Top Tips for Fighting Osteoarthritis

Your knees shriek as you walk upstairs and hands hurt when opening a jar. Is it just age or the most common form of arthritis – osteoarthritis? Learn how to heal your deteriorating joints. Here are 14 do’s and don’ts from top rheumatologists...

When did you start sounding like your grandmother? Those grunts you make bending down to pick up a book or getting out of bed in the morning may be triggered by more than just temporary pain.

Diseases, conditions that cause knee pains

Diseases and conditions that can cause knee pain

Pain can occur in the knee from diseases or conditions that involve the joint, soft tissues and bones surrounding it, or the nerves that supply sensation to the area. In fact, in rheumatic and immune diseases affecting various tissues of the body, including the joints to cause arthritis, the knee joint is the most commonly involved joint.

Arthritis

Arthritis is inflammation within a joint. The causes of knee joint inflammation range from non-inflammatory types of arthritis such as osteoarthritis, which is a degeneration of the cartilage of the knee, to the inflammatory types such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout. Treatment of arthritis is directed according to the nature of the specific type of arthritis. Many people suffer from arthritis; and the pain and discomfort can be so limiting that some may require a total knee joint replacement.

Swelling of the knee joint from arthritis can lead to a localised collection of fluid accumulating in a cyst behind the knee. This is referred to as a Baker cyst, and is a frequent cause of pain at the back of the knee.

Infection

Infections of the bone or joint are rarely a serious cause of knee pain. Symptoms include fever, extreme heat, warmth of the joint, chills of the body, and may be associated with puncture wounds in the area around the knee.

Tumour

Tumours involving the joint are extremely rare (for example, synovial sarcomas, and giant cell tumours). They can cause ambulatory problems with local pain. Treatment usually involves surgery; a few individuals may require amputation of the knee and lower leg. Treatments and surgery depend on the tumour type.

Cartilage issues

Chondromalacia refers to a softening of the cartilage under the kneecap. It is a common cause of deep knee pain, and stiffness after prolonged sitting and climbing stairs or hills. While treatment with anti-inflammatory medications, ice packs, and rest can help, long-term relief is best achieved by strengthening exercises.

Degenerative cartilage (loss of cartilage) also presents problems as you have friction from bone rubbing on bone, leading to extreme pains and discomfort.

Bursitis

Bursitis of the knee generally occurs on the inside of it, and at the front of the kneecap. Usually treated with ice packs, immobilisation, and anti-inflammatory medications, sometimes corticosteroid injections (steroids) are administered, along with exercise therapy, to develop the musculature of the front of the thigh.

Risk factors

Overall risk factors for knee pain include aging, athletic, and trauma injuries.

• Obesity- Is a risk factor for osteoarthritis of the knee; losing weight reduces the force placed on the knee during everyday walking.

• Biomechanical problems - Certain structural abnormalities such as having one leg shorter than the other (leg length discrepancies), body misalignment and flat feet can make you more prone.

• Lack of muscle flexibility or strength - Is a lead cause. Tight or weak muscles offer less support for your knee, because they don’t absorb enough of the stress exerted on the joint.

Complications of knee pain

The major complication of knee pain is inadequate mobility and ability to walk. Long term knee pain that is caused by diseases of the joint can lead to permanent damage and loss of function.

Testing

Imaging tests

In some cases, your doctor might suggest tests such as:

• X-ray - Your doctor may first recommend having an X-ray, to help detect bone fractures and degenerative joint disease.

• CT Scan - Helps diagnose bone problems and detect loose bodies.

• Ultrasound - This produces images of the soft tissue structures within and around your knee and how they are working.

• MRI Scan - Creates 3-D images of the inside of your knee. It is particularly useful in revealing injuries to soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons, cartilage and muscles.

Treatment options

Medications

Your doctor may prescribe medications to help relieve pain and to treat underlying conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout. Supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin help the joints.

Injections

In some cases, your doctor may suggest injecting medications directly into your joint. Examples include:

• Corticosteroids - A steroid to help reduce the symptoms of an arthritis flare and ease pain.

• Supplemental lubrication - A thick fluid, similar to the fluid (synovial) that naturally lubricates joints, to improve mobility and ease pain. This is geared towards persons with degenerative cartilage issues.

Therapy

If you have chronic pain, consider swimming or aqua therapy. In water, the force of buoyancy supports some of our weight so our knees do not have to. Physical, massage, and electrical therapies, and/or acupuncture, can improve the pains and discomfort significantly.

Strengthening the muscles around your knee will make it more stable too. Training is likely to focus on the muscles on the front of your thigh (quadriceps), and those in the back of your thigh (hamstrings). Exercises to improve your balance are also important.

Arch supports and/or different types of braces may be used too for stabilisation of the body, and to protect and support the knee joint.

Surgery

If you have an injury, disease and or condition that may require surgery, it’s sometimes not necessary to have the operation immediately. Before making any decision, consider the pros and cons of both non-surgical rehabilitation, and surgical reconstruction in relation to what’s most important to you. If you choose to have surgery, your options may include:

• Arthroscopic surgery - Done to remove loose bodies from your knee joint, remove or repair damaged cartilage, and reconstruct torn ligaments.

• Partial knee replacement surgery - Only the most damaged portion of your knee is replaced.

• Total knee replacement - Damaged bone and cartilage from your thighbone, shinbone and kneecap are cut away, and replaced with an artificial joint.

Your feet mirror your general health . . . cherish them!

Leana Huntley is an English trained foot health practitioner attached to ALMAWI Limited – The Holistic Clinic.


How To Prevent Osteoporosis and Osteopenia

source: trinidadexpress

10 best foods for strong teeth and bones

We all wish to age beautifully with a good set of teeth and good bone structure, because they reflect our overall health and personality.

