Yes, it may not be what you wanted to hear but its the truth, being over-weight adds extra load onto our joints that were never intended to bear. Also several forms of arthritis are said to be genetic and are strongly linked with the presence of a specific gene shared by 70% of arthritis sufferers: HLA-B27. Which has caused many specialists to believe that arthritis is an ailment that cannot be prevented but one that can be controlled and treated. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis which affects the load-bearing joints of the body such as the hips, spines, and limbs and results from the inflammation of the joint’s connective tissues or cartilages. Inflammation may stem from direct traumatic injuries, malnutrition, dehydration, and other sources of excess pressure to the joints. The most common cause of osteoarthritis in Americans is obesity. Being overweight places added pressure onto these joints inducing pain and lessens overall mobility and flexibility of the joints.

An early treatment for curing osteoarthritis consists of an effective weight loss program combined with a healthy and nutritious diet, which is strongly recommended by doctors.

An early treatment for curing osteoarthritis consists of an effective weight loss program combined with a healthy and nutritious diet, which is strongly recommended by doctors. Obesity or being overweight has to do with the presence of excess fat, cholesterol, carbohydrates, sodium, and sugar in the body and may even cause a series of other diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. A healthy diet that involves correct portioning of food will help reduce weight and keep the weight off:

Fat
We all know that fat keeps foods tasty and keeps us feeling full for a longer time. However, most fat often found in meat, cooking oils, butter, eggs, and others come with the added cholesterol that not only makes you gain weight but can clog your heart with cholesterol as well.

Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates often associated with bread and rice also appear in various foods and the most effective weight loss programs and diets include lessening the intake of carbohydrates.

Sodium
Sodium is basically salt that is commonly present in preserved foods to keep them fresh for longer and to add flavour. Sodium in normal amounts is ok but sodium in large quantities must be avoided by people especially by the overweight or those who are on weight loss programs because sodium is known to trap water within body which adds to a person’s weight. Packaged preserved foods in the groceries are often loaded high in sodium.

Processed foods, pastries, candy, sweet foods and even fruits contain sugar which not only adds significant calories to weight gain but is also a leading source of diabetes.

Sugar
Processed foods, pastries, candy, sweet foods and even fruits contain sugar. Only fruits contain minerals and vitamins that balance with sugar intake while the others are full of empty calories. Sugar not only adds significant calories to weight gain but is also a leading source of diabetes.

Regular exercise goes hand in hand with a healthy diet. It keeps your body strong and burns calories to keep the weight off. Exercise that involves a lot of cardio workout burns your body’s stored fat and carbohydrates which causes weight loss and keeps your heart and joints healthy. Stretching exercises and other flexibility exercises help keep your joints in motion and will make them stronger with time.

Alternative Treatment
For short term treatment, NSAIDS (Celebrex), Ibuprophen etc. can provide short term pain relief from arthritis but the associated health risks are familiar to all of us through countless warnings in the news. Another alternative, which is safer is created for long term use is Glucosamine supplements such as Synflex Liquid Glucosamine. Used widely in the treatment for osteoarthritis, Synflex consists of a combination of ingredients such as shark cartilage and chondroitin which not only protects but also strengthens your joints with adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals such as essential fatty acids and vitamins A and E to slow the progression of osteoarthritis and keep your immune systems healthy. Synflex glucosamine supplements are very effective because they come in liquid form which allows faster, more complete absorption (98%) and digestion of the minerals to the body’s cells.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverly_Maniago

Bursitis
Definition
Whether at work or at play, if you overuse or repetitively add stress to your body’s joints, you may eventually develop a painful inflammation called bursitis.

In your body there are more than 150 bursae. These small, fluid-filled sacs lubricate and cushion pressure points between your bones and the tendons and muscles near your joints. They exist to help your joints move with ease. Bursitis occurs when a bursa becomes inflamed. When inflammation occurs, movement or pressure is painful.

Bursitis most commonly affects the joints in your shoulders, elbows or hips.

