Painful Joints - A Chronic Disorder
Protecting the Cartilage and learning about different treatments.
Arthritis is a broad term for a group of chronic disorders of the muscles and bones called musculoskeletal disorders. Arthritis is the inflammation of the joints, and is commonly associated with pain.
The most common forms of Joint Inflammation being, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Gout, and Fibromyalgia . With the first three being the most prevalent forms in Australia.
According to the report from the National Health Survey released in October 2002 by Australian Bureau of Statistics, Arthritis is one of the most commonly reported long-term medical conditions. Approximately 14% of the population in Australia suffer from Arthritis. Arthritis increased with age from 33% of those aged 55-64, to 45% of those aged 65-74, and 52% of those aged 75 and over.
In July 2002, Australian Health Ministers announced Arthritis as a new National Health Priority Area in recognition of the major health and economical burden these diseases place on our community.
A range of agents can cause Arthritis. Different forms of Arthritis have different underlying causes.
Rheumatoid Arthritis most commonly develops between the ages of 25-50, but can begin at any age.
Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoporosis Risks
Those with rheumatoid arthritis who take corticosteroids, even at low doses, are at risk for osteoporosis, the thinning of our bones that can make them crumble or break. Steroids diminish your body’s ability to absorb calcium from the intestines and hamper the manufacture of new bone. http://www.hopkinshospital.org/health_info/Arthritis/reading/rheumatoid_osteo.html
It results in about 1.3 million fractures a year, including spinal fractures in one-third of women older than 65. Preventive measures are particularly important because there are no early warning signs of osteoporosis: The first indications may be a decrease in height or the formation of a dowager's hump as bone in the spine collapses.
OsteoArthritis is regarded clinically as degenerative, or wear and tear, Arthritis. Early diagnosis is important so as to determine the appropriate course of treatment. Osteoarthritis primarily affects the bones of the hip, wrists, and spine.
Arthritis treatments are many and varied but unfortunately there is no known cure for Arthritis. Anti Inflammatory Treatments and management are mainly for minimising further damage, prevention, reducing pain and swelling.
Cartilage is connective tissue that consists of collagen, glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans, and is responsible for providing the shock-absorption at the end of bones. It is the loss of this cushioning effect, due to the loss of glycosaminoglycans, that results in pain and loss of range of movement.
Conventional medicine to treat Arthritis, such as Analgesic, anti-Inflammatory tablets, gel or cream, only masks the pain and addresses the symptoms of Arthritis. Drugs help reduce pain and inflammation, but cannot repair damaged bone and cartilage. The growth and repair of the cartilage are only possible if the necessary nutrients for the formation of cartilage are present.
Glucosamine - is an amino-sugar; it is synthesised from glucose (a sugar)and glutamine (an amino acid). Glucosamine is a critical compound needed by cells to maintain and regenerate cartilage. It is a major building block of proteoglycans and is needed to make glycosaminoglycans.
Although the human body creates its own glucosamine, ageing, medication, and injuries can cause deficiency in glucosamine. Recent studies have found that tablets and creams containing Glucosamine can reduce pain and swelling in joints. It has been proven effective in numerous scientific trials for easing osteoarthritis pain, aiding in the rehabilitation of cartilage, renewing synovial fluid,and repairing joints that have been damaged from osteoarthritis.
Several other important nutrients also play important roles in helping maintain healthy cartilage and joints. National nutrition surveys have shown that many people consume less than half the amount of calcium recommended to build and maintain healthy bones. Low calcium intakes appear to be associated with low bone mass, rapid bone loss, and high fracture rates. An adequate supply of calcium over the lifetime plays a significant role in contributing to bone health.
Calcium - A 145lb body (70kgs) contains about 2.85lbs (1.3kgs) of Calcium, 99% of it in the bones and teeth. Most of the other 1% flows in and out of cells and is found in extra-cellular fluids, within the cell and cell membranes. Calcium is critical to nerve conduction, muscle contraction, blood clotting (providing it is normal to begin with), cell division, electrical conduction in the heart. It is also essential for producing and activating enzymes and hormones that regulate digestion, energy and fat metabolism, and many other functions essential to continueing life.Throughout life, bones are in a constant state of reformation as calcium is continually absorbed and redeposited into and out of the bones. Adequate levels of calcium are needed every day to ensure that bone mineral density is maintained. Whenever this vital 1% of Calcium is not supplied by your nutrtition, even for one day, your cody cannibalizes its own bones to make up the deficit.
