The 20 Best Weight-Loss Foods

Many runners would like to lose a pound or 2. Maybe 5. Maybe more. Why? That's easy: to feel better, look better, improve their health, and run farther and faster.

However, losing weight can be surprisingly difficult. In fact, national health surveys show Americans in general are getting fatter. Sure, regular runners should be ahead of the pack, but many are still losing the weight-gain war.

What you need is a simple plan. Here it is, in just two parts: (1) Make a little more time to run; (2) Concentrate on a handful of dietary changes that, over the course of a year, can produce significant weight-loss results.

Below we've listed 20 great diet changes that you'll find easy to achieve. Many of them will help you cut 100 calories or more from a single serving. Now do the math. Say you eat this particular food or meal three times a week. That's 100 x 3 x 52, or 15,600 calories saved in a year. Which comes to almost 5 pounds, since you'll lose one pound for every 3,500 calories cut from your food intake.

Make another food substitution, and you're up to 10 pounds. Beyond that, the sky's the limit. Here's your meal-by-meal planner. Don't skip breakfast. A good breakfast is the most crucial part of any healthy weight-loss effort, as it revs up your energy level and metabolism for the full day.

Homemade raisin bran
Description: Mix one cup of Total cereal, a packet of raisins, and 1 cup nonfat milk. This simple home recipe with 244 calories fortifies you with 100 percent of the Daily Value for most vitamins and minerals, boosts your protein intake by 12 grams, and gives you a sweet, natural fiber and sugar source.
You'll Save: 50 calories, 6 teaspoons of sugar, and 5 grams of fat compared with ready-to-serve raisin bran doused with a cup of 2-percent milk.

Scrambled whites with greens
Description: This low-fat, scrambled-egg alternative provides 54 grams of high-quality dietary protein in just 255 calories. First, spray your frying pan with fat-free Pam. Then pour the equivalent of four servings of Eggology egg whites (or Second Nature or Egg Beaters egg whites) in a bowl and blend with 1/2 cup spinach and 1/2 cup mushrooms. Heat the pan until the Pam starts to bubble, pour in the eggs, and fry until the eggs are nearly dry.
You'll Save: 40 calories, 100 milligrams of cholesterol, and 13 grams of fat compared with two normal scrambled eggs.

Balanced Diet Shake
Description: For something cool, tasty, and nutrient-filled in the morning, try a shake or smoothie. The Balanced Diet nutritional drink provides 180 calories with lots of complex carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals in a naturally flavored French vanilla or chocolate royale. Each serving includes 5 grams of dietary fiber and 10 grams of soy, or 40 percent of the daily minimum now recommended by the American Heart Association.
You'll Save: 60 calories daily and nearly 6 grams of fat compared with many other similar drinks.

Frozen fruit smoothie
Description: You can prepare your own personal antioxidant-filled fruit smoothie like the following one that runner Bruce Shapiro used to lose 30 pounds over the last few years. Combine and blend: one cup frozen, unsweetened blueberries; 1/2 banana; 1/4 cup wheat germ; and water.
You'll Save: 200 calories for each 2- to 3-cup serving, compared with many store-bought and canned smoothie beverages.

Toasted plain Lender's Bagel with natural jam
Description: Sure, a frozen bagel can't match a fresh one, but it's easier to obtain for many people, and a little toasting brings it to near perfection. Just spread with your favorite natural jam.
You'll Save: Anywhere from 160 to 360 calories and more than 10 grams of fat compared with similar bagels bought at Dunkin' Donuts and other outlets where the bagels are spread with cream cheese.
Lunch is the second-most-important meal of the day in your weight-loss plan. It boosts your energy level and regulates your metabolism to keep you on an even keel.

Boca Burger Grilled Vegetable burger
Description: This zesty, soy-based vegetarian alternative to the high-saturated-fat American BBQ staple contains hints of zucchini, red-bell pepper, garlic, onion, and even a couple of cheeses. It tastes great and provides a good dose of protein. Add some lettuce, tomato, ketchup, or your other favorite toppings, and you'll hardly notice the difference from the traditional burger.
You'll Save: Up to 180 calories and 19 grams of fat compared with a typically-grilled 3-ounce beef burger.

Alvarado Street sprouted wheat tortilla
Description: It's easy to make your own delicious wrap and save hundreds of calories. With this tasty, organic, whole-wheat tortilla you'll have no trouble fixing a quick, hearty lunch. Boost your vitamin and mineral intake by loading on a handful of greens, shredded carrots, tomato, and peppers along with grilled chicken, lean meat, turkey, or a bean-based filler.
You'll Save: Anywhere from 50 calories and 5 grams of fat to much more if you customarily buy a commercial wrap drowning in mayo, oily toppings, or greasy chicken.

Subway roast beef sub sandwich
Description: Can't live without meat? You don't have to. Meat is a great source of protein, iron, and several important minerals, and the Subway lean 6-inch roast beef sub contains just 264 calories and 4.5 grams of fat in a meal perfectly balanced with lettuce, tomato, and vegetables.
You'll Save: Nearly 100 calories and 12 grams of fat compared with a tuna salad sub, and more than 20 grams of fat compared with the classic meatball sub.

Health Valley chili
Description: The right soup is always a great part of your weight-loss arsenal. This can of fat-free chili is tasty, easy to prepare, and filled with healthy fiber.
You'll Save: 200 calories and 22 grams of fat compared with other prepared and restaurant chilis.

Tossed salad with croutons instead of salad dressing.
Description: You know that green salads make an important contribution to your day's eating, but you've probably never thought of them as an expression of art and adventure. Here's your chance. Instead of drenching your salads in high-fat dressings, decorate them with croutons, beans, or fruit.
You'll Save: 100 calories and 28 grams of fat when you add 1 ounce of croutons and 1/2 cup of beans, peas, and raisins to your salad in place of 1 ounce of an oil-based dressing. You'll also increase your intake of iron, folic acid, Vitamin C, and fiber.

Everybody has a snack attack at one time or another, and there's no reason to fight it. Research shows that those who snack when hungry eat less later and control their weight better. Just be sure you eat healthy, low-fat snacks such as the ones that follow.

Frozen grapes, blueberries, and/or bananas
Description: Frozen cold sweet fruits are refreshing, satisfying, nutritious, and taste "smooth" or even creamy like many fat-filled desserts. They're easy to store in your freezer, whether store bought or picked-by-you-and-your-family and then frozen. Because of their texture, temperature, and consistency, they taste sweet, and alert your body to stop eating before you've overdone it.
You'll Save: 80 calories when you compare a whole 12-ounce bag of frozen blueberries to a small serving of TCBY frozen yogurt, and 200 calories and 14 grams of fat when you compare a frozen banana with a 1/2 cup of Ben and Jerry's.

Dried papaya, mango, and/or dates
Description: For a sweet taste that mimics a piece of candy, try a dried-fruit snack. Raisins are the most popular, but these papayas, mangos, and dates will provide your daily dose of vitamin C, plus some vitamin A and iron. They require more chewing time than raisins, and will satisfy most people in a smaller quantity than raisins, which are easy to overeat.
You'll Save: 100 to 150 calories for 4 to 6 pieces when compared with a handful of raisins or other dense, sugary foods and candies.

Glenny's Apple Cinnamon Low-Fat Soy Crisps
Description: Available in two-serving bags, these crunchy cinnamon treats will satisfy your sweet tooth while setting you back just 150 calories for 28 crisps. Also available in lightly salted and onion flavor, each bag contains 10 grams of soy protein (The American Heart Association recommends 25 to 50 grams of soy protein each day for heart health) plus 200 percent of your daily vitamin C need, 20 percent of your iron need, and 10 percent of your calcium need.
You'll Save: 150 calories and 15 grams of fat compared with graham-cracker snack treats.
A satisfying dinner will help you avoid a late-night pigout. The best dinners are high in complex carbohydrates, and low in fat. The carbohydrates will help you sleep better, and also fuel your morning workout.

Spaghetti squash
Description: When prepared, the spaghetti squash actually resembles a plate of spaghetti, so you can add all your favorite sauces and toppings. Rich in fluids (about 92.3 percent water), carbohydrates, fiber, potassium, Vitamin C, and pantothenic acid (a B vitamin), spaghetti squash makes an ideal, low-calorie entre that's still filling. (Note: This is not, however, the best way to carbo-load for a marathon, or resupply your leg muscles after a hard workout. For that, you'll want a traditional plate of pasta, heavy on the spaghetti, and light on the sauces.)
You'll Save: 200 calories compared with 2 cups of wheat spaghetti.

