Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Arthritis Foods: What Are Some Foods You Avoid And Take In Managing Arthritis

Some foods can lead to the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Many experience relief after avoiding trigger foods. So, what arthritis foods should you avoid and take?

Let's begin with foods that you should avoid. Most people experience more pain when they take foods such as

1. All dairy products
2. Nightshade vegetables such as tomatoes, white potatoes, peppers (includes bell peppers, cayenne, chili, paprika, pimiento), tobacco, belladonna, and eggplant.
3. Red Meats
4. Corns, wheat, oats, rye, and barley.
5. Eggs
6. Citrus fruits
7. Coffee
8. Foods that are rich in oxalic acid or oxalates such as star fruit (carambola), black pepper, parsley, poppy seed, rhubarb stalks, amaranth, spinach, chard, beets, cocoa, chocolate, most nuts, most berries, and beans.
9. Alcohol
10. Carbonated drinks.
11. Foods that easily get mold which can cause allergy such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, nuts, berries, cantaloupe and honeydew melon

The list above may increase arthritic symptoms. Not everyone react the same to the food groups above. You need to monitor the type of foods that can aggravate the pain.

In the recent years, scientists have identified foods that are friendly to your arthritic conditions.

1. Increase the intake of green, yellow, and orange vegetables such as artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, chard, collards, lettuce, spinach, string beans, summer or winter squash, sweet potatoes, tapioca, and taro . They contains high amount of antioxidants, Vitamins C and E. They help to neutralize free radicals which attack the joints.

2. Eat brown rice instead of corns, wheat, oats, rye, and barley

3. Choose cooked or dried fruits such as cherries, cranberries, pears, prunes. These do not include arthritis trigger fruits such as citrus fruits, bananas, peaches or tomatoes.

4. Drink plenty of plain water.

Include arthritis friendly foods in your diet for four weeks. You should not have any of the trigger foods at all. After four weeks, when the symptoms go away, you can easily identify foods that causes flare-ups by bringing back the food which you eliminate previously into your diet one at a time. Observe if the pain bursts out. If there is any flare-ups, remove the food from your diet. Let the joints heal before you introduce another food. Wait for two weeks before bringing the problematic food into your routine the second time. Don't reintroduce major triggers such as meats, dairy products, or eggs into your diet. They can also cause hormone imbalances that may lead to joint pain.

The foods as listed above are not extensive. You need to determine which foods are friendly and hostile to arthritis by using the above method.

Arthritis foods can help to reduce and manage pain. Elimination of animal protein, nightshade family, and dairy products have helped some people with arthritis. You need to be aware that the results are not the same for everyone. If you follow a healthy diet, you can deal with arthritic pain more effectively.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleStreet.com/

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Foot Arthritis

There are more than 100 types of arthritis but osteoarthritis is the most common form. Osteo means bone and osteoarthritis develops from wear and tear as we age which causes inflammation and swelling. Foot arthritis is one of the most common joints to be affected.


There are 30 joints in your foot and 28 bones. The ligaments hold all the bones and joints in their proper place. When arthritis develops in a joint your balance can be affected which can affect your walking. The foot joints most commonly affected are:1. The ankle where the shin bone rests on the upper bone of the foot2. The 3 joints of the hind foot where the bottom of the talus connects to the heel.3. The midfoot where the fore foot bone connects to the smaller mid foot bone.4. The great toe where the metatarsal connects to the toe bone. This is also where you will find your bunions develop.


There are a variety of the symptoms that you can have with foot arthritis. Common symptoms include tenderness, pain, reduced motion, stiffness, and swelling. It may mean that walking is difficult.


The best way to diagnose arthritis is to see your doctor. Your doctor will do a physical exam and collect your medical history. He will ask you questions like when did the pain begin? Is it worse at night? Can you run? Does the pain stay or come and go? Have you injured the food previously? How? Does the pain appear in both feet? What types of shoes do you wear? What medication are you on?


