Arthritis and Fish Oil - Is There a Connection?
Did you think fish oils were only good for a healthy heart? Think again. There is sufficient evidence suggesting that it can also help in managing certain kinds of pain and discomfort from arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis. But is there really a connection between arthritis and fish oil? Let us find out.
Arthritis, more specifically rheumatoid arthritis, is an autoimmune condition wherein the membrane that lubricates and protects the joints become inflamed, leading to pains and discomfort. The most common form of this condition is called osteoarthritis where a sufferer has to live with nagging pain, swelling, inflammation and difficulty in moving. The problem with this condition is that there is no known cure - and it leads to slow deterioration of the affected parts.
Arthritis is caused by a variety of factors including nutritional deficiencies or excesses, poor diet and other factors like pollution or lack of exercise. Improving the diet by lessening the intake of processed foods and eating more fresh fruits and vegetables can help increase your body's immunity and level of antioxidants, which can significantly help combat arthritis and other conditions.
Taking supplements such as fish oils has also been beneficial for arthritis sufferers. But what is the connection between the two? Fish oils are rich in Omega 3. These Omega 3 fatty acids are actually polyunsaturated fats - considered as "good fats." Polyunsaturated fats like DHA and EPA are responsible for the wide range of benefits, including its benefit in managing arthritis.
Traditional treatments for arthritis involve anti-inflammatory drugs like Celebrex, which are notorious for their unwanted side effects (kidney failure and coronary heart disease, for example). Similarly, fatty acids contain a potent anti-inflammatory chemical which can significantly reduce pain and discomfort caused by rheumatoid arthritis. The anti-inflammatory effect of it work differently because they stop pain due to inflammation the natural way, hence, no unwanted side effects.
Aside from relief from arthritis symptoms, fish oil supplements also bring you a wider range of health benefits. It help promote healthier joints by "oiling" them and prevent cartilage and tissue deterioration. Research also suggests that omega 3 fatty acids can stop and reverse the effects of enzymes that bring damage to the cartilage in osteoarthritis sufferers..
Just how much omega 3 do you need for effective relief from symptoms of arthritis? Research suggest that intake of at least 2.7 grams of omega 3 (DHA and/or EPA) per day can reduce joint inflammation and pain associated with arthritis. Make sure your fish oil supplement will provide you with a potent dose that can bring about results.
Arthritis is a seriously debilitating disease, but thanks to the discovered connection between the two, relief from those pains are within reach. Omega 3 fish oils can help manage arthritis without the dangers of side effects traditional medications are reported to bring.
Get your free report and free video about fish oil health benefits at PureConcentratedFishOil.com. For natural relief from pains and discomfort of arthritis, make sure to try pure fish oil supplements. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Goodwin |
6 Great Tips For Protecting Your Joints
Certain things that we do throughout the day can cause certain strains to our bodies, especially our joints. Things like sport, exercising or carrying heavy objects with the wrong posture can cause massive damage to our bodies. Learn how you can protect your joints with these 5 great tips:
• Keep your body weight at the recommended level for your height. Make sure your Body Mass Index is below 25, because being overweight puts a lot of strain on your body and your joints.
• Exercise can reduce swelling in the joints, but it can also cause impact on the joints. The best way to do this is to participate in exercises that have low impact on the body such as swimming and cycling. They are both great cardio workouts and you will experience great benefits for the body and your health.
• Poor posture can affect our joints very badly, especially when we are sitting or standing or carrying heavy things. Ensure that you practice good posture at all times, this will ensure that your back and your joints are well protected.
• Certain activities are very high risk when it comes to the safety of your joints. Activities such as biking or rollerblading can expose you to joint injury and so ensure that you wear the correct protective clothing. For example, wear knee protectors if you are going to be rollerblading to reduce the risk of injury.
• Ice is a great pain reliever and it helps extremely well when it comes to joints that are swollen. Need I say more?
