are there links between alcohol and arthritis?
In short, yes.
Theres one type of arthritis, gout, that can be directly related to alcohol. Gout is a condition where a buildup of a chemical called uric acid happens in your hands or feet, causing hard, sharp crystals in the joint. Its incredibly painful. It can be temporary, or it can come back over and over again. Doctors believe that the two are directly related in this situation because beer and liquor increase the risk of developing gout.
Gout is triggered by certain foods and drinks which contain a chemical called purine, and the amount of purine in alcohol is high.
Aside from gout, alcohol and arthritis might have other relationships to one another. There is some research showing that drinking in moderation, which is essentially a glass of wine or a beer daily, may help reduce the risk of developing certain arthritic conditions, but again, moderation is the keyword here.
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How Bad Habits Major Life Events And Minor Injuries Can Trigger Psoriasis
Medically reviewed in June 2022
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that manifests as inflammation and a variety of symptoms that affect the skin. With the most common form of psoriasis, called plaque psoriasis, a misdirected immune response speeds up the growth of skin cells, resulting in raised patches of skin that look like dry, red patches of skin covered in silvery scales. Called plaques, these patches can be itchy and painful.
People can develop psoriasis at any age, but most often the condition develops between the ages 15 and 35. While research has yet to identify a specific cause that triggers the onset of psoriasis, there are several risk factors that are known to contribute to the condition.
One of the most significant of these risk factors is genetics. Research has identified numerous genetic variants and mutations associated with psoriasis, and it is known that having a family member with psoriasis increases your risk of developing psoriasis, too.
However, genetics arent the only risk factor. The following slides show a few additional risk factors that have been associated with the development of psoriasis.
Smoking
Add psoriasis to the list of diseases associated with smoking cigarettes. Several studies have shown that smokers and ex-smokers are at an increased risk of developing psoriasis, and that the risk is higher in women than in men.
Alcohol
Body weight
Injuries to the skin
Heres a phrase to file away for psoriasis trivia: the Koebner phenomenon.
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Foods High In Purines
For people who have gout, a doctor may advise a low purine diet combined with the medication.
Purines are substances in foods that the body converts to uric acid. Uric acid can build up in the bloodstream, causing a gout attack. According to the , the following foods are high in purines:
What a person eats can help:
Usually, inflammation protects the body from harm by helping defend against bacteria and aiding wound healing. However, when inflammation persists for an extended period, chronic symptoms can develop.
What a person eats has an impact on inflammation levels. Some foods are inflammatory, and others are anti-inflammatory.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, numerous studies show that anti-inflammatory foods can reduce arthritis pain and progression.
A persons body weight also influences inflammation levels. Fat cells produce cytokines, which are immune cells that increase inflammation.A person can use diet to maintain a moderate weight, which may help with inflammation and also reduce pressure on the joints.
Finally, some types of arthritis have specific trigger foods. For example, foods that are high in purines
Consuming the following foods may benefit people with arthritis.
Spearmint Tea Can Reduce Symptoms
A clinical trial conducted by researchers from a Canadian university found that drinking spearmint tea reduced discomfort and levels of debility among people who had a diagnosis of osteoarthritis in the knee.
Two groups of participants drank spearmint tea twice daily for 16 weeks. One tea contained high amounts of a natural substance called rosmarinic acid. A significant reduction in pain occurred among participants who drank the tea which was high in rosmarinic acid. It did not occur in the people who drank the regular, commercially available, spearmint tea, however both groups experienced less stiffness and disability. Quality of life improved for the group which consumed the rosmarinic rich tea.
Rosmarinic acid is found within many herbs. It is found in basil, holy basil, lemon balm, peppermint, thyme, marjoram, rosemary and sage. Include a wide array of these tasty herbs in your diet and reap the healing effects they offer.
In addition to improving symptoms of osteoarthritis, your digestive health may improve. These herbs add variety and flavor to your diet. They are rich in antioxidants which fight cancer and aging.
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When To See A Doc
If you have psoriasis and like to indulge in the occasional drink, talk with your doctor or dermatologist to discuss any potential concerns. They may recommend a safe amount to consume or offer other tips to minimize symptoms.
If youre experiencing depression due to your psoriasis, alcohol intake, or any other reason, bring that up with your doc too. Together, you can create a treatment plan that works for you.
Lack Of Exercise And Weight Gain
Just as stretching and light exercise can make it easier for you to get around and make your joints more flexible, lack of exercise and weight gain can quickly send you in the other direction and trigger flares.
Don’t neglect your body. Extra weight can:
- Put added pressure on already sore joints and on your spine
- Cause extra inflammation in your body and lead to arthritis in more joints
- Interfere with how well your medicine works
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What Are The Symptoms Of Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis can cause several different symptoms around the body. People will often have two or more of these symptoms, and they can range from mild to severe.
Some of the main symptoms include:
- swelling in one or more joints
- joint stiffness which feels worse when you get up after a rest and lasts longer than 30 minutes.
These symptoms are caused by inflammation inside a joint. This is known as inflammatory arthritis.
Any joint can be affected in this way. See below for the most commonly affected joints.
Psoriatic arthritis can cause pain and swelling along the bones that form the joints. This is caused by inflammation in the connective tissue, known as entheses, which attach tendons and ligaments to the bones. When they become inflamed its known as enthesitis.
Enthesitis pain can spread over a wider area rather than just inside a joint. Affected areas can feel tender if you touch them or if theres just a small amount of pressure on them. It commonly occurs in the feet. This can happen at the back of the heel or on the bottom of the foot near the heel. In some cases, this pain can make standing or walking difficult.
The knees, hips, elbows and chest can also be affected by enthesitis.
People with psoriatic arthritis can have swollen fingers or toes. This is known as dactylitis, or sausage digit, because it causes the whole finger or toe to swell up. It most commonly affects one or two fingers or toes at a time.