The Early Signs of Arthritis That Are Often Ignored!

Joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and grinding joints are all classic symptoms of arthritis. However, there are some lesser-known early signs that masquerade as something insignificant, but actually indicate the onset of arthritis. Would you know what to look for? 

 

Firstly, it’s important to know the difference between the two main types of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a concern for all ages. This autoimmune disease triggers inflammation that attacks joints, triggering tenderness, swelling, pain, and limited mobility. Osteoarthritis has similar symptoms to rheumatoid arthritis such as joint pain and stiffness, but it’s brought on by wear and tear. It’s a condition that generally develops later on in life and the symptoms are limited to the joints.

 

Below you’ll find the early symptoms of Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. 

 

Rheumatoid Arthritis 

 

Fatigue 

This is usually the first symptom of rheumatoid arthritis. It can start weeks or months before other symptoms appear, and it’s often accompanied by “not feeling right” or mild depression. It might feel like you have a virus or flu. Sometimes this is just a reaction to the raised inflammation in your body, but occasionally it could be an indicator of an underlying problem associated with RA, such as anemia.

Poor Appetite and Weight Loss The weight loss is normally not drastic, but patients might notice that they don’t have quite the appetite for food and thus start to lose weight. There’s also another reason why early rheumatoid arthritis might result in some weight loss – the inflammation in your body increases your metabolic rate, meaning you burn calories more easily. 

 

Dry Eyes and Mouth 

Having problems with your eyes is quite a common side effect of rheumatoid arthritis, and the symptoms might appear before the classic arthritis symptoms kick in. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause the surface of the eye to become inflamed. 

 

 Another eye symptom of rheumatoid arthritis is reduced tear fluid. You’ll notice that you have a gritty sensation in your eye, or feel like there’s some dirt stuck in it. Your saliva production can decline, as well as other bodily fluids.

One of the most surprising early symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis is chest pain. Some rheumatoid arthritis patients get inflammation in the lining of the lungs, so it hurts when a deep breath is taken. However, this is not a very common early sign. More often than not, it comes on after other symptoms. 

 

Stiffness 

Many people with rheumatoid arthritis will experience morning stiffness. Some people don’t realize that stiffness in the morning is a sign of arthritis. They just blame it on the fact that they’re getting old. 

 

Another rheumatoid arthritis symptom is stiffness in minor joints that isn’t caused by activity. This usually starts in the small joints, such as hands or the wrists, and then progresses to other joints. There may also be some mild joint inflammation. 

 

Osteoarthritis 

 

Grating Sensation and Bone Spurs  

The spongy cartilage in your joints helps to cushion your bones as you move about. As this cartilage wears down, the bones can begin to grate and grind against each other, causing pain. Worn cartilage can also encourage the growth of bone spurs, potentially deforming joints. 

 

Popping 

People will often report experiencing a cracking or popping sensation – a kind of cracking sound in their knees or cracking in their joints. This is also caused by worn down cartilage. 

 

Swollen Joints and Stiffness 

Joint swelling due to osteoarthritis is caused by excess synovial fluid, the lubricating fluid in your joints. This isn’t usually painful, but it can limit your range of movement.

Pain Triggered by Activity  

People who have osteoarthritis usually find that their pain is worse with activity and improves with rest. This is the opposite to people with rheumatoid arthritis who find that their stiffness is worse in the morning. 

 

Seeking Medical Help Early 

Early detection enables you to seek expert treatment earlier. It may help to prevent joint damage in the case of OA, but catching rheumatoid arthritis early is vital. This is because the longer you leave an inflammation untreated, the more of an effect it will have on your entire system. There is evidence that untreated inflammation can lead to a risk of heart attacks, cardiovascular disease, and strokes. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that people who have persistent symptoms aren’t ignoring things that could be signs of a larger systemic problem.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Warning Signs of Vitamin C Deficiency

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 Vitamin C: Why You Need It

 

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. But, it is also essential for many other reasons too. In fact, Vitamin C has been found to:
 

• Help prevent cancer and enhance the effect of cancer-fighting drugs
• Lower the risk of stroke and heart disease
• Quell inflammation in the body, lowering the risk of gout and other inflammatory conditions
• Promote healthy skin and collagen formation
• Slow aging, naturally
• Assist the body in the absorption of minerals, including iron
• Lower stress levels
• Boost the immune system
• Improve physical performance
  Certain people, though, are more at risk for being deficient in this vitamin than others. This includes:
   
• Those dependent on drugs and/or alcohol
• Individuals on highly restrictive diets
• Individuals who do not eat fruits and vegetables daily
• Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis sufferers
• Those with a medical condition which affects their ability to digest and absorb food, like:
• People who smoke - as smoking affects the absorption of vitamin C from foods
• People who eat less of a varied diet
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women
  Vitamin C Deficiency: The Warning Signs
  
  If you are concerned that you might be deficient in vitamin C, here are some signs and indications you should be on the look-out for:
  
  1. Easy bruising
  Bruising -is a natural response to certain injuries - usually a fall or a knock. It is caused when small blood vessels near the skin's surface (capillaries) break and leak red blood cells. In certain situations, bruising is to be expected. Yet excessive or unexplained reddish-purple marks on the skin may point to a lack of vitamin C in the diet, due to weakened capillaries. Even minor deficiencies of vitamin C can lead to increased bruising. If this often happens to you, try to increase your dose and see if it has an effect. Studies show that consuming more vitamin C has been found to reduce the effects of bruising. 
   
