According to the Arthritis Foundation, Rheumatoid Arthritis affects 1.3 million Americans. Although there are several theories, so far, the cause of RA is still unknown. In addition, there is no cure to date, but it is getting easier to control RA through the use of remedies, exercise, and joint protection techniques. Advancements in research and improved Rheumatoid Arthritis pain relief options mean that more people with RA are living happier and healthier lives. Here are some facts about Rheumatoid Arthritis from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease that causes pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints. It occurs when the immune system, which normally defends the body from invading organisms, turns its attack against the membrane lining the joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis generally occurs in a symmetrical pattern, meaning that if one knee or hand is involved, the other one also is. The disease often affects the wrist joints and the finger joints closest to the hand. It can also affect other parts of the body besides the joints. In addition, people with rheumatoid arthritis may have fatigue, occasional fevers, and a general sense of not feeling well.

Features of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Tender, warm, swollen joints
Symmetrical pattern of affected joints
Joint inflammation often affecting the wrist and finger joints closest to the hand
Joint inflammation sometimes affecting other joints, including the neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, ankles, and feet
Fatigue, occasional fevers, a general sense of not feeling well
Pain and stiffness lasting for more than 30 minutes in the morning or after a long rest
Symptoms that last for many years
Variability of symptoms among people with the disease

What Causes Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Scientists still do not know exactly what causes the immune system to turn against itself in rheumatoid arthritis, but research over the last few years has begun to piece together the factors involved.

Genetic factors: Scientists have discovered that certain genes known to play a role in the immune system are associated with a tendency to develop rheumatoid arthritis.  Some people who have these particular genes never develop the disease. So, although a person’s genetic makeup plays an important role in determining if he or she will develop rheumatoid arthritis, it is not the only factor.

Environmental factors: Many scientists think that something must occur to trigger the disease process in people whose genetic makeup makes them susceptible to rheumatoid arthritis. A viral or bacterial infection appears likely, but the exact agent is not yet known.

Hormonal factors: Some scientists also think that a variety of hormonal factors may be involved. Women are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than men. The disease may improve during pregnancy and flare after pregnancy. Breastfeeding may also aggravate the disease. Contraceptive use may alter a person’s likelihood of developing rheumatoid arthritis. This suggests hormones, or possibly deficiencies or changes in certain hormones, may promote the development of rheumatoid arthritis in a genetically susceptible person who has been exposed to a triggering agent from the environment.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Relief Treatments

Doctors use a variety of approaches for rheumatoid arthritis pain relief. These are used in different combinations and at different times during the course of the disease and are chosen according to the patient’s individual situation.

Goals of Treatment

Relieve pain
Reduce inflammation
Slow down or stop joint damage
Improve a person’s sense of well-being and ability to function.

Health behavior changes: Certain activities can help improve a person’s ability to function independently and maintain a positive outlook.

Rest and exercise: People with rheumatoid arthritis need a good balance between rest and exercise, with more rest when the disease is active and more exercise when it is not.
Joint care: Some people find using a splint for a short time around a painful joint reduces pain and swelling by supporting the joint and letting it rest.
Stress reduction: Although there is no evidence that stress plays a role in causing rheumatoid arthritis, it can make living with the disease difficult at times. Stress also may affect the amount of pain a person feels.
Healthful diet: With the exception of several specific types of oils, there is no scientific evidence that any specific food or nutrient helps or harms people with rheumatoid arthritis. However, an overall nutritious diet with enough—but not an excess of—calories, protein, and calcium is important.
Alternative and complementary therapies: Special diets, vitamin supplements, and other alternative approaches have been suggested for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Research shows that some of these, for example, fish oil supplements, may help reduce arthritis inflammation. Flexcin with cetyl myristoleate (CM8) can do wonders for arthritis and joints as it can reverse the damage caused by arthritis. Acting like a WD-40-like lubricant for joints, CM8 can promote optimal joint health by helping to stimulate the lubricating fluid in the joints, support stronger cartilage and increase total mobility.

