Yes, I’m on a high now, especially, with these new studies luring me to be more tipsy. This time a new study has come out showing the positive effect of alcohol consumption. According to this new study, moderate alcohol consumption can protect you against some types of arthritis. However, still this fact cannot be claimed with full confidence because this fact has been exhibited from a preliminary that studied the effect of alcohol on mice. During this study, it was found that mice that drank diluted ethanol, their chances of developing autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis reduced to 40% when compared to the mice provided with just water. However, researchers are finding it difficult to come out with firm statement over these findings because they are not very confident about their findings and that is the reason why they still want to confirm these results with the help of further studies. Still, it is very difficult to give an opinion on it but one thing can certainly be said that results that have come out by now are quite interesting. Moreover, these results have raised a new hope that alcohol that we merely drink for intoxication would also help us staving off arthritis. However, this possibility can also not be ignored because people who are fond of alcohol consumption may increase their alcohol intake just by using the results of this study and if this happens then result would really be bad. Image credit: Drugs Via: News Scientist
Tag Archives: Arthritis
Moderate Alcohol can protect you from arthritis: Study
Grand-moms who exercise could prevent the onset of arthritis
Grandmothers could avoid arthritis if they start exercising early. Elderly people are advised to exercise to keep fit and also to keep the muscles flexible. The latest Australian study found that older women who exercised more have better chances of preventing the onset of arthritis. As many as 1 in 3 adults in the United States currently suffer from chronic joint symptoms or arthritis. More women suffer from arthritis when compared to men of the same age, and the risk increases greatly with age. The study was conducted by researchers at University of Queensland, Australia on women in their 70′s who reported symptoms of arthritis and the amount of time they spent exercising. It was found that the women who exercised 75 minutes a week reported fewer symptoms of arthritis than those who did less, while women who were active at least 2 1/2 hours weekly had even less pain in the three years that followed. Maybe exercise makes you lose weight and the latter benefits the joints. Maybe exercise causes pain sensing receptors to become less sensitive so one feels less pain says Dr. John Hardin, chief scientific officer at the Atlanta-based Arthritis Foundation. This however does not mean they should be going over-board with exercising. Even moderate exercise like walking, yoga and swimming for fifteen minutes a day could make a significant difference. This should be a wake up call to all grandmothers reading this to get off the couch and get moving if they don’t want to say OUCH! Image Source
Gardening: A Therapeutic Hobby for Arthritis Sufferers
For sufferers of arthritis, it can be easy to avoid exercise and other physically stressful activities in order to shield one’s self from the potential pain and inflammation involved. Yet, at the same time, doctors encourage arthritis sufferers to exercise in order to maintain joint flexibility and range of motion. The answer, for a lot people, is gardening. Here are some tips for arthritis sufferers on how to garden in a low-impact way that allows you to get the essential exercise, without risking unnecessary inflammation of muscles and joints. Check with your doctor. First and foremost, get advice from your doctor. Take this list down and check as to whether the severity of your condition will limit you from doing any of the following activities. Pick low maintenance plants. Choose plants that are low-maintenance and require less care, such as perennials instead of annuals, or get some wildflower seed. Use warm, padded clothing. Wear warm gardening gloves to protect your hands from cold temperatures, and warm clothes to protect your joints. Also, you can buy a pair of gardening pants, which have extra padding around the knees, for greater protection while kneeling and warmth for obvious reasons. Lift correctly. Always lift with the knees, not with the back. Work at the best time for you. If you are stiff in the mornings, then make the afternoons your time for gardening and the opposite if you’re stiff in the evenings. Mix it up. Don’t work in the same position for extended amounts of time. Set a maximum of 30 minutes for any given task, and come back to it later if the time wasn’t long enough to complete it. Weed when wet. Once upon a time it was thought the rain followed the plough. Your weeding should follow the rain (or the sprinkler), as the looseness of the soil makes the weeds much easier to uproot. Ask for help. With extra strenuous activities, don’t be afraid to ask for help from neighbors, family or friends. Pride isn’t worth the pain it’ll give you.