Papadini, hi-protein, pure-lentil bean pasta
Description: This delicious, wheat- and gluten-free pasta has a unique, appealing taste, and shouldn't trouble runners whose stomachs are sensitive to regular pastas. It also has 5 more grams of protein per serving than traditional pasta, and is richer in iron, folic acid, and other B-vitamins necessary for metabolizing carbohydrates, proteins, and fats for energy. When you prepare Papadini pasta as a vegetable primavera, tossed with peas, beans carrots, tomatoes, and corn, you get as much protein as a chicken or steak dinner without the excess fat, cholesterol, and calories.
You'll Save: 20 calories per 2-ounce serving compared with traditional wheat pastas.

Idaho Supreme potato pasta
Description: Here's another wheat- and gluten-free alternative to the real McCoy. Potato-based pasta is a delightful, high-complex-carbohydrate, high-fiber wheat alternative. The Idaho Supreme pasta is made from organic potatoes to help preserve the Vitamin C, calcium, and iron necessary for strong, healthy running.
You'll Save: 20 calories per 2-ounce serving compared with traditional pastas.

Advantage\10 pizza
Description: This delicious pizza alternative featuring grilled vegetables was designed by low-fat health guru Dean Ornish. You can practically eat the whole pie for the same number of calories you get from one or two slices at your local pizzeria.
You'll Save: 250 calories and more than 20 grams of fat compared with most restaurant or supermarket pizzas.

Barbara's Mashed Potatoes
Description: They're not a full meal, of course, but these easy-to-prepare mashed potatoes in a box make a great, high-carbohydrate, low-fat "comfort" dish to go with your meal. Prepare them with nonfat milk, water, a little salt, and nonfat margarine.
You'll Save: 50 calories and 6 grams of fat compared with a 1-cup serving of traditional mashed potatoes.
It's normal and natural to want something sweet after dinner. Especially if you've been training hard. Since chocolate has recently been shown to contain powerful antioxidants, why not indulge a little?

Haagen-Dazs chocolate sorbet
Description: Who ever thought Haagen-Dazs would make it into this article? But it does. This richly chocolate frozen treat manages to taste creamy without containing any fat at all. Sure, it's sugary, but at least you're getting some protein and fiber as well.
You'll Save: 100 calories and 15 grams of fat per serving compared with HD's chocolate fudge ice cream.

Chocolate Dreams cookies
Description: A meringue-type version of the traditional chocolate chip cookie, this one lets you gobble down 5 cookies for under 30 calories and no fat. Bonus: You get two grams of protein as well.
You'll Save: At least 150 calories and 9 grams of fat compared with just 3 regular chocolate chip cookies.

Common Vitamins and Supplements to Treat Arthritis

Supplements


Supplement Guide: Avocado Soybean Unsaponifiables
A natural vegetable extract made from avocado and soybean oils

Supplement Guide: Black Currant Oil
Black currant seed oil is obtained from seeds of the black currant

Supplement Guide: Borage Oil
Oil from the seeds of the borage plant

Supplement Guide: Boswellia
See Indian Frankincense

Supplement Guide: Bromelain
Group of enzymes found in pineapple that break down protein.

Supplement Guide: Cat's Claw
Dried root bark of a woody vine that grows in the Amazon rain forests

Supplement Guide: Chondroitin Sulfate
A component of human connective tissues found in cartilage and bone

Supplement Guide: Curcumin
See Turmeric

Supplement Guide: Devil's Claw
A traditional herb used in South Africa

Supplement Guide: DHEA
An androgen steroid hormone naturally produced by the adrenal glands

Supplement Guide: DMSO
A colorless, sulfur-containing organic by-product of wood pulp processing

Supplement Guide: Evening Primrose
The seeds of a wildflower, containing gamma-linolenic acid (GLA)

Supplement Guide: Fish Oil
Oil from cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, halibut and cod

Supplement Guide: Flaxseed
Seed of the flax plant, containing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids

Supplement Guide: Ginger
The dried or fresh root of the ginger plant

Supplement Guide: Ginkgo
Leaf of the ginkgo biloba tree, native to East Asia

Supplement Guide: GLA
Omega-6 fatty acid in evening primrose, black currant and borage oils

Supplement Guide: Glucosamine
Major component of joint cartilage; derived from the shells of shellfish

Supplement Guide: Indian Frankincense
Gum resin from the bark of the Boswellia tree found in India

Supplement Guide: Melatonin
A hormone produced by the pineal gland

Supplement Guide: MSM
Organic sulfur compound found naturally in fruits, vegetables, grains, etc.

Supplement Guide: Sam-e
A naturally occurring chemical in the body

Supplement Guide: St. John's Wort
The St. John’s wort plant is native to Europe and grows wild in the U.S.

Supplement Guide: Stinging Nettle
A stalk-like plant found in the U.S., Canada and Europe

Supplement Guide: Thunder God Vine
Root of a vine-like plant from Asia

Supplement Guide: Turmeric
A yellow powder ground from the roots of the lily-like turmeric plant

Supplement Guide: Valerian
The dried root of the perennial herb valerian




Causes
Arthritis involves the breakdown of cartilage. Cartilage normally protects a joint, allowing it to move smoothly. Cartilage also absorbs shock when pressure is placed on the joint, such as when you walk. Without the normal amount of cartilage, the bones rub together, causing pain, swelling (inflammation), and stiffness.
Joint inflammation may result from:
An autoimmune disease (the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue)
Broken bone
General "wear and tear" on joints
Infection, usually by bacteria or virus
Usually the joint inflammation goes away after the cause goes away or is treated. Sometimes it does not. When this happens, you have chronic arthritis. Arthritis may occur in men or women. Osteoarthritis is the most common type. See: Osteoarthritis
Other, more common types of arthritis include:
Ankylosing spondylitis
Gonococcal arthritis
Gout
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (in children)
Other bacterial infections (nongonococcal bacterial arthritis)
Psoriatic arthritis
Reactive arthritis (Reiter syndrome)
Rheumatoid arthritis (in adults)
Scleroderma
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Back to TopSymptoms
Arthritis causes joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited movement. Symptoms can include:
Joint pain
Joint swelling
Reduced ability to move the joint
Redness of the skin around a joint
Stiffness, especially in the morning
Warmth around a joint
Back to TopExams and Tests
The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history.
The physical exam may show:
Fluid around a joint
Warm, red, tender joints
Difficulty moving a joint (called "limited range of motion")
Some types of arthritis may cause joint deformity. This may be a sign of severe, untreated rheumatoid arthritis.
Blood tests and joint x-rays are often done to check for infection and other causes of arthritis.
Your doctor may also remove a sample of joint fluid with a needle and send it to a lab for examination.
Back to TopTreatment
The goal of treatment is to reduce pain, improve function, and prevent further joint damage. The underlying cause cannot usually be cured.
LIFESTYLE CHANGES
Lifestyle changes are the preferred treatment for osteoarthritis and other types of joint inflammation. Exercise can help relieve stiffness, reduce pain and fatigue, and improve muscle and bone strength. Your health care team can help you design an exercise program that is best for you.
Exercise programs may include:
Low-impact aerobic activity (also called endurance exercise)
Range of motion exercises for flexibility
Strength training for muscle tone
Physical therapy may be recommended. This might include:
Heat or ice
Splints or orthotics to support joints and help improve their position; this is often needed for rheumatoid arthritis
Water therapy
Massage
Other recommendations:
Get plenty of sleep. Sleeping 8 to 10 hours a night and taking naps during the day can help you recover from a flare-up more quickly and may even help prevent flare ups.
Avoid staying in one position for too long.
Avoid positions or movements that place extra stress on your sore joints.
Change your home to make activities easier. For example, install grab bars in the shower, the tub, and near the toilet.
Try stress-reducing activities, such as meditation, yoga, or tai chi.
Eat a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables, which contain important vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin E.
Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as cold water fish (salmon, mackerel, and herring), flaxseed, rapeseed (canola) oil, soybeans, soybean oil, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts.
Apply capsaicin cream over your painful joints. You may feel improvement after applying the cream for 3-7 days.
Lose weight, if you are overweight. Weight loss can greatly improve joint pain in the legs and feet.
MEDICATIONS
Medications may be prescribed along with lifestyle changes. All medications have risks, some more than others. It is important that you are closely monitored by a doctor when taking arthritis medications.
Generally, over-the-counter medications are recommended first:
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is usually tried first. Take up to 4 grams a day (two arthritis-strength Tylenol every 8 hours). Do not take more than the recommended dose or take the drug along with a lot of alcohol. Doing so may damage your your liver.
Aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that can relieve arthritis pain. However, they have many potential risks, especially if used for a long time. Potential side effects include heart attack, stroke, stomach ulcers, bleeding from the digestive tract, and kidney damage.
Prescription medicines include:
Biologics are used for the treatment of autoimmune arthritis. They include etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira), abatacept (Orencia), rituximab (Rituxan), golimumab (Simponi), certolizumab (Cimzia), and tocilizumab (Actemra). These drugs can improve the quality of life for many patients, but can have serious side effects.
Corticosteroids ("steroids") help reduce inflammation. They may be injected into painful joints or given by mouth.
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are used to treat autoimmune arthritis. They include methotrexate, gold salts, penicillamine, sulfasalazine, and hydroxychloroquine.
Immunosuppressants such as azathioprine or cyclophosphamide are used to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis when other medications have not worked.
It is very important to take your medications as directed by your doctor. If you are having difficulty doing so (for example, because of side effects), you should talk to your doctor. Also make sure your doctor knows about all the medicines you are taking, including vitamins and supplements bought without a prescription.
SURGERY AND OTHER TREATMENTS
In some cases, surgery may be done if other treatments have not worked. This may include:
Arthroplasty to rebuild the joint
Joint replacement, such as a total knee joint replacement
Back to TopOutlook (Prognosis)
A few arthritis-related disorders can be completely cured with proper treatment.
Most forms of arthritis however are long-term (chronic) conditions.
Back to TopPossible Complications
Complications of arthritis include:
Long-term (chronic) pain
Disability
Difficulty performing daily activities
Back to TopWhen to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your doctor if:
Your joint pain persists beyond 3 days.
You have severe unexplained joint pain.
The affected joint is significantly swollen.
You have a hard time moving the joint.
Your skin around the joint is red or hot to the touch.
You have a fever or have lost weight unintentionally.
Back to TopPrevention
Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent joint damage. If you have a family history of arthritis, tell your doctor, even if you do not have joint pain.
Avoiding excessive, repeated motions may help protect you against osteoarthritis.
Back to TopReferences
D'Cruz DP, Khamashta MA, Hughes GR. Systemic lupus erythematosus. Lancet . 2007;369(9561):587-96.
Hunter DJ, Lo GH. The management of osteoarthritis: an overview and call to appropriate conservative treatment. Med Clin North Am . 2009;93:127-43, xi.
Huizinga TW, Pincus T. In the clinic. Rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Intern Med. 2010 Jul 6;153(1):ITC1-1-ITC1-15.
MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC
News & Features Reporter's File Expert Q & A Questions for Your Doctor Clinical Trials
Review Date: 2/2/2012
Reviewed By: Ariel D. Teitel, MD, MBA, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