Bursitis most commonly affects the joints in your shoulders, elbows or hips. However you can also suffer bursitis by your knee, heel and the base of your big toe. Bursitis pain usually goes away within a few weeks or so with correct and proper treatment, but recurrent flare-ups of bursitis are also common.

Symptoms
If you have bursitis, you may notice:

• A dull ache or stiffness in the area around your elbow, hip, knee, shoulder, big toe or other joints
• An increase of pain with movement or pressure
• An area that feels swollen or warm to the touch
• Occasional skin redness in the area of the inflamed bursa

Bursitis of the hip doesn’t cause any visible swelling or skin redness because the bursae are located beneath some of your body’s bulkiest muscles. In this type of bursitis, pain is primarily over the greater trochanter, a portion of your thighbone (femur) that juts out just below where the bone joins the hip.

Causes
Common causes of bursitis are attributed to the overuse, stress and direct trauma to a joint, such as with repeated bumping or prolonged pressure from kneeling. Bursitis may also result from an infection, arthritis or gout. However many times, the cause is unknown.

Bursitis in certain locations of your body is caused by repetitive motion related to certain activities:

• Shoulder. Bursitis of the shoulder often results from injury to the rotator cuff, the muscles and tendons that connect your upper arm bone to your shoulder blade. Causes of the injury may include falling, lifting and repetitive overhead arm activities. Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish between the pain caused by bursitis and that caused by a rotator cuff injury.
• Elbow. This type of bursitis is associated with actions requiring you to repeatedly bend and extend your elbow. You may get such an inflammation by doing common activities such as pushing a vacuum cleaner back and forth, or could be sports related such as throwing a baseball, swinging a tennis racket or a golf club. Even simply repeated leaning on your elbows could lead to bursitis over the tip of your elbow.
• Buttocks. This type of bursitis describes an inflamed bursa over the bone in your buttocks. It may result from sitting on a hard surface for long periods, such as on a bike.
• Hip. Bursitis of the hip is frequently associated with arthritis or a hip injury. The pressure from standing or sitting for a prolonged time also may lead to bursitis of the hip.
• Knee. In this form of bursitis, a soft, egg-shaped bump occurs on the front of your knee, the result of repetitive kneeling while installing tiles, scrubbing a floor, gardening or doing other activities that place pressure on your knees. A sharp blow to the knee can cause inflammation of the bursae around the kneecap. People with arthritis who are overweight often develop bursitis of the knee.
• Ankle. Inflammation of the bursa in the ankle commonly occurs as a result of improper footwear or prolonged walking or in sports, such as ice-skating.
  You may not be able to pinpoint a specific incident or activity that led to your bursitis. In some cases, the inflammation may stem from a staphylococcal infection.

Risk factorsIf you work in a profession or have a hobby that requires repetitive motion, you’re at an increased risk of developing bursitis. The occurrence of bursitis becomes more common in middle age as your body gets older. In addition, certain diseases and conditions increase your risk of developing bursitis, such as:

The occurrence of bursitis becomes more common in middle age as your body gets older.

• Arthritis
• Gout
• Staphylococcal infection

When to seek medical advice
Most often bursitis responds well to home treatment. However, consult your doctor if:

• Bursitis pain is disabling or doesn’t subside after two weeks of home treatment
• You notice excessive swelling, redness, bruising or a rash in the affected area
• Pain is sharp or shooting, especially when you exercise or exert yourself
• You have a fever
• You have other medical conditions that may increase your risk of an infection, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or an autoimmune disease, such as lupus
• You take medications that increase your risk of infection, such as corticosteroids or immunosuppressants

Tests and diagnosis
Your doctor may have you undergo a physical examination and ask you about your recent activities. By feeling around the inflamed joint and surrounding area, your doctor may be able to identify a specific area of tenderness.

If it appears that something else may be causing the discomfort, your physician may request an X-ray of the affected area. If bursitis is the cause, X-ray images can’t positively establish the diagnosis, but they can help to exclude other causes of your discomfort.