To maintain good health of these two sets, just depending on sufficient intake of calcium is not enough. In fact, several other nutrients' and vitamins are required to maintain the strength of your bones and teeth. Today, Ms. Sunita Pathania - Sr. Registered Dietician and Diabetes Educator, Healthy Living Diet Clinic, Mumbai, and Priya Kathpal - Nutritionist, Mumbai, lists down top 20 foods for strong teeth and bones.

Healthy Food # 1: Apples
Stephen D'souza - Dental Student at Terna College says - apple is a natural toothbrush. It helps to stimulate your gums, increases saliva flow in the mouth and prevents cavity buildup as it cleanses the teeth surface. Plus they are loaded with various vitamins and minerals. Try eating a full apple after your dinner to clear the interior part of teeth.

Healthy Food # 2: Celery
Celery is the best weapon you can use to keep bacteria inside your mouth at bay. Celery is loaded with various dental health benefits. As you chew celery, it helps in producing more saliva in your mouth which further prevents plaque production. Eat a piece of celery, once a week if you want to brush your teeth naturally.

Healthy Food # 3: Water
Drink as much water as you can. Water helps to clean your mouth as well as helps to clear toxins in your body which can create tooth decay. Water helps to produce saliva in your mouth which deposits essential minerals into the teeth. It also keeps your gums very well hydrated and washes away all the minute left over's from the teeth. The best way to keep your teeth decay free is by drinking sufficient amount of water after every food intake.

Healthy Food # 4: Cheese
Cheese is very good choice to make your teeth strong and healthy. Cheese also contains casein, which helps in fortifying your tooth's surface. Hence, if you are prone to cavity, start chewing a small piece of cheese to prevent decay.

Healthy Food # 5: Cocoa
Cocoa is actually good for your teeth. It is filled with a substance which helps to reduce gum inflammation and prevents tooth erosion and decay. So start nibbling in a piece of dark chocolate, after a stressful day at work to brighten up your mood and to prevent tooth decay.

Healthy Food # 6: Kiwi
Kiwi a great source of vitamin C. Proper amount of vitamin c in the body helps in maintaining the collagen network in your gums, prevents gum infections, fastens healing and strengthens your gum which further helps in preventing periodontal disease.

Healthy Food # 7: Onions
Though you may be concerned about your stinky breath after eating a raw onion, but the benefits it offers are simply remarkable. Onions naturally cleanses your body and mouth by eliminating harmful bacteria. This action of kicking bacteria away helps in preventing tooth decay.

Healthy Food # 8: Sugar-free gums
Pop in a sugar-free gum after meals, to prevent tooth decay. The sugar alternative in these gums helps in preventing attack by the bacteria which can degrade tooth enamel. Plus, if you keep chewing your chewing-gum for some time you are exercising as well which will strengthen your jaw.

Healthy Food # 9: Sesame seeds
These tiny seeds are rich in calcium, which helps in keeping your teeth healthy and strong. Besides, sesame seeds dissolve the plaque which is formed and builds tooth enamel.

Healthy Food # 10: Pears
Pears is fibrous in nature, it helps in producing additional saliva in your mouth. It also has a larger acid neutralizing effect on tooth surfaces. Eat a pears daily to keep your tooth surface strong and healthy.

Low estrogen levels causes bone weakness

Low Estrogen Levels May Hit Bones Strength

Once a women hits menopause around the age of fifty and estrogen levels are not checked, some symptoms may get even worse. When estrogen levels drop, they have an negative effect on another hormone- the stress hormone cortisol. (Paradoxically, too much cortisol can lower your estrogen levels).

The combination of low estrogen and constantly elevated cortisol may lead to a condition called crashing fatigue. Crashing fatigue is a common and disturbing symptom of menopause. It makes women feel deeply exhausted even though they haven’t made any physical effort. Similar to chronic fatigue, crashing fatigue can be debilitating as overall stamina declines and is worsened by physical or mental activity. It’s an endless feeling of tiredness, all because natural levels of estrogens have declined. Bye-bye energy.

Because the symptoms can be so varied, it may be beneficial to keep a symptom long to determine whether low estrogen levels are the contributor to a lack of energy. Some signs to look for include panic attacks, migraines, and palpitations that occur for one to two days around ovulation or around menstruation. For those with chronic fatigue of fibromyalgia, be on the alert: If symptoms are worse the week before a period – or if there is decreased vaginal lubrication – low estrogen is most likely the culprit.

ESTROGEN DOMINANCE
On the other side of the coin are the problems with elevated estrogen. When estrogen levels are too high, you’re looking at anxiety, weight gain, water retention, headaches, poor quality sleep, and fatigue. Certainly nothing likely to boost your energy.

How can you wind up with too much estrogen? It’s not hard. We’re accustomed to thinking of declining levels of estrogen as an accompaniment of aging. It seems counter-intuitive that estrogen levels might rise as we age. But in fact, this somewhat weird paradox probably happens more often than you might think.

How can this be? It’s certainly not because women are producing more estrogen internally. Rather, it’s because our environment is now chock-full of weird chemicals and compounds that actually act like estrogen. There’s even a term for them – estrogenic mimics. These estrogenic compounds, sometimes also called hormone disruptioners, are all over the place (one recently discovered source is plastics). And they can be fiendishly difficult to get rid of. Many women (and men!) have a difficult time eliminating these exogenous (outside the body) estrogens because of damaged metabolisms and sluggish livers. Nutritionists and researchers call this condition estrogen dominance.

THE YIN AND YANG OF ESTROGEN
One of the results of estrogen dominance is fatigue. Here’s how it works: Estrogen is what’s known as a pro-growth hormone because it stimulates activity. But like everything in the body, it has a counterbalancing force, which in this case is another hormone, progesterone.

Progesterone works antagonistically with estrogen to maintain homeostasis, or balance. (Remember the Goldilocks mantra: not too hot, not too cold). When estrogen increases during the menstrual cycle, progesterone decreases. When estrogen decreases, progesterone increases, in a lovely hormonal version of a seesaw. They work in perfect harmony throughout each month, or at least they do theoretically. (I have some friends with server PMS who might argue differently, as would their husbands and boyfriends).

