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Arthritis
Arthritis is
the inflammation of the joints, causing redness, swelling, stiffness and
pain. There are more than a hundred different types of arthritis,
with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis being the most common.
Arthritis can also be a symptom of some other medical conditions, such as
infections, Lyme disease, lupus, etc.
Osteoarthritis is also called degenerative joint disease. It
involves deterioration of the cartilage covering the bones. The
cartilage surface becomes rough and causes friction during movements.
Sometimes, bone spurs may develop as the condition advances. More
women are affected by osteoarthritis than men. Rheumatoid arthritis
is a type of inflammatory arthritis and is an autoimmune disorder.
In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system identifies the synovial
membrane (thin membrane covering the joint capsule) as foreign, this
causes
inflammation of the synovial membrane which in turn, damages cartilage and surrounding
tissues. In severe cases, scar tissues may form, causing the bones to fuse together.
Rheumatoid arthritis causes stiffness, swelling and often crippling pain.
Arthritis is
often treated with drugs which help to reduce pain and inflammation, such
as analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Cox-2
inhibitors, corticosteroids, and immune-suppressing drugs.
Food
supplements for arthritis:
Bromelain
Chondroitin sulfate
Essential fatty acids (flaxseed
oil, primrose oil)
Glucosamine sulfate
MSM
Superoxide dismutase
(SOD)
Multivitamin and mineral
complex
Boswellia
Nettle leaf
Turmeric (curcumin)
Yucca
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