Although you usually can trace bursitis to events of overuse or pressure, there may be no obvious cause. In the latter case, your doctor may want to perform additional screening to rule out other causes of joint inflammation and pain. This may include blood tests or an analysis of fluid from the inflamed bursa.

Applying ice to reduce swelling

Treatments and drugs
Bursitis treatment is usually simple and includes:

• Resting and immobilizing the affected area
• Applying ice to reduce swelling
• Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain and reduce inflammation

By applying simple self-care and home treatment, bursitis will usually disappear within a couple of weeks.

Sometimes, your doctor may recommend physical therapy or exercises to strengthen the muscles in the area to avoid future inflammation in that area. Additionally, your doctor may inject a corticosteroid drug into the bursa to relieve inflammation. This treatment generally brings immediate relief and, in many cases, one injection is all you’ll need.

If your bursitis is caused by an infection, you’ll need to take antibiotics. Sometimes the bursa must be surgically drained, but only rarely is surgical removal of the affected bursa necessary.

Prevention
To help prevent bursitis or reduce the severity of flare-ups:

• Stretch your muscles. Warm up or stretch before and after physical activities.
• Strengthen your muscles. Strengthening can help protect your joints. Wait until the pain and inflammation are gone before starting to exercise a joint that has bursitis.
• Take frequent breaks from repetitive tasks. Alternate repetitive tasks with rest or other activities.
• Cushion your joint. Use cushioned chairs, foam for kneeling or elbow pads. Avoid resting your elbows on hard surfaces. Avoid shoes that don’t fit properly or that have worn-down heels.
• Don’t sit still for long periods. Get up and move about frequently.
• Practice good posture. For example, avoid leaning on your elbows.

If your bursitis is caused by a chronic underlying condition, such as arthritis, it may recur despite these preventive measures.

Lifestyle and home remedies
For taking care of bursitis at home:

• Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve) can provide relief. Use as directed. Consult your doctor if you need NSAIDs for an extended period of time.
• Apply ice packs. Use them for 20 minutes several times a day during the first few days, or for as long as the joint area is warm to the touch.
• Apply heat. Use heat after the affected joint is no longer warm or red to help relieve muscle and joint pain and stiffness. But don’t overdo it. Don’t apply heat for more than 20 minutes at a time.

Sometimes moist heat seems to penetrate deeper and give you more relief than does dry heat.

• Perform stretching exercises. Stretching can help restore full range of motion.
• Elevate the affected joint. Raising your knee or elbow can help reduce swelling.
• Keep pressure off your joint. If possible, use an elastic bandage, sling or soft foam pad to protect a joint until the swelling goes down.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bursitis/DS00032/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

There are many causes of joint pain, although the majority is from illnesses. Joint discomfort can also stem from injuries, infections and even some allergic reactions to medications. Treatment for joint pains will depend on the unique cause and situation the patient finds themselves in. They may need to have joint replacement surgery in some cases, some may need to switch medications, or just take immune suppressants to ease the pain. Due to the destructive and degenerative nature of join pain, the severity of situation may need the sufferer to change their lifestyle to accommodate the pain or to find relief from the discomfort. Joint problems such as finger joint pain not only causes discomfort, but debilitation in some more serious cases. Charcot joint pain, which is the degeneration of a stress bearing joint, such as your knee, is caused by repeated trauma, chronic haemarthrosis, chondrocalcinosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Overall joint discomfort can be originate from localised pain, nervous system problems, head symptoms, muscle symptoms, swelling, movement symptoms, skin symptoms, muscle weakness, fever, body temperature, stiffness, and fatigue. A few of these causes are very easy to treat, but some of the other problems cannot be rectified due to the nature of the cause, but they may be solutions for the sufferer to live with the joint problems.

Viral infections, the common cold, the flue and other bacterial infections can also cause joint pain. Most types of arthritis cause joint pain, from light pain to very sever and debilitating pain. The list of arthritic causes that may cause joint discomfort are extensive: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatism, Reiter’s syndrome, psoriatic arthritis, gonococcal arthritis, and inflammatory bowel syndrome are common culprits.