Everything moves along pretty swimmingly until around age thirty-five or so. Somewhere around this point or later, at the start of what’s called permenopause, estrogen and progesterone both begin to decline. In an ideal world, they would decline at the same levels, to maintain that optimal ratio, but like most situations that start out with the preface “in an ideal world”, this rarely happens. In fact, while estrogen levels will decline about 35 percent through menopause, progesterone levels will take a virtual nosedive, declining a whopping 75 percent. That peaceful seesaw starts to look like one side has a two-year-old on it and the other side has an elephant.

Per menopause can last anywhere from two to ten years, and although most women may notice some symptoms, they are often told by their oh-so-helpful doctors that there is really nothing that can be done about them. “It’s just the way it is” is a common refrain. The less sensitive have been known to mumble under their breaths, “Oh, just live with it!.

To make matters worse, many doctors only check blood levels of estrogen (if they check blood levels at all, something they unfortunately don’t always do). Assuming symptoms are simply caused by declining estrogen, many will recommend birth control pills as a way of raising estrogen levels. This may provide some temporary and much-needed relief from symptoms but can further upset a rapidly devolving delicate balance. Over time, synthetic drugs such as birth control pills may further deplete women of necessary nutrients and can ultimately create even more hormonal imbalances.

By menopause, the total amount of progesterone made is extremely low, while estrogen is still present in the body at about half its premenopausal level. Estrogen dominance is the result, and the effects are rarely pretty.

HEAVE THE HORMONE DISRUPTERS
It gets worse. Remember those estrogen mimics we talked about? Commercially raised cattle and poultry are loaded with them. They’re in the very food eaten by the livestock that aren’t pasture fed and organic, meaning they make their way into the meat we eat as well (yet another in the hundred or so reasons I keep urging anyone who will listen to try to eat only grass-fed meat. I know it’s more expensive – just eat less of it!).

Pesticide residues have chemical structures that are similar to those of estrogen, making them estrogen mimics; we sometimes refer to them as xenoestrogens (xeno meaning “foreign”). Produce known to contain the highest levels of pesticides are strawberries, peppers, apples, spinach, and celery. And xenoestrogens are all over the place, not just in our food: they’re also found in plastics, nail polish, cosmetics, glues, and adhesives, as well as dioxin-containing foods such as the aforementioned meat, milk, eggs, and fish.

Both caffeine and alcohol can raise estrogen levels. Ovarian cysts or tumors can and do make extra estrogen. Stress will ultimately reduce progesterone levels.* (Stress overall can do much damage to many hormonal systems that are regulated through the adrenal glands). Too much stress and a reduction in progesterone will further upset the delicate estrogen/progesterone balance. When this happens, we expeince insomnia, anxiety, and an even greater depletion of energy.

*According to Robert Sapolsky, Ph.D., too much stress can also reduce estrogen.

BALANCE YOUR ESTROGEN, BALANCE YOUR LIFE
Even a cursory reading of the above material makes it clear that balancing hormones in a healthy way can be a real challenge. But it’s absolutely essential to having a ton of energy. No kidding. And there are lots of lifestyle guidelines that women can follow to minimize the onslaught of some of the unhealthy estrogens.

Fill up on fiber. A plant-based, unprocessed, whole-food diet is the best diet for a healthy metabolism and healthy hormonal balance. Try to include at least 20 grams of fiber each day, through flaxseeds, fresh fruits and vegetables, and even fiber supplements. The fiber will help you metabolize excess estrogens. If you eat animal products, including dairy, make sure they are organic and free of hormones as well as pesticides.

Drink plenty of filtered water to help you body eliminate excess toxins and environmental estrogens. Avoid high-glycemic foods such as refined sugar, and alcohol or drugs that can damage the liver, which will lead to an increase in estrogen due to the lack of estrogen breakdown.

Choose lots of cruciferous veggies such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and soy. These foods, all of which (except for soy) are in the brassica family, are vegetable royalty. They contain phytoestrogens, compounds that are similar in structure to estrogen but much, much weaker in potency. Which is a good thing. Phytoestrogens occupy the “parking spots” reserved for estrogen (called estrogen receptors), but with much less bioactivity. By occupying the estrogen receptor sites on cell membranes, they essentially block the stronger, natural estrogen from occupying the space. Those who have estrogen dominance may therefore experience relief of symptoms and renewed sense of energy.

These foods pack a double whammy. All members of the cabbage family contain plant chemicals called indoles, which actually act as estrogen traffic cops, helping to direct estrogen metabolism down the pathways to the less harmful metabolites – such as the innocuous 2-hydroxy-estrone- rather than the much more potent 16-hydroxy-estrone, an estrogen metabolite that can be a real problem, especially in hormone-dependent cancers.


How To Prevent Osteoporosis and Osteopenia

Scientists crack ancient bone disease

Traces of a bone infection known as brucellosis were found in ancient skeletal remains, according to a genetic study.

Characterised by chronic respiratory illness and fever, brucellosis is acquired by eating infected meat or unpasteurized dairy products or by coming into contact with animals carrying the brucella bacteria.

David Foran, director of Michigan State University's (MSU) Forensic Science Program, and Todd Fenton, Michigan associate professor of anthropology, confrimed the existence of brucellosis.

Fenton said advanced DNA testing at the MSU allowed the researchers to confirm the existence of the disease in skeletons 1,000 years old, the American Journal of Physical Anthropology reported.

"For years, we had to hypothesize the cause of pathological conditions like this. The era of DNA testing and the contributions that DNA can make to my work are really exciting," Fenton said, according to a university statement.

Fenton and a group of MSU graduate students were serving as bone specialists for a team of archaeologists excavating sites in the ancient Albanian city of Butrint.

Vertebrae from two of the Byzantine-era skeletons in Albania, both adolescent males from the 10th century to the 13th century - had significant lesions, leading the researchers to theorize that boys had suffered from tuberculosis (TB).

