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Gout is a medical condition which is a complicated form of arthritis. It is characterized by sudden and extreme pain in the joints. The joints may become tender and red. The big toe is most vulnerable to this condition. Men and women both can develop gout. While men can get it at any point of time in their life, women normally suffer from this post menopause. The good news is that gout can be treated and cured.

There are certain typical signs and symptoms for gout. Most of the times, the symptoms appear suddenly without any prior warning. It occurs in various parts of your body including the wrists, big toe, knees, hands, ankles and feet. You will experience excessive pain in these areas suddenly. The pain is most severe during the first 24 hours. The joints turn red, become tender and swollen quickly. The discomfort lingers on the joints even after the initial pain subsides. If it recurs, then it is expected to make matters worse for the sufferer. Do not waste time and immediately see a doctor when you experience intense pain in the joints. Lingering with it may cause even more damage to you.

Gout is mainly caused due to the accumulation of urate crystals in the joint area. This accumulation causes pain and inflammation in the joint areas. If you are suffering from excess of uric acid in blood cells, then the formation of urate crystals becomes inevitable. This in turn leads to gout. Uric acid is formed inside the body by breaking down purines, which are present in food items like asparagus, meats, herring, mushrooms and anchovies. These are also naturally present in our body. Uric acid, generally comes out through urine after getting dissolved in your blood. However, surplus acid is created when the kidneys excrete less amounts of urine or when too much of acid is produced inside your body. Under such circumstances, uric acids accumulate in the form of urate crystals and cause gout.

Surplus of uric acid can occur if you are an alcoholic, you suffer from arteriosclerosis, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Anti rejection medicines, drugs for treating hypertension and drugs like aspirin can raise the levels of uric acid. Gout can be cured by undergoing medication. The treatment is done in two phases. The first part consists of drugs that will lessen gout attacks and its future occurrence. The second part consists of medicines that reduce the risk of formation of urate crystals. Drugs like Motrin, Advil, Indocin and Aleve falling under the category of Nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs are administered.

Other medicines include Corticosteroids and Colchicines. Apart from these, medicines for reduced production of uric acid like Uloric, Aloprim and Zyloprim are prescribed. A little alteration in your lifestyle can also prevent gout. Stay away from alcohol, drink about 16 cups of liquid every day and take low fat diet including tofu and egg whites. Having fresh fruits like cherries, strawberries, avocado, grapes and banana’s also help treat gout and act as an anti-inflammatory as well as helps lower the uric acid level in your body. Eat meat and fish in moderate amounts.

The pain of a gout episode has few equals. It’s also usually a nasty surprise that attacks in the middle of the night. It’s hard to believe that a toe can render you unable to function properly, but it most certainly does. Walking is nearly impossible and don’t even think about shoes.

Once you get over the attack, prevention is going to be high on your list. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do that will help. Unfortunately, it may mean giving up some of your favorite foods. Many foods contain purine, which is found in protein. Purine breaks down to uric acid, which is then filtered out by your kidneys. If there is too much in your body, it can’t all be filtered out, so it recirculates in the blood stream. If it keeps adding up, it will develop into sharp crystals and be dropped off in your joints. This is what causes the pain of gout.

Asparagus: If you aren’t a fan of vegetables, this may provide you the excuse you need, at least as far as asparagus goes. It has a couple of things that make it on the “don’t consume” list. First, it is high in purine, which may come as somewhat of a surprise. Second, it is a diuretic, so it may cause some problems with hydration.

Beer: While technically not a food, it is a commonly consumed beverage and like asparagus, it has two strikes. One is the yeast…you guessed it, it’s a protein. Second, the alcohol content is bound to create hydration problems, as it is an even more potent diuretic.

Mushrooms: There is some debate about the role of mushrooms. Some feel that plant based proteins are safe and others point out that all possible sources should be eliminated. I kind of lean to the latter. Use a lot of caution.

Organ Meat: The highest amount of this constituent is found in the organs of animals. All animals. If you have gout, don’t consume these products.

Processed Meats: You may feel I’m being redundant here to a certain extent. Many processed meats contain “meat byproducts” which may translate to organs. However, all processed meats are in this category…including bacon.

Seafood: Shellfish and salmon may be a part of a healthy, low fat diet, but they probably shouldn’t be on your dinner menu. You may also wish to use flax seed oil for your omega-3s, as the fish oil capsules can add up.

