Taming My Arthritis

The question I would like to bring to your attention today is can vitamins help to fight Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). I decided to do some studying on the subject and what I found was some interesting facts that helped me support this idea. Let me start out by telling you a little more about RA. More than a million people in the United States have RA. RA typically develops between the ages of 25 and 50. RA is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints that affects an estimated 1.3 million Americans.

The disease occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the thin membrane that lines the joints. The results can be joint damage, ongoing pain, inflammation, loss function and disability. The joints most commonly affected by RA are those of the hands, feet, wrists, knees, elbows, and ankles. In RA, the primary site of the attack is in the thin layer of tissue that is around the joints.

Studies have shown that those Americans with RA have vitamins deficiencies. The most common vitamin deficiencies in RA is folic acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin E, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, and Selenium. Food of course is the preferred source for getting the vitamins and minerals. Vitamin Supplements will work in getting the vitamins and minerals that you don’t receive from food. I would like to discuss with you two particular vitamins that studies have shown to help fight RA.

Research has made a case that Vitamin D helps protect older women against RA. Recent Studies has also linked deficiencies of Vitamin D to other disorders such as certain cancers, heart disease, and diabetes. General population studies indicate that about one in three people are Vitamin D deficient especially during the winter months. The easiest way to make sure you are getting the proper amount of Vitamin D is through Vitamin Supplements.

Another Study used data from the Iowa’s Women Health Study, which followed almost 30,000 women, aged 55 to 69, for 11 years. Over the course of those 11 years, the women involved were questioned about their eating habits, their use of nutritional supplements and other health related issues.

During the test, 152 of the women developed RA. The investigators found that women whose diets were highest in Vitamin D had the lowest incidence of RA. Women who got less than 200 International Units (IU) of Vitamin D in their diets each day were 33% more likely to develop RA than women who got more. So how much is enough Vitamin D. The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine says that older women should consume 400 to 600 IU per day in order to have an adequate Vitamin D intake.

Vitamin C can also be linked to lowering RA risks. In another study, researchers looked at the link between fruit and vegetable and dietary antioxidant intake and the development of inflammatory arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in a group of 23,000 men and women who entered a large cancer study in the U.K. between 1993 and 1997. As a part of that study, the participants kept track of what they ate in a weekly food diary.

Between 1993 and 2001, 73 people developed inflammatory arthritis affecting two or more painfully swollen joints for at least a month, and 40% of them met the criteria for having RA. Compared with those who did not develop the disease, researchers found that those with arthritis ate fewer fruits and vegetables. Specifically, people who ate the least amount of fruits and vegetables had double the risk of developing inflammatory arthritis.

The study also showed that people who got less than 40 mg of Vitamin C from fruits and vegetables had four times the risk of developing inflammatory arthritis. In the United States, the recommended dietary allowance for men is 90mg of Vitamin C a day and for women is 75mg. Now by taking a look at just those two certain vitamins, I find that vitamins do have added benefits in fighting RA. The vitamins do this by fighting the free radicals (unstable molecules that cause damage to cells) associated with the development of the disease.

Now to get the benefits of all vitamins, it would your best option to take a multi-vitamin. I would also like to say that the best multi-vitamin is a liquid vitamin instead of the standard capsule/pill. Not only will you get the full benefits of the vitamins but the liquid vitamin will work faster because it will absorb into your body quicker.
I know a 74 yr old lady that has been taking a liquid vitamin for the past 6 months and says that it has definitely helped to fight her RA. She takes 2 oz of this vitamin a day. This liquid vitamin has 410mg of Vitamin C per ounce, 1107 IU of Vitamin D3 per ounce and many more essential vitamins and minerals.

If you would like more information (testimonies/articles) then visit me at www.healthnutty.com. You can also contact me at www.john@nitemarketing.com

John McNett
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/can-vitamin-supplements-help-fight-rheumatoid-arthritis-700828.html

Rheumatoid arthritis is a form of chronic joint pain expressed by stiffness, swelling and loss of functionality of the joint.  One thing that is very likely in rheumatoid arthritis is a symmetrical pattern to the pain.  That is, when one knee or hand is involved, the other one will generally be affected as well.  The most common joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis are in the fingers and wrists.  Unfortunately, this form of chronic joint pain can also cause fevers, fatigue and an overall unwell feeling.

Rheumatoid arthritis can be very serious.  Because of the way in which this form of chronic joint pain develops, it can affect the heart, eyes, and lungs as well.   Rheumatoid arthritis is actually a systemic disorder, which is why it affects so many different parts of the body.

The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is still unknown, but medical professionals have long suspected that a virus, bacteria, or fungus may be the cause.  Many professionals also believe that genetics plays a large role.

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are different for everyone, and they may not be constant.  You will feel the pain when the disease is active, because this is when the joints become inflamed.  Those with rheumatoid arthritis will often call this a “flare up.”  When the arthritis is in remission, or inactive, the inflammation subsides.  This can occur on its own or with treatment.  Some people can go weeks, months, or years without another flare up, but the disorder will usually come back after a time, along with all of its symptoms.  It’s just a matter of when.   The length of time someone is without an active flare-up will differ from the next person.

As mentioned previously, because this form of chronic joint pain is systemic, it can also affect the organs in the body.  Sjogren’s Syndrome is when the glands of the mouth and eyes become inflamed and dry out.  Pleuritis is the rheumatoid inflammation of the sac lining the lungs.  This causes coughing when you breath in deeply.  It is also possible for the lung tissue to become inflamed, which sometimes causes small nodules or sacs to form in the lungs.  When the tissue surrounding the heart is inflamed, it is called pericarditis.  If you have pericarditis, the intensity in pain will change with different positions such as leaning or laying down.  Rheumatoid arthritis can also cause the number of blood cells to decrease, lowing your body’s ability to fight off infections.