Your doctor may also decide to x-ray, CT scan, or MRI. You might also have to do a gait analysis. This will show how your leg bones and foot bones line up when you walk. It also tests the strength of the ankle. Once the doctor has the answer to all these questions


Once your doctor has all the information he or she will be in a much better position to decide what the correct treatment course is. There are many non surgical treatments that are commonly used.


NSAIDs are the first line of defense reducing both inflammation and pain. Arch supports or other shoe supports can help and wearing a custom shoe may also be a good idea. Braces and canes can also be used. Your doctor may also recommend physical therapy.


If your arthritis doesn't improve your doctor may give you a steroid shot into the joint. If that doesn't work surgical treatments may have to be considered.


If you require surgery it can be painful so expect to be taking pain medications. You may be on a walking cast, crutches, walker, or even a wheelchair after surgery. You will have to keep your foot elevated for the first 7 days. And you won't be able to put weight on the foot for 6 weeks.


Foot arthritis requires you seek medical intervention early to minimize the amount of damage to your foot.

Author : Cory Ponciaono
http://www.articleclick.com/Article/Foot-Arthritis/947584

All About Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is termed as a chronic disease. It is common among most people across the globe. The disease is usually characterized via inflammation of the skin and joints. The inflammation of the skin is medically termed as psoriasis and inflammation of the joints is known as arthritis.

This disease is very common among people between the ages of 40 and 60. Both males and females are affected equally by this disease. It is believed that the skin disease or psoriasis occur separately from the joint pain or the arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis can be referred to as a systemic rheumatic disease that has the potential to result in the body tissue inflammation. It may also affect other parts of the body such as the heart, eyes, kidneys and lungs.

This type of arthritis usually share several features with the arthritis of other types including reactive arthritis, arthritis related to Crohn's disease, ankylosing spondylitis and arthritis related to ulcerative colitis.

Almost all these conditions may result in inflammation in the spine as well as other joints. The inflammation can also occur in the eyes, mouth, skin and several other organs.

A) Causes of this type of arthritis

There are several causes associated to this type of arthritis. However, the exact cause of this disease is unknown. It is believed that a blend of several genetic and immune factors in conjunction with several environmental factors is responsible for the occurrence of this disease. Patients suffering from this disease may suffer from inflammation of the skin. Certain genes such as HLA-B27 are responsible for the occurrence of this disease.

Several other genes have also been found responsible for this disease. Medical experts feel that some changes occurring in the immune system may play a significant role in developing psoriatic arthritis. Exposure to infection and changes in the environment are also responsible for this disease to occur.

B) Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis

If you want to treat a disease, it is extremely important to know about it at an early stage. This is the best way to rush for medical help and get the best of treatment available.

When it comes to psoriatic arthritis, a patient tends to experience inflammation of the skin as the primary symptoms. Of course, there are other symptoms such as inflammation of the joints, pain in the joints, swelling, and the skin getting hot and red. In some cases, inflammation of the joint in the fingers or toes can result in the swelling of the entire digit.

This results in the appearance of a sausage. Stiffness in the joints is the most common symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. This condition may also result in inflammation of the spine and even the sacrum. This finally results in stiffness and pain in the lower back, neck, buttocks and upper back.

C) Treatments

The condition can be treated with a combination of anti-inflammatory medicines or NSAIDs and exercises. In progressive cases, more powerful medication such as corticosteroids, methotrexate and antimalarial medicines are prescribed. Early diagnosis is the best treatment.

Author : Bertil Hjert
http://www.articleclick.com/Article/All-About-Psoriatic-Arthritis/992160

Hip Osteoarthritis Management

Osteoarthritis tends to attach joints that carry weight. The wear and tear of the years leads to destruction of the cartilage and the hip is a common joint for it to set in. Hip osteoarthritis management is important to pain and inflammation management.


On the ends of your bones is a covering called the articular cartilage. It's helps the hip glide but over the years it becomes thin. Your first signs of a problem may result in buttock, groin, or thigh pain when you wake up in the morning. Pain might increase when you are active and decrease when you rest.


If you ignore your condition the pain will increase over time until even rest will not relieve it. That's because the hip joint gets increasingly inflamed and stiff. Bone spurs build up and the bones rub on each other which makes moving very painful. You will probably loose the ability to flex or rotate your hip.


