| Overview of Arthritis | | | | plants, but none of it has been proven. |
| Effective help is currently available for people to | | | | There is a rare form of arthritis called Spure which is |
| pro-actively manage arthritis and enjoy life to the | | | | caused by allergies to wheat products. Avoiding those |
| fullest. But the actual prevention of arthritis itself is yet | | | | will eliminate this disease. Associated features include |
| another story. | | | | weight loss, diarrhea and osteoporosis. Consult your |
| With rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the membranes or | | | | health care provider if this is a concern. |
| tissues lining the joints become inflamed. There is no | | | | There are things you can do to reduce your risk for |
| known way to prevent any form of this disease, | | | | getting certain types of arthritis or to reduce disability if |
| including osteoarthritis, adult-onset arthritis and juvenile | | | | you already have arthritis. |
| rheumatoid arthritis. The exact causes of all these | | | | Overweight and obese people have a higher |
| conditions are unknown. | | | | frequency of arthritis. Excess weight increases risk for |
| It's very important for people who fear they are at risk | | | | developing osteoarthritis in the knees, and possibly in |
| of rheumatoid arthritis to realize that at this time there | | | | the hips and hands. Women are at special risk. In men, |
| are no medications to take or lifestyle modifications to | | | | excess weight increases the risk for developing gout. |
| make that can completely prevent this crippling | | | | It's important to maintain your recommended weight, |
| disease. However, by making changes to your weight | | | | especially as you get older. |
| and diet and engaging in moderate exercise, you may | | | | Arthritis Prevention Programs |
| be able to slow or even halt the disease's onset and | | | | The Center for Disease Control has implemented |
| progress. | | | | programs in several states to reduce the onset and |
| But you can only really take the measures needed to | | | | consequences of arthritis. The National Arthritis Action |
| control arthritis after it is diagnosed. Until it is known for | | | | Plan: A Public Health Strategy delineates the actions |
| sure if certain bacteria or viruses trigger the disease, | | | | necessary to better understand the arthritis burden in |
| contact with people suffering from it will not change | | | | the USA and helps to fully apply known and effective |
| your risk of developing it. | | | | interventions. |
| Traditionally, medications and physical therapy have | | | | This document represents the combined efforts of |
| been used to manage the disease. A massive amount | | | | nearly 90 organizations, such as the Arthritis |
| of nutrient research has also shown the effect diet | | | | Foundation, government agencies and many other |
| and supplements have on the body's healing | | | | groups and individuals with an interest in arthritis |
| processes. Lifestyle changes can also make a big | | | | prevention and control. |
| difference. | | | | The NAAP proposes a nationally coordinated effort |
| Causes of the Disease | | | | for reducing the occurrence of arthritis and its |
| Joint injuries caused by accidents or overuse increase | | | | accompanying disability by focusing on these three |
| the occurrence of some types of arthritis. You can | | | | areas: |
| also inherit certain genes that may increase your risk. | | | | 1. Surveillance, epidemiology and prevention research to |
| More research is needed to find out how to reduce | | | | strengthen the science base. |
| the disease's onset from these factors. | | | | 2. Communications and education to increase |
| Some individuals have an inborn tendency to | | | | awareness and provide accurate information about |
| degenerative joint disease because they have | | | | arthritis. |
| changes in the structure of the important | | | | 3. Programs, policies, and systems promoting increased |
| protein-building blocks of the articular cartilage which | | | | quality of life for people with arthritis and facilitating |
| covers the surface of their joints. These seemingly | | | | arthritis prevention measures. |
| small but significant abnormalities predispose their joints | | | | The CDC continues to accumulate scientific |
| to wear and degeneration. In other cases, joint injuries | | | | knowledge on the benefits of physical activity. |
| may contribute to the development of DJD. | | | | Because healthy eating reduces a person's risk of |
| No foods have been definitively shown to cause or | | | | becoming overweight, good nutrition plays an important |
| exacerbate arthritis in most individuals. A variety of | | | | role in preventing knee osteoarthritis. In addition, |
| diets and "hand-me-down" information exists about | | | | moderate physical activity is essential for maintaining |
| certain foods and arthritis, in particular the night shade | | | | the health of joints. |