If you suspect that you might have chronic joint pain, you should talk with your doctor about what symptoms you are having and any other concerns.  Your doctor will then go through your symptoms with you, examining the timing of each of them and checking your joints for any inflammation or deformities.  You may have X-rays taken, as well as blood samples.

If you believe you have rheumatoid arthritis or if you are diagnosed with chronic joint pain, your doctor may refer you to a rheumatologist, who specializes in arthritis and the symptoms and disorders that may come with it.

Alan King
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/chronic-joint-pain-caused-by-rheumatoid-arthritis-719567.html

Fish Oil for Rheumatoid Arthritis .The Secret Weapon

Do you have  red puffy sore joints ? I’m feeling for you ..
A have a secret weapon I use for rheumatoid arthritis and it works a treat. Its fish oil and it gives great relief.

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful chronic disorder that causes the cartilage and other tissue around the bone to become inflamed and damaged causing extreme discomfort to the sufferer .In rheumatoid arthritis the immune system attacks the bodies own joints and tissue this is called the autoimmune reaction joint pain and stiffness make the sufferer uncomfortable and inhibits them to do things they enjoy.

So can fish oil for rheumatoid arthritis help? 

Studies have been shown that people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and take fish oil supplements daily have found that general stiffness in their joints was a lot less and the redness and puffiness was less severe. .This result was after taking fish oil supplement or oil over a period of a few months.

So what fish oil should I use? Here is a simple 5 step checklist before buying a fish oil for rheumatoid arthritis 

Look for a fish oil supplement rich in omega-3 and a higher level of DHA

Look for a fish oil that has the suppliers certificate of analysis (COA.) on the label or on there website .Make sure the oxidation levels are low.

Is the fish oil been purified/molecularly distilled? The Molecular distillation will allow the oils to be set apart from the bad contaminants. Leaving the rich, healthy golden omega 3 oils that can then be encapsulated into soft gels for easy swallowing.

What is the species of fish used for this oil? You want to make sure the handling of the fish after being harvested is done correctly and also the right care has been taken in the oil storage to ensure you receive a quality oil product.

It only takes a few minutes to look online and see if the fish oil you buy have all this information on there website or on the fish oil label, if not then find a fish oil supplement that does.

Find out where the fish used for this oil has been caught .Is the oceans they have been harvested from polluted or pristine?

It really pays to do a little research in fish oil for rheumatoid arthritis .You want the best oil high in DHA and omega -3 and a fresh quality product that will give the best results .

 

Pia Pandora
http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/fish-oil-for-rheumatoid-arthritis-the-secret-weapon-897680.html

and i have a few more questions how do you prevent rheumatoid arthritis and if you anyone knows any websites where i can find out these answers it would be really helpful. because i need to do a project on this and this is all i need. oh and what is the life expectancy if someone has r.a.

I have RA (rheumatoid arthritis) and I found that reading real people stories and get advice from is the biggest help.
One place I got to all the time is:
http://rawarrior.com/
Her name is Kelly Young and she and her website have been a blessing for newbies like me.

The other one I visit is:
www.WebMD.com.
They have lots of info on RA too along with message boards that you can talk to real people about what is going on with RA.

P.S. I also agree with what Heather said.

rheumatoid arthritis is a disease caused in part by this organelle. when it becomes leaky, it releases digestive enzymes that normally digest waste products and other materials. if released into the cell, these enzymes degrade cartlidge in joints.

This is a very nice explination about Rheumatoid Arthritis and can be obtained in thousands of different places.
My question is what is the point and for what reason did you find it necessary to post this.
This is not a question it is a statement.

What is your opinion in the adoption of Minocin as a drug to stop the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis?And for how long can a patient tolerate this medication..

Reviews for Minocin taken from drugs.com
Minocin (minocycline) for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Having suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for more than 20 years I suffered a whole body flare 5 years ago severe enough to almost prevent me from walking. Twenty-six days after being put on Minocin by my doctor at Harvard Medical School I was riding my bicycle 10 miles a day. Minocin is not a "cure" for rheumatoid arthritis. Whenever I have attempted to get off this drug the rheumatoid arthritis has come back within 2 months. But as long as I take it you would never know I have rheumatoid arthritis. Only side effect I’ve experienced is a grayish blue tint to my skin on my neck and cheeks.

I have had sores on my foot for over two years .I go to wound care weekly they just change dressings and do not get into the root of what is causing them.I know they are attributed to my Rheumatoid Arthritis .I am very sad ,46 years old and my quality of life has deteriated PLEASE HELP ME!

Please consult your Rheumatologist! As you mentioned earlier this could well be a manifestation of your RA (Rheumatoid Vasculitis?). How long do you suffer from RA? What is your current medication? Is your arthritis exacerbating as well?

Christmas is coming up. And I’ve grown close to my foods teacher who has rheumatoid arthritis. Any ideas for gifts?

It depends to some extent which joints are affected. Since hands and fingers are often involved and if your teacher is a "foodie," your teacher may benefit by one of the kitchen utensils made by Good Grips /Oxy. Better yet, perhaps you can put this question to a physical therapist. He or she can probably make good suggestions.

can a women walk on heels again with rheumatoid arthritis?

The medication I was on started working in about a week. My arthritis, I noticed, is triggered by colds and viruses, so I also take an antihistamine when I feel I’m getting sick.

As for the high heels, I guess that would depend on how bad your arthritis is, and how well the medication works for you. I could after I started Meloxicam, it is a very affective medication for me.