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Gout And Calcium Crystal Diseases
Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that can cause painful swelling in joints. It typically affects the big toe, but it can also affect other joints in the body.
Joints affected by gout can become red and hot. The skin may also look shiny and can peel.
Its caused by having too much urate, otherwise known as uric acid, in the body. We all have a certain amount of urate in our body.
However, being overweight or eating and drinking too much of certain types of food and alcoholic drinks can cause some people to have more urate in their bodies. The genes you inherit can make you more likely to develop gout.
If it reaches a high level, urate can form into crystals that remain in and around the joint. They can be there for a while without causing any problems and even without the person realising they are there.
A knock to a part of the body or having a fever can lead to the crystals falling into the soft part of the joint. This will cause pain and swelling.
There are drugs that can reduce the amount of urate in the body and prevent gout attacks. Examples are allopurinol and . If youre having a gout attack, youll also need short-term pain relief. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as well as paracetamol can be good drugs to try first.
Men can get gout from their mid-20s, and in women its more common after the menopause. Taking water tablets can increase the risk of gout.
There are also conditions that cause calcium crystals to form in and around joints.
Follow An Anti Inflammatory Diet
An anti inflammatory diet can not only reduce inflammation, it can also help you maintain a healthy weight. There are different ways to approach an anti inflammatory diet and differing levels of dietary restrictions. In general you want to:
- Eat fruits and vegetables
- Eat whole grains like rice, quinoa, oats, barley and corn
- Eat lean protein
- Do not consume processed foods, sugar, alcohol, fast food, TV dinners and bread and bread products
An anti inflammatory diet is a lifestyle change that does not focus on just losing weight. That heavily processed lean TV dinner might help you cut calories but is not part of an anti inflammatory diet.
A dietician may be able to help you make better food choices, create healthy habits and stick to them. Lets be honest: changing your diet is tough. Luckily, with a little practice you can make delicious meals using whole, healthy foods that will make you feel better, give you energy and help prevent arthritis.
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What Not To Do
Taking proactive steps to prevent arthritis can have a significant impact, especially when effective chiropractic care is involved. Some common solutions being offered today are not really solutions at all. In fact, they can create even more problems in the body.
For example, it is common for people with arthritis to use drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, etc. to fight the pain associated with arthritis. Sadly, these drugs, known as NSAIDs, come with dangerous side effects.
According to a UK research report in the journal PAIN, patients taking NSAIDs for at least two months show a risk of death at a rate of 1 in every 1,200 patients! In addition to this risk, 1 in 5 will have ulcers, about 1 in 70 have stomach pains/symptoms and 1 in 150 have ulcers that bleed. It was concluded that NSAIDs kill 3 times as many people as cancer of the cervix.
Given this information, I hope this you will want to consider looking at more natural ways to treat arthritis. People who want to prevent arthritis or treat its symptoms long term should avoid these types of drugs.
How Regularly Consulting A Doctor Can Help Prevent Arthritis
Unfortunately there is currently no known cure for arthritis. Medical experts have found that following a healthy life-style reduces the risks of arthritis and that people who exercise and eat healthily tend to have a lower chance of getting arthritis. By 2030, the number of medically diagnosed adults with arthritis in the United States is expected to grow to sixty seven million, making it of the up-most importance to maintain a healthy life-style and pay regular visits to a doctor if any unusual feelings occur in the joint areas.
A patients medical history will play an important role in helping the doctor to perform a correct diagnosis for arthritis. It details previous illnesses or injuries that could possibly have caused the joint problem to led to arthritis. The medical history of family members may also be taken into account and examined to help clarify the patients physical condition and to determine if arthritis is the cause of the painful feelings in the patients joints that they have endured. The doctor will conduct a thorough medical check-up that will include some basic exercises and movements to fully understand the capabilities of the patients range of motion, and to examine the damage that has already been caused in the joints because of the disease.
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Causes Of Arthritis In The Hands
Arthritic conditions can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, and tenderness in the small joints of the hands and fingers.
Inflammatory arthritis conditions, like RA, psoriatic arthritis, gout, and ankylosing spondylitis cause inflammation. Symptoms of inflammation include redness, warmth, swelling, and pain. In general, OA is degenerative, rather than inflammatory.
Take Control Of Your Health
Arthritis isnt an entirely preventable disease. Some of us are always going to be more susceptible to it than others. We may have a genetic pre-disposition, we may have to work at a desk all day, or we may simply be getting older.
Dont let this discourage you. There are so many ways you can take control of your own health and take steps to relieving your arthritis symptoms.
Maybe you havent developed arthritis yet, and maybe you never will. But these are still great tips and great measures you can take to keep your body healthy and functioning properly.