  2. A wound that takes long to heal
   Look into your diet if you have cuts and scrapes that are slow to heal. Vitamin C is essential to the formation of collagen in the skin. This connective tissue helps bind a healing wound, therefore a lack of it can lead to slow healing. Vitamin C also acts as a powerful antioxidant and immune system booster, both of which encourage faster healing. 

  3. Swollen, bleeding or inflamed gums
  Swollen or bleeding gums or recurrent mouth ulcers are often linked to low levels of vitamin C. Collagen plays an important role in supporting gum health, however, it is estimated that gums turn over at least 20 percent of their collagen every day. Consuming vitamin C is therefore vital for healthy teeth and gums. Low levels are also linked to gum disease- ranging from gum inflammation to soft tissue damage. Low vitamin C can progress if not addressed, which can eventually lead to scurvy.

  4. Dry or splitting hair and nails

  Strong nails and a shiny head of hair are often good indicators of a healthy, balanced diet. However if they appear to be dry and splitting, it may indicate a deeper problem. Vitamin C usually makes its way into organs and tissues first before moving to the hair. So, low levels of the vitamin may cause you to have more than just a bad hair day. Vitamin C is also vital for the absorption of iron, a deficiency which can cause chronic hair loss and slow hair growth, as well as brittle and concave nails. 

  5. Red, Rough or Dry Skin
  Rough and dry skin, caused by a lack of collagen is one of the first signs of scurvy. Low levels of vitamin C are also linked to a common, yet harmless skin condition known as keratosis pilaris, characterized by small, hard bumps on the upper arms, thighs, buttocks and face. Adding vitamin C to your diet can greatly improve skin tone and texture. Studies also show that diets high in vitamin C provide better skin and less wrinkling. Vitamin C can also offset the damage caused by the sun's UV rays. 

  6. Frequent nosebleeds

  If you experience frequent nosebleeds don't dismiss an adequate diet as the underlying cause. More often than not, nosebleeds occur due to fragile small blood vessels. Adequate vitamin C, though, decreases their fragility. 

  7. Poor immune function
  The immune system is what helps the body protect against infection and disease. Consuming a diet rich in vitamin C can promote better functioning of the immune system as several cells rely on this vitamin to perform their tasks. Being deficient in vitamin C can therefore lead to a reduced resistance against certain pathogens. Vitamin C may also reduce the duration of the common cold (despite popular belief, it does not ward it off, rather, it affects its incidence or severity). 

  8. Swollen and painful joints

  Pain and swelling in the joints caused by inflammatory arthritis may be another sign that you need to check your vitamin C intake. A study in Great Britain, found that people with low levels of vitamin C were three times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis, than those whose diets included foods rich in the vitamin. 

  9. Fatigue or depression
  The two could be a result of many underlying illnesses and causes. However, one such cause may be a lack of vitamin C intake. Research has indicated that there is a link between vitamin C deficiency and psychological states. Most hospitalized patients with sub-optimal vitamin C levels demonstrate a perceived improvement in mood after taking a supplement, by up to 34 percent. 

  10. Unexplained weight gain

  Not having enough vitamin C in the bloodstream can lead to an increase in body fat and waist circumference. A study conducted in 2006 at the Arizona State University found that the amount of vitamin C absorbed by the body directly affects its ability to use fat as a fuel source during both exercise and when at rest.
  
  The four week study was conducted on 20 obese men and women who were put on a low-fat diet which contained 67 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. In a random order, some of the participants were given a 500mg vitamin C capsule each day, or a placebo. It was found that those with low concentrations of vitamin C in their blood had higher body fat mass. Yet a steady amount of vitamin C concentration in the blood resulted in the ability to oxidize fat by 11 percent. 

  Some Vitamin C rich foods are- amla- Indian gooseberry, one of it gives enough vitamin compared to even 1/2 kg of grapes !, other Vitamin  C rich foods are- papaya, kiwi, citrus fruits,  Brussel sprouts, chili peppers, pineapple, kale, strawberries, broccoli,  red bell pepper, fresh coriander leaves.

5 types of pain you should not treat at home

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.






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Most often than not, we deal with pain by popping pain killers without giving it much thought. The strong willed ones usually wait for it to subside or go for the tried and tested methods at home.

