The Best Way to Raise Your Glutathione Levels and Why You Need to Do It

Many well intentioned people are spending a lot of time and money researching the question of what supplements to take for their improved health. But supplements alone will never be the answer. They are only one of the things we all need to make an effort to do. As well, it appears that there are some antioxidants that cannot be taken as an oral supplement and one of them is probably the most important antioxidant of all - Glutathione

What is Glutathione?

Glutathione is an antioxidant that is manufactured in your body. Technically, it's a tri-peptide of the amino acids cysteine, glycine and glutamine or glutamic acid and found in every cell of our body, which means it's immediately available where it will be needed - one of Glutathione's many special attributes. But Glutathione is really much more than that.

It's often referred to as the Master Antioxidant and without it, better known but lesser antioxidants, such as Vitamins C and E which are the most abundant fat and water soluble antioxidants we have will not function to their full potential. In addition to that, Glutathione plays an important role in the repair of DNA, immune system enhancement and the detoxification of toxins from air and water pollution and cigarette smoke and carcinogens.

Studies have shown that many of the preventable- degenerative diseases of aging, like degenerative joint disease, Osteoporosis, several types of dementia, high blood pressure and type II diabetes are associated with a decrease of glutathione. Increasing our glutathione levels is a great strategy for improving our health.

As we leave our twenties (and really start to need it!) our body slows down it's production of Glutathione, which is why many well intentioned and health conscious people are looking for information on Glutathione supplements. But a supplement is not the way to go. The problem with oral supplements is that if you ingest Glutathione, you need it to enter the bloodstream and distribute itself throughout the cells in your body, but that simply cannot happen, because before you can absorb Glutathione into your blood, it's destroyed by the substances in your digestive tract - and that's it. You take it and nothing happens.

There are two routes available to you to raise your level of Glutathione. Supporting your glutathione levels by eating the right foods is healthy, natural and it makes great sense. So eat those 4-5 servings of Fruit and Vegetables every day and pay attention to Asparagus, Broccoli, Avocado and Spinach. Other natural sources that will help boost your glutathione levels include Milk Thistle, Whey Protein, Turmeric, Selenium.

The second option available would be to supplement with Glutathione precursors, which are products that contain the nutrients your body requires in order to boost its own natural production to help compensate for the slow down caused by aging.

TMD-TMJ - Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD/TMJ) is a painful and often debilitating neuromuscular disorder with symptoms which can affect the entire body. TMD/TMJ sufferers rarely associate their symptoms with dental-related problems and, therefore, seek help from doctors who are unequipped to diagnose or treat TMD/TMJ and unable to recognize the signs, leaving the condition misdiagnosed as migraines or other health conditions.

TMD/TMJ occurs when the teeth, jaw muscles and jaw joints are out of alignment. Only a neuromuscular dentist has the training and equipment to properly diagnose and treat TMD/TMJ. The symptoms range from obvious dental problems and damage, to pain and dysfunction throughout the head and body. The muscles and nerves of the jaw work in conjunction with the nerves and muscles of the face, head, neck, and shoulders. Any problem affecting the nerves and muscles of the jaw causes a chain reaction. Symptoms of TMD/TMJ include:

· Jaw pain

· Clicking or popping jaw - A disc of cartilage inside of the jaw joint keeps the joint from rubbing together. When the jaw muscles move this disc out of place, the joint rubs together, causing clicking and popping that is sometimes loud enough to be heard by other people.

· Limited jaw movement or locking jaw

· Tooth grinding

· Loose teeth

· Worn, chipped, or cracked teeth or fillings

· Pain and sensitivity in teeth

· Crowded teeth

· Receding gums

· Difficulty swallowing - Caused by severe muscle tension in the jaw, neck and face.
· Facial pain

· Pain behind the eyes

· Headaches (often misdiagnosed as migraines) - Caused by constant muscle tension, and clenching or grinding the teeth.

· Ringing ears (tinnitus)

· Congested ears

· Shoulder, neck, or back pain

· Numbness in arms and fingers - The brachial plexus is a bundle of nerves, located between the neck and shoulders, leading down to the hands and fingers. Spasms, started in the jaw muscles and continuing through the neck and shoulders can pinch this nerve bundle.

· Depression - Caused by chronic pain and the constant, unsuccessful search for a cure.

Causes of TMD/TMJ

The cause of TMD/TMJ is not always known. We do know that it can be hereditary, and is sometimes caused by trauma, such as an auto accident, or by poor dental work. The onset can be sudden or gradual.

Treating TMD/TMJ

Fortunately, TMD/TMJ can be effectively treated. The first step correcting TMD/TMJ is a thorough evaluation of the bite alignment and the nerve and muscle activity. The beauty of TMD/TMJ treatment is that, while full and permanent correction is a multi-phase process, most people experience immediate relief from symptoms after the first day of treatment.

· TENS (transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation) acts like an electrical massage, relaxing the muscles, topping the spasms, and relieving the pain and the majority of symptoms.

· Temporary bite correction uses a temporary appliance to achieve the correct bite alignment, making gradual adjustments.

· Permanent bite correction involves making the necessary changes to keep the bite improper alignment and can include reshaping the tooth enamel, or using crowns or braces, so that the teeth hold the bite in proper alignment.

TMD/TMJ can only be treated by a neuromuscular dentist. The Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI) is the world's premier post-graduate dental teaching center. Leading cosmetic dentists from all over the world attend LVI to learn the most advanced techniques in neuromuscular and cosmetic dentistry.

Gout Pain Relief Through Ayurvedic Medicine

Gout pain relief is available not only through conventional western medicine, but also through alternative medicines such as the ancient form of ayurvedic medicine. In ayurvedic medicine, gout is referred to as vatrakta.