Eating well, exercising regularly, avoiding injury and visiting your doctor are all great ideas regardless of whether or not you think you might be developing arthritis. By following these steps, youll soon be well on your way to a healthier you.
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Avoid High Impact Exercise
Avoid exercises such as running, plyometrics, and contact sports. Instead, try biking, walking, swimming, or low impact options on exercise videos to protect your joints. Sticking to low impact exercises can also help you prevent major injuries such as a ligament tear, which can contribute to arthritis.
What Should I Do If Arthritis Symptoms First Appear
The Arthritis Foundation says there are four important warning signs that may indicate you have arthritis. They include:
- Pain that may be constant or might come and go. It may be in one part of the body or in different areas.
- The skin over an affected joint may become swollen, red or warm when you touch it. Swelling that lasts three days or long over a joint could be a sign of arthritis.
- Stiffness in a joint, when you wake up in the morning or after you sit at a desk or in a car for a long time, could be a sign of arthritis.
- Difficulty moving a joint could indicate arthritis is present.
Arthritis can get steadily worse over time if it is left untreated. Seeking treatment from your physician as soon as possible may help prevent your joints from becoming permanently damaged. It is a good idea to keep a journal to track your symptoms for a few weeks, noting which joints are hurting, when they hurt and for how long they hurt.
The Advanced Orthopaedics Center team can help you get more information about preventing arthritis and can help determine if you have arthritis. Please feel free to contact us.
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Exercise And Physical Therapy
Dr. Hascalovici states, “Physical therapy and light exercise can be a part of your arthritis treatment plan. Yoga, in particular, has been shown to provide relief for arthritis pain and restore mobility in clinical trials. A stretching routine prescribed by a professional can reduce the pressure on your joints while helping your body to relax.”
How To Avoid Achy Joints
There are more than 100 different types of arthritis. The three main types are osteoarthritis , rheumatoid arthritis , and psoriatic arthritis . Each type develops differently, but all are painful and can lead to joint deformity and a loss of function.
You cant always prevent arthritis. Some causes, such as age, family history, and sex , are out of your control.
However, a few healthy habits can help reduce your risk of developing painful joints as you get older. Many of these practices such as exercising and eating a healthy diet help prevent other diseases, too.
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Arthritis And Tai Chi
There is good evidence to support the effectiveness of tai chi for people with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions. There are many styles of tai chi and most are suitable for people with arthritis.
The benefits of tai chi include:
- it can be practised by people of all ages and fitness levels
- it promotes correct body posture and balance
- its a low impact exercise
- it can help relieve joint pain and stiffness
- it integrates the body and mind
- it uses gentle and circular movements
- its relaxing and enjoyable.
You can learn tai chi from books and DVDs, but most people find it easier to learn from a qualified instructor. Books and DVDs are useful to help you practice between classes.
Before starting a tai chi class:
- Talk with your doctor about whether tai chi is suitable for you.
- Make sure your instructor is qualified, and takes special care of people with arthritis. Musculoskeletal Australia can help you find suitable instructors.
Arthritis: What Is It What Causes It And How To Treat It
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, and is often blamed on wear and tear. Right now, there are millions of Americans with OA, and their joint pain, swelling and stiffness can become a chronic condition that is felt most commonly in the knees, hips, lower back and neck, but can also effect smaller joints of the feet and hands. This is why its so important to learn as much as possible about arthritis in order take steps to improve your OA now.
After treating many patients with joint pain due to OA, we routinely get questions about how to prevent and/or treat arthritis, and we wanted to answer those common queries so people would understand what causes OA and what can be done to minimize the impact of arthritis.
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How To Prevent Arthritis Naturally With Diet And Exercise
Medical Perspectives | Lifestyle & Wellness
Did you know that in 2010, 22.7% of adults reported physician-diagnosed arthritis? And that arthritis has a slightly higher prevalence in women than in men ? The high number of arthritis cases may have you wondering how to avoid this chronic illness.
Read on to learn how arthritis affects your body and what you can do to treat or prevent arthritis naturally.
Does Arthritis Affect Women More Often Than Men
Arthritis does affect women more frequently than men. More than 46 million Americans are living with arthritis, and 61 percent of them are women. That means about 28 million women are affected by arthritis in the United States.
Rheumatoid Arthritis affects more women than men in the United States. Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center says RA is two to three more times prevalent in women compared to men. Researchers believe hormonal differences between women and men may explain part of the reason.