As with any therapy, patients should discuss the benefits and drawbacks with their doctors before beginning a new type of therapy. If the doctor feels the approach has value, it can be incorporated into a patient’s treatment plan.

Portions of this article were taken from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website.

To read more stories like this visit the Flexcin Blog. Flexcin & FlexPet are all-natural Joint Pain Supplements. The primary component is CM8, which relieves joint pain at its source, reduces inflammation and irritation of the joints and tissues. They are proudly manufactured in the United States under guidelines of the FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices.
Article Source

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Without the ability to use your thumbs it becomes nearly impossible for people to perform normal everyday tasks. The joints in the thumb area simply will not perform in the normal manner and it basically renders it useless. People who suffer with knee pain also find their lives very restricted, as simply walking becomes nearly impossible. If both knee joints are affected it’s not unusual for these people to become wheelchair bound for the rest of their lives. Getting proper treatment can help to restore joint function to a point whereby they can start to live a more normal life, although with some restrictions.

Thumb pain from arthritis can be caused by a minor injury earlier in life that continues to affect the joint or simply the wear and tear on the joint area from repetitive strain. No matter the cause, the pain and swelling can make life very difficult. Wear and tear on the joint over time can result in bone rubbing on bone, which is what most often causes the pain. Treatment will depend on what is actually causing the problem. Once a doctor has arrived at a diagnosis, he can then formulate a treatment plan that will help to relieve the pain and avoid further deterioration of the joint area. Should he not be able to effectively relieve the patient’s pain the only option left to him might be surgery.

Knee pain, especially if both knees are affected, can reach a point where a person becomes wheelchair bound. The good news is that this is one of the most treatable conditions and with the proper treatment a person can see great improvement. Injury to the knee area earlier in life can cause one to have trouble later in life, but for the most part the pain is normally due to wear and tear on the joint area. One of the most common reasons for knee joint pain is that the knee has become arthritic. Arthritis can cause inflammation in the knee joint as well as swelling and severe pain. As different areas in the joint start to break down, the condition will continue to worsen. The collateral ligament may become calcified and although the symptoms can be treated, what is really needed is a long term plan to help restore the ligaments and the joint area to normal function.

Another problem for the knee area is the wear and tear on the meniscus. As this padding gets thinner and thinner the end result can be no cushion at all. At this point the affected area will have bone rubbing on bone. This is extremely painful and very debilitating for anyone who has this problem. When the knee joint is affected by arthritis the joint will continue to deteriorate over time. There are a number of different treatments that can get a person mobile again, and in some cases it helps to repair and restore the different areas of the knee. These improvements can go a long way to getting a person back on their feet, as well as improving the quality of their lives.

A doctor will first treat the immediate symptoms of pain, normally with medications that cannot be used long term, but will provide immediate relief. Once this has been accomplished they will look at a long term treatment plan, with the goal being to restore natural function in the knee area. Many doctors are turning to more natural treatments, that have shown great promise in actually helping to rebuild ligament and cartilage in the knee area. Once you start on a long term treatment plan it’s not unusual to see significant progress in a very short time.

Knee pain and thumb pain can slow down anyone’s life.Stop by zerojointpain.com and learn how to alleviate your joint pain today!

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/knee-and-thumb-joint-pain-1641668.html

When it comes to a daily fish oil intake level, many factors come into play. What is more important though than the actual amount you take is the quality of the oil itself. However much of a poor quality supplement you take, you will still receive little or no health benefits. Here’s how to avoid that.

As a rough guide, 1 or 2g a day is a good of a pure distilled oil, but it’s important to bear in mind the levels of omega 3 fats within the oil as these are the ones that provide all the benefits.

DHA and EPA are the two most effective ones with DHA recently being shown to provide most of the health benefits, so the first thing is to look at the individual amounts.