Vatrakta is indicated biochemically of:

- An augmentation in the concentration level of serum urate.
- Recurrent acute pain attacks within the joints, which may become persistent and chronic in nature.
- Occurrence of monosodium urate mono hydrate crystals within the fluid spaces inside the joints at the time of an acute attack.

Ayurvedic gout pain relief is not a generalized form of treatment and is therefore not the same for everyone. The recommended treatments vary from person to patient depending on the physical and psychological health and status of the individual. However, there are certain single and compound formulations that are used for gout pain relief as well as to minimize other symptoms of the condition. Some of the more commonly used formulations are:

- Guduchi
- Manjisth
- Punarnava
- Yashtimadhu
- Mahamanjishthadi kwath
- Shilajitwadi vati
- Panchitkta churna

Diet is very important to Ayurvedic gout pain relief methods, as everything that will increase the production of uric acid is to be eliminated from the diet. Foods that are considered to be purine-rich should therefore be avoided as they encourage uric acid production, these commonly include:

- Yeasts
- Legumes (peas, dried beans, lentils, etc)
- Beer and other beverages containing alcohol
- Oil-packed sardines, anchovies, roes from fish, herring
- Organ meats (kidneys, liver, sweetbreads, etc)
- Meat extracts (gravies, consommés, etc)

Foods that are often recommended during Ayurvedic gout pain relief treatments may include the following:

- Dark skinned berries such as cherries as they contain substances that act within the body to reduce levels of uric acid as well as minimize inflammation.

- To eat tofu in place of meats.

- Foods high in certain fatty acids (such as omega 3), for example, olive oil, flax oil, and certain nuts. These fatty acids contain important anti-inflammatory properties that help to ease inflammation in the joints.

Another level of gout pain relief in the ayurvedic style can include panchakarma, which can involve either a form of massage using medicated oils or snehana therapies, which have shown very beneficial results when treating gout.

If you are considering ayurvedic treatments for gout pain relief, you should first make sure to speak to your doctor or another trained health professional in order to assess your unique health needs and determine whether ayurvedic medicine is the right choice for you.

You may find that there are also other treatments available for gout pain relief that may work better or in conjunction with ayurvedic methods. These may include techniques such as uric acid manipulation through the pH level of the body. The only way that you will be able to make this decision is by speaking to your health practitioner and learning about the various techniques and treatments for gout sufferers before coming to a decision on the best approach for your individual situation.

Five Fundamental Modes of Manipulation in Massage

There are five fundamental modes of manipulation in massage and these are:

• effleurage (stroking)
  
  


• friction ( rubbing)
  
  


• petrissage ( kneading)
  
  


• tapotment (percussion)
  
  


• vibration (shaking or trembling)

1. Effleurage:

This involves sliding with the hands, using long even strokes over the surface of the body.

Effleurage is performed in five ways, namely stroking with (I) palms of two hands; (ii) the palm of
one hand; (iii) the knuckles; (iv) the ball of the thumb and (v) the finger tips. Effleurage increases
blood circulation and soothes the nervous system. It also warms and relaxes. It is very helpful in
atrophied condition of the skin.

2. Friction:

The movements, which are circular in nature are performed with the help of the thumb and tips
of fingers or the palm of the hand towards the joints or around the joints. Fric- tion limbers up
joints, tendons, and muscles and facilitates the removal of deposits by breaking them. It also
helps in reducing swelling after nerve inflammation.

3. Petrissage:

This is the process of kneading, pressing and rolling of the tissues and is performed with one or
both hands, with two thumbs or with thumbs and fingers. One should apply heavy pressure for
deep kneading and light pressure for superficial kneading. Petrissage is a treatment of the
muscles. It increases nutrition, strengthens muscles, relieves intestinal congestion and helps
elimination of the poisons. It boosts long activity and cellular respiration, eliminates fatigue
poisons and tones up nerve endings.

4. Tapotement:

This involves hacking, tapping, clapping and beating and is achieved by striking the body rapidly.
Short and quick blows are generally given from the wrist. Tapotement helps in atrophied
condition of the muscles. It increases blood supply, soothes nerves and strengthens muscles.

5. Vibrations:

This is achieved by rapidly shaking the pressing movements by use of the hand or fingers onthe
body. Vibrating hand should move constantly. This is beneficial in neuritis and neuralgia after the
inflammatory stage is over. It stimulates circulation, glandular activity and nervous plexuses. It
also helps in bowel movement.

Another form of massage helpful in most elements is the vibratory massage. This can be done
by trained persons only. The vibratory muscles is more efficiently administered by a special,
electrically operated machine.

Food Sensitivity Testing

Taken From a Health Talk Given Recently

I've been practicing alternative health care over the last twenty-five plus years and we do a lot of functional health care testing in our office to help people get well from chronic conditions that they have been suffering from. In a variety of conditions, we will rely on information from food sensitivity and food allergy testing as part of our protocol for helping these individuals get well. These difficulties with food sensitivities can be found in the most obvious situations such as reflux disorders, digestive disorders, colitis and irritable bowel as well as in other less obvious situations where people may have hidden allergies that they are really not aware of, and these may be undermining their immune system and their energy levels such as in adrenal fatigue syndromes and in other chronic health problems where people are worn down over a long period of time and progress to more degenerative processes that spiral-down their health.

There are three major ways of looking at food allergy outside of skin testing that I would like to address. Many people familiar with skin testing where many items are tested at once and this is a valid form of allergy testing and, in my opinion, should be reserved for those who have medically threatening conditions related to allergic responses where they may be at risk for anaphylaxis or closing up of the throat and disorders leading to compromise of the kidney and other grave medical conditions. Those are the kinds of patients that belong with a medical allergist. On the other hand, the vast majority of people with sensitivities and food allergies that are hidden from their awareness would likely be best served from the evaluation by a simple blood test, where your blood is drawn in the usual fashion and then reacted with, let's say, a hundred different foods, to see whether or not certain reactions occur to the blood indicating that there is a problem with that food.