Magnesium - plays a key role in a number of physiological processes including the maintenance of healthy bones. It is necessary for calcium and vitamin C metabolism. Magnesium, an essential mineral, accounts for about .05 per cent of the body's total weight. Along with calcium, it is an important component of strong, healthy bones. Magnesium is involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids. It also plays an important role in neuromuscular contractions and helps regulate the acid-alkaline balance in the body. Magnesium also activates hundreds of enzymes that are essential to life and acids in mobilizing the ATP enzyme system, which is essential for producing much of the energy used by the body. New research shows that magnesium is also helpful in neutralizing free radicals.
Vitamin D plays an important role in calcium absorption and in bone health.
It can be difficult to obtain enough vitamin D from natural food sources. For many people, consuming vitamin D fortified foods and adequate sunlight exposure are essential for maintaining a healthy vitamin D status. In some groups, dietary supplements may be needed to meet the daily need for vitamin D. Americans age 50 and older are believed to be at increased risk of developing vitamin D deficiency. As people age, skin cannot synthesize vitamin D as efficiently and the kidney is less able to convert vitamin D to its active hormone form. It is estimated that as many as 30% to 40% of older adults with hip fractures are vitamin D insufficient. Therefore, older adults may benefit from supplemental vitamin D. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp#en32
Vitamin C is an absolute requirement for the synthesis of collagen.
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin. Unlike most mammals, humans do not have the ability to make their own vitamin C. Therefore, we must obtain vitamin C through our diet.Vitamin C is required for the synthesis of collagen, an important structural component of blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and bone. Vitamin C is also a highly effective antioxidant. A number of drugs are known to lower vitamin C levels, requiring an increase in its intake. Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is available in many forms, but there is little scientific evidence that any one form is better absorbed or more effective than another. Dr. Linus Pauling, the Nobel prize-winning scientist, was a chief advocate of the importance of supplementing our diets with Vitamin C to promote optimum health and cure disease.
Vitamin E provides significant benefit for its antioxidant and membrane-stabilising properties.
When researchers study joint fluid extracted from an inflamed joint, they note a significant increase in the number of excessive free radicals. In contrast, fluid from a normal joint, has no free radicals present. Studies have shown a significant increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis in those individuals who have low levels of Vitamin E, beta-carotene, and selenium
Almost all Vitamin E research shows that, when positive results are obtained, hundreds of units per day are required—an amount easily obtained with supplements but impossible with food. Therefore, switching to food sources, as suggested by some researchers, is impractical. On the other hand, the vitamin E occurring naturally in food contains gamma tocopherol and other tocopherols. Thus, it possibly may turn out to be more effective than the vitamin E taken in supplement form. Vitamin E is an important antioxidant, protecting many tissues, including joints, against oxidative damage.
Low Vitamin E levels in the joint fluid of people with RA have been reported. Fairburn K, Grootveld M, Ward RJ, et al. Alpha-tocopherol, lipids and lipoproteins in knee-joint synovial fluid and serum from patients with inflammatory joint disease. Clin Sci 1992;83:657–64.
In a double-blind trial, approximately 1,800 IU per day of Vitamin E was found to reduce pain from RA. Two other double-blind trials (using similar high levels of vitamin E) reported that Vitamin E had approximately the same effectiveness in reducing symptoms of RA as anti-inflammatory drugs. In other double-blind trials, 600 IU of Vitamin E taken twice daily was significantly more effective than placebo in reducing RA, although laboratory measures of inflammation remained unchanged. Additional research is needed in this area.
Certain medicines interact with Vitamin E: Some interactions may increase the need for vitamin E, other interactions may be negative.
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Our health is largely our personal responsibility. Scientific research and clinical trials continue to expand our knowledge in human nutrition in regards to the relationship of diet and nutrition to chronic diseases. Recent reports on diet and chronic disease by the World Health Organization suggest that chronic diseases are preventable.
Disclaimer: This article is not meant to replace consultation with trained health care professionals. The publisher and author are not responsible for any adverse consequences of effects resulting from the use of any of the information or suggestions contained in this article. All research has been done in good faith, using recognized sources.