arthritis symptoms

Pain and progressive stiffness without noticeable swelling, chills, or fever during normal activities probably indicates the gradual onset of osteoarthritis.

WorthRheumatoid arthritis is a serious autoimmune disease that attacks the joints and other body parts.
But RA can be tough to diagnose. Symptoms can mimic other illnesses, or they may flare, then fade, only to flare again somewhere else. Lab tests aren’t perfect—you can test negative for RA factors and still have it. And X-rays don’t show signs until later on.


Here are some tricky rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and hints that they’re due to RA and not some other condition.

Painful swelling, inflammation, and stiffness in the fingers, arms, legs, and wrists occurring in the same joints on both sides of the body, especially upon awakening, may be signs of rheumatoid arthritis.

Understanding Arthritis
Find out more about arthritis:
Basics
Symptoms
Diagnosis and Treatment
Fever, joint inflammation, tenderness, and sharp pain, sometimes accompanied by chills and associated with an injury or another illness, may indicate infectious arthritis.

In children, intermittent fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, and anemia, or blotchy rash on the arms and legs, may signal the onset of some types of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Other forms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are associated with joint stiffness, a limp, or joint swelling.

Call Your Doctor About Arthritis If:

The pain and stiffness come on quickly, whether from an injury or an unknown cause.
The pain is accompanied by fever; you may have infectious arthritis.
The pain develops quickly and is associated with redness and extreme tenderness of the joint; this may be the onset of gout.
You notice pain and stiffness in your arms, legs, or back after sitting for short periods or after a night's sleep; you may be developing osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or another arthritic condition.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) facts

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) facts

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that affects the joints. It causes pain, swelling, and stiffness. If one knee or hand has rheumatoid arthritis, usually the other does too. This disease often occurs in more than one joint and can affect any joint in the body. People with this disease may feel sick and tired, and they sometimes get fevers.

Some people have this disease for only a few months or a year or two. Then it goes away without causing damage. Other people have times when the symptoms get worse (flares), and times when they get better (remissions). Others have a severe form of the disease that can last for many years or a lifetime. This form of the disease can cause serious joint damage.

Who Gets Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can cause chronic inflammation of the joints and other areas of the body.
Rheumatoid arthritis can affect people of all ages.
The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not known.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease, characterized by periods of disease flares and remissions.
In rheumatoid arthritis, multiple joints are usually, but not always, affected in a symmetrical pattern.
Chronic inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis can cause permanent joint destruction and deformity.
Damage to joints can occur early and does not correlate with the severity of symptoms.
The "rheumatoid factor" is an antibody that can be found in the blood of 80% of people with rheumatoid arthritis.
There is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis.
The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis optimally involves a combination of patient education, rest and exercise, joint protection, medications, and occasionally surgery.
Early treatment of rheumatoid arthritis results in better outcomes.

What is rheumatoid arthritis (RA)?

What is rheumatoid arthritis (RA)?
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that affects the joints. It causes pain, swelling, and stiffness. If one knee or hand has rheumatoid arthritis,Disorder that is believed to result from an "autoimmune" process in which the body's immune system attacks itself

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. While inflammation of the tissue around the joints and inflammatory arthritis are characteristic features of rheumatoid arthritis, the disease can also cause inflammation and injury in other organs in the body. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the body's tissues are mistakenly attacked by their own immune system. The immune system contains a complex organization of cells and antibodies designed normally to "seek and destroy" invaders of the body, particularly infections. Patients with autoimmune diseases have antibodies in their blood that target their own body tissues, where they can be associated with inflammation. Because it can affect multiple other organs of the body, rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a systemic illness and is sometimes called rheumatoid disease.



While rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic illness, meaning it can last for years, patients may experience long periods without symptoms. However, rheumatoid arthritis is typically a progressive illness that has the potential to cause joint destruction and functional disability.

A joint is where two bones meet to allow movement of body parts. Arthritis means joint inflammation. The joint inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis causes swelling, pain, stiffness, and redness in the joints. The inflammation of rheumatoid disease can also occur in tissues around the joints, such as the tendons, ligaments, and muscles.

In some people with rheumatoid arthritis, chronic inflammation leads to the destruction of the cartilage, bone, and ligaments, causing deformity of the joints. Damage to the joints can occur early in the disease and be progressive. Moreover, studies have shown that the progressive damage to the joints does not necessarily correlate with the degree of pain, stiffness, or swelling present in the joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a common rheumatic disease, affecting approximately 1.3 million people in the United States, according to current census data. The disease is three times more common in women as in men. It afflicts people of all races equally. The disease can begin at any age and even affects children (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis), but it most often starts after 40 years of age and before 60 years of age. In some families, multiple members can be affected, suggesting a genetic basis for the disorder.

Treatments for Arthritis Hip and Knee Pain

Treatments for Arthritis Hip and Knee Pain

Arthritis literally means "inflammation of the joints". There are more than 100 distinct forms of rheumatic or clinical conditions considered as arthritis, making it difficult to diagnose and treat this complex disorder. Arthritis is not fatal but can affect any one from any age group. Age, anatomy and degeneration of joints are some of the reasons that cause arthritis. Pain, swelling and immobility are common manifestations of arthritis. Statistics indicate that every one in three Americans suffer from chronic joint pains or arthritis.
When it comes to treating osteoarthritis in your knees and hips, you may have more options than you realize. In February 2008, the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting osteoarthritis research and treatment, published its first evidence-based recommendations for treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. The goal was to eliminate inconsistent treatment approaches by creating simple guidelines that would enable health care providers to determine which therapies would be most useful for an individual patient.

The committee took the scientifically proven commonalities it found in the international literature, evaluated the level of scientific evidence, proposed a strength of recommendation for each modality, and then condensed them into a comprehensive “playbook” of 25 treatment recommendations. The first of the 25 recommendations is to combine drug and non-drug treatments for optimal results. The remaining 24 fall into three categories: non-drug, drug and surgical. Following are the 25 recommendations with updates and links to further reading by Arthritis Today.

1. Drug and non-drug treatments. The optimal osteoarthritis (OA) treatment program should consist of both medications and non-drug treatments.