Your doctor may recommend that you see a nutritionist to help you plan out a healthy diet that limits the main causes of flare ups. If you also have other medical conditions, this becomes a priority, as many of the foods recommended for one condition can cause another. That’s especially true of gout. Make sure your doctor knows of any other conditions you may have, as well as a complete list of medications and supplements. That will go a long way towards preventing future flare ups.

Arthritis is a common term that refers to a category of diseases that involves damage to the joints of the body. I’m sure you know someone personally or know of someone that has some type of arthritis, especially since there are over 100 different types and because it is so prevalent not only to adults but in children as well. Arthritis main symptom is constant pain. This pain is normally associated to inflammation or swelling in the joint.

The human body is typically made up of on average 200-300 joints (depending upon the number of bones and the classification of a joint). A joint is the site where two or more bones meet. At this juncture is what’s called a joint capsule, which encompasses the joint where the bones meet. Inside this capsule is what’s called synovial fluid. Synovial fluid keeps the joint moving freely. However over time this fluid can decrease because of age, improper nutrition, injury or toxins. This can cause arthritis to form within the joint.

Pain from arthritis is normally caused by inflammation in the joint. Inflammation is the body’s own reaction to remove harmful stimuli and initiate healing. Although, inflammation is an integral part of the healing process, the body regulates it very closely because if left unmanaged inflammation can lead to other diseases such as arthritis. Inflammation in the joints is normally caused by damage or injury, daily wear and tear, or muscle strains.

To determine the different types of arthritis it is important to look at the symptoms, the duration of the symptoms, the degree of symptoms, the symptom patterns and location.

Arthritis symptoms include:

• inability to use extremities
• fatigue
• fever
• weight loss
• poor sleep
• muscle aches and pains
• tenderness
• stiffness
• difficulty in movement of a joint

The two most prevalent types of arthritis are Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis. These types of arthritis occur for completely separate reasons and in different locations in the body.

Osteoarthritis normally occurs as people get older, on average after age 55. Osteoarthritis occurs in the larger joints of the body that are weight bearing such as the hips, knees, or the spine. Osteoarthritis is usually caused from normal wear and tear of the joint but can be brought on through prior injury, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle. Degeneration occurs initially in the cartilage and leads to the opposite bones grinding into each other. This can cause immense pain without ceasing. Pain of this natural can be debilitating and prevents the person from not only exercising but doing any daily activities. Although, there is no cure for osteoarthritis treatments are available to help the symptoms and prevent further worsening. For the obese weight loss is the first step to decreasing the pain. Physical therapy, pain medications and even joint replacement are additional options for people who suffer from osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis on the other hand, occurs for no known reason. The body’s immune system begins to attack the joint tissue, lining and cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects the fingers, wrists, knees, and elbows. Where as osteoarthritis normally occurs later in life rheumatoid arthritis normally arises around age 20 and up. In rare cases children can be affected with rheumatoid and presents as a skin rash, fever, pain and disability. Although there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis the treatment revolves around easing the symptoms. There are several drug regimens that include steroids and antibodies.

About 16 percent of Americans are suffering from one form or another of arthritis. Most forms of arthritis can lead to disability throughout life. Arthritis can cause severe limitations in functioning and mobility. Since it has such debilitating effects relief is the most important aspect to for arthritis sufferers.

If you’ve continually endured the ache of arthritis or gout or have had to watch someone you know and care for suffer with it, you will be delighted to know the Arthritis Foundation highly recommends the medicinal properties of hot tubs and heated swimming pools for people suffering from arthritis or gout.

People with arthritis have a very challenging time moving and by being submerged in warm water, they are able to obtain some relief of some of their pain and are even able to get the previously impossible done; they are able to exercise with minimal discomfort.

As always, with any new pastime, if you are an arthritis or gout sufferer and would like to start enjoying the benefits of exercising in water, please first check with a general practitioner before you make a start.

Once your doctor has said it’s all OK for you to start exercising in a hot tub, let your body get used to the warm water first. This will warm up your muscles and your body in preparation for gentle exercise later on. This is one of the miracles of the hot tub for people with arthritis – not only will they be able to get some exercise in, they will be able to build up some muscle while they are enjoying the freedom of movement. An added bonus is the absolute luxury of soaking in warm water.

It is really important to take things bit by bit when exercising in a hot tub or swimming pool for several reasons;

· Firstly, as with any exercise program, you can strain muscles if you are not suitably warmed up prior to starting.

· Secondly is the fact that it is possible to over exert yourself in a hot tub or pool by doing too much or doing it for too long. You become light in the head and dizzy. Getting to that point won’t help any exercise program, and it can be injurious to your over-all health.