So, in the area of food antibody testing, there is the classic IgE antibody assessment and the blood will be reacted with a number of foods and the laboratory will measure whether or not your blood has developed an antibody to the particular food substance and then measure how severe the antibody response is. The IgE food allergy assessment and IgE assessments in general, such as for other environmental elements like molds and trees, etc., that type of allergic response is more of an immediate response. Sometimes we call it an atopic response. An example would be the classic strawberry and hives reaction where you eat strawberries and some minutes later, you notice that you are developing hives. So these are the types of allergies that very often people would be well aware of and indeed, some authorities state that when somebody has an IgE allergy, that they are generally always aware of it. My experience has been different. There are actually many people who do have IgE allergies to foods and other inhalants and environmentals that are not aware of it, and so that is an important point to keep this in mind.

We do have testing for what we called "hidden allergies" and that would be IgG food allergies where a different type of antibody is produced by the food and this type of response can take anywhere from 72 hours up to a whole week to develop and so the impact on the body is delayed by the timing of the reaction in such a way that it is very hard to track. One cannot usually tell that the sweet potatoes that they were allergic to, that they had at dinner four days ago, is what is impacting their health and perhaps dragging down their energy levels at this point in time. So the finding of hidden food allergies can be a gold mine of value to the person who is suffering chronic health disorders in enabling them to get a hold of a list of foods that is pulling down their health quotient that they did not even know about, and that with that list, they are then equipped to eliminate those foods and avoid that "drag" on their physiology and help open up a new avenue towards healing and improved health.

The third area of food testing that I would like to talk about is leukocyte sensitivity testing and that is where we react your blood samples with the various foods that we are testing and we look to see what happens with the white blood cells. The white blood cells, the leukocytes swell in size, and they are rated as to a level of sensitivity; if they burst open they are considered severe reactions and these are rated for you. This is another form of testing in which we can detect foods that are offensive to your system, actually damaging your white blood cells which would signal alarm reactions in your body as it does in any form of allergic insult.

This alarm mechanism is then distressing to the rest of your system and your body has to deal with this. If you are compromised in one area and you are fighting this hidden allergy at the same time, you are left with less reserve. Solving food sensitivities and food allergies can follow a process to recovery in a variety of chronic health conditions especially fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, chronic digestive problems, and often chronic headaches. There are many conditions in which this can be a very valuable tool.

How to Choose a Good Alaskan Malamute Breeder

The Alaskan malamute is one of the few dog breeds that are native to North America. Due to their willingness to work for man, and their pack-orientation, they make excellent companions. With this in mind, there is a demand for the availability of Alaskan malamute puppies. Many people will decide that they want an Alaskan malamute without having any knowledge of what they need to know about the breeder or the breed.

When selecting a breeder, keep in mind that this is the most important decision of all. A good breeder will be able to educate you with everything you need to know about selecting and raising your Alaskan malamute puppy. Keep in mind that there are a lot of unscrupulous breeders, and the following points of discussion will help you select the right breeder.

First, don't select an Alaskan malamute from online breeders that post unreasonably low prices. The vast majority of these advertisements are either from scammers who really don't have a puppy to sell to you, or they are selling a puppy that has been poorly bred. Either way, the risk is high that you will get ripped off by anyone offering a deeply discounted puppy.

Second, determine what the level of the breeder's commitment behind their product. Make sure the breeder carries a substantial warranty on the puppy against health defects. A good breeder will provide the buyer a health warranty. With the Alaskan malamute, there are a couple health issues that will cost you a lot of money in the long run. The main problems are cardio-pulmonary disease and degenerative joint disease. The cardio related disorders usually manifest themselves at an early age in the puppy. As a large breed dog, minor heart murmurs are not uncommon, usually correcting themselves by the time the puppy is six months old. However, severe cases will stunt the puppy's development. Most puppies with severe cardio disorders rarely survive past four months of age.

Degenerative joint disease usually manifests as hip dysplasia in the Alaskan malamute. This can be an extremely expensive disorder to treat and is very painful for the dog. Usually, severe hip dysplasia will cause arthritic symptoms that will nearly cripple the dog by the time it is middle-aged.

The probability of the puppy you buy having either of these disorders is greatly reduced if the breeder provides gets their breeding stock certified against these defects. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) provides the certification, when test results are submitted from the breeder's veterinarian. The tests themselves are not too expensive. The reason that most breeders do not conduct the tests is because if their breeding stock fail their certifications, it would be considered irresponsible to continue to breed the animal. The OFA will provide certification that an animal is cleared of a particular disease. Make sure the breeder can provide the certification. While the OFA will provide a preliminary certification on dogs over one year of age, the official certification and accompanying cert number is not obtainable until the dog is checked at two years of age. The OFA maintains an online database of valid certifications. If a breeder certifies their stock, they can either provide the certificate, preliminary documentation, or provide access to the OFA's database. Do not trust that because a breeder used the term "OFA" that their dogs have certifications. Some breeders post the OFA logos all over their website, but have never actually certified their dogs.

The breeder must also provide a substantial warranty against life threatening defects. Some breeders sell their dogs with an "As Is" warranty, or as much as 30-days. When you see this, run as fast as you can away from this breeder. While a one-year warranty will typically get you out of the woods on a cardio defect, hip dysplasia isn't officially identified by the OFA until the dog reaches two years of age. The mark of a truly professional breeder is one that will stand behind their product for two or more years.

