The Science of Arthritis

In order to understand how to handle arthritis pain, you need to understand how the body works and how arthritis can impede the body from working properly. Once someone has a general understanding of the science behind arthritis, one can better understand how to handle arthritis pain and get some arthritis relief.

First of all, there are several different types of arthritis. The two most commonly known forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, there are three other major types of arthritis. These other forms of arthritis are systemic lupus erythematosis, ankylosing spondylitis and gout. Let's take a look at each:

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE) – This form of arthritis mainly affects women. It develops in the skin, internal organs and joints.

• Ankylosing Spondylitis – This form or arthritis affects the spine and can also affect the ankles, knees, lungs, heart, shoulders and eyes.

• Gout – This is a painful affliction mainly for men, about one million of them in the United States alone. Uric acid build up, due to an internal chemical malfunction, forms crystals that get stuck in a joint, generally the big toe, and become inflamed.

Where two bones meet, called joints, are covered with cartilage, also known as gristle. This cartilage is sturdy, elastic, and spongy or compressible, and keeps the bones from moving against each other at the joint. Healthy joints can handle some fairly heavy pressure. For example, when taking a walk a person's knees handle a force of three to four times a person's total body weight, while deep knee bends can increase to nine times the body's weight. Unfortunately, arthritis effects how joints function properly in your body.

Surrounding the bones and cartilage is a strong, fibrous capsule lined with synovium, a thin membrane that lubricates the joint area with fluid. The end result is less friction or smoother rubbing together of the bones. This fluid also feeds the cartilage cells, keeping them healthy, and is "pumped" into them during joint movement. Therefore, lack of movement can be unhealthy. By understanding more about how joints work it is easy to see why exercise plays a crucial role in arthritis relief.

Arthritic joints can be affected with inflammation when bacteria or a virus (or other undesirable element) enters the joint area or when an injury occurs. What happens is when foreign matter enters this area or the area sustains injury, white blood cells, antibodies and other natural "fighting" mechanisms automatically kick in internally to help. These fighters cause swelling, redness and heat as the body fluid moves around. Symptoms of inflammation, one of the uncomfortable issues associated with arthritis pain, are redness, swelling and tender joints.

The exact science of what actually causes arthritis is still being researched. For most forms of arthritis, the causes are unknown. Injury, overuse of joints and mechanical issues with joints (like skeletal abnormalities, worn out joint muscles) can lead to arthritis. Many arthritis experts also point to issues relating to bacteria as one of the main culprits causing arthritis. Heredity, stress, drugs, food allergies and viruses have also been linked to some forms of arthritis. Likewise, diet, poor circulation, and lack of movement have also been connected to arthritis.

While it appears that arthritis may be caused by many factors, the good news is that at least some of these factors can be controlled. Clearly, a healthy diet and plenty of exercise will go along way towards arthritis relief.

Copyright 2006 Adam Waxler

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About Adam Waxler

Adam Waxler publishes a series of health & fitness information products and web sites including his new resource filled with with FREE articles and tips on Arthritis Pain Relief & Prevention @ http://www.1-800-health-teacher.com/arthritis.


And here is another random article you might be interested in...

Advice For Securing A Loan

Useful Ideas If You Are Looking For A Loan

The tips below are sound advice when looking to secure a loan for, say, the purchase of a car.

If you already have a loan and are wanting to replace the car and take out a new one remember that the previous loan is in your name and it's therefore your responsibility to make sure that it's paid off. If the dealer promises you that he will take care of this, make sure that you get it in writing from him that he will pay it off within ten days. Some dealers have been known to promise to do this verbally but have then failed to do so and then denied all knowledge of the matter leaving the client to pay off the old loan as well as the new.

If there are any manufacturer deals or rebates on offer, they are often very beneficial but watch the long term interest rates. Very often they shoot up after the 'honeymoon' period but if you're on the ball you can benefit from the initial offer and then transfer the loan to a company that offers a lower rate.

If you have a bad credit history the chances are that you will either be turned down or the interest rates quoted to you will be higher than normal. It's quite possible to do your own checks so that you have an idea of how you will score and there are also companies that will help you to repair your credit history. There's always (well, nearly always) a way round these things and take heart that only about 7% of the population qualify for the best rates that are advertised.

Some dealers try to insist that you fill in a credit application form even if you're paying cash. They will quote the Patriot Act and try to intimidate you into giving them a lot of personal information and this is what they're after because they can sell it on to other companies. Don't become so emotionally attached to whatever you are wanting to buy that you feel you can't walk away. It's almost always a buyer's market.

Know and understand everything about the model that you're buying. Don't be hoodwinked into believing that standard benefits have been added specifically on this car. Know the specification of the model, the cost as new and what similar cars are achieving in magazines and papers locally.

If you do apply for credit with the dealer and need to put down a deposit while you wait to hear if you've been successful, don't use cash. If you use a credit card you'll be able to dispute the payment and stand a chance of retrieving your money whereas the dealer can simply refuse to pay back the cash.

Don't forget the length of the loan. Sometimes the offer a dealer may put before you can look very encouraging but it may be over a far longer period than another company. Look carefully

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About Peter Trenton

Peter Trenton is the editor and webmaster of Loans Offer www.loansoffer.com a premier loan and payday loan information site on the Internet. For more information following this article please pay a visit http://www.loansoffer.com.