· Thirdly take things easy after you have exercised, keep in mind that now that your muscles have been stretched and worked, it is important to keep them warm for several minutes before getting out of the hot tub to allow your muscles to relax before hitting the cooler air.

For the person who suffers with arthritis, the mere fact that they are able to move with not as much of pain in a hot tub or even a swimming pool is nothing shy of miraculous. Folks with arthritis are in constant pain and a lot of it has to do with the simple fact that there is a gravitational pull to the earth we live on. This is greatly alleviated if they are submerged in water. Warm water is an added benefit because it will also cause the blood vessels to dilate, which will allow for more blood and oxygen to flow to muscles and skin not to mention the heart.

It is an activity, if not followed and practiced properly, that could bring on more problems than were there before. So if you are thinking about getting some exercise in a hot tub where your arthritis will be lessened, don’t forget to talk to your doctor first and follow the guidelines that they give you in order to take the best care of you and where your abilities lie. A little warm water exercising will go a long way on the road to better health.

Gout is an affection of the joints and can be found in millions of people. Gout is the most encountered type of arthritis, and it comes out as an attack that usually appears during the night. The affected joint is the one that can be found in the big toe in a lot of cases, (the big toe’s ball) but gout can affect one of the joints from the ankles too. If gout is left untreated then the flair ups start to appear very often and they will spread to several other joints. Treatment is required in this situation because gout can turn into chronic gout and cripple the joints.

Gout appears in people who have too much uric acid in their body. Uric acid is created from the food that is digested and decomposed into its basic elements which are absorbed by the body. Sometimes there is too much acid in the blood. Gout soon occurs after the acid has started to crystallize in the joints causing irritation and inflammation.

Hence, the cause of gout is an overload of uric acid in the blood.

But what causes the level of uric acid found in the blood to raise above the normal limit?

Well this might be caused by obesity, certain types of medication, or an over indulgence of alcohol.

What’s the best way to know how to treat gout?

If you want to prevent or treat gout then you need to reduce the levels of uric acid from the blood. You can achieve this by changing the food you eat so that it doesn’t have the types of food that have purines, which are substances that raises the uric acid level. Red meat, peas, liver and shellfish are foods that have a lot of purines in them. So you should avoid eating any of the foods mentioned above.

There is also medication that can lower the amount of uric acid from the body but don’t take any unless a physician tells to do so because this medication can cause problems if the dose is not properly controlled.

So if you have been afflicted with a gout attack visit your doctor soon and listen carefully to his advice. You will be given some medication that you have to take every day and you will be advised to change the types of food you eat to reduce the uric acid from the blood. If you do so you will not have any problems with gout anymore.

People who are suffering with joint pain because of arthritis are not left unaided by both medicine and alternative medicine. There are already quite a number of pain relief treatments to effectively combat the symptoms of the disease. Although the cure is still yet to be discovered, doctors, physical therapists and even dietitians are continuously finding ways to aid in arthritis management.Arthritis symptoms, if not properly managed, can cause serious physical problems such as deformity of body parts. It can also create emotional problems once a patient feels ineffective because of immobility. Then if it worsens, it may increase risks of further health problems such as heart failure or obesity; and more so can cause stress and anxiety.

To alleviate these burdens caused by arthritis is to find positive outlets that can be included in a patient’s lifestyle. These outlets can be in a form of therapy. Aside from the usual physical therapy for arthritis patients, there are other forms of therapy that can significantly be used as an arthritis treatment. Here are some:

Music Therapy

Music therapy is already a well-accepted health treatment similar to occupational therapy and physical therapy. Listening to soothing music has shown positive results to those patients suffering with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and disc problems. Music facilitates pain relief, lessens anxiety, reduces stress, and brings good mood and relaxation.

Water Therapy

Water or Hydrotherapy is an excellent way of cure for arthritis symptoms. This is usually done with warm water exercises that can build up strength, relieve joint pain, ease stiffness and relax sore muscles. Water buoyancy significantly lessens the pressure on joints. There are pools and equipments specially designed for therapy to make pool access easier.

Laughter Therapy

Laughter is the best medicine, they say. Yes, it is true. Humor offers a concise break from the troubles of joint pain and arthritis stress. Laugh it out to provide tension relief and pain reduction. Laughter has shown positive effects for healing as it strengthens the immune system and it also increases one’s threshold of pain.

