Arthritis is a condition of the joint, which often can be life changing for many individuals. Most people associate the condition with pain and agony. In many cases, your movements can be severely curtailed, and you have to make a restriction on lots of day to day activities. Arthritic people do consider taking vitamins and supplements as an alternate to medicine. However, symptoms of arthritis may not necessarily be the same for every individual. Hence the supplement which might work for one might not work for the other. Hence it is vital to have a consultation with your doctor and get to know about your health condition before taking the vitamins and supplements. Researchers have proven that taking some of the supplements can aid in reducing the swelling and can be beneficial in the long run. Let us take a look at these common supplements below. Glucosamine: These compounds are known to protect the cartilages from deteriorating. They can also be used in severe cases and most importantly, they can help in the free flowing movements of your limb. Chondroitin Sulfate: These compounds are widely associated with reducing the inflammation of the joints. The supplements are also considered safe and can be taken in combination with their drugs for arthritis control.

Arthritis is an inflammation that occurs in the joints of bones in any part of the body. It is a series of symptoms that happen together that result in arthritis. It is the most common problem among the elderly, but it may affect any age group. Arthritis is one of the leading causes of disability in America. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, and over 50 million people have some kind of arthritis. Causes of arthritis There is no specific cause for this disease. The causes vary according to the type of arthritis. Any joint injury may lead to arthritis. Also, malfunction of the immune system, metabolism disorder, infection and inheritance may also lead to arthritis. Different kinds of arthritis The most common types of Arthritis that affect most people are listed below. Osteoarthritis: It is a degenerative joint disease which involves all joints i.e. cartilage, underlying bones and ligaments. It causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. A recent study shows that in America, 26.9 million adults are suffering from osteoarthritis. Infectious arthritis When a bacteria, virus, or fungus enters into joints and causes inflammation, it is called infectious arthritis. A disease like gonorrhoea or hepatitis C can infect the joint.

Gout is one of the severe forms of arthritis that occurs when there are high levels of uric acid accumulation in the joints. The accumulation can mold into crystals engulfing the joints and can cause the same discomfort and agony as an arthritic condition. Uric acid is formed naturally in the body when it breaks a compound called purine. Purine is also found in certain food and a high intake of these items can result in the excess production of uric acid, thus increasing the symptoms of gout. Your body removes the excess uric acid through the urinary tract. But sometimes excess production of uric acid cannot be properly discharged, leading to its accrual and symptoms. Though there are many medications, the best treatment for gouty arthritis involves the reduction in the intake of foods associated with purine. Let us take a look at some of the ways through which gout symptoms can be reduced and the diet that you might have to follow. Gout diet A typical gout arthritis diet should include the food items that contain purine and at the same time avoid its over indulgence. Doctors would advise that certain food products can be avoided, but not all as these have to be included in your diet to control the levels of uric acid.

One can never say when arthritis may come and snatch away a person’s ability to climb up multiple flights of stairs. Arthritis leaves the joints weak and swollen, and you lose the ability to move or perform even the simplest of daily chores. Whether you are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, there is no need for any other discomfort to intervene with your daily life. With effective arthritis treatment, you will be able to come to terms with the symptoms of the ailment. Diet plays a major role It is not always required to take medicines for reducing arthritis. Maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in a regular workout and taking a well-regulated diet can help in reducing the pain and swelling. You must pay attention to losing weight if you are obese or even overweight. Also, you should aim to reduce the intake of arthritis foods high in purine content. These include sardines, dried beans, meat, kidney and liver meat, asparagus, mushrooms, and anchovies. When the body breaks down these purines, it leads to the production of uric acid. The excessive formation of uric acid can pave the way for painful crystal accumulation in the joints. In general, fried food, processed food, and pasteurized products are all best avoided to alleviate arthritis pain.

The pain that is experienced by an individual who suffers from osteoarthritis is inexplicable. The chronic condition is caused by friction in the joints of the bone. The ends of the bones are coated with a substance that is known as cartilage. However, when the cartilage breaks down, the ends of the bones are left bare and these lead to soreness and inflammation that increases with each passing day. Osteoarthritis is commonly experienced in the joints of the knees, elbows, lower back, etc. In a few rare cases, the condition can develop in the joints of the toes and fingers of the hands or feet. The condition becomes worst in time, increasing pain and thus effective one’s lifestyle and other factors like work and relationships. While the following foods may not treat the condition, they can bring about effective osteoarthritis pain relief with time: Fatty fish – Fish fat is believed to have a very good effect in relieving osteoarthritis pain and inflammation. This is because fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, etc are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acid. This acid is widely used in supplements to fight against inflammation in the body. A portion of fish should be consumed as a part of the diet, at least a few times a week.