• Your nutrition will go a long way in protecting your bones and joints. Generally, fruits and vegetables rock because they contain lots of vitamins and minerals for the benefit of your body and your health.
Click Here for a safe, effective and natural way to maintain healthy joints and mobility. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Portia_Casey |
How To Get Rid Of A Knee Pain
Knee pain is as common an ailment as an aching back. Both are the gifts of luxurious living or an overdose of activity that has in both cases made our muscles the easy target. Exercises are vital in case of a knee pain but the pain by itself will not allow you to effect any movement.
How then shall we exercise?
Here are some tips that I am going to spell out in my article which will prevent the problem from arising in the first place and ease out the pain if the problem is already persisting. First of all let us not forget some of the age old technique of healthy living though they may seem tedious in present day living. Sqauting with a cross leg posture on the floor was the best system of the Indians. The Namaz read by the muslims in the Vajrasan pose is also a very good posture for avoiding arthritis. Walking can ease oput a lot of problems including knee pain. But always remember to have the right posture and the comfortable speed in walking, that is not too fast nor slow. See that you do not walk till dead! Always practice walking before you start on a jog. You can walk for a week and then get down to jogging. Have the practice of small walks even if you are in pain, as it is only exercise that can bring flexibility to your poor muscles. However the pain may not let you exercise but can go only through exercise!
How can we practice yoga in pain ?
The best yogic postures are those that give movement and thus cause enhanced blood circulation to various parts of the body devoid of any obstruction. Thus we must concentrate not only on the knee but also the thighs, shoulders, hands, fingers and ankles. Always take the necessary medication that is prescribed by your doctor to ease the pain. Never exercise to the extent of fainting! Begin with rotation of wrists, neck, hands and legs clockwise and anti-clockwise three time each. You can do this sitting or standing or better even in a sleeping posture. Be careful not to lose control and fall. Be slow in taking the the yogic postures as it will make you hold yourself correctly and stop at the position of pain. This is very important as you will be able to get to the correct maximum bend in due course. So do not over exert and cause damage. Continue for two days. Now you are ready to add a few more exercises to your sheet.
Always concentrate on your breath and reax all muscles when you take the postures. This can help in free flow of blood and oxygen without any pressure and can to a large extent relieve the pains.
Knee relaxing:
Lie down on your back knee folded and slide your legs slowly to a full extent and back again. do with alternate legs. Next repeat the same lying on your sides.
Vrikshasana: Stand straight, take both the hands above your head and join the palms on the top. Now lift your foot and stand on your toes for as long as you can, breath normally. Do this slowly so that you don't lose balance.
Swastikasana: Spread your legs straight in front of you. Squat cross legged with the right foot resting on the left thigh, take the dyanamudra pose with the wrists of both hands on the respective knees. Breathe deeply for a few minutes. Always stop when painfull.
Pavanamuktasana: Here fold the knee and thigh to press against the chest and belly. Do with one leg at a time and then both legs together.
Vajrasana: This is the best posture but may be painful in the begining. Try after the pain has eased out a bit. Sit on knees folded and palms resting on the thighs. You may in a later stage slowly spread one leg at a time behind you and stay in that posture.
Veerasana: Stand straight,slowly slide left leg forward as much as possible. Turn to the left clasp both hands and raise way back and bend back your head. Breath deeply and slowly return back to the starting position in the reversse proceedure. Do this slowly not to lose balance.
Practice these posture regularly at least 2-3 times a day.
Yoga is like taking bath.
Do it daily without fail and see the happiness come back to your life.
Glucosamine, A Natural Alterantive For Arthritic Pain Relief
Glucosamine is a substance that can be found naturally in the human body and is one of the amino sugars that our bodies produce. It is believed that this particular substance plays a major role in helping repair the body as well as form new cartilage. Glucosamine can be purchased in supplemental form and can be included as part of ones dietary requirements. Certainly for many people who suffer from osteoarthritis this supplement is being used quite regularly for treatment. Although our own bodies do produce glucosamine there are not sufficient enough amounts to have a beneficial effect on our bodies. Yet more and more people are now discovering how beneficial this is in helping to prevent with the pain and injuries that many joint problems can cause. Below we take a look at some other facts about this particular supplement that you should know about if considering using it.
