Arthritis is commonly a joint disorder that causes inflammation of one or more joints and the joint functions that enable the movement of the body parts it connects.
As per the US National Library of Medicine, if a person feels any periodic and regular body pain or stiffness, he could have arthritis disease. In most cases, this disease causes pain and swelling in the joint area; in rare cases, problems in the patient’s eyes, skin, or other areas can also be seen. The health issue has been classified as one of the rheumatic diseases.
There could be many kinds of arthritis or forms of arthritis, which could range from the ones related to wear and tear of cartilage to those associated with inflammation due to an overactive immune system. Different types of arthritis lead to the most common chronic illness worldwide today. Anyone can have arthritis, including men, women, young to older adults, or children.
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Some arthritis facts
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- About 1 in every 5 American adults is suffering from arthritis.
- It is a term that covers various kinds of medical conditions.
- Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, infectious arthritis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are some of the most common forms of arthritis.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly prescribed arthritis drugs to patients suffering from this health condition. Sometimes, physical arthritis therapies could slow down the intervention of surgeries in most advanced cases.
Most arthritis types are caused by a combination of factors, including genetics, any previous injury, infection, allergies, certain foods, and obesity.
What causes arthritis?
Few forms of arthritis are caused by a reduction in the amount of cartilage tissue that is normal. The cartilage is a flexible, connective tissue in joints that absorbs pressure and shock from running or walking movements. Osteoarthritis is one of the common types of arthritis, and it is known as wear and tear arthritis. It is associated with the breakdown of cartilage in joints; the risk increases for the disease if you have some family history. Another form of arthritis is rheumatoid, which occurs when the body’s immune system attacks other body tissues. Due to these attacks, synovial function is affected, which secretes fluid that nourishes the cartilage and lubricating joints. Rheumatoid arthritis may eventually destroy both bone and cartilage inside the joint.
How do I know if I have arthritis?
Arthritis is a condition that causes joint inflammation and can have a variety of symptoms. If you have persistent discomfort and swelling in your joints, you should make an appointment with your doctor. A doctor can diagnose the type of arthritis you have and provide the proper treatment.
The most common arthritis symptoms include:
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- Pain in one or more joints
- Swelling in one or more joints
- Stiffness in one or more joints
- Warmth and redness in one or more joints
- Difficulty moving one or more joints normally
- Tenderness or sensitivity to touch around a joint
- Skin discoloration
Arthritis symptoms can vary depending on the type of arthritis and the individual. Some types of arthritis can also affect other organs, such as the heart, eyes, or skin. Other symptoms include:
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- Fatigue
- Scaly, itchy skin
- Changes to fingernails and toenails
- Rashes
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Hair loss in spots or around the hairline
To treat arthritis, doctors may prescribe some anti-inflammatory medicines and painkillers. The medicines could cause side effects; if you want to know how to prevent arthritis naturally, here are some natural ways of treating arthritis.
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Natural ways for arthritis relief
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- Lose extra weight – Our weight plays a big role if we ever suffer from arthritis. Extra weight puts more pressure on the joints, especially in the knee area, hips, and feet. Reducing stress on the joints by losing weight will improve mobility, decrease pain, and prevent future damage to the joints.
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- Exercise more often – Exercising has much more benefits than weight loss. Exercising often or regular movements maintains the flexibility of the joints. Sometimes, weight-bearing exercises such as running or walking could be damaging, so in this case, one could try low-impact exercises like water aerobics or swimming, which would flex the joints without adding much stress.
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- Hot and cold therapy – Simple hot and cold therapies are the easiest way to relieve arthritis pain. You could try having long, warm showers in the morning, which may help ease joint stiffness. Also, using an electric blanket or heating pad at night keeps joints loose. Those opting for cold treatments can wrap a gel ice pack or bag of frozen vegetables in a towel and apply it on the painful joints for better relief.
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- Arthritis supplements – Many herbal supplements that claim to reduce joint pain are available in the market. Some herbs for arthritis pain are devil’s claw, stinging nettle, ginkgo, and bromelain. But make sure to consult your doctor before trying any herbal arthritis supplement so that any unwanted side effects or dangerous drug interactions can be prevented.
If you are done with natural remedies for quick arthritis relief, the next step would be to change the eating plan. Yes, patients who have arthritis and are looking for what is good for arthritis should consider anti-inflammatory foods, which would provide better pain relief.
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Foods that fight arthritis
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- You could try having cherries and berries, which aren’t just sweet treats but are also loaded with natural pain relievers and joint healing substances. Also, they are found to be nature’s richest source of anthocyanins, a group of antioxidants named flavonoids, and possess exceptional anti-inflammatory properties. Fruits such as blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and cherries are on the top list for antiarthritis.
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- Fishes are another great super food known for its numerous health benefits. Certain fish varieties like scallops, sardines, and salmon possess natural compounds that heal inflammation and provide quick relief. To stop arthritis pain, it is very much recommended that one eats healthy to keep bones strong.
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- Flaxseeds are another great food that may fight that may fight arthritis. They look tiny, but the arthritis-fighting properties are recommendable due to the rich supply of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). ALA is one of the omega-3 fatty acids that have the potency to make cold water fish such a powerful joint protector. Flaxseed has undoubtedly been the best plant source of healing omega-3s. Two tablespoons of ground flaxseed would provide 140% of the recommended omega-3 fatty acids daily.
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- Next comes yogurt, another healthy food item known as a potent inflammation fighter with well-documented curative effects for fighting arthritis, finger pain, and stiffness. Yogurt’s beneficial bacteria not only help to reduce inflammation, but they could also strengthen the entire immune system. Having yogurts tends to improve the body’s efficiency in absorbing essential nutrients such as calcium.
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- Brazil nuts, 4 to 5 nuts daily, are good for fighting arthritis. The nut contains more trace mineral selenium than any other food. Selenium is very important for people experiencing arthritis as low levels of this antioxidant could cause more damage to the joints. Those eating selenium-rich foods can limit free radical damage, helping relieve arthritis symptoms.
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How to stop arthritis?
The right diet is important to prevent arthritis; other preventive measures can also be followed; here are these:
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- The best way to prevent arthritis pain is by maintaining a healthy diet, eating complex carbs, consuming low salt, sugar, fat, and protein, and exercising regularly to strengthen joints.
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- Try natural remedies when you experience light or sweet pain or swelling.
- It’s better to consider treatment as soon as you get diagnosed with arthritis; do not wait for long and prevent unwanted damage to the joint.
- Have more fresh fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C as it reduces the risk of getting inflammatory arthritis.
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- Consider more green tea, which could help prevent arthritis damage by reducing inflammation and slowing down cartilage breakdown.
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- Breastfeeding may reduce the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis in many women.
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- Always prevent injuries during an accident or while playing sports so that cartilage in the knee is not damaged. Use proper safety equipment and know the correct techniques to play or exercise.
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