Non-drug treatments

2. Education and self-management. The initial focus of treatment should be on what patients can do for themselves, rather than on passive therapies delivered by a health professional.  Learn about the Arthritis Foundation Self-Help Program.

3. Regular telephone contact.  The best evidence for the benefit of phone contact came from a study of 439 OA patients in which monthly phone calls from lay personnel promoting self-care were associated with improvements in joint pain and physical function for up to a year.

4. Physical therapy. Studies consistently support the usefulness of an evaluation by a physical therapist and instruction in appropriate exercise to reduce pain and improve function. Physical therapists can also provide assistive devices to make daily tasks easier.

5. Aerobic, muscle-strengthening and water-based exercises. A rounded exercise program can promote muscle strength, improve range of motion, increase mobility and ease pain. Read this Arthritis Today articles on fitness and exercise.

 6. Weight loss. Maintaining your recommended weight or losing weight if you are overweight can lessen your pain by reducing stress on your affected joints. Weight loss specifically helps ease pressure on weight-bearing joints such as the hips and knees. Arthritis Today’s special weight-loss guide.

7. Walking aids. Canes and crutches can reduce pain in hip and knee or OA. If both hips and/or knees are affected wheeled walkers may be preferable.

8. Footwear and insoles. If osteoarthritis affects the knee, special footwear and insoles can reduce pain and improve walking.

9. Knee braces. For osteoarthritis with associated knee instability, a knee brace can reduce pain, improve stability and reduce the risk of falling.

10. Heat and cold. Many people find the heat of a warm bath, heat pack or paraffin bath eases OA pain. Others find relief in cold packs. Still others prefer alternating the two.  Learn more about using heat and cold.

11. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).  A technique in which a weak electric current is administered through electrodes placed on the skin, TENS is believed to stop messages from pain receptors from reaching the brain. It has been shown to help with short-term pain control in some patients with knee or hip arthritis.

12. Acupuncture. A form of traditional Chinese medicine involving the insertion of thin, sharp needles at specific points on the body, acupuncture has been touted as a treatment for osteoarthritis pain. A recent trial of 352 patients with knee osteoarthritis showed small but statistically significant improvement in pain intensity two and four weeks after a course of acupuncture. Read more about acupuncture.

Do I Have Arthritis?

How Do I know I have Arthritis


You did not say whether these family members had rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis.

RA is genetic. One of the first place it starts to strike is in the hands and fingers.

Most forms of arthritis are gentic. There is not much you can do (especially osteoarthritis) other then take tylenol or other meds to reduce the inflammation.


Arthritis is a disease that is most common with women. This is not to say that the men folks are exempted but the rate among women is more than that of the men. Also, it has been discovered to be prevalent among older people. However, there are other types of arthritis that affects the younger ones as well.

Arthritis might not be far away from you if:
- you are having persistent pain in your joints
- there is swelling in one or more of your joints
- you have persistent low back pain

In other words, no age range is spared by arthritis. As mentioned earlier, there is presently no known cure for this deadly disease. You are therefore advised to seek urgent medical attention when you discover that you or your loved one is experiencing any symptoms of arthritis.

If you have been thinking that arthritis is just a single disease, it is time to have a rethink as this piece will show you. The condition of arthritis varies from age and sex. It is more seen among women than men. Older people are known to be prone to the disease than the young ones.

A better understanding of the early symptoms of any of these types of arthritis is required to tackle the disease headlong. Immediately you notice any of these symptoms, it is advisable that you quickly see a reliable and reputable physician that will counsel you on how to address the problem and continue your normal life.

If you or your loved one has arthritis, you should know that it is not the end of the world.
Famous people that have shaped the destinies of nations have had the problem and have confronted it successfully.

What Are The Types Of Arthritis

What Are The Types Of Arthritis

Did you know there is more than one type of arthritis? In fact, there are more than 100 types of arthritis. It's a condition that affects more than 46 million U.S. adults -- a number that's expected to increase to 67 million adults by the year 2030.
Arthritis owes its origin to the Greek words – “arthron” and “itis”. It is a compound word for several other arthritic conditions. There are presently lots of these conditions or factors relating to causes of arthritis.

There are different types of arthritis with its own peculiar symptoms and treatment. Presently there are over lots of types of arthritis. Let me just highlight the common ones for you.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: This type of arthritis is not restricted to any particular age. It can happen to you at any age. The causes are yet to be discovered. Among the different types of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is the most devastating as it can cause severe deformities of the joints coupled with general weakness of the entire body. Rheumatoid arthritic patients usually suffer from problems such as hammer toes, claw toes and several others that can truncate the normal lifestyle of an individual.

Osteoarthritis: This is the most common of the types of arthritis. It has been discovered to be the cause of severe strain and the wearing away of the cartilage in the joints of the foot. Consequently, movement of the patient is hampered and very painful. The pain could worsen when walking or standing.

Gout: This type of arthritis is associated with foot complications. It affects the big toe most of the time. The big toe is mostly affected because of the stress and pressure it experiences while walking or when doing other weight bearing activities. This is why there is so much pain in the big toe. Gout arthritis is mostly common among the men than the women.

Juvenile arthritis: Unfortunately, children are not left out of this deadly disease known as arthritis. Juvenile arthritis affects mostly children before the age of sixteen, which is why it is called Juvenile arthritis. This disease could occur as early as six weeks of age. It is very common among the girls than the boys.

Arthritis, Deadly Joint Disease

Arthritis, Deadly Joint Disease

Types of arthritis that resemble infectious joint disease, no causative agent has been isolated. Principal among these is rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis is one of the deadly diseases in the world apart from the HIV. This is the disease that has claimed many lives nation wide. Millions of dollars have been spent in combating this deadly disease, yet there is no permanent solution.

If you or a loved one have this disease, you need to be aware that it is not the end of the world yet. Many people like you having the same problem have been able to continue living their normal lives, while battling with this disease.

Arthritis is a disease that you can recover from if detected early enough. An early treatment will prolong your life or that of your loved one. It is a disease that is common in joints. Arthritis as a term derives its meaning from the Greek word “arthron” and “it is”. The former means joint while the latter means inflammation.

Arthritis is not just a single disease but a combination of several other diseases that affect your joints. Actually, it combines different diseases. Some of these various diseases associated with arthritis involve inflammation of the joint, while others do not.

Some of these different diseases are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, pseudo-gout, ankylosing spondylitis, polymyalgia rheumatica, psoriatic arthritis, etc. Though presently there is no known cure for this disease, researches are still being carried out in order to find a cure.

It is advisable that you contact a reputable and reliable physician for treating arthritis. These professionals are more experienced than you. Their timely advice can help elongate your life or that of your loved one battling with arthritis.

Though many people out there are scared of visiting a physician, it is advisable that you do so; as it might be the saving grace. You must watch out for the arthritis symptoms early enough to know when to begin receiving treatment for arthritis.

As soon as you detect any early symptoms of arthritis, it is recommended that you seek immediate help and assistance of a professional rheumatologist who will be in the best position to help you with the needed treatment.

Home Remedies for Arthritis Joint Pain and Inflammation Relief

Home Remedies for Arthritis Joint Pain and Inflammation Relief

I have pmr which s polymyaliga rhuematica, and I take turmeric, it realy help with the swelling of my knees, and be able to walk..

Clients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (as well as your garden variety joint pain) often come to me for help. Rheumatoid arthritis, caused by an overactive immune system, is especially scary, since the medical protocol can be quite intense (such as chemotherapy and other therapies which suppress the immune system). Because of this common medical treatment, I do not suggest any immune-enhancing herbs (such as Echinacea or Goldenseal). Instead, I’m going to recommend herbs to treat inflammation (the true root cause of all disease, in my humble opinion) as well as herbs which cleanse the blood and strengthen the body in general.

Alterative herbs help cleanse metabolic waste products and toxins from our body, and are a staple of herbal medicine. Alteratives work by supporting the natural cleansing functions of the kidneys, large intestines, increase blood flow and aid lymph drainage. Allowing these wastes and toxins to circulate throughout the body is a cause of inflammation and, when the body is attempting to stem inflammation, it’s not able to do much else in order to support our health. Here are a few herbs to help stem inflammation and aid the body in its detoxing efforts. (Note: these herbs are helpful for anyone with illness—not just arthritis or other inflammatory conditions).


Arthritis is one of the common aging effects suffered by many, which is caused due to the degeneration of bones and cartilages. It is a painful condition generally observed in the major joints along with swelling and inflammation. Among a thousand types of arthritis, the most prevailing ones are gout, osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis. The Rheumatoid arthritis is the most severe form of this disease that affects the muscles and tendons apart from the joints. The joints of shoulders, knees, hips, ankles, heels, wrists, fingers and elbow wear out as one progress towards aging. Sometimes unhealthy lifestyle and obesity also invites arthritis at an early age. Both men and women suffer from varying degrees of this disease; women being more prone to arthritis after menopause.

