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 Vital Arthrit Ease, for joint pain and mobility. |
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With Chondroitin, Glucosamine,
MSM, Omega 3, Celery Seed and Boswellia |
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What is Arthritis?
Arthritis, which is characterised by painful and stiff joints, is a condition which affects the joints and surrounding connective tissues. Arthritic joint pain is typically caused by swelling, which results from inflammation of the joints. Swollen joints are generally less mobile, hence the sensation of stiff joints. There are different types of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and periarthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis:
An autoimmune disorder that occurs when the body's immune system attacks itself. Unlike osteoarthritis, which only affects the bones and cartilage, rheumatoid arthritis may also cause swelling in other areas of the body. Although there is currently no cure for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, treatment can help reduce pain and help individuals remain active.
Who is at risk?
Women are two to three times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than men. Most cases of rheumatoid arthritis occur in individuals who are 20-50 years old. However, rheumatoid arthritis may also develop in young children and older adults.
Symptoms:
Rheumatoid arthritis often affects many joints at the same time. Symptoms, which may come and go, typically include pain and swelling in the joints (especially in the hands and feet), generalised aching or stiffness of the joints and muscles (especially after periods of rest), loss of motion of the affected joints, weakness in the muscles near the affected joints, low-grade fever and general feeling of discomfort. In general, both sides of the body are affected equally. For instance, if arthritis is in the hands, both hands will be equally affected. Early in the disease, the joints in the hands, wrists, feet and knees are most frequently affected. Over time, arthritis may develop in the shoulders, elbows, jaw, hips and neck. Over time, the joints may become deformed. Small lumps, called rheumatoid nodules, may develop under the skin at pressure points, especially in the elbows, hands and feet. Rheumatoid nodules are not painful. However, bone deformities or swelling may reduce the flexibility of the joints.
Causes:
Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an autoimmune disorder. Where the immune system normally helps the body to fight against harmful invading micro-organisms that may cause infections, the immune system in cases of rheumatoid arthritis attacks body cells because they are mistaken for harmful invaders. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have high levels of white blood cells in the membranes that line the body's joints. As a result, the joints became painful and swollen. The inflammation causes proteins to be released over months or years, which then results in the thickening of the synovial membranes. This may also lead to damaged bones, cartilage, tendons and ligaments. Some researchers believe that this autoimmune process is triggered by a vital or bacterial infection. Heredity may also play a role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis:
Also known as degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in the joints starts to break down. The cartilage serves as a cushion between bones, allowing the joint to move without pain. Therefore, patients with osteoarthritis experience pain and reduced mobility in their joints. Osteoarthritis may affect any joint in the body.
Who is at risk?
Osteoarthritis occurs most often in individuals older than 45 years, but it may develop at any age. Females are more likely to develop the disorder than males, suggesting that heredity may play a role in the development of the condition. Individuals who are obese, have weak muscles, have cartilage disorders and/or have malformed joints have an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis.
Symptoms:
Osteoarthritis often develops slowly, which is why many patients do not notice the symptoms right away. Symptoms include joint pain, swelling and stiffness in a joint (especially after use), joint discomfort before or during a change in the weather, bony lumps on the fingers and loss of joint flexibility. The joints that are most often affected by osteoarthritis include the fingers, spine and weight-bearing joints, such as the hips, ankles, feet and knees. When individuals have osteoarthritis, their bodies try to repair the cartilage damage. However, the body cannot regenerate enough cartilage. Instead, new bone grows alongside the existing bone, causing small lumps to form. Although these lumps cause minimal if any pain, they may be disfiguring and limit the joint's mobility.
Causes:
Even though the exact cause is unknown, it is believed that several factors, including obesity, age, joint injury or stress, genetics and muscle weakness, may contribute to the development of osteoarthritis.
Periarthritis:
A chronic inflammatory disease of a joint and the tissues surrounding it. The condition primarily affects patients who are 50 years old or older. Periarthritis most commonly affects the shoulder, which is referred to as adhesive capsulitis or frozen shoulder.
Symptoms:
Periarthritis causes pain in a particular joint, due to swelling of the joint. Most patients develop periarthritis of the shoulder. When the shoulder is affected, the joint's mobility is significantly or completely reduced.
Causes:
Periarthritis typically occurs after the joint becomes injured, which causes scarring, thickening and shrinkage of the joint. It may also occur after exposure to cold temperatures. Individuals who have other types of long-term arthritis that affect the shoulders have an increased risk of developing periarthritis of the shoulder.
How is arthritis treated?
Since arthritis is mainly characterised by inflammation of joints, anti-inflammatory drugs are typically prescribed. Unfortunately these medicines have serious side effects, including depletion of essential nutrients, inducing losses of calcium which may increase the risk of osteoporosis and in some cases even increases in cholesterol levels, which increases the risk for cardiovascular disease.
Natural Remedies:
Many natural remedies have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. With the modern technology of today, researchers have established which of these natural remedies are effective in supporting the treatment of arthritis.
There are many natural remedies with anti-inflammatory properties, without the dreaded side effects which anti-inflammatory medicines are known for. Other natural remedies help with the regeneration of damaged joint tissues.
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