Beware, not all pains should be treated at home. A physiotherapist told us about the 5 types of pain that you should not attempt to treat at home:

1.Pain accompanied with fever, fatigue, red-hot-swollen joints which worsens with exercise is indicative of rheumatoid arthritis which is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may result in deformed and painful joints and lead to loss of function.

2.Pain in the left arm accompanied with feeling of tightness and discomfort in chest and upper back could be Angina Pectoris, a symptom of reduced blood flow to the heart as in coronary artery disease.

3.Pain and cramping in muscles of the extremities (commonly calf muscles) at rest along with pallor/ discoloration and temperature reduction of skin overlying the painful area and lack of pulses is suggestive of arterial insufficiency or blockage in blood supply to an organ.

4.Acute or chronic back pain with numbness, tingling or weakness in the limbs or loss of bladder/ bowel control points towards nerve compression which may need emergency intervention.

5.Deep, severe, boring pain anywhere in the body which worsens at night and is accompanied with anemia, unexplained fractures, trivial falls, frequent infections and fatigue could be due to a type of bone cancer.   

Psoriatic Arthritis

What Is Psoriatic Arthritis?

If you have psoriasis -- a skin condition that makes thick patches of itchy red, white, or silvery skin -- you could get psoriatic arthritis. With psoriasis, your body's immune system goes into overdrive, causing inflammation of your skin. With psoriatic arthritis, it also attacks your joints, making them swollen and stiff. Getting diagnosed early can help you prevent or limit joint damage.

Who Gets It?

About 85% of people who get psoriatic arthritis already have psoriasis. Only about 15% get it without any history of psoriasis. If you have psoriasis and you notice joint pain, see a doctor who specializes in arthritis for a diagnosis.

Causes

We don’t know exactly what causes psoriatic arthritis. It's most likely passed on in families. About 40% of people who have it have a close relative who has it, too. Infections like strep throat may also have some links to psoriasis.

Warning Signs

Stiff, puffy, sausage-like fingers or toes are common, along with joint pain and tenderness. The psoriasis flares and arthritis pain can happen at the same time or location, but not always. You may also have:

    Dry, red skin patches that may have silvery-white scales
    Pits in your nails or nails that separate from the nail bed
    Fatigue
    Eye redness and pain

Back and Heel Pain

One form of psoriatic arthritis can inflame the joints in your spine. It’s called spondylitis, and it causes back and neck pain. Another form causes pain, tenderness, or swelling where tendons attach to your bones, like in your heel. It can also affect your hands, knees, hips, or chest.

Get Diagnosed Early

An arthritis specialist (rheumatologist) can diagnose psoriatic arthritis and treat it early. She will look at your joints and skin, noticing any swelling, pain, or nail changes. Your doctor may also order X-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds, or CT scans to check for joint damage. Blood, joint fluid, or skin samples can rule out other forms of arthritis.

 Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment

If your case is mild, you may need only a drugstore anti-inflammatory medicine like Advil or Aleve when your joints are sore. Corticosteroid injections can also help. Prescription drugs called DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs) relieve severe symptoms. They also slow or stop psoriatic arthritis from getting worse and ease skin problems. Your doctor may also suggest separate treatments for your psoriasis.

Treatment With Biologics

Biologics are some of the newer drugs used to treat psoriatic arthritis. Your doctor may prescribe one for you if other drugs aren't working. Biologics target immune cells that cause psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. They can slow down damage to your joints as well as ease symptoms like joint pain, swelling, and scaling of your skin.

Exercise

Psoriatic arthritis pain is different than regular arthritis pain. The pain and swelling get worse when you're not active. Exercise can help prevent pain. Swimming and walking in a pool are good no-impact cardio workouts that also build strength and flexibility. Just shower right after you get out of the pool so the chlorine doesn't dry your skin. If you're not sure how to get moving, a physical therapist can help.

Fatigue

You may get tired if you have psoriatic arthritis. Pain medication helps. Other ways to beat fatigue: 

    Get up later in the morning, or take an afternoon nap.
    Save your energy for activities that are most important or that you enjoy most.
    Ask family or friends to help.
    Exercise regularly to boost your energy and sleep better at night.

Pain

Try heat and cold therapy to relieve pain. Soak in a bath, take a shower, or use a hot pack to relax your aching muscles and relieve soreness. Apply a bag of ice or frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel to numb a joint and relieve swelling.

About one-third of people with psoriatic arthritis have a mild form of the disease that stays stable over time. Others need long-term treatment for their symptoms. Medicines have come a long way, so even severe psoriatic arthritis doesn't have to be disabling. Pro golfer Phil Mickelson (a spokesman for the drug Enbrel) credits an early diagnosis and good treatment with helping him overcome near-crippling pain to stay in the game.


THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.








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