A psoriasis is a form of the auto-immune disease which takes place when the skin cells start developing at an exponential rate. The excess amount of skin makes way for scaly lesions on the surface of the skin, which is clinically known as flare-ups. It has been estimated that approximately 30 percent of the individuals with psoriasis suffer from another condition known as psoriatic arthritis. It is an autoimmune disease which takes place when the body takes a toll on the otherwise healthy joints and leads to inflammation. If left without treatment, psoriatic arthritis can lead to permanent damage to the joints. What are the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis? In most cases, people with psoriatic arthritis develop the symptoms of psoriasis in the first place. However, there is no hard and fast rule that it would always occur. You should know about the symptoms of the psoriatic symptoms which include: Swelling Both psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis leads to swelling in and around the joints. But with psoriatic arthritis, there is a unique kind of swelling affecting the toes and the fingers. You may notice that your toes and fingers are becoming like sausage before you feel any effects on the joints themselves.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic, degenerative disorder that causes pain and inflammation the joints of the body. This type of disease has no cure, but it can be managed well with medical intervention comprising OTC painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and injections. However, apart from professional osteoarthritis treatments, you can take the help of several natural measures to deal with this condition. They are mentioned as follows Exercise and weight loss Certain types of exercises can help alleviate the stiffness of joints and pain. However, ensure the kinds of exercises you are planning on doing aren’t demanding. The best way to get this right is by consulting a physiotherapist who can guide you about the suitable workout methods to increase flexibility. Simple yoga and water-based exercises can encourage movement without straining the joints. On the other hand, if you are overweight, strive to shed some pounds as it will minimize the stress on your joints and help make osteoarthritis treatments more effective. Anti-inflammatory diet A wholesome diet will help you manage an ideal weight as well as make you more active. Design a diet which includes anti-inflammatory foods such as broccoli, low-fat dairy products, herbal teas, garlic, seafood (tuna, mackerel, salmon, etc.), citrus fruits, nuts, ginger, turmeric, etc.

Recent researches show that curcumin, which is the active ingredient in the culinary arts possesses potential anti-inflammatory as well as anti-arthritic properties. Many pieces of research found that a highly bio available form of curcumin is very effective in helping the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis compared to the NSAIDs. How does arthritis affect Americans? At least 2 million individuals in America suffer from classical or definite arthritis which is steadily increasing in the recent years. Most people affected by arthritis suffer from rheumatoid arthritis; they also tend to have a progressive disability. Certain disability occurs in about 50 to 70 percent of individuals within five years of being affected by the disease, and at least half of them are compelled to stop working within ten years of the onset of the disease. How can turmeric help in alleviating the symptoms of arthritis? A clinical trial assessing the safety and effectiveness of the turmeric extract in patients suffering from osteoarthritis shows that it helps in reducing the pain and inflammation of arthritis. Using turmeric for arthritis also reduces the need to consume prescribed drugs for alleviating the symptoms of arthritis. Turmeric contains anti-oxidants: The curcuminoids are a class of compounds present in turmeric with strong antioxidant effect.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus are chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases. These are conditions where the body attacks and damages its own immune system. Inflammation causes pain, redness, swelling, loss of function, and heat; it can affect internal or external organs or sometimes both. The differences between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the joints. It may affect other areas of the body too. It causes pain, stiffness, and swelling affecting the function of joints. Lupus is also known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It is an inflammatory disorder that takes on different forms and affects any part of the body. It affects the skin, heart, lungs, joints, blood, kidneys, and brain. It may cause severe pain and tissue damage. Rheumatoid Arthritis and lupus can both affect people of all ages, although the cause is unknown. You may experience difficulty sleeping, dry, itchy eyes, or chest pain while breathing. Look for symptoms of weight loss, weakness, depression, or numbing of skin tissues. Make sure to go for a medical diagnosis at the earliest if you feel any of the following symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis or Lupus. Early symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis include: – Fever – Anemia – Joint pain – Joint Stiffness – Joint swelling – Deformity of the joints – Joint pain in many places – Joint tenderness – Loss of joint functions – Same joints affected on both sides of the body Few early symptoms of lupus include:

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the body’s immune system, which first targets the lining of the joint called the synovium. This results in pain, stiffness, swelling, joint damage, and loss of function. Inflammation often affects joints of the hands and feet. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to occur symmetrically and this helps to distinguish it from other diseases. Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder that causes pain in the tissues, which support and move the bones and joints of the body. Stiffness and localized tender points result in pain in the muscles and tendons, particularly in the neck, shoulders, spine, and hips. Patients usually experience fatigue and sleep disturbances. Medications to treat the condition include drugs that would help to ease the symptoms and would slow down the disease. The basic goals of rheumatoid arthritis fibromyalgia treatments are to: • Stop the inflammation • Relieve the symptoms • Prevent further joint and organ damage • Improve physical functionality and overall well-being • Reduce any long-term complications To meet these goals, the doctor follows these strategies: • Early, aggressive treatment This strategy is to reduce or stop inflammation as quickly as possible. • Targeting remission The ultimate goal of treating these ailments is to stop it and achieve remission, meaning minimal or absolutely no signs or symptoms of active inflammation.

This disease has been one of the depressing autoimmune diseases known in terms of pain. This occurs when the body’s immune system isn’t functioning properly. The symptoms are swollen joints, swollen hand, and feet. The treatments are effective and can stop the pain but it is an ongoing process. The early diagnosis can cure severe joint damage and treatment can give better results. Regular walks, jogging, squats and other muscle strengthening exercises should work wonders for such diseases and can avoid them as well. It is better to lead an active life rather than sit for hours in the hospital. At times worse cases of rheumatoid arthritis require joint replacement. Around 75% of rheumatoid arthritis are seen in women and the disease starts around the age of 30 years. This chronic disease that causes decreased movement affects the joints mostly and internally affects the eyes, lungs etc. Stiffness for longer time worsens mostly while you get up lasting up to a day. Sometimes there would be a numbness as well and that condition is a serious symptom that you might be suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Weakness in joints, less energy, inconsistent fevers, loss of appetite, dry mouth and fewer tears in the eyes, lumps called rheumatoid nodules growing under the skin at elbows and hands are prominent.