| As seniors, we can fall victim to painful and destructive | | | | next time you see one, pay particular attention to the |
| arthritis. It is usually osteoarthritis, a wear and tear type | | | | side effects listed. There are many and include |
| of condition that simply means the protective shock | | | | potentially fatal heart attack or stroke and internal |
| absorber (cartilage) between the bones is wearing | | | | bleeding. This is pretty serious stuff, but fortunately you |
| away. Cartilage protects from bone to bone contact in | | | | do have other options. |
| the joint. About 75% of all seniors suffer from it to one | | | | First of course, you want to stop the pain. You can do |
| degree or another. | | | | that with good, natural osteoarthritis remedies. The right |
| Osteoarthritis is usually found in the weight bearing | | | | one can also start to regenerate the joint cartilage you |
| joints, such as the knees and hips, but other joints can | | | | have lost. So, no more losing that crucial cartilage and |
| also be affected. It's a painful condition, and if left | | | | no worrying about those horrible NSAID side effects. |
| untreated, it only gets worse. If it gets to the point | | | | Also, if you have some extra pounds that you're |
| where there is no cartilage left, then it comes down to | | | | carrying, now is a good time to lose them. Each extra |
| painful joint replacement surgery, or a life of limited | | | | pound of weight, puts an additional three or more |
| mobility. | | | | pounds of stress on your weight bearing joints. So, you |
| Many seniors will just allow the condition to deteriorate, | | | | can see, that just losing a few pounds can have a |
| until they are forced to see a doctor. Often, if a doctor | | | | positive impact. |
| has diagnosed osteoarthritis, he or she will prescribe an | | | | You may want to review your diet too. A few minor |
| anti-inflammatory drug known as NSAID. While that | | | | changes, if necessary, can help with weight control, as |
| type of drug can reduce the pain, it's not really treating | | | | well as helping to improve your general health. After |
| the condition, only the symptoms. So, while your pain | | | | you have your pain under control, why not try some |
| may decrease, you still keep losing cartilage. Doesn't | | | | moderate exercise? Walking is a good one to start |
| sound like the best solution, does it? | | | | with and being a low impact exercise, it's great for |
| You also have the very real and potentially deadly side | | | | arthritic conditions and can give you an extra energy |
| effects of NSAID drugs to deal with. You have | | | | boost. |
| undoubtedly seen ads for these drugs on TV. The | | | | |