Symptoms

Common symptoms pointing towards Arthritis are

1. Moderate to severe pain in the joints.
2. Swelling and inflammation of joints.
3. Tenderness and stiffness in the joints restricting free movements.
4. Fever in case of Rheumatoid arthritis.
5. Formation of big toe in case of Gout.

Causes

1. Aging
2. Higher levels of uric acid in blood
3. Obesity
4. Fluctuations in the hormonal levels
5. Tenderness in the synovial joints

Home Remedies for Arthritis

Apart from the conventional treatment through the administration of high doses of analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, home remedies provide an alternate treatment of arthritis which is no less effective than the drugs.

1. Raw potato juice gives wondrous results in treating arthritis. Thin slices of potato including the skin are soaked in a glass of water overnight, which should be drunk early in the morning with the sunrise.

2. Regular physical exercises improve the blood circulation and helps in strengthening the joints. It also keeps the body weight in control and prevents crippling of the limbs.

3. Hot Epsom salt baths are very useful for this treatment as the skin absorbs the salt and enhances blood circulation.

4. Reduced intake of protein, refined sugar and other processed foods is necessary in treating arthritis.

5. Drinking a cup of juice of carrot, beet root, celery and other leafy vegetables is a good home remedy for arthritis.

6. The herb Boswelia Serrata has anti-inflammatory properties that help in reducing inflammation.

7. The herb Angelica is enriched with anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic and pain relieving constituents that is very effective in reducing the discomforts of arthritis.

8. Sea bathing and steam baths are very useful in arthritis treatment.

9. Rubbing the joints with castor oil is also beneficial in treating this disorder.

10. Massaging the painful joints with the essential oils of Juniper, sage, Rosemary, Thyme diluted with olive oil in the ratio of 1:10 provides instant relief to the pain.

Natural Remedies for Treating Arthritis

Natural Remedies For Arthritis

When joint cartilage wears away, bone rubs against bone, causing osteoarthritis. Sounds painful?
Kitchen-crafted remedies can help ease the pain of arthritis. Read on to learn the benefits of everyday items like Epsom salts, aspartame, and dairy products.

Osteoarthritis seriously impairs the quality of life for 27 million Americans. Given that osteoarthritis is so disabling, painful, and common, lots of quack “cures” are out there, from shark cartilage to copper jewelry to snake venom.

But here are 13 natural remedies that research suggests may actually help ease arthritis pain.

Arthritis is an inflammatory joint condition causing stiffness, swelling, and pain. There are approximately 300 joints throughout your body. Arthritis limits your activity and usually gets worse if left untreated.

By following these natural remedies for arthritis, you can greatly reduce and in many cases, eliminate arthritis pain without the damaging effects of drugs. Medications may help reduce inflammation but there are side effects such as upset stomach, gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney problems.

Connection between Diet and Arthritis

Eating a well-balance diet is essential for arthritis sufferers. If you are serious about eliminating pain, then you must be willing to make changes. Eating more fruits and vegetables and decreasing the amount of processed foods will detoxify your body and keep it running smoothly.

A healthier diet also aids in weight reduction. Being overweight puts undue pressure on your joints and increases the painful symptoms.

Natural remedies for arthritis include yellow and orange fruits and vegetables. They are high in vitamin A and are essential for bone function as well as aiding your immune system in the reduction of pain. Apricots, cantaloupe, grapefruit, mangoes, oranges, carrots, and winter squash are good starters. A glass of fresh squeezed orange juice a day is a tasty way to get a good dose of vitamin A.

Eliminating dairy, sugar, and wheat from your diet is also essential in the reduction of arthritis pain. Drink rice milk or almond milk and eat whole grains instead. Use honey as a sweetener in place of sugar.
The Result of Proper Intake of Fluid and Arthritis

Drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day helps to release toxins and controls constipation, decreasing the amount of pain in your joints. It is also essential in weight reduction. Regular intake of fluids also aids in the proper functioning of all major body organs.

The best way to make sure you are drinking the recommended dosage is to measure the amount you drink. Unless you do, you are only guessing.
Benefits of Exercise and Arthritis

Regular physical activity plays an essential role in the treatment of arthritis. One of the best known exercises encompassing a wide range of benefits is Yoga. These benefits include increased strength, flexibility and energy, decreasing body aches and pains. Most importantly, Yoga promotes joint health.

"How To" tapes and CD's for beginning yoga are readily available in bookstores and libraries. Start slow, fifteen to twenty minutes a day, and in a short period of time you will begin to feel the benefits of regular stretching and meditation. Pain and stiffness will begin to decrease, making you wonder why you had not started sooner.
Making healthy changes in your lifestyle will bring relief of arthritic symptoms and in many cases, eliminate pain and stiffness altogether. Stick to natural remedies for arthritis and stay away from prescription and non-prescription medications. Be patient and understand you did not get arthritis overnight. Relief will come with consistency, diligence and being gentle with your body. You will lose weight and eliminate toxins, feeling and looking better than you ever thought possible.

Tips to Reduce Arthritis

An earlier version of the story referenced arthritis instead of the more specific form of arthritis, osteoarthritis. This version has been changed.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of Americans suffering from arthritis is growing. The disease is now the leading cause of disability across the country and more women are being diagnosed than ever before. So what exactly is arthritis, and how can you prevent it? Read on to learn more.



Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more of your joints, causing stiffness, swelling, pain and sometimes a reduction in mobility. There are two types, Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Here are 15 easy, common sense lifestyle tips to help you with Arthritic symptoms and reduce general inflammation, making life more comfortable.


1. Cut Out Alcohol

This will keep your yeast overgrowth at bay and reduce the bodies acidity levels.

2. Cut out refined carbs

Switch anything 'white' to 'brown'. Introduce power grains like Quinoa, buckwheat, millet, amaranth and brown, short grain rice as these soak up toxins in the body.

3. Cut our refined sugars

A LOW G.I. diet needs to be adopted. Refined sugars actually create an immune system response in the body and high blood glucose levels cause inflammation.

4. Cut Out Acid and Introduce Alkaline

Acid = tea, coffee, milk, wheat, fried foods, soft drink, sugar and drugs

Alkaline = Millet, brown rice, all the power grains, cruciferous veg, lemons, cider vinegar (that might seem odd but they are both acid until they are ingested, when they turn alkaline!), sea veg as well are very alkalising!

5. Support your immune system

Particularly for Rheumatoid Arthritis - great herbs for this are Oregano, Rosemary, Echinacea, Thyme, Turmeric, antioxidents through foods and also Selenium and Vitamins A, C and E

6. Cut out wheat and cows milk

Gluten (from wheat) is extremely resistant to intestinal digestion and can cause damage to the intestinal lining. This can cause leaky gut which can then release toxins into the bloodstream causing inflammation. Also, cow's milk, once pasteurized, changes from alkaline to acid.

7. Source seaweeds and algaes

These are highly alkalising, clean the blood, detoxify the whole system and work on oxygenating and repairing cells. They also support general immunity.

8. Work Out your Food Intolerance

If you are intolerant to foods this causes the body to live in a state of 'emergency', stress and inflammation can then occur.

9. Take Omega 3's

We have become Omega 6 dominant over time as this is found in nuts, eggs, organ meat, beef and dairy. This can cause an inflammatory reaction - Omega 3 is an excellent anti-inflammatory! Eat more fish and find a great fish oil supplement.

10. Don't fry food or heat fats!

This can cause a bad inflammatory response because they create advanced glycation end products (something the body treats as an invader).

11. Get enough sleep!

During sleep, the body regenerates which calms the immune system. Lack of restorative sleep is a major promoter of inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis sufferers often associate pain with how much sleep they did or didn't get.

12. Lose weight now!

I'm sorry but it's just too important not to add into this list! Excessive weight encourages inflammation. Toxins also hide in excess fat meaning that the more over weight you are, the more you are likely to be acidic and toxic.

13. Drink water!

This lubricates the joints and flushes away toxins. Alkalising is also about staying hydrated.

14. Cut out the 'nightshade' family

potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, aubergine etc. This family are very acidic and also contain 'Solanine' which is a calcium inhibitor (especially significant in cases of osteoarthritis!).

15. Cut out oxalic acid rich foods

These can exacerbate symptoms - tea, coffee, wine, spinach, gooseberries, oranges, strawberries, blackcurrants. These can be re-introduced in small amounts once symptoms have reduced or disappeared.