These ancient samples were sent to the forensic DNA lab, where results for TB came back negative.

Brucellosis and TB causes similar damage - basically eating away the bone - although no one ever confirmed brucellosis in human bone being recovered from an archaeological site.

source: TOI

New synthetic molecules treat rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s

In diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s, the immune system erroneously strikes at the body’s tissues. In what seems like a crucial discovery, experts at Weizmann Institute have unleashed new antibodies that apparently treated autoimmune diseases in a set of mice.

In this research, the team used a technique called MMP immunization. The enzyme known as MMP9 is a principal player in autoimmune processes. Therefore, the scientists believed that inducing the immune system of the mice to target this enzyme would most probably generate antibodies which impede the enzyme at its location.

“We are excited not only by the potential of this method to treat Crohn’s, but by the potential of using this approach to explore novel treatments for many other diseases,” commented Prof. Irit Sagi, Biological Regulation Department.

When the researchers injected synthetic metal zinc-histidine complex at the core of the MMP9 active site in mice, they found that the antibodies looked similar to MMP inhibitors called TIMPs. These antibodies known as metallobodies supposedly reached the enzyme‘s cleft and created a barrier to the working of the active site.

The metallobodies appeared to function for just 2 variants of the MMP family, namely the MMP2 and 9 which glued tightly to human and mice forms of the enzymes. Just as the researchers expected, when an autoimmune disease like Crohn’s was replicated in mice, the symptoms were supposedly restrained as the rats were exposed to metallobodies.

The scientists concluded that this method could be used as a treatment avenue for many kinds of autoimmune conditions. The research is published in the journal, Nature Medicine.

source: healthjockey

Low vitamin D levels linked to spinal cord disease

Vitamin D levels are significantly lower in patients with recurrent inflammatory spinal cord disease, according to a study published Online First by Archives of Neurology.

Vitamin D is a steroid vitamin that promotes the intestinal absorption and metabolism of calcium and phosphorus. In recent years, low levels of vitamin D have been linked to a variety of autoimmune conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS, a disease of the central nervous system marked by numbness, weakness, loss of muscle coordination, and problems with vision, speech, and bladder control). However, the importance of vitamin D in monophasic or recurrent non-MS spinal cord diseases including transverse myelitis and neuromyelitis optica is unknown, according to background information in the article. Transverse myelitis (TM) is a disease of the spinal cord in which there is involvement of the myelin sheath that protects nerve fibers; symptoms include back pain and weakness in the legs. Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a disease of the central nervous system that affects the optic nerves and spinal cord.

Maureen A. Mealy, R.N., B.S.N., of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, and colleagues investigated the association between low serum vitamin D levels and recurrent spinal cord disease. They analyzed data on vitamin D levels among 77 patients with monophasic (having only one phase or stage) and recurrent inflammatory diseases of the spinal cord, adjusting for season, age, sex, and race.

The study found that vitamin D levels were significantly lower in patients who developed recurrent spinal cord disease. "Our findings suggest that there may be an association between lower total 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in patients with recurrent TM/NMO/NMO spectrum disorders as compared with their counterparts with monophasic disease," the authors report.

"This is consistent with other recurrent autoimmune conditions and points to a common link between low vitamin D levels and immunologic dysregulation," they write.

The authors suggest that future studies are needed to further assess the relationship between vitamin D and recurrent spinal cord disease. "This study provides a basis for a prospective trial of measuring 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in these patient populations and assessing the influence of vitamin D supplementation on the frequency of relapses in those with recurrent inflammatory spinal cord disease," they conclude.

source: medicalxpress

Glass of wine 'strengthens the bones density'

Just one glass of wine a day can strengthen bones and reduce the risk of osteoporosis, according to a new study.

British researchers who looked at the relationship between diet and fracture risk found moderate amounts of wine appeared to boost bone density in the spine.

But other alcoholic drinks, such as beer and spirits, did not have the same effect.

The results, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, come from a study involving over 1,000 pairs of female twins in Britain aged in their mid-fifties.

Although some smaller studies have suggested alcohol might have a protective effect, heavy drinking is known to be a major risk factor for weak bones.

Osteoporosis is a bone-wasting disease that affects an estimated three million people in the UK.

One in three women and one in 12 men develop it at some point in their lives.

Women who use steroid drugs, smoke, drink heavily and have a family history of the disease are most at risk.

It progresses when osteoclasts, cells that break down old bone by removing the calcium and phosphorous that gives it strength, start to outnumber osteoblasts, rival cells responsible for making healthy new bone.

Right the way through life old bone is being destroyed by osteoclasts and new bone is formed by osteoblasts. But after the ages of 30 to 35, there are fewer osteoblasts than osteoclasts.

Osteoporosis develops when the balance tips too far in favour of the osteoclasts. With an ageing population, the NHS faces an increasing burden from fractures.

In the latest study, scientists from the University of East Anglia and Kings College London studied dietary patterns in post-menopausal twins to see how food and drink related to the number of broken bones.

After quizzing volunteers on their eating and drinking habits, researchers carried out scans to measure the thickness of their bones in the hip joint, the spine and the top of the femur - the major bone linking the thigh to the hip.

The results showed wine drinkers had higher bone density in the spine and the hip than non-drinkers, or those that preferred other types of alcohol.

Researchers did not find any substantial benefit to bones from a diet high in fruit and vegetables but did discover a traditional English diet of fish and chips, baked beans, meat pies and cooked meats had a damaging effect on bone strength.

In a report on their findings the researchers said: 'Moderate intakes of alcohol from wine were associated with a higher bone mineral density and the consumption of a traditional 20th-century English diet was linked with a lower bone density."

