Arthritis

The term arthritis is derived from the Greek: arthron meaning joint and it is meaning inflammation.

I know you don't want to hear it... but it's true, beer is really bad for gout. It's full of purines, which increase the uric acid level in your body, which hardens and deposits uric acid crystals in your joints... you know the story!

OK, You Won't Give Up Beer. So Now What?

If you're reading this, I'm guessing you don't want to give up your beer. You really should though. But, I'm not going to preach (I'm sure there are enough people telling you to stop drinking already!)

Should You Eat Cherries For Gout?

A gout attack is NOT fun!! It is extremely painful and it's a big pain in the... joint!!

When it comes to diet, we are not all made equally. What is good for one person to ingest is not always good for another! Gout is the perfect example. Foods like spinach and legumes, which are healthy and recommended for most people, are major 'no-no's' for gout sufferers!

So what foods should gout sufferers add to their diet to help them fight their battle against gout? Well there are many, but I'm going to only talk about one: Cherries.

Cherries for Gout - It's Too Good To Be True!

There's a reason for everything! And I truly believe that the reason cherries were put on this earth was to prevent gout attacks!! Thank goodness for the magical, wonderful, delicious cherry!!

My husband refuses to take any type of medication. He won't even take an aspirin for his headaches! So being a gout sufferer is not a very 'good thing' for him.

Cherries: A Natural Way To Prevent Gout!

Knee arthritis is a common problem especially for people over 50 years of age. About 1 in 2 people at this stage in life will show some signs of this condition. Unfortunately, the actual aetiology of this disease is unknown despite loads of research around the world. But what is known is that if you have a family history of arthritis or if you have experienced a previous injury to you knee your chances of suffering from this condition is significantly increased, especially is the injury occurred in your teenage years.

The use of Apple Cider Vinegar to improve a wide range of health concerns is certainly not new.

You know, Oxymel has been a mainstay of home remedies and simple healing for centuries.

Oxymel is simply the mixture of equal parts of Apple Cider Vinegar with raw honey. It is used twice a day, diluting one tablespoon in one glass of water and taken first thing in the morning and last thing before sleep.

Inflammation or swelling of the body always evokes feelings of pain in the joints and muscles and loss or restriction of mobility. But things are more serious than that. Did you know that recent researches show that a chronic inflammation can lead to life-threatening diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and Alzheimer's just to mention a few?

When osteoarthritis pain strikes, there is no denying the obvious. Something is wrong.

Once you have determined that you have osteoarthritis, what next? Advances in treatment options offer many avenues to osteoarthritis pain relief, but choosing the right road can be an overwhelming undertaking. Traditional medicine? Homeopathic medicine? Eastern medicine? Natural supplementation? Which to choose?

Most people who suffer from gout have, at some point, suffered from the awful side effects most gout medications render. From stomach cramps, to nausea and vomiting, and even diarrhea, the medications commonly prescribed to treat gout can make a gout sufferer's life miserable. It's bad enough the gout is causing so much pain; why put yourself through even more discomfort? Look into some gout natural remedies, instead.

Everyone has been told at least once that they should not crack their knuckles because knuckle cracking can cause arthritis. Many people are wondering is what they say really true or is it just one of those old wives tales that parents use to scare their children so they will not do it anymore. Well the answer is no, knuckle cracking does not actually cause a person to have arthritis. There have been enough studies to say with confidence that there is no connection between cracking your knuckles and having arthritis.

Over 70 million Americans suffer from arthritis, but what causes arthritis in these patients? While it would be great if the doctor could give you a definitive answer, many factors can contribute to getting arthritis, so it tends to be difficult to determine what causes the condition.
Risk factors
While there are many, some of the most common are:

- Genetics
While it is believed that genetics contribute, no one is certain how much. It is highly likely that genetic variations can contribute to the cause.

- Age

Knee replacement surgery is typically performed for individuals who have severe osteoarthritis also known as arthritis in the general community. The surgery replaces the joint surfaces of the knee that have been affected by arthritis therefore allowing the individual to walk and move about with less pain and have better function.

In making the decision about knee replacement surgery, a number of factors need to be taken into consideration.

Quality of Life

Knee replacement surgery is performed on individuals who experience severe pain and disability due to arthritis in their knee. Often the individual has suffered for many years in pain and as a result their quality of life has been significantly affected.

Time for surgery varies depending upon the individual but key things that are taken into consideration include: Limited walking distance - the individual not able to walk more than 3 blocks Significant Pain - the pain is not relieved by arthritis medication

Unfortunately, the causes of psoriatic arthritis are, as of yet, unknown. It is thought that a combination of immune, genetic and environmental factors are the culprits. For those patients who have psoriatic arthritis in the spine (called spondylitis), there is a gene marker named HLA-B27 which is often found. Blood testing is now available to see if this gene is present.

My first Gout experience occurred when I was in my early 30's. Though I'd rather forget that painful experience, I remember it as if it were yesterday. I was hanging out with some friends, indulging in the best salmon fillets Seattle had to offer, accompanied by some succulent, all-you-can eat shrimp (and believe me, I took the term all-you-can eat very seriously). I remember commenting and enjoying the food while looking out onto the pier when suddenly I felt as if a thousand bees had infiltrated my shoe and planned a mission of attack on my big toe.