Keep in mind, as with many things in life, you get out what you put in. If you buy a new car and don't maintain it, the manufacturer won't honor the warranty. If you have a child and feed him super-sized fast food meals three times per day, deny exercise and preventive medicine, the child will have a short life span. Both of these principles apply to your Alaskan malamute puppy. A good breeder will, as terms of a reasonable warranty, require the owner to provide medical and nutritional support that will facilitate good health for the dog.

Another health indicator to look for is concern for health maintenance. Your breeder must provide proof of immunizations and parasite prevention. This will typically come in the form of a shot record. Puppy immunizations come in individual doses. These doses have adhesive labels on the vials, which should be removed from the vial and affixed to the puppy's shot record. If the shot labels are not in the record, the puppy didn't receive its immunization. A good breeder will also require you to take the puppy to your vet between 24 and 72 hours of receipt. The reason for this is to prove to you that you bought a healthy puppy. Any breeder that doesn't provide proof of immunization needs to be reported to the State Department of Agriculture, or the state office that licenses dog breeding businesses. If the breeder doesn't require you to take the puppy to the vet, take the initiative to do it without direction.

The third thing to look for is the condition of the kennel. Many breeders have online operations and getting a puppy shipped to you is routine. This makes it difficult to check out a kennel if it isn't located close to you. Find out if your breeder allows visitors? If not, there is typically a reason. A good breeder will invite visitors to meet the parents of the puppy. If they do not allow visitors, some of the reasons may be: inhumane conditions, filth (all indicators of puppy mills), or the dogs and puppies advertised are not what were represented.

The fourth and final point in selecting a good Alaskan malamute breeder is making sure they are honest and upfront with you. Get them on the phone. Have all of your questions prepared and open a dialogue with the breeder. A good breeder will know the breed and have all of your questions answered handily. When looking at online advertisements, beware of breeders that use "fisherman", "horse jockey", and "Gulliver" style pictures as a means of deceptive advertisement. The "fisherman" photograph is a technique used by anglers, where they hold the fish outward, toward the camera lens. The "horse jockey" technique is the practice of using a small fellow to stand next to the dog. The "Gulliver" technique is the practice of dropping the lens lower than the dog. All of these practices are intended to make the dog appear much larger than it really is. Another common deceptive advertising practice is to falsify the dog's true weight. Breeders that have faced charges of deceptive advertising will often use the term "Advertised Weight" when describing their dogs. All of these things are red flags. Breeders who avoid their customers or use deceptive advertising practices should be avoided.

By making sure that your breeder is not conducting fraud is the first step to avoid getting the Alaskan malamute puppy that you want. The second step is to ensure that your breeder uses health-certified breeding stock that produces puppies that can be warranted. Avoiding puppy mills and breeders who treat animals inhumanely is always a good idea. Looking out for the tell-tale signs of deceptive breeders will help you find a breeder that isn't only looking out for their bottom line. Following these steps will ensure you buy a healthy pup that has a lot of healthy years to spend with you. An example of an exemplary

Alaskan malamute breeder is Howl At The Moon Malamutes.

How to Treat Shoulder Pain

People of all ages suffer from shoulder joint pain. The causes are many and can range from an unknown onset to a traumatic event. Many people develop shoulder pain from performing repetitive type activities for prolonged times. Others will experience pain in the shoulder following a fall on the outstretched arm. Sometimes the reason for pain is not as obvious.

I see many cases where a person cannot identify what caused the pain in the shoulder. Often times this pain can occur when someone bumps their shoulder against the door jam in the middle of the night when going to the bathroom. This rather benign action sets off a chemical process that will build up over several days. Eventually this will cause pain in the shoulder. Since the "injury" occurred several days earlier the person cannot recall any event that started the process. Regardless of the cause of the shoulder joint pain the treatment is often similar from case to case.

Treatment of the shoulder can encompass several different areas. Conservative measures include medication (anti-inflammatories, pain medications), rest, cortisone injections, and/or physical therapy. All of these methods can be effective in helping relieve a painful shoulder especially when they are performed in combination with each other.

Often times when you present to your medical doctor with complaints of shoulder joint pain they will prescribe some medication as described above. Rest will also be advocated although this is not always easy for people to follow depending on their activity levels or their occupations. Injections are sometimes given right away depending on your medical doctor's philosophy. Some MD's would rather you attend physical therapy before considering injecting the painful shoulder. Injections are not the end all beat all and they do not offer relief to all patients that receive them. Often times a well rounded physical therapy program can alleviate the pain and you won't have to consider having an injection.

Physical therapy treatment can consist of the following interventions:

1. Therapeutic exercises - this will consist of range of motion, conditioning, and strengthening exercises. The goal here is to maximize and restore any loss of range of motion, improve the overall endurance of the shoulder blade and shoulder muscles and to improve the strength of these same muscles. The muscles surrounding the shoulder blade must be conditioned and strengthened just as the main shoulder muscles would be because these muscles have to work in conjunction with the shoulder muscles in order to restore normal motion and to prevent recurrence of pain.

2. Manual therapy - this will consist of hands on treatment that the physical therapist would perform on you. This might consist of joint mobilization (i.e. techniques designed to improve joint motion and relieve pain), or soft tissue massage (i.e. techniques designed to improve muscle and connective tissue flexibility and to relieve pain).

3. Modalities - this consists of machines that the physical therapist may apply to your painful shoulder to assist in pain relief and healing along with the other treatments mentioned above. Some of these machines are ultrasound, electrical stimulation, TENS, or iontophoresis.

All of these interventions can be used in the treatment of shoulder joint pain. It is common in clinical practice to use a combination of these interventions. It has been my experience in treating hundreds of shoulder patients over the years that therapeutic exercise is an absolute in the treatment of the painful shoulder. Well rounded exercises that target the shoulder blade and shoulder muscles are the mainstay of any good physical therapy regimen for the treatment of shoulder pain.