It's not clear how wine can build bone strength but previous research suggests it may be due to chemicals, called polyphenols, found in the skin of grapes rather than the alcohol it contains.

source: telegraph

Bad diet may put bones at risk of osteoporosis

Call for a national strategy to educate the public about vitamin D deficiency and halt the rise in bone breakages, following 10-year study by MPs

A national campaign to improve British bone health should be set up as soon as possible, a group of MPs will urge. A report by the all-party parliamentary osteoporosis group (Appog) will warn that the spread of unhealthy diets and a general decline in drinking milk, consuming other dairy products and eating fresh fish has left an increasing number of people suffering from vitamin D deficiency.

Without sufficient vitamin D – which is also produced in the skin by exposure to sunlight – bone growth is affected and conditions such as osteoporosis, in which bones become increasingly porous, become common. This can result in more bone breakages and fractures. According to Appog, the number of British men admitted to hospital for a hip fracture rose by 77% between 1998-99 and 2008-09.

The parliamentary group, which is made up of peers and MPs, has been studying the issue for 10 years and will publish a list of recommendations on Wednesday aimed at improving bone health in the population.

The group's proposals include a recommendation that more research be carried out to determine the optimum dose of vitamin D that is required by the public. In addition, the report urges that:

■ A wider choice of dietary supplements and fortified and non-fortified products should be made available.

■ Malnutrition in older people in hospital must be tackled.

■ The food supplement industry should have greater freedom to create vitamin D products which can be targeted at different demographic groups.

■ There should be opportunities for young people to learn about bone health in the classroom.

"By adopting a healthy lifestyle, the risk of breaking a bone as a result of osteoporosis in later life is likely to be reduced," the report states. "As such, it would appear beneficial to promote healthy diet and safe sunlight exposure as part of a strategy to prevent osteo- porosis and fractures."

source: guardian

Osteoporosis Treatment Modes

Elder people have a lot of diseases which they may suffer from—in fact there is a wide array of degenerative diseases in line for them. Degenerative diseases are those conditions which elder people develop over time. Many of these diseases usually just occur due to old age, while there are also those diseases which occur as a result of some health events, habits or conditions that a person had earlier in his or her life.

How Does Osteoporosis Occur?

Of these degenerative diseases, Osteoporosis is one of the most common disorders. Osteoporosis is simply the “demineralization” of the bones in a person’s body. Osteoporosis may be due to nutrition, preexisting diseases or medications which a person takes to treat other diseases. Osteoporosis is mainly a problem of retaining the calcium deposits in one’s bones—where calcium is normally stored. Due to the above mentioned conditions, the bones are unable to keep the calcium deposits inside rendering the bones weak and easily broken.

Normally, a person’s bones should appear hard and compact. In a person with osteoporosis, the bones appear porous and weak—easily breakable and fragile. With the presence of osteoporosis, one can become very prone to developing fractures and bone related problems like osteopathic pains and discomforts.

Exercise and Lifestyle Changes

This is an important means of osteoporosis treatment. We may think that exercise is a contraindication for people suffering from osteoporosis; however, the opposite is true. Exercise is not all the time contraindicated for people with osteoporosis. The types of exercise that can be used in people with osteoporosis are those weight-bearing and resistance exercises. Examples of weight bearing exercises are walking, hiking and climbing up and down the stairs. As for resistance exercises, these may include lifting tolerable weights and swimming, too.

Eating Foods Rich In Calcium and Calcium Supplements

We all know that the calcium deposits in our bones become depleted in terms of this disease…thus it is important to keep your calcium intake in normal levels. Too little calcium in the diet can make the disease more complicated—however do not overdose in Calcium as it may also lead to other complications which can be dangerous.

Medications for Osteoporosis

There is a certain hormone which can allow the calcium to enter the bones. This hormone is called the parathyroid hormone (secreted by the Parathyroid Glands). The problem with people with Osteoporosis is that there may be a deficiency in this certain hormone which does not allow the calcium to enter the bone matrix. Thus, one of the common medication treatments for osteoporosis is PTH. Also, in some cases, osteoporosis can be brought about by a decrease in the hormone of women called estrogen. For this matter, hormone replacement therapy is needed.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D works like PTH as it also promotes calcium in entering the bone structure. Vitamin D rich foods need to be taken—and apart from that, exposure to sufficient and tolerable amount of sunlight can lead to synthesis of vitamin D.

source: healblog.net

Cause of frequent pains in hands and legs?

Hand and leg pain may develop for a number of reasons such as fracture and infection which are among the most serious while sprains and strains are among the most common.

Your hand and leg pains might be due to muscle fatigue from overuse and soft tissue injuries. It may also be associated to arthritis (inflammation of the joint) or Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease, a common type of arthritis in older people.

It is a slow-progressing disease that mainly affects the hands and the large weight-bearing joints of the body, such as the knees and hips.

It is recommended that you visit your doctor for an accurate evaluation and treatment of your given condition.

Also Read:

Garlic Compounds Protects from Painful Osteoarthritis


How To Prevent Osteoporosis and Osteopenia

How is bone marrow aspiration done?

Bone marrow is usually aspirated from the sternum or iliac crest in adults. Most patients need no more preparation that a careful explanation of the procedure, but for some very anxious patients, meperidine (Demerol) or an antianxiety medication may be useful.

First, the skin area is cleansed as for any minor surgery. Then a small area is anesthetized with lidocaine (Xylocaine) through the skin and subcutaneous tissue to the periosteum of the bone. The bone marrow needle is introduced with a stylet in place. When the needle is felt to go through the outer cortex of bone and enter the marrow cavity, the stylet is removed, a syringe is attached, and a small volume (o.5ml) of blood and marrow is aspirated. The actual aspiration always causes brief pain, so the patient is warned about this. Taking deep breaths or using relaxation techniques often helps.

If a bone marrow biopsy is necessary, it is best performed after the aspiration and with a special needle. Several types of needles are available, the procedure varying according to the type of needle used. Because these needles are large, the skin is punctured first with a surgical blade [no. 9 or 11] to make a 3 or 4 mm incision.

Only the iliac bone is used for this procedure, because the sternum is too thin.