Arthritis - A Deadly Disease

Arthritis - A Deadly Disease

There is also an increased mortality rate with this disease. The five-year survival rate of patients with more than thirty joints involved is approximately 50 percent. This is similar to severe coronary artery disease or stage IV Hodgkin's disease


Arthritis is the disease basically associated with the old people but the children may be affected by this disease. People of the age group 65 are mostly affected by arthritis in North America and they together constitute 70% of the total population. Women are at the major risk of getting affected by arthritis as compared to the men and this disease is more prevalent in the women of all ethnic races and cultures. According to an estimate about 46 million of people USA are suffering from this disease and the number increases every year. About one million people are admitted to the hospital just because of the problems they face because of arthritis.

Recital

All the persons suffering from arthritis complain the problem of extreme pain. The pain may be different according to the location and the individual. Rheumatoid arthritis is very worse in the morning and is characterized by stiffness. In the earlier stages the symptoms cannot be easily recognized. In the old individuals and the children pain may not be the major diagnostic feature as the old people move little and the children refuse to move the limb when it is paining. Important features of arthritis include speed and time of onset, pattern of joint movement, symmetry of symptoms, early morning stiffness, locking with inactivity, tenderness and other systemic factors. Physical examination and the radiography may be helpful in the diagnosis of the disease. Arthritis has been known from prehistoric times. Extra articular features of arthritis or joint disease include cutaneous nodules, oedema, ocular inflammation, diarrhea, bursitis, lymphadenopathy and urethritis. Blood tests indicate the presence of rheumatoid factor, antinuclear factor (ANF) and extractable nuclear antigen.

Malady

In USA arthritis is the major cause of disability among the individuals and 20 million people are dependent upon the doctors and the physicians for their survival. It has been found that the 50% of an individual's salary who is suffering from arthritis is lost in the treatment of arthritis. The ability of a person to remain active is lost completely. Some also suffer from obesity, high cholesterol and risk of heart disease. Depression may also be found in such individuals.

Indications

Apart from the type of arthritis the common symptoms are pain, joint stiffness and swelling and a persisting pain around the joints. Other symptoms include inability to walk and move hands, malaise and feeling of tiredness, fever, weight loss, poor sleep, muscle ache, tenderness and difficulty in moving the joints.

Types

Rheumatoid Arthritis

It is a disorder where the body starts destroying its own tissues for some unknown reasons. The attack is not only restricted to the joints but also to other parts of the body. The major damage is caused to the lining of the joints and the cartilage resulting in the erosion of two opposing bones. The joints of the fingers, knee, wrists and elbows are affected in the rheumatoid arthritis. The disease is having symmetry and causes severe deformity in few years. It basically affects the people of age group 20 or more. This disorder in children causes pain, fever, skin rashes and limitations on the day to day activities. Actual cause rheumatoid arthritis is not known till present but the scientists are very actively engaged in finding out the treatments as possible for this disorder. The drugs that are administered against rheumatoid arthritis include intravenous injections of either corticosteroids or monoclonal antibodies. Remicade is a drug which is presently being used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and can be effective for short term only. Surgery can be done to replace the affected joint but there is no complete cure of the disorder. Other dangerous symptoms can also develop in later stages which include heart problems, gait abnormality and skin nodules.

Osteoarthritis

It affects the larger joints of the body like that of the back, hip or the knees. This is generally the result of the wear and tear of the joints. It begins in the cartilage and results in the erosion of two opposing bones. It starts with a minor pain which is experiences while walking and the pain becomes continuous during the night. The pain causes hindrance in the daily activity of the individual. It is basically a disorder very common among the old people especially the women of the age group 65. Osteoarthritis cannot be cured but can be prevented from becoming worse. Weight loss is the most common feature of this disease. Physical therapy of the joints may be helpful in getting some relief. Joint replacement may be of little help.

Severe Arthritis

Arthritis is a dangerous disease and in more intense cases it can result in severe deformities. The majority of the individuals suffering from the rheumatoid arthritis have deformed fingers. The deformity may also be seen in the wrist joint so it cannot be moved properly. Other problems include appearance of carpal tunnel syndrome due to nerve entrapment. In later cases the sensation of the fingers also gets lost. Infectious arthritis is another form of severe arthritis. It is characterized by appearance of sudden chills, fever and joint pain. This condition may be caused by bacteria. This disease can be easily diagnosed and prevented from becoming intense. Psoriasis is another form of arthritis. In this case first the patient develops skin problems followed by arthritis. Symptoms include joint pain, stiffness and swelling. There is no cure for this disease and this occurs on a small scale. Lupus is a collagen vascular disorder that can be frequently found associated with arthritis. The symptoms of lupus include skin rash, extreme photosensitivity, hair loss, kidney problems, lung fibrosis and constant joint pain. Another problem that has been found associated with arthritis is gout which arises due to the deposition of uric acid crystals in the joints leading to inflammation. The joints lose their activity and often swell.

Inhibition

Rheumatoid and the osteoarthritis are not curable but one can prevent himself from being affected by physical therapy, losing weight and eating healthy. The individuals who feel pain in the joints must immediately consult the physicians so that the treatment can be started as soon as possible in order to prevent the disorder from becoming intense.

Ministration

Once arthritis is diagnosed treatments are available for a number of symptoms that are frequently experienced. Rheumatoid and osteoarthritis are not curable. The treatments used against them can help in relieving pain for a short period but complete relief is not possible. Treatments include physical therapy, changing the lifestyle, orthopedic bracing, medications and dietary supplements. Arthroplasty also called joint replacement surgery can also be performed. Physical exercise has given better results in treatment of arthritis.

Medications

Physicians generally start the treatment with the use of drugs. The first choice of drugs is the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Ibuprofen and tramadol are the general pain killers which are basically used. The drugs although effective are also associated with a number of side-effects like the abdominal pain, bleeding, liver and kidney damage and ulcers. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs cannot be used for prolonged periods without the prescription of the physician. Corticosteroids are presently being used for the treatment of arthritis. They help in reducing the inflammation and also prevent the joint damage. Corticosteroids are associated with a number of side effects like ulcers, hypertension, cataracts, diabetes, skin bruising, and weight gain. Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) is generally used for the treatment for the rheumatoid arthritis as they are helpful in preventing the joint damage. The commonly used DMARDs are methotrexate, hydrochloroquineand minocycline. They are also having many side effects in the form of liver and kidney damage, bone marrow suppression and possibility of other infections.

Immunosuppressants like cyclosporine and cyclophosphamide can be taken for getting relief from inflammation. These drugs make an individual more prone to other infections. Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors have been used for getting relief from inflammation and joint pain. They are also having some side effects as a person becomes susceptible to the risk of heart disease and other infections.
Occupational therapy and the physical therapy can help the people suffering from arthritis. Physical therapy can teach an affected individual how to relax the limb without damaging the joints. It can also provide splint and braces for the joints. Physical therapy also teaches how to drive the car, take bath and perform household work. Occupational therapy teaches how to reduce on the joints and perform the daily activities. Physical therapy also makes use of ice, heating pads and ultrasound guided massage therapy. Both these therapies help an individual to remain free from some of the difficulties of arthritis.

It can be concluded that arthritis is a very painful disease affecting the joints and there no complete cure for it only one can practice the use of physical and occupational therapy. Drugs can be helpful but are at risk and make an individual more prone to other infections.

Cancer therapy insights

Currently it is used in cancer treatment in the isolated limb perfusion (ILP) setting for soft tissue sarcoma (STS), irresectable tumors of various histological types, ...

Dr Mary Hardy, of the United States, speaks to a mostly medical audience in Dunedin yesterday about combining alternative therapies with conventional medicine to reduce the side effects of cancer treatment and to garner other health benefits.
Dr Hardy is medical director at the Simms/Mann Integrative Oncology Programme at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Examples of useful treatments included ginger for nausea, fish oil to improve the efficacy of mainstream cancer treatment, medicinal mushrooms for general health, Vitamin E for neuropathy, and homeopathic calendula cream to reduce radiation burns.

Dunedin medical oncologist Dr David Perez, introducing her, said conventional medicine was ''useful'' but was not the ''whole story''.

The US was ahead of New Zealand in integrating alternative medicine into conventional cancer treatment, he said.

Implants signal new way to treat cancer

Implants signal new way to treat cancer

The devices, about the size of an eyelash, would be implanted into patients’ tumours. They would allow doctors to target radiotherapy, and ultimately chemotherapy, where and when it is most needed, improving patients’
Cancer patients could be treated more effectively in future with tiny, sensory implants.
The devices, about the size of an eyelash, would be implanted into patients’ tumours, to monitor them in real time and in great detail.
They would allow doctors to target radiotherapy, and ultimately chemotherapy, where and when it is most needed, improving patients’ chances of recovery.