This substance was first identified by G Ledderhose in 1876, however it was not until 1939 that it was fully defined by Walter Haworth. Although it is made in the body naturally it can be obtained from other products, it helps to produce sugars that contain ample amounts of nitrogen essential to our body.
Today many people who suffer from osteoarthritis will take this particular supplement orally. It is believed that by taking Glucosamine the cartilage which becomes damaged over time can be repaired and rebuilt and so combat some of the effects felt when suffering from various forms of arthritis. However there is quite a lot of conflicting evidence which can not provide these people with substantive proof that this supplement is truly effective in helping to treat arthritic ailments.
On average a person who is using glucosamine in order to treat their osteoarthritis will take around 1500 mg each day normally in a salt formulation. But be wary when purchasing any kind of glucosamine that is available as either glucosamine sulfate (MonaVie includes glucosamine sulfate) or as glucosamine hydrochloride, you may also find that some of these supplements also contain chondroitin sulfate and methylfulonylmethane.
As you will soon discover when carrying out further research into glucosamine it has become an extremely popular alternative treatment for osteoarthritis. But as well as it being used by humans to treat joint problems it is also used by many veterinarians for treating animals as well. This particular substance works in both humans and animals by helping the body increase its production of glycosamine glycans (GAG) and these are essential to ensure that the structure of the cartilage in the body remains strong. In fact GAG is a very important nutrient that our bodies require and which helps with the growth of new cartilage.
Glucosamine is produced by extracting it from the shells of crabs, lobster or shrimps and is sold either as a dietary or nutritional supplement. The glucosamine is extracted from the chitin (found in the shell of the fish) and is a carbohydrate. People who have an allergic reaction to shellfish may find that they do not have any whatsoever when they use glucosamine as a supplement. This is because it is the protein in the flesh of the shellfish which causes them to have an allergic reaction. Although most of the glucosamine supplements we see today have been extracted from shellfish there are now alternative ways of this particular substance being produced. Some of the supplements you can purchase today have been made by extraction from corn after it has been fermented using fungi.
Over the years there have been a number of clinical studies carried out on glucosamine and all of which appear to show that it is perfectly safe to be used by most people. However if you are someone who does suffer from any sort of allergic reaction to shell fish it may well be advisable to speak with your doctor first before you actually starting taking it. It is important to note that glucosamine is extracted from the shell of the fish rather than from its flesh and therefore people with a shellfish allergy may find it perfectly safe to use.
In the USA this supplement has not been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) as a medical treatment. Rather it has been classed as a dietary supplement and the onus falls on the manufacturers of any glucosamine supplements to make sure that they are perfectly safe for the public to use. Crucially when looking at any kind of glucosamine supplement you realize that as long as the manufacturers do not advertise their product as a treatment for any kind of medical condition then they are not required by law to provide you with any kind of proof of how safe and effective it is. Yet in Europe this supplement has been approved as a medical treatment and is sold in its form known as glucosamine sulphate.
Unfortunately as we grow older our body starts to degenerate and over time the cartilage in our body begins to wear down the joints and become less cushioned. The body does not function as effectively and so the replacement of such parts of the body as cartilage normally slows down or stops altogether. This then leads to people suffering from arthritis and the most common form that people suffer from today is known as osteoarthritis. In fact for some people this particular condition can be extremely debilitating and find it very difficult to lead a normal life. So being aware of just what benefits can be gained from taking glucosamine may help osteoarthritis sufferers gain some relief from this particular condition.
Glucosamine is an active ingredient in MonaVie Active in convenient liquid form and as explained above helps maintain lubricating fluid in joints, promotes flexibility, range of motion and comfortable joint function and provides a natural building block of healthy cartilage.