Chondroitin won’t help you against arthritis pain
Arthritis patients, using dietary supplement chondroitin to relieve joint pain may be using it in vain because it is no better than a placebo for reducing pain. Study, conducted by the Swiss researchers that published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, came out promulgating this fact after reviewing data from 20 clinical trials, which tracked more than 3,846 patients. During the course of study, experts found no evidence, showing chondroitin effective against osteoarthritis. This finding stands head to head to the assumption, under whose impel chondroitin is considered quite effective against osteoarthritis. Chondroitin is generally combined with glucosamine, which is also a supplement. Interestingly, experts found no side effects in using this combination (chondroitin/glucosamine), therefore, patients who feel better after using this supplement could go on using it. Unveiling similar opinion, Dr. David Felson who is an osteoarthritis researcher at Boston University said: If patients say they benefit from chondroitin, I see no harm in encouraging them to continue taking it. Well, this finding can be good for patients who have been spending on this combination, despite the fact that it doesn’t help relieving pain but this revelation is really a bad one, especially for the producers of chondroitin/glucosamine combination, since it may hit their business hard, which is spiraling higher and higher as according to figures cited by the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), annual sales of the chondroitin/glucosamine combination were $810 million just in the year of 2005. According to experts, the demand for the chondroitin component of this pill alone constitutes a $1 billion-per-year market in the United States. Commenting on this spiraling business of combination (chondroitin/glucosamine) Andrew Shao, PhD, the CRN’s vice president for scientific and regulatory affairs remarks: Sales continue to grow at a phenomenal pace.
U.S Vioxx arthritis patients receive & £ 2.4
Very soon the pharmaceuticals giant Merck will become £2billion poor, as the company has to pay same amount to the 150 Americans consumers because of its painkiller Vioxx which had proven to caused heart attacks and strokes in thousands of users if it had been taken more than 18 months. The painkiller Vioxx has been meant for the patients of arthritis. But in September 2004, Merck and Co, based in New Jersey, withdraw all its drug (Vioxx) from America, after a study revealed that it can double the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients who are taking it for more than eighteen months. However, till now the company only liable to pay its US customers. But certainly this biggest drug-case settlement will help 80million patients, including 400,000 Britons to get their compensation as well. Many times, it is seen that companies which lost their case in lower court, go to higher court against the verdict for avoiding paying the money to consumers. Let’s see what is Merck and Co’s next plan? Source
What Nobel Prize-winners bring for arthritis patients!
I am sure that you have not forgotten the two American scientists Andrew Fire, PhD, and Craig Mello, PhD who bagged last year’s Nobel Prize for their contribution in physiology or medicine. More interesting is the fact that this prize brought joy not only to both these scientists but to many arthritis patients all round the world as well. The development made by these two researchers for providing relief to arthritis patients was really commendable. As we know that various forms of arthritis are based on important genetic component and in such situation the work of Andrew Fire and Mello, which focused mainly on the concept that how the activity of our genes are controlled was really commendable as it would help researchers understanding the root causes and mechanisms of arthritis and inflammation. Moreover, I think that the guiding star that has been pointed out by the joint efforts of both Andrew Fire and Mello would further help scientists in digging out more concrete solutions to fight inflammatory health problems like arthritis. Image credit: Aota Via: Arthritis
Pet Care For People With Arthritis
Arthritis is a disease that causes painful inflammation of the joints and as it progresses you may find that your mobility becomes less and less with each passing day. After a while you may not be able to do a lot of the things you used to and if you have not only yourself to look after but a pet also you might have difficulty in doing so. Although you may become disheartened by your condition you need to remember that you have a pet that needs your love and attention, so you should make sure that you are able to look after them properly. If you really are unable to take your dog for walks, bath them or even take them to the vet for any injections or petmeds that they may need, you should ask a family member or friend to help you out. There are some organizations that help people with arthritis to take care of their pets if they are unable to, and some of these organizations are free, which is great if you can’t afford to spend any extra money because you will be paying a lot for your pain medication. There are special food bowls that you can buy that automatically fills up once your pet has finished its food or water, and this will help you because you won’t have to constantly fill up their bowl. If you are in a wheel chair because of your arthritis you can still take your dog for a walk or have your cat sleep and play on your lap, and when you are in too much pain for an outing your pet will keep you company. Some well trained are even able to do a lot of things for their owners such as fetch various things or press panic buttons, this might come in handy for you if you need something but are too stiff to reach it. Remember that your pet needs you take care of them and you shouldn’t neglect doing so, don’t be too proud to ask for help if you need your dog taken care of.
