What is Arthritis?Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints in the body, though the term is used to describe almost all problems associated with the joints. You may have heard of arthritis referred to as rheumatism. Rheumatic disease refers to any type of arthritis, rheumatism or musculoskeletal disease. There are over 100 conditions altogether, some rare and some common. Arthritis can affect anyone of any age, including children; however, arthritis tends to affect women more than men.
What types of arthritis and rheumatism are there?
There are many forms of arthritis and rheumatism. The most common forms of rheumatic disease are:
• Osteoarthritis - This is the most common form of arthritis. It is also known as degenerative joint disease. Osteoarthritis is more common after the age of 45 and is also more common in women. Osteoarthritis commonly affects weight bearing joints such as the knees, hips, spine and feet. However, you may also get osteoarthritis on smaller joints like the fingers, called Heberden' s nodes (painful, bony growths usually at the end of the fingers) that can make the hands appear knobby and sometimes out of shape. Osteoarthritis of the hands is more common in women as they go through the menopause.
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) - This is a type of inflammatory arthritis and is a common disorder, which causes inflammation, pain and stiffness in the joints. RA typically affects the small joints, such as the hands, wrists, elbows and feet. However, RA can affect any joint and can be the most disabling type of arthritis. RA is usually symmetrical - if a joint is affected on one side of the body the other side is also affected. Occasionally, RA can cause inflammation in other body organs such as the heart and lungs. It is known that RA is an autoimmune disease, which means the body's immune system reacts to something abnormal in the body and tries to remove it. In RA the immune system attacks the layers of healthy tissue that line the joint (known as the synovium). The synovium produces a thick lubricating fluid called synovial fluid. This fluid acts like an oil, which lubricates the joint allowing free movement. In RA the synovium becomes much thicker and may produce larger amounts of fluid, causing the joint to become painful, stiff and inflamed. If left untreated the joint can become permanently damaged, resulting in deformity.
• Gout - Gout is a painful type of arthritis that can attack both large and small joints, though it usually only attacks one joint at a time. The condition usually begins with pain in the big toe. Other joints that are affected include the wrists, fingers, ankles, knees and elbows. Gout is caused by high levels of a substance in the bloodstream called uric acid, this condition is known as hyperuricaemia. Uric acid normally forms when the body breaks down a natural chemical in foods called purines. Uric acid is also formed by the breakdown of the body's own tissues, such as blood cells. Uric acid is usually removed from the body by the kidneys and taken out of the body in urine. Uric acid levels can become raised if the kidneys, though healthy cannot get rid of uric acid fast enough or the body begins producing too much uric acid, due to an inherited tendency. Uric acid levels will also tend to be higher if you have kidney disease. When uric acid builds up in the bloodstream it overflows and forms sharp crystals that collect in the joints and soft tissues. The majority of people who have hyperuricaemia (high uric acid levels) will not develop gout.
• Fibromyalgia - Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disorder that causes fatigue and widespread pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons (the fibrous tissues in the body), but not the joints. The pain can affect all areas of the body, however, the tender points are usually in specific areas, such as the back of the head and neck, spine, hips, elbows and shoulders. Scientists are unsure of the cause of fibromyalgia. However, research indicates that people who suffer sleep disturbances regularly can develop fibromyalgia, for example if you suffer with arthritis and the pain disturbs your sleep you may go on to develop fibromyalgia (this is called secondary fibromyalgia). Fibromyalgia may also be triggered off during periods of stress or after a major trauma, such as a car crash or an operation, though usually the condition will develop without any obvious trigger.
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or lupus for short is a connective tissue disease, which means it affects tissues throughout the body. Lupus commonly affects the skin, joints, heart, kidneys, lungs and occasionally the brain.
There is another form of lupus called Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (D.L.E.), which usually only affects the skin. This type is less serious and causes itchy red patches or lesions on the skin. These rashes usually occur on the face and neck but can appear on the palms of hands, soles of feet, scalp, elbows and fingertips. Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means there is a fault in the body's immune system. Normally, the body produces certain chemicals called antibodies, which help the body fight infections, such as viruses. However, if you have an autoimmune disease, your body's immune system attacks its own cells and tissues. In lupus these antibodies, known as auto-antibodies are produced in large amounts causing the inflammation of tissues throughout the body.
• Juvenile arthritis - Juvenile arthritis refers to all types of arthritis that affect children. However, it is fortunately quite rare.
• Polyarthritis - This type affects five or more joints and is more common in girls. This type commonly affects smaller joints like the hands and feet, though larger joints may also be affected. It often affects the same joint on both sides of the body.
• Back pain - this is a common problem and can have a number of causes. Back pain is very common and a major cause of disability and people having days off work. The majority of back pain problems is not serious and only last a few days or weeks and will usually sort themselves out. Back pain might also be referred to as lumbago. Pain in the back usually comes from the muscles, ligaments and joints not moving as they should.
What are the symptoms of arthritis and rheumatism?
The symptoms you experience will depend greatly on the type of arthritis or rheumatism you are suffering with. However, the following symptoms may indicate that you have arthritis or rheumatism:
• Swelling in one or more joints.
• Stiffness around the joints.
• Joints that look red and can be warm to the touch.
• Constant or recurring pain in a joint that has no obvious cause.
• Sudden difficulty in moving or using a joint.
Any joint in the body can be affected by arthritis and rheumatism. However, the knees, fingers and hips are the joints most commonly affected.If you have rheumatoid arthritis you may also experience a mild fever and loss of appetite or energy. Symptoms of arthritis tend to be worse in the morning and sometimes in cold, damp weather. When the affected joints are moved you may hear a click or crack.
Cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme and Arthritis, Pain, redness, heat, and swelling, which are the markers of inflammation, follow the release of prostaglandins. Aspirin and similar non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) reduce prostaglandins by blocking an enzyme which helps to produce them, called cyclooxygenase (COX).
In recent years some exciting studies have been published that shed light on how to more safely combat arthritis. There are actually two COX enzymes in the body. They are COX-1 and COX-2. COX-1 is called the good COX enzyme, while COX-2 has earned the unflattering name as the bad enzyme. COX1 is easily identifiable and is important in regulating cell function. COX2, on the other hand, is generally undetectable in most tissues, but increases to high levels during acute inflammation. The COX2 enzyme is largely responsible for causing pain and inflammation. Injury, disease, and trauma cause COX2 enzyme to produce prostaglandins, which cause pain and inflammation. In contrast to the COX-2 enzyme, COX-1 enzyme is responsible for protecting the body’s stomach lining and kidneys. COX-1 enzymes continually produce protective prostaglandins.
COX-1 is essential for blood clotting and for protecting the stomach. COX-2 is the key player in inflammation, pain, and fever. NSAIDs and other arthritis medication steeply decrease the body’s production of both enzymes, thereby decreasing inflammation while at the same time causing harm to the stomach and its lining. The ideal situation would be to find a substance that inhibited only COX-2, but did not significantly affect COX-1.
ROLE OF NONI IN PAIN, INFLAMMATION AND ARTHRITIS COMPLAINTS
Noni and pain , Noni is a selective COX-2 inhibitor There are several other ways in which Noni may alleviate the undesirable symptoms of arthritis. Pain is the number one complaint with arthritis.
Researchers at an independent research facility found that indeed Noni was a selective inhibitor of COX-2 enzyme. In addition, the Noni did no damage to the COX1 enzyme. When scientists compared the Noni COX2 inhibition ratio of prescription arthritis medications, they found that Noni compared “very favorably” to the prescription medications. Yet, Noni exhibited none of the negative side effects that the prescription medications are known to cause. Next, researchers compared the Noni COX2 inhibition ratio to the COX2 inhibition ratio of NSAIDs. In this category, Noni far out-performed the over-the-counter medications. And again, the Noni did not exhibit any of the negative side effects associated with NSAIDs.
Role of Scopoletin present in Noni in arthritis and inflammation
Another reason for Noni’s pain fighting qualities may stem from several of its constituents. Noni has been shown to contain Scopoletin, which has anti inflammatory effects. Scopoletin is needed in the body for smooth joint movement. It also produces anti-histamine effects. A laboratory in France conducted a study that showed mice, given a liquid form of Noni, increased pain tolerance as reflected by their reaction time to a hot plate. The researchers concluded that Noni helped the mice better deal with the pain from the hot plate.
Noni in fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS) is more than just psychological problems. Researchers have discovered that patients with fibromylgia have abnormalities in the brain and central nervous system. For example, Fibromyalgia patient have significantly less blood flow to the parts of the brain that deal with pain, and they have twice the level of the brain chemical called Substance P, which helps nervous system cells communicate with each other about painful stimuli.
Noni allows the body to produce more Nitric oxide, which has clinically been shown to improve blood flow. From one study, of the 2,399 Noni users that suffered from Fibromyalgia and CFIDS, 78% of them reported lessened symptoms after taking Noni juice
The primary cause of Fibromyalgia is the oxidative stress in our body by which our body is loaded with free radicals and that are not the only cause of fibromyalgia but the origin of uncountable health elements. A good nutritional supplement with rich in all antioxidants can save you from this disease. Only Noni contains lots and lots of most useful and all necessary micro nutrients and its powerful anti oxidant properties help in root out the disease and its unique property of pain reducing and other pharmacological property help a lot to manage the disease in acute cases.
The way in which Noni may help those suffering from this debilitating disease is by its perfect immune modulating and high antioxidant properties, however there are several theories. For instance, an increase in energy after taking Noni juice was reported by 90 percent of the 12,199 people in a survey who were drinking Noni juice. Since many Fibromyalgia and CFIDS folks suffer from loss of energy, an increase in energy from Noni is a very positive effect from the juice.
Noni and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Autoimmune diseases are the most complicated and obstinate type of disorders which doesn’t have any successful treatment plan in the present standard treatment line. The Rheumatoid arthritis is one among them. In this disease the body immunity system begins in attacking the cartilages and the synovial linings of joints, as a result an unbalanced inflammatory process begins significant destruction of healthy tissue. Studies also indicate that free radical production is 5 times higher in RA. A good proper nutritional supplement which will be effective in removal of free radicals from the body. Noni is the best nutritional supplement provider and also a powerful immune modulator of our body. In all auto immune disease especially in rheumatoid arthritis it needs to activate the body immune system to work in an optimal level so that we can prevent and can treat that disease. Rheumatoid arthritis and SLE are such type of diseases those are linked with the body immune system. In those diseases Noni may help a lot by modifying the body immune system. The inflammatory process found in that disease can successfully handle by the use of Noni. All the essential fatty acids present in Noni helps in this aspects
The micronutrients present in Noni. The Noni contain xeronine, all the vitamins, all necessary minerals and 17 amino acids out of 20 and 150+ nutraceuticals those helps in providing the body’s required micronutrients for a smooth and harmonious function of all our system in both health and diseases
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