For example my fish oil intake is two capsules a day, each one containing 1000mg of oil of which 280mg is DHA and 120mg is EPA, so I get almost 1000mg or 1g of omega 3 a day.

You will find that most oils have a much lower level of DHA so it pays to find the ones with a 2:1 ratio of DHA to EPA otherwise you will not get the full benefits, especially where brain and heart health are concerned.

A quality oil will be molecularly distilled to remove the toxins from the fish unless it is proven to be completely free from any contamination. The only one today to have that distinction is the Hoki fish from New Zealand as the waters are still pristine.

Although it is not really possible to overdose on fish oil, there is little benefit in taking very high does which I have seen some companies advertise, like 10,000mg. After a certain point, the body has enough omega 3 and cannot use the rest so unless you have a serious pre-existing condition like heart disease or severe arthritis, the daily fish oil intake that I have shown is enough.

If you do have a severe condition then doubling the dose I have shown to 4 capsules a day should be enough.

So as you can see, many factors can influence the potential health benefits from this wonderful oil, with the daily fish oil intake being just one of them.

If you would like to learn more about the high quality DHA omega 3 supplements I personally take daily, visit my website today.

Discover the best omega-3 fish oil today.

Rich Hawkins is a dedicated researcher of nutrition, diet and the amazing health benefits of high-quality fish oil. Take a moment to visit his site now at www.best-omega-3-supplement.com and discover the latest DHA omega 3 fish oils he recommends after extensive research.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/whats-a-healthy-fish-oil-intake-amount-to-have-daily-1499291.html

Any time a product becomes really popular, the market will be flooded with poor quality ones that offer little in the way of benefits and with fish oil capsules they can even contain dangerous toxins. Once you know what to look for based on proven research, the choice becomes much easier.

Bad fish oil capsules will give you those nasty fishy burps you may have experienced because they contain rancid or stale oil. This is usually disguised with flavourings, preservatives or an enteric coating, all of which are unnecessary.

If you open up a capsule you should be able to detect a faint ocean aroma and no more or else it’s poor quality oil and will give few benefits.

Any oil that has not been molecularly distilled should also be avoided as it is likely to contain toxins including mercury, lead, PCB’s and arsenic from the fish. Distillation safely removes them and is not performed by many companies due to the cost and at the expense of your health, so check the label or website carefully.

The next thing bad quality fish oil capsules have are low levels of omega 3 fatty acids and especially DHA. The two you will always see and want are DHA and EPA but it’s proven today that DHA provides most of the benefits, especially for arthritis, other joint problems, heart and brain health.

In fact a recent study by scientists from the US and Britain have discovered that it’s the DHA omega 3 that is converted into a powerful anti–inflammatory chemical called resolvin D2 which protects the heart and helps tremendously to relieve the symptoms of arthritis.

Regarding price, bad fish oil capsules are often more expensive! Some go for over $40 for a month’s supply while the best can be had for less than $20, so price is no indicator of quality!

The purest and most effective oil comes today from the New Zealand Hoki fish due to the fact it has very high DHA levels and extremely low levels of contamination, making it the perfect choice. It’s also been found that when mixed with distilled Tuna oil, over twice the anti-inflammatory benefits are found.

Now that you know all about bad fish oil capsules and how to best avoid them, you can confidently go about selecting the very best and start enjoying all the many amazing benefits they provide without any of the risks.

 If you would like to learn more about the high quality DHA omega 3 supplements I personally take daily, visit my website today.

Discover the best omega-3 fish oil today.

Rich Hawkins is a dedicated researcher of nutrition, diet and the amazing health benefits of high-quality fish oil. Take a moment to visit his site now at www.best-omega-3-supplement.com and discover the very latest and effective omega-3 fish oil supplements Rich recommends after extensive research.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/bad-fish-oil-capsules-and-how-to-avoid-them-1447318.html