Personalised treatment



Our aim is, in the long term, help to alleviate suffering and to improve the outlook for very many cancer patients.
Professor Alan Murray
School of Engineering
The devices will be designed to measure directly vital factors about tumours.
These will include their levels of blood oxygen and key biological molecules, with the information transmitted wirelessly to medical staff.
These readings would enable doctors to identify and target areas of a tumour that are found to be resistant to radiotherapy and drug treatment.
Sensors would also take measurements to indicate how effective the treatment is in killing cancer cells, enabling therapy to be personalised to an individual patient’s cancer.
Doctors would be able to monitor patients’ progress with an unprecedented level of detail.
Five-year study
A team led by the University of Edinburgh, in collaboration with Heriot-Watt University, will develop the miniature chips in a five-year project to prove the technology.
They hope to follow this with clinical trials.
The team also hopes eventually to develop chips that are capable of delivering doses of chemotherapy directly to a tumour.
The £5.2 million project, Implantable Microsystems for Personalised Anti-Cancer Therapy (IMPACT), is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS Diet

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS


A Clinician Directed Low Calorie Diet
Dieters consume 3-5 protein supplements and 2-3 grocery meals daily
The dieter’s primary focus is on nutrition and low-fat eating
Structure and convenience are emphasized
Appropriate for post-surgical supplementation
Non-Ketogenic, Grocery Food Based Solution
Protein supplements in a variety of forms and flavors are typically used as in-between meal snacks or as meal replacements
Products can be branded with your name and logo as part of our Private Label Program (PLP)
Phased Goal Achievement Process

Two-phased program: Weight Reduction and Weight Maintenance
Client education modules facilitate the formation of new, healthy diet, exercise, and lifestyle behaviors

Treatment of Advanced Leukemia

Study: Immune Therapy Promising in Treatment of Advanced Leukemia

Leukemia Information, Treatment:Understanding leukemia is basic for pro-active care and the best treatment. Guide to easy learning with different levels of leukemia information, visual/audio tutorial; to find the best standard leukemia treatment available; to find more questions-answers or related information in the resource.
MedicalRF.com/Getty Images
(NEW YORK) -- An experimental form of immune therapy may hold the key to successful treatment of a deadly form of adult leukemia, a preliminary study suggests.

According to HealthDay News, the study, which included just five adults with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), showed promise as treatment for the disease.

ALL progresses quickly and often kills patients within weeks if left untreated. According to HealthDay, the first treatment usually involves three separate treatments of chemotherapy drugs. While that treatment often helps patients experience a remission, the cancer often returns.

Dr. Renier Brentjens, an oncologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, and his team decided to test a different course of action.

The five patients in the study received infusions of their own immune system's T-cells, but the T-cells were genetically engineered with chimeric antigen receptors to help them recognize and destroy the leukemia cells.

All give patients experienced remission, with one patient reaching remission within eight days, according to HealthDay News.

Four of the patients proceeded to have a bone marrow transplant to aid in their recovery. The fifth was deemed ineligible due to heart disease and other health conditions.

The treatment studied by Dr. Brentjens, known as adoptive T-cell therapy, is not available outside of the research setting, but does amaze researchers in its potential. Much research must still be done before the treatment would be considered for non-research use.

Nearly 6,100 people are diagnosed with ALL each year, and more than 1,400 of those will die, according to statistics from the National Cancer Institute.



Read On ABC News Radio: http://abcnewsradioonline.com/health-news/study-immune-therapy-promising-in-treatment-of-advanced-leuk.html#ixzz2OfSLsb5G

Advanced Health Care Directives

Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD)

It is often difficult for individuals to think about the care and treatment they want in the event they are incapable of making their own health care decisions. However, completing an Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD) is important for all individuals over 18 years of age as they may unexpectedly be in a position where they cannot speak for themselves, such as an accident or severe illness.

This is not legal advice; you should consult an attorney for legal advice in ensuring your end-of-life documents will be respected.

However, I am sharing my own Advanced Health Care Directive (in both a PDF and a Microsoft Word file format) for others to see the language I chose to use to ensure that I am not treated in ways that I do not wish to be treated. After preparing my document, I signed the bottom of each page, signed and dated the second-to-last page, and had witnesses who met the specified conditions sign and date the final page.

My own directive (a) nominates a person I trust to respect my wishes for a quick, natural death to make health care decisions for me, and (b) states my wishes to die quickly and painlessly if this is a possibility. I have used language about this being my "religious, spiritual, and ethical" belief, as it seems to me that such language is more likely to be respected than purely rational philosophical language.

I have also included language asking to be free from unwanted, offensive, etc. touching, by which I mean that any treatment beyond pain management will be considered by me to be a medical battery.

I have included a "severability clause," which means that in the likely case that my wish to die naturally is found to be against public policy and not respected, the rest of the directive should be enforced, meaning my proxy should still be able to refuse care.

Probably the biggest risk is that, contrary to all logic, the fact that I wish to die will be found to be evidence that I was not of sound mind at the time of the creation of this directive. I hope that this is not the case, but it is a real risk in our prohibition society.

I hope you find this document informative.

Health Minister Announces Advanced Cancer

Health Minister Announces Advanced Cancer


Two of the health service’s most vital targets have been missed again, according to new figures.

Statistics released by the Welsh Government showed that targets for cancer treatment times for the most urgent cases and ambulance response times for the most serious calls were both missed again.

Only 82.6% of people needing urgent treatment for cancer were seen within the two-month target during January.

This is a fall from the previous months figures, which showed that 86% were treated within the time frame.


However, figures also released this morning into NHS spending on different medical conditions revealed that expenditure on cancer and tumours has increased by nearly £10m in the past year.

Meanwhile, the ambulance figures revealed that an average of just 60.8% of category A calls in January received an ambulance within the eight-minute response time – below the Welsh Government’s target of 65%.

It is the ninth month in a row that this has been missed.

The figures show that during February 2013, there were more than 13,000 calls for immediately life-threatening cases, 1.8% up on the same period the previous year.

The figures come as a review is under way into the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust. The review, which is the ninth review undertaken into the service in six years after repeated concerns over missed targets, is due to be presented to Health Minister Mark Drakeford in the coming weeks.

TB treatment

“TB is curable, so it's vital to identify it as quickly as possible and provide effective treatment to stop it getting worse, or spreading to others. We actively encourage anyone with an interest in this condition to contribute to our consultation on these draft recommendations.”
The New York Times presents a comprehensive library of medical topics, including in-depth articles on diseases, conditions, tests, symptoms, injuries and surgeries.

Tackling tuberculosis among hard-to-reach groups



Targeted action is needed to prevent the spread of tuberculosis (TB) and ensure treatment success among patients who have difficulty recognising symptoms, accessing health services and taking medication. The patients who are hardest to reach through traditional hospital based TB services include people with drug or alcohol addiction, homeless people, prisoners and some migrant communities.
In new draft guidance, available from today (8 September) for consultation, NICE recommends strengthening efforts to find patients early and providing intensive clinical and social support to help patients complete TB treatment.
TB is a serious infectious airborne disease which is spread by simply breathing. Left untreated TB can be fatal. However the disease is curable in virtually in all cases, provided patients are diagnosed early and take a six month minimum course of medication. Delayed diagnosis and incomplete TB treatment can cause it to spread within the community and also result in drug resistant forms of the disease that are harder to treat.
Following infection, most people's immune systems can control the infection so that the bacteria do not cause them to become ill. This is known as ‘latent' tuberculosis. However, in around 10 percent of those who become infected, the bacteria multiply and cause ‘active' tuberculosis which can make them ill. If this disease affects the lungs, it can be spread to others.
Existing TB services provide excellent care for the majority of TB cases who live in household settings, readily seek medical help and take TB treatment. At least one in ten of all TB cases nationally, however, have social risk factors which can lead to delayed diagnosis and incomplete treatment with serious consequences. These factors include poor nutrition, poor access to healthcare, homelessness, problem drug use and imprisonment.
The new draft guidance recommends commissioners of TB control programmes adopt a more proactive approach to finding active TB among homeless groups by using mobile X-ray teams in places where they congregate. For example, homeless day centres, rolling shelters, hostels and temporary shelters.
Prisons which have static digital X-ray facilities should also X-ray all new ‘receptions' (including transfers) for active TB, if they have not received a chest X-ray in the last 6 months.
Further measures to improve detection of TB include incorporating testing for TB among hard-to-reach migrants within larger health programmes for new entrants. This should help detect and treat TB earlier, preventing it from developing further, and spreading to other people.
In addition, all hard-to-reach TB patients should receive community based clinical and social support co-ordinated by their TB case worker. Support will include directly observing every dose of treatment and providing practical help with housing, addiction and other unmet health and social care problems.
Although TB is much less common since antibiotics were introduced, it remains an important public health issue. In 2009, 9,040 cases of TB were reported in the UK. Most of these occurred in urban centres, with over one-third of cases in London. While most people with TB were born outside the UK, the highest risk of disease is among homeless people, prisoners and problem drug users.
Professor Mike Kelly, Director of Public Health, said: “TB is a serious public health issue. If left untreated, active TB can be fatal. We also know that one untreated person with pulmonary TB can infect around 10-15 people every year.
“This draft guidance recommends new ways in which we can help tackle TB among hard-to-reach groups who are most at risk. Evidence shows relying on these groups to present themselves to health services doesn't work, and we need to adopt a more proactive approach to identify and treat this disease.