Right now today more than 10 million Americans suffer with osteoarthritis. If you have other family members that suffer you are more likely to suffer too. If you are overweight extra pressure is placed on the hip which can cause problems.


There is no known way to reverse osteoarthritis so early intervention is important to reduce and slow the progression and of course to get the pain under control. In the most serious cases hip surgery may become a treatment plan.


When you visit your doctor expect him to rotate, extend, and flex your hip during the investigation. You need to fully describe your symptoms to the doctor. You may be required to walk, and you may also have to stand on one leg.


Non surgical treatments will include rest to begin with and then may include physical therapy that includes things like swimming, water aerobics. You will be placed on a program of NSAIDS which my be over the counter or prescription strength. You also need to make sure you get a good nights sleep each night. If you are overweight it's time to consider a weight reduction program.


If you require hip replacement surgery because of late stages of osteoarthritis you will be fitted with a two piece ball and socket hip joint designed to replace your original joint. This surgery reduces pain and gives you back your mobility. For a short time after your surgery you may need to use a walker but your rehabilitation program will have you walking on your own in no time. It just takes a bit for the muscles to get shape.


Studies have shown a significant genetic factor for arthritis so if your mother or father or grandparents suffered from osteoarthritis there is a good chance you might. The age at which it becomes most common is dependant on genetic as well.


Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and hip osteoarthritis is very common. Thanks to modern technology the treatment options are much superior than only a decade ago.

Author : Cory Ponciaono
http://www.articleclick.com/Article/Hip-Osteoarthritis-Management/947592

Looking For Relief? Try Arthritis Gloves

Suffering from arthritis in the hands? Do you live with pain in your hands and fingers? Joints stiff, swollen and sore? Looking for relief? Why not try arthritis gloves.


These gloves are designed to help relieve the pain and increase circulation. They reduce swelling and oxygenate the blood so that it can better reach the areas that need to be healed.


There are two common types of arthritis - osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It commonly causes sleepless nights because of nightmares and often even after a night of sleep sufferers awake feeling unrested.


You need a good nights sleep in order for your body to rejuvenate and heal itself. When you don't get that sleep you wake up in worse pain. So getting a good nights sleep is really important.


Eating well and exercising regularly are also important. You should also add a Glucosamine supplement to your diet which will help reduce stress on your joints. Always try to prevent further injury to the joints.


And of course the gloves are an essential element to reducing your level of pain. You get the most benefits by wearing the gloves regularly. There are many different styles of gloves on the market. Some have open finger tips while others are a full glove. Choose what's right for you.


Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease of the joints that is a result of the cartilage breaking down. It generally affects the spine, hands, knees, and feet or other weight bearing joints. It decreases your range of motion and the actual cause is not fully understood.


Rheumatoid arthritis is inflammatory arthritis and it's actually more common than you might have thought. It is caused when the membrane that lines the joint thickens. It involves hands, ankles, hips, elbows, knees, and shoulders. It can remain bad continuously or it can flare up and settle down.


Thermoskin is one type of arthritic glove that has become very popular. It compresses and supports muscle injury with it's comfortable fit and it also stabilizes the area.


Trioxon is a new Thermoskin line which is made from a unique material that is so soft and it also captures the body heat of the wearer. Completely washable these gloves are no fuss no muss.


There are other manufacturers other than Thermoskin. All have their own pros and cons but they object is consistently the same - to reduce the pain and swelling of the hands and fingers. Check out the wide selection online.


There are many different sites that sell arthritis gloves all of which are available online. Prices vary depending on the site so it certainly pays to spend a bit of time researching the different retailers.


It's highly recommended that you own more than one pair. That way you will always have a pair you can wear. It also doesn't hurt to purchase the different styles so you've got all kinds of options on a day to day basis.


Arthritis gloves are a great way to help reduce pain and reduce the swelling of the joints. So what are you waiting for?

Author : Cory Ponciano
http://www.articleclick.com/Article/Looking-For-Relief-Try-Arthritis-Gloves/947547