The good news is there are some steps women can take to try to prevent osteoarthritis. They include:
- Lose weight to reduce pressure being put on knee and hip joints
- Do low-impact exercises to avoid wearing down the cartilage in joints
- Leave high heels in the closet to avoid the pressure they put on ankle joints
- When lifting objects, lift with your legs instead of your back to relieve stress on joints
- Maintain adequate levels of Vitamin D to slow the progression of arthritis
- Stay hydrated to keep cartilage lubricated and functioning smoothly
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Replace High Impact Sports With Low Impact Activities
Some people dont feel like theyre getting a workout unless theyre gasping for breath, but in reality, low impact exercises and activities can provide a great workout without damaging your joint cartilage. High impact sports like running, basketball and football cause wear and tear of cartilage in our joints. Strength training, brisk walking, swimming and yoga are all excellent low impact exercises.
Expert Shares Tips For Reversing Your Arthritis
Everyone can experience joint pain from time to time, but when it becomes constant, chances are it’s arthritis. As we age, arthritis, or joint inflammation, can happen and according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, “In the United States, 24% of all adults, or 58.5 million people, have arthritis. It is a leading cause of work disability, with annual costs for medical care and lost earnings of $303.5 billion.”Dr. Jacob Hascalovici, the chief medical officer and pain specialist with Clearing explained to Eat This, Not That! Health,“Although there is currently no cure for arthritis, there are more treatment options than ever. The goal of most arthritis treatments is to maintain and restore your joint mobility, while keeping your pain levels low.” That said, there are things we can do to help ameliorate arthritis, says Dr. Hascalovici. Read his tips below and read on to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
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How To Reduce Your Risk Of Arthritis
Even if you cant prevent it, you might be able to lower your chances of developing some forms of arthritis.
The fact is, there is no sure way to prevent arthritis. But you can help reduce your risk and delay the potential onset of certain types of arthritis. If you have healthy joints right now, do all you can now to maintain mobility and function and avoid the pain and disability associated with arthritis.
There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions, and each has associated risk factors, individual features, behaviors and circumstances.
Some risk factors are not modifiable, and there really isnt anything you you can do about them. Being female and having a family history of arthritis are two examples of factors that make people more likely but not certain to get some types of arthritis.
Risk factors that are considered modifiable are the behaviors and circumstances that can be changed in order to reduce risk, delay onset or even prevent arthritis. A few examples of modifiable risk factors for certain types of arthritis and related conditions:
- Osteoarthritis: Maintain a healthy weight.
How Is Arthritis Treated
For many types of arthritis, there are treatments available that can help control symptoms and prevent damage to the joints.
The most appropriate treatment will depend on which type of arthritis you have, which joints are affected, and the symptoms you have.
Treatment might include:
- medicines, such as painkillers, anti-inflammatory medicines or medicines to slow down the disease
- pain management techniques, such as meditation
In severe cases, surgery may be needed to replace or repair damaged joints.
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The 10 Best Foods To Eat If You Have Arthritis
If you have arthritis, you know just how devastating this condition can be.
Arthritis is a term for a class of diseases that cause pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. It can affect people of all ages, genders and ethnic backgrounds.
There are many different types of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is one type, which develops in joints with overuse. Another type is rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease in which your immune system attacks your joints (
Fortunately, there are many foods that can ease inflammation and may help relieve some of the joint pain associated with arthritis.
In fact, one survey found that 24% of those with rheumatoid arthritis reported that their diet had an impact on the severity of their symptoms (
This article will look at 10 of the best foods to eat if you have arthritis.
Always Maintain A Proper Posture
Improper posture may cause you to develop arthritis especially, related to the spine. You must therefore ensure that you maintain the proper posture at all times. If you have to stay in the same position, make sure to refresh the posture every 15- 20 minutes. As you sit or stand for very long hours, remain upright and always ensure that your legs, arms, and back are well supported.
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When To See A Healthcare Provider
Some telltale signs that arthritis has affected your hands include swelling, stiffness, tenderness, and joint pain of your wrists, hands, and fingers.
You should see a healthcare provider when:
- Home treatments arent helping. If you have tried ice, heat therapy, over-the-counter pain relievers, and rest without adequate relief, it is a good idea to make an appointment with your practitioner to determine the source of your hand symptoms.
- You have pain in multiple joints. Conditions like RA make several of your joints hurts. So, if you are experiencing pain in other joints, in addition to your hands, it is a good idea to call your healthcare provider and get in for an appointment.
- Your hand joints hurt a lot. If you have severe hand, finger, or wrist pain, this is another reason to call your practitioner.
- You have warmth and redness. Symptoms like redness and warmth are signs of inflammation in the joints and need to be checked out.
- You have gradual pain and stiffness. Any type of joint painwhether in your hands or elsewhere in your bodythat progresses slowly could be linked to an underlying medical illness