Magnet Therapy

Magnets are used as a form of therapy since the middle ages. Static magnets are placed to a particular area of the body and are believed to realign the body’s electromagnetic field, thus increasing proper blood circulation. Arthritis patients who have tried this have experienced a notable pain relief.

Pet Therapy

Who would have thought that pets could be form of arthritis treatment? Pets or animals’ companionship are seen to have a positive effect to patients of arthritis as they can help relieve pain and reduce stress. They provide admirable social support, they relax your mood, and they encourage you to get out and exercise.

Osteoarthritis, a common form of arthritis, is the leading cause of disability in people over the age of 65. The joints which are affected most commonly are the spine, knees, hips and some of the small joints of the hands and feet.

Due to gradual destruction of the joints, the following symptoms emerge:

PAIN: The pain experienced by arthritics is typically aching in character. Pain is commonly one of the first symptoms noticed and it usually appears gradually and may be intermittent at first. It is precipitated by movement and load-bearing, and relieved by rest. However, as the disease progresses, the pain will occur even at rest and often people are woken at night by the dull throbbing pain.

IMMOBILITY: Fibrosis of the joint capsule means that the whole joint tightens up, decreasing the individual’s range of movement. Another aspect of the disease is thickening of the bone resulting in bony swellings. This extra bone can get in the way of normal joint movement.

MUSCLE WEAKNESS: Muscles of the legs, hands and feet may waste away leaving the person with little strength to perform normal activities.

When all of the above factors are considered together, it can be understood why arthritic individuals face many struggles in their everyday lives. Arthritis affecting the hip results in stiffness and pain which limits movement and exercise capacity. Wasting of the muscles means that patients with hip or knee arthritis may not be able to walk properly or even support their own weight. Climbing stairs also becomes problematic for many people. Tender and swollen hands mean simple tasks like doing up buttons or shoe-laces become an arduous chore, and often these people need a lot of assistance just to get by. Loosing their independence is quite a blow for many otherwise healthy people!

Thankfully there are some good osteoarthritis treatments which can slow the progression of the disease, relieve symptoms and restore some function. Some people may benefit from physiotherapy or other exercise-based therapies. Others require specific equipment such as knee braces or special footwear to stabilise and protect their vulnerable joints. Drug therapies are used to relieve pain and to decelerate disease progression. The last resort arthritis treatment is for those who continue to suffer despite drugs and other therapies; joint replacement surgery can often provide an individual with a new lease of life and allow them to participate once more in the activities that their arthritis had previously made impossible.

Psoriatic arthritis actually consists of two separate condition: psoriasis and arthritis. Psoriasis is very common and involves the development of raised, red skin patches and scales on the skin. With psoriasis, the skin’s appearance changes while arthritis is related to the inflammation of joints.

Autoimmune Disease

Psoriatic arthritis is thought of as an autoimmune disease, meaning that aspects of your immune system, such as cells and antibodies, begin attacking their own tissues. The chances of a person having psoriatic arthritis and not have suffered at one time or another from psoriasis isn’t great. The likelihood of developing arthritis increases when the symptoms of the skin are severe.

Men and women are both equally affected by this condition. Though, men have a tendency to suffer from spondylitic forms affecting their spines, while women are victims of rheumatoid forms that affect the joints. While people of all ages can develop it, those in the range of 35-55 are at the greatest risk.

The causes have yet to be determined, though factors related to the immune system and genetics are thought of as triggers for the onset of the disease. Ultimately, psoriatic arthritis is characterized as an inflammatory process causing a great deal of pain and swelling.

As a matter of fact, one of the key symptoms of is experiencing swelling and pain in their fingers and toes. This is what can result in what’s referred to as ‘sausage’ fingers or toes.

Range of motion is also inhibited in the areas affected from psoriatic arthritis. In the morning, stiffness and fatigue are common symptoms. The ligaments and tendons will have swelling and pain, while fingernails and toenails will being coming up from the skin, or small holes may occur which are referred to as pits.

Life can be really miserable because of osteoarthritis pain. Matters can really get worse if you are always on the go, working, despite the osteoarthritis, just to provide a decent living for your family. With osteoarthritis pain, sometimes, it is almost impossible to move and this could cost more than your job, or the thing that you usually do. However, for every problem, there is always a solution, and the treatments do not have to come in the form of a medication.

Arthritis is the number one cause of disability in the United States Of America. You probably know someone who has arthritis, or maybe you are one of 46 million people who are living with this life-altering condition. There is no cure or definitive cause, but we do know that there are some simple ways to prevent and reduce the pain of osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis.

