ARTHRITIS AND YOUR HEALTH

WHAT IS ARTHRITIS?

Arthritis could be explained as inflammation of the joints. It can affect one joint or multiple joints. There are more than 80 different types of arthritis, each with different causes and treatment methods. The two most common types are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

The symptoms of arthritis usually develop over time. Arthritis is common in adults over the age of 65, but it can also develop in children, teens, and younger adults. Arthritis is more common in women than men and in people who are overweight.

SYMPTOMS:

Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling are the most common symptoms of arthritis. Your range of motion may also decrease, and you may experience redness of the skin around the joint. Many people with arthritis notice their symptoms are worse in the morning.

In the case of RA, you may feel tired or experience a loss of appetite due to the inflammation the immune system’s activity causes. You may also become anemic — meaning your red blood cell count decreases — or have a slight fever. Severe RA can cause joint deformity if left untreated.

CAUSES:

Cartilage is a firm but flexible connective tissue in your joints. It protects the joints by absorbing the pressure and shock created when you move and put stress on them. A reduction in the normal amount of this cartilage tissue cause some forms of arthritis.

Normal wear and tear causes OA, one of the most common forms of arthritis. An infection or injury to the joints can exacerbate this natural breakdown of cartilage tissue. Your risk of developing OA may be higher if you have a family history of the disease.

Another common form of arthritis, RA, is an autoimmune disorder. It occurs when your body’s immune system attacks the tissues of the body. These attacks affect the synovium, a soft tissue in your joints that produces a fluid that nourishes the cartilage and lubricates the joints.

RA is a disease of the synovium that will invade and destroy a joint. It can eventually lead to the destruction of both bone and cartilage inside the joint.

The exact cause of the immune system’s attacks is unknown. But scientists have discovered genetic markers that increase your risk of developing RA fivefold.

TREATMENT:

The main goal of treatment is to reduce the amount of pain you’re experiencing and prevent additional damage to the joints. You will need to learn what works best for you in terms of controlling pain. Some people find heating pads and ice packs to be soothing. Others use mobility assistance devices, like canes or walkers, to help take pressure off sore joints.

Improving your joint function is also important.

MEDICATION:

Analgesics, such as hydrocodone (Vicodin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol), are effective for pain management, but don’t help decrease inflammation.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil) and salicylates, help control pain and inflammation. Salicylates can thin the blood, so they should be used very cautiously with additional blood thinning medications.

Menthol or capsaicin creams block the transmission of pain signals from your joints.

Immunosuppressants like prednisone or cortisone help reduce inflammation.

SURGERY:

Surgery to replace your joint with an artificial one may be an option. This form of surgery is most at times performed to replace hips and knees.

If your arthritis is most severe in your fingers or wrists, your doctor may perform a joint fusion. In this procedure, the ends of your bones are locked together until they heal and become one.

PHYSICAL THERAPY:

Physical therapy involving exercises that help strengthen the muscles around the affected joint is a core component of arthritis treatment.

Weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight reduce the risk of developing arthritis, majorly OA and can reduce symptoms if you already have it.

Eating a healthy diet is important for weight loss. Choosing a diet with lots of antioxidants, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs, can help reduce inflammation. Other inflammation-reducing foods include fish and nuts.

Foods to minimize or avoid if you have arthritis include fried foods, processed foods, dairy products, and high intakes of meat.

Some research also suggests that gluten antibodies may be present in people with RA. A gluten-free diet may improve symptoms and disease progression.

Regular exercise will keep your joints flexible. Swimming is often a good form of exercise for people with arthritis because it doesn’t put pressure on your joints the way running and walking do. Staying active is important, but you should also be sure to rest when you need to and avoid overexerting yourself.

EXERCISES YOU CAN TRY AT HOME:

the head tilt, neck rotation, and other exercises to relieve pain in your neck

finger bends and thumb bends to ease pain in your hands

leg raises, hamstring stretches, and other easy exercises for knee arthritis

DANGERS OF DEHYDRATION

Water is constantly lost throughout the day in our bodies as we breathe, sweat, urinate, and defecate. We can replenish or replace the water in our body by drinking fluids. The body can also move water around to areas where it is needed most if it starts feeling dehydrated.