Biofreeze: Provides Quick Relief From Arthritis Pain

In today's time, when things have become a complex combination of work and time, people are finding it difficult to cope up with their health conditions. Increased pressures of work in this stressful life have left people with no time for their personal healthcare. However, in order to match the steps of the fast changing world, we need to consume proper nutrients required by the body. There are several healthcare products manufacturing brands available in the market that have come up with ultimate and effective collection of health products. But, before approaching any of the health products manufacturing brand, one needs to consult the doctor to know the perfect type of product or nutrient required by the body.

Today, when everything has become advanced, so people have also switched their lifestyle to a much comfortable level. However, things worsen when their body parts stop cooperating with their lifestyles. One of the major problems arising these days is of arthritis- a form of joint disorder involving inflammation of one or more joints. Thus, Biofreeze, a cold therapy pain relief acted as a saviour to the people suffering from arthritis. This manufacturer creates formulas that consist of the active ingredient menthol with a synergistic blend of inactive ingredients. The formula formed by a medical professional, looking for a way to help his grandmother manage her arthritis pain, offered quick, effective pain relief without the use of prescription drugs. As a result, today, the products of this manufacturer relieve the arthritis sufferers from pain by its cooling formulation that comforts to sore muscles and muscle sprains. Its products also relive people from back, shoulder and neck pain, knee pain, hip and elbow joints pain.

Another brand energising people's life is Jay Robb. The company is named after a clinical nutritionist who is the CEO of the company and have over three decades of experience as a professional in his field. It was founded in the year 1988 and has been known for manufacturing the best testing protein powders. The mission statement of the company is to provide help to every willing man, woman and child to get in the best shape of his or her life. The company follows three major steps in getting the body into its perfect shape. The three steps are called as shape your thinking, shape your eating and shape your body. Therefore, if one is looking for a healthier lifestyle, then jump on to this company and get your body into perfect shape at much reasonable prices.

Common Health Problems That Contribute to Aging

Age-related physical changes occur gradually as we age and are not always visible. Some scientists have stated that we begin to age as soon as we are born, and this continues throughout our lifetime. It is impossible to generalize about the physical, psycho-social and emotional changes that occur with aging. Each one person is unique. There are many factors that contribute to aging, such as family history, occupation, nutritional status, social-economic status and so forth. What I am going to discuss is the more common health problems which occur among our aging population.

Cardiovascular Disease:

As we age, our cardiac output decreases. The heart muscle is less effective as a pump. The heart rate remains the same or slightly lower at rest, but the heart requires more time to recover after physical exertion or an extremely stressful situation. Also, the electrical conductive system functions less perfectly, leading to cardiac arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation. Blood pressure frequently rises with age as the blood vessels become sclerotic and narrowed.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Contributing factors are probably obesity, smoking, poor diet, more sedentary lives, stress and our longer lifespan. Common cardiovascular problems are: angina, heart attack, arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, hypertension, stroke and ASHD (arterial sclerotic heart disease) or "hardening of the arteries" of the extremities (arms and legs).

With moderate to severe heart disease, there is a marked change in the person's tolerance for physical activity as exhibited by shortness of breath and fatigue. He is unable to perform many of the tasks or roles that he could easily do at one time. Due to these changes, it is not uncommon to find these individuals are depressed and feeling like a "burden" on their families. These individuals tend to be anxious over the loss of their role as the "breadwinner" and are fearful about dying. It is imperative that they be involved in rehabilitative programs to cope with the changes in their lives.

Respiratory Diseases:

Many respiratory changes occur with aging. The efficiency of the entire respiratory system is decreased. The capacity for adequate air exchange is diminished due to the reduction of muscular tissue in the diaphragm and intercostals (muscles between the ribs). Additional deficits are caused by smoking and prolonged exposure to polluted air in urban and certain environmental occupations, such as coal mining.

Common respiratory diseases are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary fibrosis. COPD's predisposing factors are recurrent or chronic respiratory infection, allergies and hereditary factors. Smoking is the number one and most important cause of COPD. COPD is ranked third only to heart disease and cancer for causing death or disability in the United States.

Behavioral characteristics associated with respiratory diseases may include: dependence on others because of inability to perform activities of daily living, depression and anxiety because of the fear of not getting enough oxygen to breathe (a feeling of suffocating). When oxygen intake is decreased, there are signs and symptoms of confusion, weakness and irritability. Like the cardiac person, rehabilitation and oxygen programs are required for the person to live comfortably.

Digestive System:

Malnourishment is the number one digestive problem among senior citizens. A substantial number of older people are considered malnourished. Many require assistance in preparing meals but have no one to assist them. Other causes are: Fixed incomes do not keep up with the rising cost of food, lack of an appetite, poor dentition and loneliness ("I do not enjoy eating by myself.")

Poor nutrition affects all body systems but especially the cardiovascular, nervous and musculoskeletal systems. It is demonstrated by weakness, listlessness, depression and irritability. These individuals should be encouraged to eat at least one meal per day with family members, or go to senior centers that serve hot lunches or other places that serve meals in a communal atmosphere. Meals on wheels program can be ordered for individuals, who need assistance with meals, as the program delivers between one to two hot meals daily to clients.

Cancer:

Cancer affects people in all age groups but is more common among very young children and older people. Cancer ranks second to cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death in the United States. One out of four deaths is from cancer. Some epidemiologists predict that cancer will out rank cardiovascular disease by the year 2015.

In most cases, early detection of cancer enables more effective treatment and a better prognosis for the person. Some risk factors are: smoking, family history of cancer, and exposure to potential hazards. Cancer is an uncontrolled growth. There is no single cause but probably results from a complex interaction between viruses, physical and chemical carcinogens, and genetic, dietary, immunologic (body's ability to fight off infection) and hormonal factors.