Too often people mistakenly believe that the aches and pains associated with osteoarthritis are an inevitable part of aging, and that they just have to live with it. Moving is the best medicine. Keeping active, and losing weight, are two of the best methods, with which, anyone can combat osteoarthritis pain. If pain still persists, then there are healthy remedies to resolve problems for osteoarthritis joint pain, or any other type of pain, and one of the best alternative remedies is an accredited homeopathic herbal pain formulation.

The skeptics, do ask the question, does homeopathy work to get rid of osteoarthritis pains? The fact of the matter is, homeopathy can not only get rid of osteoarthritis pains but it will act very effectively for all types of body pains as well. If you accidentally stub your toe on something, or if you bang your head accidentally against the wall, or if you have been injured in a basketball game, you can use an homeopathic pain reliever to get rid of those excruciating pains.

Of course, we know that the best way to get rid of osteoarthritis pains, especially if it is already in its chronic stage, is to consult a doctor. But there are some, who are so busy with their jobs, they may not have the time to keep going to a doctor. What they can do is, buy any FDA registered homeopathic herbal pain formulation, and get rid of the pains immediately, without any worries of side effects, as most homeopathic pain formulations, are all natural supplements and nothing more.

Are brand name homeopathic pain relievers a scam?

To this question, the answer is an emphatic “NO”. Most all FDA registered homeopathic pain formulations are not scams. They cannot be scams, because the companies behind them, are invariably proud members of the National Products Association, and also have an enforceable money-back guarantee, that accompanies their products.

Although you will find lots of non-prescription and prescription medications you’re in a position to choose to make use of deal with too as assistance to avoid gout, they frequently have awful undesirable outcomes and really can really worsen that tinnitus. Nonetheless, organic techniques do not have any undesirable outcomes whatsoever and also have proven to grow to be as successful otherwise much more potent than their pharmaceutical counterparts. Allow me to share six normal suggestions to assist get rid of gout quick that I’ve personally tried and tested.

These are usually just 6 of extremely a lot of normal residence treatments to allow you to obtain rid of gout discomfort symptoms. You ought to experiment to locate out which 1, or mixture, operates most successful for you.

But, so as to address the bigger picture of preventing your gout from coming back, you will need to combine the benefits of those normal residence treatments you pick with other essentials like life-style and diet plan alterations. Diet plan is especially essential: Gout sufferers must steer clear of foods that are higher in purines, which are the compounds that generate uric acid through the beginning…

You’re in luck although. There’s a special gout report offered about the web which contains all of the particulars you’ll will need in just one location. It is what a large number of ex-gout victims worldwide have proven to function to prevent their gout coming back. Furthermore, it contains a specific a couple of hour gout therapy program.

And yes it uses fully-researched, entirely organic procedures. Which means you advantage two methods: (1) you get rid of the excruciating discomfort swiftly, and, (2) you stop your gout coming back, which means you lessen the risk of permanent harm.

Natural anti inflammatory is often used as a substitute for medications that are usually prescribed by a doctor for treating arthritis. What it does is very important for the sufferers. But, there is a question whether it can cure this particular condition. Find out the truth.

Arthritis is the painful stiffening of joints due to the degeneration of the cartilage that separates them from bones. When cartilage wears away, the bones can rub together, causing pain, stiffness and inflammation. While there is no cure for this condition, natural anti inflammatory can help alleviate the pain and discomfort.

Typically, when it sets in, a doctor will prescribe a medication like a non-steroidal anti inflammatory (NSAID). Common types of these medications can include aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen sodium. These medications can have serious side effects, especially when taken long term. Bleeding of the stomach and intestines can occur, as well as nausea, vomiting, constipation, and more serious problems like liver and kidney failure, or the inability to stop bleeding after surgery.

Natural anti inflammatory doesn’t have these same side effects as NSAID. But, some people may experience a reaction to its natural ingredients, although the occurrence is rare.

When treating osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis, choose the one like fish oil, glucosamine, or chondroitin. These supplements work with your body to naturally reduce inflammation which leads to pain and stiffness.

Agents that can reduce inflammation can help people suffering from arthritis and other degenerative diseases live a more productive life. They can also renew mobility and reduce stiffness, allowing arthritis sufferers to resume their normal activities without the use of expensive and potentially deadly prescription drugs.

Until there is a cure, there are healthier choices than medications that produce dangerous reactions. Choose natural anti inflammatory products and feel the difference.