Most occurrences of dehydration can be easily reversed by increasing fluid intake, but severe cases of dehydration require immediate medical attention.

Majorly, the first symptoms of dehydration include thirst, darker urine, and decreased urine production. In fact, urine color is one of the best indicators of a person's hydration level - clear urine means you are well hydrated and darker urine means you are dehydrated.

However, it is important to note that, particularly in older adults, dehydration can occur without thirst. This is why it is important to drink water regularly, more especially during hotter weather or when ill.

In moderate dehydration, symptoms to look out includes:

dry mouth

lethargy

weakness in muscles

headache

dizziness

CAUSES OF DEHYDRATION

The basic causes of dehydration are not taking in enough water, losing too much water, or a combination of both.

Most of the times, it is not possible to consume enough fluids because we are too busy, lack the facilities or strength to drink, or are in an area without potable water (while hiking or camping, for example).

Some other factors cause dehydration, they include:

Diarrhea -  The large intestine absorbs water from food matter, and diarrhea prevents this from happening. The body excretes too much water, leading to dehydration and most at times death.

Vomiting - leads to a loss of fluids and makes it difficult to replace water by drinking it.

Sweating – This is simply our bodies cooling mechanism. Our body's releases a significant amount of water. Hot weather and vigorous physical activity can increase fluid loss from sweating. Similarly, a fever can cause an increase in sweating and may dehydrate the patient, especially if there is also diarrhea and vomiting.

Diabetes - high blood sugar levels cause increased urination and fluid loss.

Frequent urination - usually caused by uncontrolled diabetes, but also can be due to alcohol and medications such as blood pressure medications, and antipsychotics.

Burns - blood vessels can become damaged, causing fluid to leak into the surrounding tissues.

Although dehydration can happen to anyone, some people are at a greater risk. Those at most risk include:

Athletes, especially those in endurance events, such as marathons, triathlons, and cycling tournaments. Dehydration can undermine performance in sports, as this article explains.

People with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, kidney disease, cystic fibrosis, alcoholism, and adrenal gland disorders.

Infants and children - most commonly due to diarrhea and vomiting.

Dehydration in older adults is also common; sometimes this occurs because they drink less water so that they do not need to get up for the toilet as often. There are also changes in the brain meaning that thirst does not always occur.

COMPLICATIONS OF DEHYDRATION

If dehydration is not checked, it can lead to complications such as:

Low blood volume - less blood produces a drop in blood pressure and a reduction in the amount of oxygen reaching tissues; this can be life threatening.

Kidney problems - including kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and eventually kidney failure.

Heat injury - ranging from mild cramps to heat exhaustion or even heat stroke.

DIAGNOSIS OF DEHYDRATION

A doctor use both physical and mental exams to diagnose dehydration. A patient presenting symptoms such as disorientation, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, fever, lack of sweat, and inelastic skin will usually be considered dehydrated.

Blood tests are often employed to test kidney function and to check sodium, potassium, and other electrolyte levels. Electrolytes are chemicals that regulate hydration in the body and are crucial for nerve and muscle function. A urine analysis will provide very useful information to help diagnose dehydration. In a dehydrated person, urine will be darker in color and more concentrated - containing a certain level of compounds called ketones.

To diagnose dehydration in infants, doctors usually check for a sunken soft spot on the skull. They may also look for a loss of sweat and certain muscle tone characteristics.

TREATMENTS

Dehydration must be treated by replenishing the fluid level in the body. This can be done by consuming clear fluids such as water, clear broths, frozen water or ice pops, or sports drinks (such as Gatorade). Some dehydration patients, however, will require intravenous fluids in order to rehydrate. People who are dehydrated should avoid drinks containing caffeine such as coffee, tea, and sodas.

Underlying conditions that are causing dehydration should also be treated with the appropriate medication. This may include anti-diarrhea medicines, anti-emetics (stop vomiting), and anti-fever medicines.

PREVENTION

Prevention is really the most important treatment for dehydration. Consuming lots of fluids and foods that have high water content (such as fruits and vegetables) should be enough for most people to prevent dehydration.

People should be cautious about doing activities during extreme heat or the hottest part of the day, and anyone who is exercising should make replenishing fluids a priority.

Since the elderly and very young are most at risk of being dehydrated, special attention should be given to them to make sure they are receiving enough fluids.