A cancer diagnosis is devastating. To most people, cancer still means a "death sentence". Cancer patients have to cope with changes in body image, weakness, and anorexia from surgeries and radiation and chemotherapy treatments. These individuals frequently experience stress and lowered self-esteem. Listlessness, loneliness and feelings of isolation frequently occur after receiving the diagnosis of cancer. Anticipatory grief may occur as the person grieves for the "loss of his former life and body image."

Caregivers must pay particular attention to how the person is coping and try to understand the cancer patient's feelings and encourage him to continue with his therapy as well as attending support groups to discuss his concerns about his cancer and treatment modalities.

Musculoskeletal Diseases:

Aging is frequently accompanied by increased fragility and degeneration of the bones and joints throughout the body resulting in chronic pain and diminished activity. Additionally, muscle strength and function also decline due to loss of muscular fiber and diameter.

In osteoporosis, the bones become weaker and thinner due to interference in the bone rebuilding process, with backache and other skeletal pain as common symptoms. Osteoporosis affects one out of three women and one out of five men over the age 50 years. Persons with osteoporosis tend to be very irritable due to constant, nagging pain. They may tire easily, feel weak and shaky when standing, and become extremely apprehensive about falling. Depression may occur due to their inability to perform activities of daily living due to pain and the resulting immobility. Osteoporosis is treated with a diet high in calcium, phosphorus, protein, Vitamin D and exercise.

Osteoarthritis is the most common musculoskeletal disease as people age. It results from the degeneration of the cartilage that lines the joints, but occurs most frequently in the knees, hips, fingers and spine. The most common symptom is a deep, aching joint pain, particularly after exercise or weight bearing that usually is relieved by rest. Other signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis are: stiffness in the morning and after exercise, aching during changes in the weather, "grating" of the joint during motion, altered gait and limited movement. Depending upon severity of pain and degree of loss of mobility, there are three treatment modalities: drug therapy; strengthening exercises developed by Physical Therapists and stabilization of the joint through braces, traction, etc.; and surgical intervention.

Endocrine Diseases:

Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disease in the United States, affecting several million people. It occurs more frequently in those individuals who have relatives with the disease and in overweight persons over the age of 40. Diabetic complications may significantly older person. It is the number cause of blindness in the United States today. Chronic kidney disorders, increase susceptibility to infections, peripheral neuropathy, cardiovascular disease, and vascular degeneration resulting in gangrene and loss of limbs are common complications.

Most people who develop diabetes as adults have what is called Type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes is usually controlled by diet to control blood glucose level and to reach optimal weight, oral anti-diabetic medications and exercise. For many older diabetic patients, diet becomes a major score of frustration, depression and anxiety due to the fact that many of their favorite foods like ice cream, sweets, etc. are restricted. Education and counseling are critical in helping the individual regain control of his life situation.

Central Nervous System Diseases:

It is normal for the brain to age like the rest of our body does, and with aging there are changes in our memory, too. We do not learn as quickly as we did when we were younger but we are able to learn new information. We do have moments where we forget what we were doing or cannot recall someone's name, but all this is a normal part of the changes that occur with aging.

Between four and five million people in the United States have some degree of cognitive impairment, and this number is increasing as the population referred to as "Baby Boomers" increases in age. Alzheimer's is just one kind of dementia. In recent years, Alzheimer's disease has been widely publicized through the media and within health-care professionals.

Clinicians can now diagnose Alzheimer's with up to 90 percent accuracy, but can only be confirmed by autopsy, where the pathologists look for disease's characteristic plaques and tangles in brain tissue. Clinicians diagnose "probable" Alzheimer's disease by taking a complete medical history and conducting lab tests, a physical exam, brain scans and neuropsychological tests that gauge memory, attention span, language skills and problem-solving abilities.

The most common symptom of Alzheimer's disease is memory loss, which is accompanied by mood swings, behavior and personality changes, impaired judgment and speech, confusion and restlessness. As the disease progresses, the patient becomes more and more a shell of a person as he loses his awareness of what makes us human-sense of self and his identity, memories, awareness of family and friends, etc. Not only is the patient a victim but so is the family as they watch daily their loved one physically and mentally deteriorate before their eyes and become a "stranger" they no longer know and who no longer knows them. In the middle and late stages, Alzheimer's patients require total, custodial care. Both patient and family require intense support and direction in coping with the ravages of Alzheimer's. Many family members feel very guilty about placing their loved one into a facility. It is not uncommon for family members to run down their health in a desperate attempt to care for the patient at home.

The earlier the onset of Alzheimer's disease, the shorter the patient's life expectancy is. For example if someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's at age 50, he may have a life expectancy of ten years. While someone who is diagnosed at age 70 may have a life expectancy of 20 years or more. In the final stage of Alzheimer's, death usually results from a combination of factors. The most common cause of death is pneumonia. Currently, there is no known cure, but there are several new medications that slow down the process of Alzheimer's in the early stages.

Psychological Disorders:

Most psychological disorders occur later in life usually precipitated by the crises of aging and the changes that occur physically, cognitively and socially. There is significant alteration in body image with aging and its' accompanying diseases; decrease in self-esteem due to retirement and role change status; and, loss of family and friends because of death or physical separation in another state. All these factors impact greatly on the psychological well-being of senior citizens. Another aspect that contributes to psychological disorders is that many senior citizens accept these disorders, such as depression and pain, as part of the aging process and do not seek help until acute or severe problems appear.