Gene therapy

Gene therapy

"Although it's early days for these trials, the approach of modifying a patient's T-cells to attack their cancer is looking increasingly like one that will, in time, have a place alongside more traditional treatments," says Paul Moss of Cancer Research UK.


Gene therapy is an experimental technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease. In the future, this technique may allow doctors to treat a disorder by inserting a gene into a patient’s cells instead of using drugs or surgery. Researchers are testing several approaches to gene therapy, including:
Replacing a mutated gene that causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene.
Inactivating, or “knocking out,” a mutated gene that is functioning improperly.
Introducing a new gene into the body to help fight a disease.
Although gene therapy is a promising treatment option for a number of diseases (including inherited disorders, some types of cancer, and certain viral infections), the technique remains risky and is still under study to make sure that it will be safe and effective. Gene therapy is currently only being tested for the treatment of diseases that have no other cures.
For general information about gene therapy:
MedlinePlus from the National Library of Medicine offers a list of links to information about genes and gene therapy.
The fact sheet Gene Therapy from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science offers an overview of this topic.
Educational resources related to gene therapy are available from GeneEd.
The Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah provides an interactive introduction to gene therapy.
The Centre for Genetics Education provides an introduction to gene therapy, including a discussion of ethical and safety considerations.


Gene therapy is the insertion of genes into an individual's cells and tissues to treat a disease, such as a hereditary disease in which a deleterious mutant allele is replaced with a functional one. Although the technology is still in its infancy, it has been used with some success. Scientific breakthroughs continue to move gene therapy toward mainstream medicine.

Scientists first took the logical step of trying to introduce genes directly into human cells, focusing on diseases caused by single-gene defects, such as cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, muscular dystrophy and sickle cell anemia. However, this has proven more difficult than modifying bacteria, primarily because of the problems involved in carrying large sections of DNA and delivering them to the correct site on the comparatively large genome. Today, most gene therapy studies are aimed at cancer and hereditary diseases linked to a genetic defect. Antisense therapy is not strictly a form of gene therapy, but is a related, genetically-mediated therapy.


Gene therapy using an adenovirus vector: A new gene is injected into an adenovirus vector, which is used to introduce the modified DNA into a human cell. If the treatment is successful, the new gene will make a functional protein.
The biology of human gene therapy remains complex and many techniques need further development. Many diseases and their strict genetic link need to be understood more fully before gene therapy can be used appropriately. The public policy debate surrounding the possible use of genetically engineered material in human subjects has been equally complex. Major participants in the debate have come from the fields of biology, government, law, medicine, philosophy, politics, and religion, each bringing different views to the discussion.

There are a variety of different methods to replace or repair the genes targeted in gene therapy.

A normal gene may be inserted into a nonspecific location within the genome to replace a nonfunctional gene. This approach is most common.
An abnormal gene could be swapped for a normal gene through homologous recombination.
The abnormal gene could be repaired through selective reverse mutation, which returns the gene to its normal function.
The regulation (the degree to which a gene is turned on or off) of a particular gene could be altered.'''
Spindle transfer is used to replace entire mitochondria that carry defective mitochondrial DNA
Further Reading
Gene Therapy Types
Gene Therapy Vectors
Gene Therapy History
Gene Therapy Issues
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article on "Gene therapy" All material adapted used from Wikipedia is available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Wikipedia® itself is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.

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Surviving a Heart Attack, Succumbing to Heart Failure


Americans are living with chronic ailments like coronary artery disease, hypertension and diabetes, with many surviving multiple heart attacks. But as the population ages, the number of men and women with heart failure, a weakening of the heart’s ability to pump blood and oxygen, is expected to increase exponentially.


Paradoxically, many specialists link the significant increase in the number of cases of heart failure, and the fatigue, shortness of breath and fluid retention that come with it, to advances in heart attack treatment.

“While we have done a great job in improving survival of patients suffering a heart attack earlier in life, we haven’t been able to save that much heart muscle,” said Dr. Stuart D. Russell, chief of heart failure and transplantation at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. “Over time, those patients will develop heart failure because injured heart muscle tissue damaged by the heart attack will eventually be replaced by stiff scar tissue.”

This process, called fibrosis, causes the heart to become inflexible, unable to contract and pump blood efficiently.

“Thirty years ago, patients would have died from their heart attacks,” said Dr. Christopher M. O’Connor, director of the Duke Heart Center in Durham, N.C. “Thanks to thrombolytic therapy and angioplasty, these patients are surviving their heart attacks, only to go on and develop fibrosis and heart failure. We have converted an entire new population of patients to heart failure.”

About 22 percent of men and 46 percent of women will develop heart failure within six years of having a heart attack.

Dr. Kenneth L. Baughman, section leader in the division of cardiovascular medicine at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, stresses the importance of quick treatment in the case of a heart attack, which leaves the heart muscle starved for oxygen. “Time is muscle,” he said.

“Heart failure is still a diagnosis that carries a relatively poor prognosis,” he added. Fewer than half of patients survive 5 years after the original diagnosis, and only 25 percent are alive at 10 years.

Despite the grim statistics, a growing array of heart devices and innovative machines has slowed the natural course of heart failure over the past 20 years.

“I feel a lot better knowing I have more firepower than ever before in the armamentarium to offer patients,” Dr. Baughman said. “We are not only allowing patients to live longer, but their ability to enjoy life and have fewer restrictions has been increased.”

Since the 1990s, ventricular assist devices, or VADs — machines that take over or assist the pumping action of the left ventricle, the heart’s main pump — have played a major role in extending survival for those with advanced disease who can no longer benefit from beta blockers and other medications. These miniature devices, partially implanted in the heart, with a fist-size battery pack left outside the body, may even allow some of the damaged heart muscle to heal, helping some patients with advanced disease to avoid a heart transplant. For others, VADs can be effective bridge-to-transplant devices.

“I have seen totally bedbound, incapacitated patients become dramatically better patients,” Dr. Baughman said. “They are able to get about, enhance their physical strength and become dramatically better patients while they await a heart transplant.”

A 2008 study in The Journal of the American Medical Association reported high death rates, repeat hospital stays and soaring medical bills among Medicare patients who had VADs implanted to help their failing hearts. To get the best outcome, Dr. Russell urges patients to seek an experienced surgeon who uses the most up-to-date pumps.

“The take-home message is that the prospective surgeon should not only be qualified but also work at a high-volume heart center where many VAD implantation procedures are routinely performed,” he said.

It also pays to be an informed consumer. “The next-generation VAD will be totally implantable,” said Dr. Russell, who also consults for Thoratec, a leading manufacturer of the devices. “Some of these units are available in Europe, and we expect to have clinical trials with similar devices here within two years.”

As researchers begin to unravel the complex genetic underpinnings of heart failure, new drugs and biological approaches to managing heart failure are being investigated as well.

Researchers led by Dr. Amit N. Patel, a cardiac surgeon formerly at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and now at the University of Utah, have reported some success using adult stem cells taken from the patient’s own bone marrow and injected into damaged heart tissue. Much work remains to be done in finding which stem cells, the master cells of the body and one-thousandth the size of a grain of sand, help regenerate new cardiac muscle and enhance the ailing heart’s ability to pump blood.

Taking a different approach, researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York are investigating ways to prevent heart muscle from stiffening after a heart attack. In animal studies, they have reported that by limiting the function of a class of molecules known as secreted frizzled-related proteins that trigger muscle scarring, they can preserve muscle tissue after a heart attack.

In other research, scientists at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta reported that blood levels of resistin, a hormone produced by fat cells, are an effective biomarker that can predict a person’s risk for heart failure. The hope is that by identifying who is at greatest risk as early as possible, patients can benefit from aggressive risk reduction and lifelong surveillance to reduce the rate of progression to symptomatic heart failure.