Modern science has now validated the remarkable benefits of the Acai Berry. The acai berry provides a remarkable source of protein, healthy fats, essential vitamins and minerals. MonaVie also contains the Acai Berry.
The American Arthritis Foundation - What It is About and What It Can Do for You
The American Arthritis Foundation or more commonly, the Arthritis Foundation, is a non-profit organization that promotes education about arthritis and other related conditions through the use of research, programs, services and advocacy. It seeks to provide programs at community levels to help arthritis patients from all over the country benefit from its common resources.
Many of the services offered by this organization are made possible by voluntary efforts, although professional support and expertise are provided by paid staff. While it was founded as a not-for-profit organization, the Arthritis Foundation's research is backed by fund-raising efforts and donations from sponsors. Since 1948, the Arthritis Foundation has funded over 2,000 physicians, scientists and researchers in the continuing quest to find a cure for arthritis. Its spending on research is now over $244 million.
A Brief History of the Arthritis Foundation
The foundation began in 1948, when a group of doctors forming the Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation decided to organize a nationwide effort to promote awareness and research about arthritis. The foundation focused on creating countrywide chapters and on raising funds to help support its research and education projects.
During its first year, the Arthritis and Rheumatoid Foundation was able to spearhead research that resulted in some significant discoveries, including the link between rheumatoid arthritis and a deficiency in the immune system and the drug cortisone. More research and progress followed, along with the discovery that arthritis was actually made up of several types of diseases. During its first few years as an organization, the Arthritis and Rheumatoid Foundation also published the first Bulletin on the Rheumatic Diseases.
In 1964, after efforts in educating patients and consolidating the efforts of physicians all around the country, the Arthritis and Rheumatoid Foundation was reorganized and renamed as the Arthritis Foundation. When the government cut a significant amount of funding in 1969, the organization sought the help of the public who responded by giving donations to help fund projects and research programs.
The Contributions of the Arthritis Foundation
Aside from education and continuing research on arthritis, the Foundation was pivotal in raising awareness and government support for arthritis, which resulted to the 1974 National Arthritis Act. This led to the funding of arthritis centers and increase in arthritis programs, along with the creation of a national commission for arthritis.
The Arthritis Foundation is also responsible for the research that led to developments in joint replacement surgery along with improvements in the techniques used for hand and foot surgery. It is also instrumental in the discovery and introduction of anti-inflammatory drugs. In the 1980s, the American Juvenile Arthritis Organization was formed, specifically to focus on the special requirements of children with arthritis.
Today, the Arthritis Foundation continues to provide support to promote information about arthritis and funding for the research necessary in order to finally discover an effective treatment for the disease and hopefully, a cure.
How Many Chapters Does the Arthritis Foundation Have?
Currently the Foundation supports 150 chapters around the country. To get in touch with a local chapter or service point, check out their website at Arthritis.org to search for one that's nearest you.
What Can I Expect from the Arthritis Foundation?
The Arthritis Foundation has been at the forefront of research to discover the nature of arthritis and its treatments. Its aim is to eventually find the cure for this condition. The organization also provides a means to educate people about arthritis and to promote awareness through advocacy and related programs.
The organization's site is also an important part of its thrust for continuing education about arthritis. The site is an excellent source of reliable information about the disease, its symptoms and treatment. Through its site, the American Arthritis Foundation also hopes to dispel the most common myths surrounding arthritis and provide users only with the facts.
Flor Serquina is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Arthritis-Education.com. She provides more information on topics such as the American Arthritis Foundation, arthritis product and causes of rheumatoid arthritis that you can research on her website even while lounging in your living room.
Exercises For Arthritis
Exercise is very essential for people suffering with arthritis. Regular joint movement helps improve mobility, increases joint flexibility, strengthens the surrounding muscles, and also helps reduce pain. People suffering with arthritis should first discuss with their doctor what kind of exercises they are allowed to do before starting an exercise regimen.
Some of the exercises recommended for people with arthritis are listed below.