Common symptoms of psychological disorders include: withdrawal from activities that were enjoyed before, lack of interest in physical appearance, insomnia, loss of appetite, constipation or diarrhea, suspiciousness, hostility, delusions, feelings of inferiority and a wide variety of somatic complaints. If an elderly parent or friend is exhibiting any of these symptoms, it is imperative that this person be physically assessed by a medical person first hand before any other treatment modalities are instituted as many of these symptoms are associated with medical diagnoses.

Many gerontologists believe that disease causes aging rather than vice versa. Treatment of underlying pathologic conditions will frequently remove many of the characteristics attributed to old age.

Types of Restorative Dentistry Explained in Brief

For many people desirous of a newer, brighter and better smile, restorative surgery is their one and only hope. This comes as no surprise as restorative and general dentistry involves the treatment of all oral health issues from the teeth to the gums and tissues.

There are many procedures used to restore the teeth to their full glory, of which your doctor will choose from in order to make your smile as bright as those of the stars on the red carpet.

Dental Implants

These are the ideal solution for people with missing teeth although certain criteria must be met before implantation can commence. For example, patients who have undergone radiation therapy or who have diabetes are not suitable candidates for this type of restorative surgery.

The benefits of dental implants over conventional dentures are many. Since dental implants are more stable due to their integration into the jaw, the likelihood of pain and shifting are considerably lessened. Plus, these also help in the prevention of bone loss and gum recession.

Root Canal

Many people who suffer from infected tissues in the tooth pulp opt for a root canal procedure. It is basically designed for the removal of the infected tissues and the surrounding nerves to eliminate the source of the pain. The empty space is then filled while the tooth is subsequently capped by a dental crown. This is one of the types of restorative surgery that has earned an undeserved reputation as being painful when, in fact, it helps in eliminating the pain.

Gum Disease

Also known as periodontal disease, it is characterized by swollen, tender and bleeding gums. This is often treated via surgical and non-surgical therapy, the importance of which cannot be overemphasized since gum diseases can lead to tooth loss.

TMJ Disorders

Short for temporomandibular joint, TMJ disorders are very painful especially around the neck and head areas. Per estimates, as many as 10 million American suffer from the disease. Surgery may be necessary to ease the symptoms of the disorder.

Dental Crowns

Dental crowns act as protective cover for severely decayed or damaged teeth, with the additional benefit of strengthening the tooth and the jaw. This is one of the the most popular of the types of restorative surgery. You can choose from metal, ceramic and porcelain crowns depending on the recommendations of your dentist.

Dental Bridges

As can be implied, dental bridges literally bridge the gap between the remaining teeth while stabilizing the jaw with attractive crowns surrounding said teeth. You have to take proper care of your dental bridges so as to extend their lives as well as to maintain good oral health. Thus, dental flossing and brushing are still very important activities.

Full-Mouth Reconstruction

And then there are patients whose severe dental problems often require no less than full mouth reconstruction. You will be able to enjoy a new smile with a new leash on good oral after cosmetic and restorative dentistry procedures.

Restorative surgery is your friend if and when you have the right attitude towards it. Good oral health will be yours, not to mention that it will lead to a new, attractive smile.

Dogs With Joint Pain - 3 Ways to Stop Your Dog's Joint Pain!

Dogs with joint pain need our help immediately! It is so sad to see dogs suffer from swollen, stiff joints. Here are a few signs that your dog is experiencing joint pain...

Your Dog:

• Is showing a reduction in muscularity or tone.


• Is lagging behind during walks.


• Walks with a limp.


• Whimpers while walking.


• Licks the joint.


• Is reluctant to climb stairs or "jump up."

It's very important that we don't turn a blind eye to our dog's joint troubles. There are things we can do that don't require expensive vet visits or drastic measures of any kind. Simple things. Kind things. I will share three of them with you now.

Dogs With Joint Pain - 3 Ways To Stop Your Dog's Joint Pain:

1. Massage and acupressure. Take some time to give your friend some love. Lay your dog down and massage the muscles surrounding the sore joint, being careful to avoid the joint itself. Nice, deep strokes. Get intuitive. How would you like to be massaged if you were in pain? Do this for a good minute or two, longer if desired. Then, while your dog is still laying down, firmly squeeze his or her akeela's heel for 30 to 60 seconds. Just watch your dog bliss out!


2. Diet and exercise. It is a known fact that heavier dogs are more likely to develop joint pain and arthritis than are fit dogs. Feed your dog responsibly, manage your dog's weight, and keep your dog moving. If he or she just lies around all day, that will make the joints worse. They need to be flexed and lubricated. Light exercise can provide this.


3. Avoid medication, as it can seriously worsen the problem. Instead, favor homeopathic treatment. It is more effective than medicine, without the toxic side effects. Find a supplement that not only eases your dog's joint pain, but also lubricates the joint, reduces swelling & fluid retention, and promotes flexibility.

If you do all three of these things together, your dog is going to be up and at 'em in no time! Your dog's joint pain (and arthritis) will be effectively managed, and you and your buddy can live a happy life together!

Risk Factors for Osteoporosis and Hip Fractures

When it comes to osteoporosis, there are certain risk factors which people can avoid, and then there are those which are unavoidable. So obviously you want to make changes in the ones where you can make a difference.

Osteoporosis can predispose an individual to fractures in the wrist, hip, and the spine. These injuries can affect a person's ability to walk and may increase mortality. For instance, it is well known that the one-year mortality rate after a patient sustains a hip fracture is over 25%.

The biggest risk factor that people can't avoid is older age. As a person ages, they simply do not have as high of a bone turnover rate as they did while younger. What this means is that more bone is lost than is made each year, which leads to a gradual reduction in bone mineral density. If this amounts to 1 to 2% per year, think about over a 20 year period that person will have 20 to 40% less dense bone.

