RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissue, according to Dr. Tesfu. This causes painful joints and should be treated by a rheumatologist. Symptoms include joints that are swollen, warm and tender. Also, morning stiffness that does not go away after being up for 30 minutes, Fatigue is also a symptom, not the usual tiredness but a deep fatigue.

It is said by the medical community that around 12% to 15% of postmenopausal women with painful joints have rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Nora Singer, a rheumatologist, said, "Smoking and periodontal disease both predispose women to RA. Stopping smoking and visiting the dentist regularly are both important."

What to do if you think you have RA? There is some evidence that the Mediterranean diet may be helpful. Beyond your diet, you need the help of a good rheumatologist. Dr. Singer stated, "The earlier we treat RA, the more effective the treatment appears to be." See your doctor at the first sign of RA. You will probably need to see your primary doctor who will then refer you to a good rheumatologist. Getting appointments with doctors often takes a while, especially when being referred to a specialist.

There are many famous people who have rheumatoid arthritis including Terry Bradshaw. If you suspect you have RA, go to the doctor for a diagnosis. If it is RA, get started on treatment right away and remember lots of people who have RA live normal lives.

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OSTEOARTHRITIS

Have you ever heard someone say that they have arthritis? There are several types of arthritis, but most people who say they have arthritis have osteoarthritis. It is the most common type of arthritis, per Blen Teshu, M.D. "Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in joints wears away from years of wear and tear," said Dr. Teshu. Symptoms include joint pain with activity, morning stiffness that improves within. 30 minutes, and a grinding or clicking sensation in affected joints.

What can you do to help with those symptoms mentioned above? First of all, stay active. Movement and activity are helpful. Don't stay in bed or in your favorite chair. Another simple thing you can do is avoid untraprocessed foods. Eat as many fresh fruits and vegetables as you can, always good for health.

What about medications? Try nonsteroidal over the counter meds. These medications known as NSAIDs include products such as Advil, Aleve, or their generic counterparts. You can also try creams or gels that can give joint relief. If you have to eventually go to prescription meds, follow your doctor's advice. 

Unfortunately, osteoarthritis can have a stronger inflammatory component that may require stronger medications. This will be determined by your doctor, and he/she will provide the prescription that is right for you. 

THE ANSWER TO YESTERDAY'S QUESTION

 Did you make a guess at the answer to yesterday's question? Did you play sneaky and look up the answer? For those who waited for the answer, the answer is number 2, the ears. Strange as it may sound, the ears can lengthen over time because of gravity and skin elasticity changes. Now, how many of you went to the mirror to look at your ears?

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A RATHER FUNNY QUESTION

How about a little levity today?  Today, just for fun, this post asks a question. Here is the question:

Which body part tends to become slightly longer as you age? Which number is your guess?

1. 1. Nail Beds
2. 2. Ears
3. 3 Teeth
4. 4 Hair follicles

Check back tomorrow to see if you were correct.

1. 
   

STRAWBERRIES - DID YOU KNOW?

 

I received this from an old classmate a few years ago.

HELP FOR SWALLOWING CAPSULES

Do you have trouble swallowing capsules? Many people find it hard to get the medicine to go down, when it comes in capsule form. Dominic Vo, Pharm.D., host of the You Tube Channel PharmacistDom offers the following advice. Many people often tend to lean their head back when swallowing pills. But if you are taking medicine in capsule form, he says, "Capsules float in water, so when you lean your head slightly forward, the capsule floats to the back of your throat, making it easier to swallow." Now how about that! Next time you are taking a capsule, give PharmacistDom's method a try.

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NATURAL WAYS TO RELIEVE HEARTBURN (ACID REFLUX) III

Today's post will list two ways to naturally find relief from occasional heartburn. Remember if heartburn continues in a prolong manner, see your doctor. It could be the sign of a different problem that your doctor should treat.

• Chamomile Tea: Sometimes we only think of chamomile tea as a sleep-inducer, but it also acts as a stomach soother. Research from the journal Nutrients found that this tea has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce gastrointestinal discomfort from heartburn. It is suggested you drink a cup after meals or at bedtime for relief.
• Fenugreek: If you are not familiar with this one, it is an herb used in ancient Chinese medicine. It many cases it can ease heartburn as well as medication. Again. we rely on research in the journal Nutrients which found that the plant-fiber supplement forms a protective layer over the stomach and esophagus when taken 30 minutes before meals.

If you suffer from occasional heartburn, you might want to give one of the relief methods listed over the past few days.

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NATURAL WAYS TO RELIEVE HEARTBURN (ACID REFLUX) II

Continuing the posts on natural ways to relieve heartburn (acid reflux), today's post is a tasty one. Snack on bananas. Bananas offer multiple heartburn-busting benefits. Scientists have found that bananas ease reflux symptoms quickly by neutralizing stomach acid. Bananas are also rich in pectin, a type of soluble fiber that helps keep food moving through the digestive tract, preventing stomach acid from building up. 

If you have a problem occasionally with acid reflux, better known as heartburn, you may want to keep some bananas on hand. And as always, if the problem persists, see your doctor.

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NATURAL WAYS TO RELIEVE HEARTBURN (ADIC REFLUX)

 Following up on our last post about acid reflux, here is a quick and easy way to relieve heartburn:

• Massage your inner wrist. Studies show that stimulating acupressure points can relieve acid reflux symptoms by up to 40%. When you apply pressure to the point in the center of the underside of your wrist, you will help stop the esophageal sphincter from relaxing too much. Thid keeps stomach acid from rising up. How to do this? Press your thumb on the spot between the two tendons in your wrist and move it in circles for 2 to 3 minutes.

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Tomorrow we will share another relief idea. REMEMBER, IF ACID REFLUX CONTINUES, SEE YOUR DOCTOR.

ACID REFLUX TIP

If you suffer with acid reflux, the experts at John Hopkins University have a simple way to pinpoint the problem. They suggest that every time you experience acid reflux, you should log what you ate into a journal. You may be able to find a or some food items that trigger the reflux. If so, you will know what foods to avoid.

There are many different foods that can cause acid reflux such as spicy foods, fried foods, and chocolate. Yes, even chocolate can be a trigger. 

If you have acid reflux often, you should see a doctor. Acid reflux happens when stomach acid rises through the esophagus into the throat. If this becomes a common thing for you, it can cause damage to the esophagus when left untreated.

There are ways to naturally treat occasional heartburn. I will list them in the next post.

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