1. Range-of-motion exercises are very simple and mild stretching exercises. If performed daily, they can show tremendous improvement in the condition of the patient who are suffering due to inflammatory pain and are extremely scared to even move their painful joints. These exercises relieve stiffness, improve flexibility, and prevent deformity. The range-of-motion exercises involve the movement of each joint as far as possible in all the directions.
2. Strengthening exercises help in strengthening the muscles, which can then provide improved support to the joints thereby facilitating easy movement and reducing the pain. Doctors usually recommend two types of strengthening exercises depending on the need of the patient -- isometric strengthening exercises or isotonic strengthening exercises. While the isometric exercises are performed without moving the joints (in case of impaired joint mobility) through simple tightening of the muscle, the isotonic exercises involve strengthening of the muscles by moving the joint.
3. Endurance exercises are those exercises and physical activities which improve the stamina of the person. These exercises help to gradually increase the heart beat rate for at least twenty to thirty minutes, thereby improving the cardiovascular fitness. Arthritis patients must consult their doctors and carefully choose the kind of endurance exercise they wish to perform in order to prevent exercises prompted joint inflammation or injury.
People suffering from arthritis are usually suggested to do walking, running, jogging, swimming, cycling or even yoga to improve their condition and alleviate some of the pain they experience.
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Knee Arthritis Treatment And Pain Relief
Knee arthritis can also be called osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is essentially the wearing down of the cartilage surrounding the knee which occurs simply as people age. Another common form of knee arthritis is Rheumatoid Arthritis, which results in swelling within the joint and damage to the cartilage. Not only do these forms of knee arthritis affect the joints and cartilage, they can also have a serious impact on the surrounding ligaments, muscles and tendons.
Osteoarthritis is often the result of increased strain on the joint due to weight, or repeated injury or damage. Knee arthritis is definitely more common in middle aged to elderly persons. A younger sufferer of knee arthritis has usually inherited the condition- it does have a genetic disposition, or it can be the after affect of a serious knee injury- more common in sports men- specifically footballers. Rheumatoid arthritis is more common in younger people for this reason.
There are various warning signs for potential sufferers of knee arthritis- these could be restricted knee movement, localized swelling or inflammation and discomfort and pain. The most key indicator however is stiffness- when the knee has not been moved for a period of time, and then movement is not fluid- this is a possible indicator of knee arthritis. Another warning sign is a clicking sound coming from the joint when it is extended- this can be cause by other knee conditions other than knee arthritis however. Whatever the potential symptom, the patient will always need to have an X-Ray before any sense of a diagnosis can be performed by the recommending physician or doctor.
There are less related methods of testing for knee arthritis as well. The main one is simply a blood test- doctor’s will be able to see deficiency in the blood results. An arthroscopy will also most certainly confirm the diagnosis of knee arthritis, however this will only be recommended if there is an intention to fix the knee arthritis.
Here are the 4 main treatments for knee arthritis:
Exercise – It has been proven that one of the most significant factors in causing knee arthritis is being overweight. If the sufferer can begin a gentle exercise regime in combination with a healthy diet, there is every chance that the knee arthritis symptoms will ease.
Physical therapy – There are sets of exercises which a physician or doctor can recommend. These exercises benefit the knee arthritis by focusing mobility in certain parts of the knee where the stiffness is occurring, thus easing the symptoms of the knee arthritis.
Medication – Often sufferers of knee arthritis will be administered basic pain killers such as Aspirin, but also Acetaminophen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications.
Surgery – Surgery on knee arthritis needs to be carefully considered and evaluated by your doctor before being pursued as a treatment option for knee arthritis. Certain factors such as health, weight age all need to be considered before deciding it is the best method to take. Usually all other methods of knee arthritis treatments will be exhausted before surgery will be considered.
Knee arthritis like most forms of arthritis can be easily managed and the symptoms controlled. It is crucial to diagnose as early as possible, as this will lead to a greater chance of curing the knee arthritis.
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