The major hazard of these procedures is a slight risk of hemorrhage. This risk is increased if the patient’s platelet count is low; therefore a platelet count is obtained before the procedure. After bone marrow aspiration, pressure is applied to the site for several minutes. After a biopsy, pressure is applied to the posterior iliac crest for 60 minutes by the combination of a pressure dressing and having the patient lie recumbent in bed. Most patients have no discomfort after a bone marrow aspiration, but the site of a biopsy may ache for a day or two.

When does osteoporosis usually happen in women?

For most women, it is somewhere between the ages of 25 and 30. It may also peak even sooner for some women which depend on what their risk factors for osteoporosis are.

The tide turns when the total amount of bone peaks and at some point, it is usually around the age of 35 where women start to lose bone.

While some bone is lost each year, the rate of bone loss can increase dramatically in the 5 to 10 years after menopause. For several years, the breakdown of bone happens at a much greater pace than the building of new bone and this is the process that eventually causes osteoporosis.

During this time, even though the bones may still be strong enough to avoid unusual fractures and there is no signs to alert the person to the disease, bone loss can become detectable with a bone density test.

Osteoporosis
BACKGROUND

As people get into their 50’s, they sometimes get a loss of bone density (bone strength) as their estrogen or testosterone levels drop. This can also occur at an earlier age from drinking a lot of sodas (if you’ve had a bone fracture, consider stopping the sodas) or alcohol. The loss of bone density can result in spine fractures, resulting in loss of height and even a curvature/hump in the upper back, or hip fractures.

Loss of bone density can be diagnosed using a simple and safe bone scanning test called a “DEXA Scan.” If mild it is called "osteopenia" and if severe it is called "osteoporosis."

TREATMENT

Diet and Exercise

Limit alcohol

If drinking a lot of alcohol, cut back as this can wash the nutrients out of your bones.

Weight bearing exercise

Weight bearing exercise increases bone density.

Recommended Supplements

The standard medical treatment is to use expensive medications such as Fosamax (and other biphosphonates). If you have loss of bone density, it is reasonable to use these medications, but natural remedies are safer and more effective. As they are also cheaper, no one has paid to make sure your physician has seen the research on these natural therapies.

Calcium

Calcium is good to take as well, but is minimally effective by itself. It is better to find a good bone health herbal aid that includes other nutrients along with the calcium.

Bioidentical estrogen (women)

Add bioidentical estrogen. Use BiEst from compounding pharmacies. The estrogen patches (e.g., Climara) are also reasonable. Add natural progesterone (called “Prometrium”) and NOT synthetics like Provera, which I believe are dangerous. If testosterone levels are low, add 2-4 mg of natural testosterone. BiEst, progesterone, and testosterone can all be put in one cream by compounding pharmacies and applied each evening. Your physician can call in these hormones to ITC Pharmacy (at 888-349-5453) and they can mail them to you (and guide your physician on proper dosing).

Natural prescription testosterone (men)

Check a testosterone blood level. If under about 450, take natural prescription testosterone (Androgel or Testim topically) to bring the testosterone level over 700.

Multi-nutrient powder and bone building supplements

Many nutrients are critical and very helpful for strong bones. For example, strontium has been shown to be 70% more effective than Fosamax in repeated studies. I recommend you combine a good multi-nutrient powder plus a bone building supplement (one that contains strontium, vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, boron and other nutrients).

How To Prevent Osteoporosis and Osteopenia

source: mdinfo

How To Prevent Osteoporosis and Osteopenia

Long gone are the days when women with the tell-tale humpback were the only ones identified with osteoporosis.

Even women who can stand straight and tall may suffer from the disease that causes weak and brittle bones. While some people often think of the condition as an old woman's disease, it is important for men and women of all ages to maintain good bone health in order to avoid bone loss, experts say.

About 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and 34 million more suffer from low bone density, researchers estimate.

Osteoporosis, Greek for porous bones, is a condition that causes bones to become weak and brittle, making sufferers more likely to sustain fractures, mostly to the spine, hip and wrist. The condition causes more than 1.5 million fractures each year in the United States, and about 20 percent of those people die from complications, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

But aside from those people who have osteoporosis, many more suffer from osteopenia, a condition where bone mineral density is lower than normal, putting people at high risk for osteoporosis.

"Both [osteoporosis and osteopenia] conditions are silent, in that losing bone does not cause symptoms until or unless there is a fracture," said Dr. Murray Favus, professor of medicine at the University of Chicago School of Medicine.

"So, awareness of the individual's risk factors and bone density is critical in preventing fractures."

Once bones have been weakened by osteoporosis, patients will often have a stooped posture, lose height and fracture wrists, hips or vertebrae.

Risk factors for the condition include a low calcium intake, smoking, eating disorders, excessive alcohol use, long-term steroid use, and other medications, including, aromatase inhibitors to treat breast cancer, some anti-seizure medications, and aluminum-containing antacids.

A family history of the condition, a smaller frame, and white and Asian descent increase the risk of osteoporosis and women are almost twice as likely to suffer from fractures related to the condition than men.

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How to prevent severe joint pain attack?

Issues about attacks of arthritis during weather changes are common. There hasn’t been a good research that would tell that weather affects or damage joints. There are also one arthritis specialist conducted a study in which he created a climate chamber and resulted that high humidity combined with low pressure were associated with increase joint pain. But, the strength of the study is criticized by many because of limited numbers of participants.

There are cases wherein patients don’t experience pain with weather changes and there are some who experience severe pain. There are also cases wherein they can predict if it will rain based on their symptoms.

Here are some measures to manage the pain during attacks:

• Try heat and cold therapy. Cold compress numb the sore area and reduce inflammation and swelling especially if caused by flare. Heat packs relax your muscles and stimulates blood circulation.

• Consider massage. Massage can bring warmth and relaxation to the painful area.