Rose Hips Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis
A recently conducted study reveals that medicine from rose hips could be effective for rheumatoid arthritis. It also reveals that taking the drug for six months shows considerable improvement in the condition. Vitamin C-rich berries are being tested by scientists for forming the basis for this new drug. Approximately 400,000 Britons are suffering from this disease and occurs because of immune system attacking joints, which results in painful swelling as well as damaging cartilage and bone. In order to treat this disease, traditional drugs are not quite effective, whereas smart drugs are very costly. If a patient is being treated with the latest TNF Alpha inhibitor drugs then it would cost around £10,000. On the other hand, rose hip medicine would cost around £20 per month. Study also believes that rosehip remedy LitoZin would surely cut the spending cost on rheumatoid arthritis. According to Professor Stefan Willich, of the Charite University Medical Centre in Berlin, ‘Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most difficult medical conditions I’m aware of. It’s a tough disease, which makes it all the more remarkable to find such beneficial effects from this natural remedy.’ Via:dailymail
Skiing And Arthritis
Skiing can be very good for arthritis. Skiing is an extreme fitness sport, which means it exercises a lot of muscles and joints. The most important way to relieve arthritic pain is exercising the joint where you have arthritis. Since arthritis is a joint disease, and skiing gives your joints a lot of movement, it actually helps heal arthritis. However, it can be painful, initially, at least, to ski with arthritic pain. The sudden pressure on your joints can be extremely painful. But as with most types of muscle and joint pain, calibrated further pain always heals them. So, get ready for that initial bout of pain if you want your skiing holidays to heal your arthritis. Not all types of skiing are equally good for arthritis; some can be positively harmful. The trick is to ski in a way that lets you exercise your joints, but not overdo it. So you have to choose the type of skiing that is moderately difficult and strenuous; on either end of the spectrum, skiing is either useless or harmful for arthritic pain relief. Both extreme skiing and high speed skiing are highly strenuous sports. They need very high levels of skills, and can be very fatiguing. Both of these are bad for arthritis. These will be overkill for someone with arthritis, and the result can often be painful. Light skiing, like cross country skiing, back country skiing and grass skiing are useful, however. These are light exercise skiing, and can be done for sustained periods of time, with rests in between. Such moderate exercise can be a good reliever of arthritic pain.
Make Your Bathroom an Oasis from Arthritis
The bath room is the most crucial space in your entire home. This is not only because it is a biological necessity to do what needs to be done “when nature calls.” Psychologically, the bath room represents a space of calmness, solitude and security, which are very comfortable when combined in just the right measure. And especially when you have a physical problem such as arthritis, your bath room becomes even more of a place where comfort needs to reign supreme. Naturally, there are a variety of little things you can add to your bath room, in order to add the most important thing – your ultimate comfort. Often times, a person with arthritis can accommodate their joint issues using a few simple bathroom accessories? For example, if you have some difficulty with get into or out of your shower or standing up from the commode, there are handles which can be installed in your walls within only a few minutes. And even though they come in a variety of subtle colors, perhaps the kind that installs in your walls is not what you want. An even simpler alternative is to place a commode stand and a seat lift on your commode, so you don’t have to sit down as low. And if your arthritis has caused it to be difficult for you to turn things, you can have new knobs installed in your shower and on your sink. These knobs are large, and have a shape that you can push like handles, instead of trying to twist like small knobs. And if you happen to have a shower tub, special workers can actually come out and alter the wall of the tub, so you can more easily step inside. This can be a big deal if your balance is not as good as it used to be. And also, once you are inside the shower, there are special seats and water picks that allow you to wash, even if standing for long periods and moving around are not easy for you any more.