Other common causes for joints discomfort are African sleeping sickness, east African trypanosomiasis, optic neuropathy, anterior ischemic, and West African trypanosomiasis. While severe joint pain causes are avascular necrosis, bartonella infections, bertonellosis, haemoglobin S/haemoglobin Lepore, Boston, Hemoglobin S/haemoglobin ), Arab, and Hemoglobin SC.
Joint redness, painful joints, joint inflammation, joint swelling and other joint symptoms are all associated with arthritis. The causes of some arthritis problems are acrodysostosis, Behcet’s disease, Blau syndrome, Caplan’s disease, Ciproflaxin, Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hypertostosis, Escherichi coli, Farber’s disease, Bone fracture, Hemophilia type A, Hepatitis A, Kawasaki disease, Mayaro virus fever, Methimazole, mixed connective tissue disease, Mycoplasma pneumonia, obesity, PAPA syndrome, pituitary tumor, rheumatic fever, rubella, sickle cell disease, Streptococcus suis, raised Urid acid levels, West Nile fever, and Winchester; and this is just only naming a few.

Gout is a joint condition associated with the build up of urate crystals in the joints.

Arthritis problem such as gout is a joint condition associated with the build up of urate crystals in the joints. It can be caused by familial juvenile hyperuricemic nephropathy, juvenile gout, Kelley-seegmiller syndrome, lesch-nyhan syndrome.

Rheumatoid arthritis which causes sever joint pain is caused by cartilaginous deafness syndrome, chromosome 22q deletion, chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, felty syndrome, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, human adjuvant disease, hyperprolactinemia, large granular lymphocyte leukaemia, systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and X-linked agammaglobulinemia.

It is crucial to remember that painful joints are just symptoms of many different causes. You will need to diagnose and recognize, rather than target the symptoms of joint troubles. This is important in helping determine why you are experiencing the discomfort in joints. However joint problems are commonly found in those 45 years of age and older. For most rest, exercise, massage, stretching and warm baths will effectively treat non-arthritic joint issues. There are also anti-inflammatory medications that can quickly relieve any swelling and inflammation. Also available is special physical therapy for muscle and joint rehabilitation. In some cases there may be a need to have fluid removed from your joints to effectively get rid of joint pains.

Surely joint pain plaques millions of people worldwide and in some cases treatments or medication have proven very effective in treating the problem. While in other cases a more aggressive approach is the only solution depending on the severity of the situation. Regardless, new technologies and developments are making treatments more and more successful.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Trudeau

10. Your posture is ruining your joints! That’s right, the way you sit and stand throughout the day most likely impact the way your knees and feet hurt. If your posture is awful you will place additional pressure on your back and lower extremities because your spine is not in proper alignment.

9. You may have arthritis and not know it. Several suffer from joint pain all over their body because of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. According to the CDC, 46 million Americans suffer from arthritis. Also, one in 250 children are born with some form of arthritis. See a doctor if you think you could have arthritis.

8. There are natural substances that can assist you. Omega-3’s, glucosamine, MSM and Hyaluronic Acid have been scientifically confirmed to help restore joints and reduce pain.

7. Your lifting could be killing your joints. Heavy lifting and bad form in and out of the gym has led to a severe increase in joint-related pain and consequently, a rise in the purchase of joint relief formulas.

Be careful when performing lifts. Do not place extra pressure on elbows, knees and the back when weight training.

6. Stretch AFTER your workouts! It’s okay to warm up on Cardio and do a quick stretch before an exercise, but stretching a cold muscle will decrease force production and could cause an injury to joint connective tissue. Stretching has been a source of confusion for years. But research shows static stretching is best done after a workout, when the muscles and joints are warm and primed.

Your shoes are most likely lacking in arch support and cushion, which could be causing strain on your knees, hips and back.