Tips for Massage:

1. When doing massage, stop if you feel any pain.

2. Don't massage the joints when there is severe swelling and pain.

3. When giving yourself a massage, you can use lotion

4. If you use menthol gel for massage, always remove it before putting heat treatments to prevent burns.

5. If you have massage therapists, make sure he has experience working with people who have arthritis.

• Practice relaxation. Relaxation can provide you a sense of control and well-being that makes it easier to manage pain and stiffness.

• Consider surgery. When other treatment methods are not effective, or when you have problems in moving and using your joints, surgery may be necessary.

• Learn about other treatments.

1. Biofeedback. It uses sensitive electrical equipment to help you be more aware of your body's reaction to stress and pain.

2. TENS (Trans-cutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation). Involves a device that directs electric pulses to nerves in the painful area.

3. Acupuncture. It uses needles to stimulate nerves to block the pain signal

mdinfo

What is degenerative disc disease?

Degenerative disc disease is not really a disease but a term used to describe the normal changes in your spinal discs as you age. Degenerative disc disease can take place throughout the spine, but it most often occurs in the discs in the lower back (lumbar region) and the neck (cervical region). These conditions may put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, leading to pain and possibly affecting nerve function.

What causes degenerative disc disease?

With age the amount of fluid in the disc can decrease. Also with age, tiny tears can occur in the outer layer (annulus) of the disc. These changes are more likely to occur in people who smoke cigarettes and those who do heavy physical work (such as repeated heavy lifting). People who are obese are also more likely to have symptoms of degenerative disc disease

What are the symptoms?

Many people have no pain, while others with the same amount of disc damage have severe pain that limits their activities. Where the pain occurs depends on the location of the affected disc. The pain may start after a major injury (such as from a car accident), a minor injury (such as a fall from a low height), or a normal motion (such as bending over to pick something up). It may also start gradually for no known reason and get worse over time.

How is degenerative disc disease diagnosed?

A doctor will do a medical history and physical exam. Depending upon what the doctor finds, image testing may be ordered.

How is degenerative disc disease treated? To relieve pain, put ice or heat (whichever feels better) on the affected area and the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed by your doctor. Further treatment may require physical therapy and exercises for strengthening and stretching the back are often recommended. In some cases surgery may be recommended.

Every situation is different. It is important that you gather reliable information before deciding your method of treatment.

More Information

source: sheboyganpress

Garlic Compounds Protects from Painful Osteoarthritis

Eating a healthy diet that includes allium containing vegetables, such as garlic, onions and leeks could protect women from developing painful osteoarthritis, suggested by researchers at King's College London and the University of East Anglia.
Compound in Garlic and Other Vegetables Isolated that could Stave off Osteoarthritis

Understanding risk factors for osteoarthritis that affects more women than men after age 55 has not been completely understood. Often, the cause is unknown. Being overweight increases the chances of developing the disease that is characterized by deep joint pain that worsens with activity. As the condition worsens, pain can occur during rest. For the current study, researchers isolated a compound in allium containing vegetables that might be abe to stave off cartiage destruction that occurs with osteoarthritis.

The current study was conducted to find out if diet could prevent osteoarthritis that can lead to disability, fall risk and need for joint replacement surgery. The researchers conducted a study of twins, finding a diet high in garlic compounds delayed osteoarthritis of the hip, shown on x-rays and matched with a detailed assessment of diet. Painful osteoarthritis commonly affects the knees, hips and back and is a leading cause of knee and hip replacement surgery.

The study included 1,000 healthy female twins without symptoms of arthritis. The researchers then looked closely at allium compounds in garlic, isolating a compound called diallyl disulphide that the researchers say limited the amount of cartilage-damaging enzymes in lab cells.

Professor Ian Clark of the University of East Anglia said, "Osteoarthritis is a major health issue and this exciting study shows the potential for diet to influence the course of the disease. With further work to confirm and extend these early findings, this may open up the possibility of using diet or dietary supplements in the future treatment osteoarthritis."

The researchers aren’t sure if eating garlic would lead to enough diallyl disulphide in the joints to stave off arthritis. The current study suggest consuming a diet rich in allium compounds that include garlic, leeks and onions could protect women from osteoarthritis, but the study paves the way for more research.

source: emaxhealth

How Rheumatoid Arthritis Differs From Osteoarthritis

Most people with arthritis have osteoarthritis, which commonly occurs with age.

But there's another type called rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a serious autoimmune disease. The two are often confused—which can be endlessly frustrating for those with RA.

"Everybody says that arthritis is one word," says Christopher Evans, D.Sc., Ph.D, the Maurice Mueller Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School in Boston. "But the conditions are quite different."

Here are 13 ways to tell the two apart.

Age

While osteoarthritis is typically a disease of older people—often thought of as the result of years of wear-and-tear—RA can come on quickly at any age, even in children.

The average onset of RA is between 30 and 50 years old; osteoarthritis strikes most people later in life. (It's called juvenile RA when it occurs before age 16.)

"Unless you've been banged up on a sports field or in a car crash, it's very unusual to see someone with osteoarthritis at a young age," says Evans.

Numbers

Approximately 50 million people have arthritis in the United States, including half of those aged 65 or older.

About 27 million are cases of osteoarthritis and 1.3 million are RA.

Because of the big imbalance in numbers people often think all arthritis is osteoarthritis, and may say, "Oh, my grandmother has that" to someone with RA, or may not realize that yes, a child, teen, or young adult can indeed have arthritis.

Source of the pain

In osteoarthritis, cartilage in joints wears away with time leaving bone rubbing on bone. Ouch!

In RA, the immune system cells think they recognize an invader and target the synovium, the joint's lining.

Cell-signaling molecules such as tumor necrosis factor and interleukins pour into the blood stream, causing fever, swelling, and other symptoms not seen in osteoarthritis. (The inflammation caused by RA can lead to heart, lung, and eye damage.)

Medication

Osteoarthritis is treated with steroid injections (into the joint) and oral NSAID drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen (Aleve) to fight pain.

