Effective Ways to Manage the Symptoms of Arthritis Arthritis is a complex group of musculoskeletal disorders that can affect people of all ages, races, and gender. It is characterized by inflammation of the joints, which is often accompanied by pain, swelling and restriction of movement. In fact, there are more than 100 different forms of this disease, the most common being rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis. The condition can affect quality of life and overall health if not controlled, worsening with age. Reports suggest that nearly 50 million Americans suffer from some form of arthritis that has been diagnosed by a doctor. In fact, two-thirds of individuals diagnosed with the disease are under 65 years old. The most common symptoms associated with this condition may include pain, stiffness, redness and swelling and decreased range of motion. However, there are several things that arthritis sufferers can do to lower aches, inflammation and improve quality of life. Increased physical activity and a healthy diet are two major factors that help manage symptoms.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet An anti-inflammatory diet can help reduce the joint pain and improve overall quality of life. It is important to incorporate more fruits, vegetables, nuts and beans into your daily diet rather than opting for processed food and saturated fat. Eating foods rich in anti-inflammatory nutrients reduces pain and prevent the occurrence related conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Green leafy vegetables, avocados, green tea, almonds, cherries and broccoli are foods with antiwww.hqbk.com
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inflammatory properties. These foods also help in weight loss, which makes a significant difference when it comes to managing joint pain.
Hyaluronic acid joint injections Hyaluronic acid is a natural component present in synovial fluid of knee which protects the joint. In most cases, these joint lubrication injections provide temporary knee pain relief for people with osteoarthritis. In such patients, hyaluronic acid present in synovial fluid breaks down resulting in severe joint aches and stiffness. Injections are provided into the knee joint space using ultrasound guidance to ensure that the fluid is placed in the area with the most cartilage damage.
Weight Loss Overweight makes cartilage break down faster than usual, worsening joint pain and inflammation. Losing those extra pounds reduces pressure on the joints, eases pain and inflammation, increases strength and flexibility and reduces the risk of other chronic diseases. The solution - combine a healthy diet with a structured weight loss program to improve arthritis symptoms.
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Topical Analgesics Topical medications are absorbed through your skin. The most common varieties include creams, gels or salves. Some types come in the form of a spray or a patch that sticks to your skin.
Chondroitin sulfate, Glucosamine Chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine are natural substances that are found in healthy cartilage. These supplements involve few side effects, are safe to use, and provides pain relief equal to that provided by NSAIDS. In addition, these supplements have anti-inflammatory properties that help to slow down or prevent the degeneration of joint cartilage, which is the underlying cause of pain associated with this joint disease.
Electrotherapy - TENS units, IFC and GS Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) involves the use of low voltage electric current to block or reduce the pain signals going to the spinal cord and brain. It is useful to treat long-term painful conditions. A deeper form of TENS, interferential current (IFC) refers to a high frequency waveform that targets the deeper causes of pain. Galvanic stimulation (GS) involves using a direct current to treat back pain or muscle spasm. GS creates an electrical field over the treated area which impacts blood flow.
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