What you can do today for Arthritis, to get your life back!

Red, burning, swollen and so stiff you don�t want to move�that�s whatthose who suffer from arthritis experience on a daily basis. If youknow this all to well, you are probably one of the 46 million Americans(that�s 1 out of every 5 people) that are living with arthritis everyday. To better understand how to get relief from this debilitatingdisease we need to dive deeper into its root cause.

What is Arthritis?

Arthritisactually means joint (arthr) inflammation (itis). Arthritis can be usedto define a group of more than 100 rheumatic diseases and otherconditions that can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints orany part of your body. Additionally, it can damage the joint cartilagewhich can lead to joint weakness, instability and visible deformitiesthat can interfere and, in severe cases, limit a person�s ability toperform most basic daily tasks such as walking, climbing stairs, usinga computer keyboard, washing dishes or brushing your teeth. Arthritiscan affect anyone regardless of age and most commonly affects joints inthe knees, hips, hands and spine. If left undiagnosed and not treatedproperly, arthritis can cause irreversible damage to the joints, bones,organs, and skin. Not to mention dramatically impair your quality oflife.

Some of the types of arthritis which are associated with - rheumatoid arthritis
- gout
- tendonitis
- bursitis
- polymyalgia rheumatica


Arthritis-relatedconditions primarily affect the muscles and the bones but it is alsoconsidered to be systemic, affecting the whole body. Arthritis cancause damage to any bodily organ or system, including the lungs,kidneys, blood vessels, skin and even the heart. The ArthritisFoundation sites two independent studies (Brigham and Women�s Hospitalin Boston and at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota) both of whichprove that the widespread inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis islinked to heart disease and an increased risk of early death.

No one really knows the exact cause of arthritis but there are certain risk factors to keep in mind:

Genetics - likely to contribute to risk but no one knows how much.

Age - the older you are the more at risk you become.

Weight - maintaining a healthy weight will ease the load on the joints.

Previous Injury - major injuries are likely to contribute to risk.

Occupational Hazards - repetitive, high demand jobs increase risk.

Certain Sports - high level, high demand sports can contribute to arthritis (however, general exercise is always a plus)
Illness or infection- an infection in the joint or gout can lead to arthritis.


Whatwe do know is that when you have arthritis your immune system goes intoover-drive and causes the joints to swell and become inflamed.Therefore, treating the inflammation becomes key in managing the painand discomfort associated with this condition.

Sadly enough, theArthritis Foundation reports that half of those Americans witharthritis don�t believe anything can be done to help ease their pain.You may be in that situation yourself, having thrown your hands up infrustration and simply decided to live with your pain. The good news isthat by reducing the inflammation you can significantly ease thepainful symptoms associated with arthritis.

Here are a few ways to reduce your inflammation:

Exercise - less weight equals less stress on joints

Diet- Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole-grain products; limitsugar, salt and fat (especially saturated fat found in animal products)

Rest - a good balance between rest and activity is the key to joint health

Over-the-counter and prescription medications- while these may provide temporary relief by masking the pain they arenot always get to the root of the problem- inflammation. They can alsohave serious side effects, especially with long-term use.

Natural anti-inflammatory supplements- probably the most promising natural approach to reducing inflammationin a long while. We recommend looking for supplements containingsystemic enzymes and all-natural herbal ingredients.

By takingthese simple steps to reducing inflammation you will be well on yourway to managing your arthritis pain and it devastating effects on yourmind and body. Everyone should strive to achieve a healthy and activelifestyle for optimal health and wellbeing.