People with RA need these too, plus stronger oral steroids, like prednisone, which can cause bone thinning.

They also need drugs (some of the same ones used in chemotherapy for cancer patients, albeit at lower doses) that prevent joint destruction.

Known as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, or DMARDs, these meds are known for their effectivenes, and their risk of side effects or infections.

Joints

Both diseases affect the joints, but just where and how they cause trouble differs.

RA generally attacks smaller joints first, from the wrists to the toes, leaving them painfully red, warm and swollen, usually in matching sets, on both sides of the body.

In osteoarthritis, larger weight bearing joints such as hips and knees usually have the worst damage, and the problem joint may be on one side of the body but not the other.

"Rheumatoid arthritis can spread from one hand to the other and then throughout the body to as many as 30 different joints," Evans says. "Whereas osteoarthritis affects a very limited number of joints."

Deformities

Joint deformities are more common in RA than OA. This can eventually lead to joint erosion and displacement.

The hands of RA patients can become severely deformed. Fingers undergo a characteristic deviation and can appear pulled out to the side, notes Evans.

Osteoarthritis patients are more likely to develop painful bony lumps or spurs in their fingers, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, or ankles. People with either OA or RA may need joint replacement surgery.

Nodules

About 20% to 30% of RA patients will develop firm nodules under the skin, frequently on the elbows, notes Stamatina Danielides, MD, a rheumatology fellow at Columbia University, in New York City.

These lumps, which vary in size and can be as large as a golf ball, can be quite painful and are often a sign of more severe disease, she says.

Nodules are not associated with osteoarthritis.

Gender

RA affects about three times as many women as men. Further, evidence suggests that women with RA may have more severe problems due to the disease than men with RA, including enduring more severe pain and depression.

Osteoarthritis, on the other hand, hits the sexes fairly evenly, although the distribution depends on age. While patients under the age of 55 are more commonly men, women tend to dominate later in life.

Triggers

The exact cause of each disease is often unclear.

RA is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in the lining of the joints. Genetics, hormones, smoking, and other environmental exposures, such as viral or bacterial infections may play a role in setting the immune system on its rampage, notes Dr. Danielides.

There is no immune involvement in the joint deterioration of osteoarthritis. A combination of age, genetics, joint injury, joint overuse, obesity, hormones, and muscle weakness are thought to play a role.

Onset and progression

As an autoimmune disease, RA can flare abruptly and then subside in a hard-to-predict pattern that can make diagnosis difficult, especially in its early stages.

How the condition flares and progresses can vary widely between patients, notes Evans.

"In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system is fighting the joint as if it were a foreign object and destroying it," he says.

Osteoarthritis generally develops slowly over many years as cartilage continues to wear down and forces more painful bone-on-bone rubbing.

Morning symptoms

Patients with RA will often wake up in the morning with stiffness that can last several hours. Osteoarthritis patients can awake with stiffness as well, but it usually subsides within half an hour—although it can return after physical activity.

"A patient with mild to moderate osteoarthritis might get up in the morning, walk a mile to get newspaper, and then on way back their knees might start hurting," says Evans.

Non-joint symptoms

A patient with RA may feel sick overall, with a low-grade fever, fatigue, and muscle pain, says Dr. Danielides. Depression, nerve damage, and dryness of the eyes and mouth are also common.

Without treatment for the chronic inflammation, RA can go on to affect "all sorts of organs," adds Evans. Patients are at an increased risk of heart disease and even some cancers.

Osteoarthritis is typically confined to the joints.

Longevity

RA can shorten a patient's lifespan by about 3 years, partly because of the increased risk of heart disease, Evans notes. However, current treatments that target inflammation and the misguided immune response can help.

"If you get in early enough with the appropriate treatment, the disease can be controlled and many patients can get on with their lives," says Evans.

Osteoarthritis has no specific impact on longevity other than the general effect of making patients less active, Evans adds.

How To Prevent Osteoporosis and Osteopenia

source: health.msn

Rheumatoid arthritis may signal heart risk

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Swedish researchers have linked rheumatoid arthritis to a greater risk of heart attack.

Marie Holmqvist of the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm and colleagues say their large-scale study indicates a 60 percent increase in heart-attack risk in the fours year following a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

The study, published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, suggests increased heart-attack risks appear very soon after rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis and were not diminished even if the arthritis was aggressively treated.

"Our research underlines the importance of clinicians monitoring patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis for an increased risk of heart problems, in particular heart attacks. It is also very clear that more research is needed to determine the mechanisms that link these two health conditions," lead author Holmqvist says in a statement. "Our findings emphasize the importance of monitoring a patient's heart risk from the moment they are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, as the risk rises rapidly in the first few years."

Holmqvist and colleagues determined the risk of heart disease -- in particular heart attacks -- in 7,469 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis between 1995 and 2006 and 37,024 matched controls without rheumatoid arthritis. The maximum follow-up was 12 years and the median was about four years.

source: upi

Heart disease and Osteoporosis might have similar causes

Osteoporosis and heart disease may have similar causes Individuals who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis may want to have their cholesterol tested as well. According to a new study from Norwegian researchers, these individuals are much more likely to develop cardiovascular disease.

Both osteoporosis and heart disease are extremely common conditions. In Norway, where the study was conducted, more than half of all women and a quarter of men have osteoporosis, while more than 400,000 individuals have cardiovascular problems. Similar percentages are found in the U.S. Researchers believe that they have found a common biological mechanism that contributes to both.

After reviewing the findings of several previous studies, researchers from the University of Tromso found that the individuals with increased levels of the protein osteoprotegrin (OPG) are more likely to develop osteoporosis, heart disease or both.

"We have found that bone loss is linked to a high level of OPG in post-menopausal women," said Lone Jorgensen, who led the investigation. "In addition, we see that a high level of OPG also predicts the development of atherosclerosis in women."

She added that her future research will focus on using this knowledge to develop more effective testing and treatment options for individuals with high levels of OPG.

source: privatemdlabs