5. Allergic to shellfish? Don’t take glucosamine. Joint formulas that include glucosomine and krill oil may be useful for alleviating joint pain, but you should stay away from these compounds if you have a shellfish allergy. Most supplement manufacturers derive these formulas from crustaceans. What should you do? Opt for Omega-3’s to lubricate those tender joints.

4. Your shoes are killing you! That’s right, your shoes are most likely lacking in arch support and cushion, which could be causing strain on your knees, hips and back. Look into a health shoe store for a shoe specifically designed for your needs. Or, if you hate lame-looking shoes, get an insole, which can help support those aching feet and give your body assistance.

3. Were you told you have fibromayalgia? Do you have joint pain? This author was told he had fibromayalgia for three years until he was correctly diagnosed with arthritis. Fibromayalgia is often diagnosed when the pain cannot be attributed to anything specific.

2. Move away from the painkillers. Doctors prescribe Prednisone and NSAIDS (non steroidal anti-inflammatories) often without regard for the long term side effects. Ibuprofen and Aleve can lead to stomach bleeding and exacerbate joint pain because of their contribution to leaky gut. This is a condition where bacteria in the digestive tract leaks into the blood steam and can deposit in joint tissue, increasing inflammation. Try natural anti-inflammatories like Omega-3’s and circumin, rather than relying on painkillers and steroids.

1. Change your diet. The foods you are eating could be causing you joint pain. Certain foods such as gluten, saturated fats, and animal protein can cause inflammation and make joint pain intolerable. Try to eliminate foods that are known to be pro-inflammatories.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sean_Covell

If your doctor says your bone density is degenerating or that you have osteoporosis, what can you do? Most likely your doctor will want to put you on drugs. Since most drugs have real horrible side effects, after long-term use, you may want to look for a natural alternative.

First of all, you need to make sure that you are taking a high-quality calcium and magnesium supplement, for reducing osteoporosis. For women, it is recommend, up to 1200 mg to 1600 mg of calcium per day and about 600 mg to 800 mg of magnesium. For men, around 200 mg less than women.

Since calcium is a hard mineral to absorb, in your intestinal tract, taking magnesium improves your capability to absorb it. Using an ionic form of calcium provides for enhanced absorption.

women who had the highest levels of vitamin B12 compared to the ones that had the lowest levels had a considerable decrease in bone loss and bone fractures

Vitamin B12 reduces osteoporosis
There is one other nutrient that you should also take to enhance your absorption of calcium. In a clinical study made at the University of California, they found that women who had the highest levels of vitamin B12 compared to the ones that had the lowest levels had a considerable decrease in bone loss and bone fractures - reduced osteoporosis.

In another study done by Tufts University, they again found that in 2,500 men and women that high levels of vitamin B12 reduced their chances of getting osteoporosis.

Homocysteine
These B vitamins are necessary for reducing your homocysteine levels. Remember that high homocysteine levels and unchecked homocysteine levels in your blood lead to plaque build-up in blood vessels. Plaque build up in your blood vessels is almost certainly the most serious condition that you will have to face as you age. Plaque build-up in the blood vessels is the key cause of cardiovascular disease.

Celiac Disease encourages osteoporosis
More than 1.5 million people have this disease and many don’t know it. It is a disease where grains (gluten) have damaged the small intestines’ capacity to absorb nutrients.

To make your Vitamin B12 absorption worse, you produce less intrinsic factor as you age. Intrinsic factor is created in the stomach, which helps you adsorb more Vitamin B12.

Clinical studies have shown that those with severe celiac disease also have severe osteoporosis.

Pharmaceuticals block calcium and encourage osteoporosis
Pharmaceuticals of various kinds, especially acid blockers, can also prevent you from properly absorbing Vitamin B12. So keep this in mind as you use pharmaceuticals and look for ways to reduce their use by using natural remedies.

So, now you can see that it’s necessary to supplement with calcium, magnesium, B12, B6, and folic acid to prevent or even reduce osteoporosis. Not only do these supplements help you with osteoporosis, but they also reduce plaque buildup in your artery walls.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rudy_Silva