Additional risk factors that one cannot change is being female and a family history of osteoporosis. There are genetic factors to osteoporosis, a lot of which we do not understand. Being female and having a higher incidence of osteoporosis than men has to do with hormone levels and what happens after menopause.

Additional risk factors that cannot be modified include rheumatoid arthritis along with disorders such as hyperthyroidism and having a testosterone deficiency. Also, simply having a previous osteoporosis fracture can predispose individuals to developing future ones.

Now let's talk about the risk factors that people can modify. Weight-bearing exercise is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of developing fractures from osteoporosis. This does not include cycling or swimming, as those do not involve weight bearing. This involves such activities as walking, running, weightlifting, and those types of activities. In and of itself, weight-bearing exercise is the number 1 method of preventing osteoporosis.

Additional risk factors that can be modified include smoking and poor nutrition. If a patient has poor nutritional habits, they're not going to be be getting enough vitamins or calcium to ensure superior bone health. Smoking can decrease the blood supply to the bone and cause them to become brittle. The absolute worst combination is a patient who is thin, female, older, and white. This combination predisposes to osteoporosis tremendously.

Excessive alcohol intake is another risk factor for the problem. Alcohol directly interferes with the body's ability to produce bone. So along with the other problems that alcoholics develop, osteoporosis can easily be one of them.

Additional risk factors for developing osteoporosis include various medications. These are modifiable, but at times a patient has to take them because nothing else better is available for their disease. For instance, glucocorticoids like cortisone are often times necessary for a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

Patients who take anticonvulsants are predisposed to osteoporosis along with methotrexate and the medication called cyclosporine. All of these can cause osteoporosis either by themselves or in conjunction with the additional risk factors.

TMJ and Massage Therapy

TMJ, temporomandibular joint pain, is caused when people grind their teeth because they are under huge amounts of stress. Its symptoms include but are not limited to jaw clicking, pain chewing, headaches, jaw popping and migraines. Most of the time TMJ occurs during the night. This unconscious clenching and grinding often interferes with sleep and can cause sleeping disorders. This nighttime clenching is called Bruxism. Having the jaw muscles tensed for seven or eight hours a night causes the severe stress and tightness, which later can cause jaw popping and pain.

Massage is extremely effective in relieving TMJ pain. Focusing on the neck, back of the head, shoulders, temples, jaw, chin and scalp it loosens up the muscle and relaxes the stressed person. Massage that alleviates TMJ pain can be practiced quite conveniently in a chair, on-site. Chair massage is a great, convenient way to receive pain relief for TMJ. Pressure is place from the fingers tips to the base of the skill, along the neck and temples. When the client is asked to open their mouth fully, the jaw joint can be stretched for 5 to 7 minutes. Massage on the affected area can last between 3 and 4 minutes.

Because the main product of TMJ and Bruxism is stress, the effected person should have "stress-management" massage as well. A good, convenient way to receive this treatment is by getting a chair massage at least once weekly. This should keep the body's overall stress levels down. As was previously discussed people suffering from TMJ have a higher amount of stress in their bodies due to the fact that when they go to bed at night, instead of relaxing from the stress of the day, their jaws seize up for the 7-8 hours they are asleep.

This stress can build up and needs to be released. On-site massage is also a great way to release tension at work. Chair massages are convenient not time consuming as going to a masseuse would be.

TMJ can be regularly soothed by common remedies. You should eat soft foods and never chew gum. Also avoiding clenching ones jaw is a good way to keep stress away from the joint. Also avoid tension. At least twice a day you should sit with a moist heat pack against your jaw for a least half an hour. These modest remedies are good advice for anyone suffering from TMJ.

The VMO - The Key to Patella Tracking, Knee Pain Relief and Knee Joint Stability

The VMO, or vastus medialis obliquus, is the large tear drop shaped thigh muscle, that lies just above and on the inner side of the kneecap, or patella. It is one of the four quadriceps muscles in the front of the thigh, but it is the only one that attaches directly to the inner (medial), upper margin of the patella.

For this reason, it pulls inward on the kneecap and opposes the slightly outer (lateral) pull of the other three muscles. The VMO is most active in the last 30 degrees of extension, meaning that it helps to lock the knee out, fully straight. So, you can see that this one muscle has a strong influence on both the kneecap and knee stability, as a consequence of its anatomy.

Pain behind the kneecap usually results from a direct blow or a fall, or it may result from maltracking, meaning that the kneecap is pulled off its normal path, usually to the outside (lateral side), and often because the VMO is weak and can't counteract the pull of the other three quadriceps. Usually, this is accompanied by tightening or contracture of the soft tissues on the outer side (lateral side) of the kneecap, which makes it much harder to treat and correct the problem.

Some combination of these factors is usually involved in kneecap pain, which can also be accompanied by instability, or giving way of the knee. Over time, these factors can result in degenerative softening of the cartilage under the kneecap, a disease called chondromalacia patellae.

The other major source of pain in the knee comes from within the joint, either from a twisting injury that may injure a meniscus, one of the cushions within the joint, or a sprain of one of the ligaments, or an effusion, or "water on the knee," which results from inflammation of the lining membrane of the joint, the synovium. And, in the older population, degenerative arthritis within the joint is also a source of knee pain and instability.

In every case, strengthening the VMO is critical to relieving knee pain and restoring knee joint stability. So, what exercises are best for doing that? Here again, we take our lead from the functional anatomy. Since the VMO muscle fully straightens the knee, and is most active in the last 30 degrees of extension, we want to load the muscle within that range of motion, to strengthen it.

Isometric exercises, technically defined as muscle contraction without shortening, those done with the knee fully straight, can increase VMO tone and strengthen its tendinous attachments. For example, quad setting is done by tensing the straight leg, contracting the quadriceps, as hard as you can, for six seconds. This is particularly important when you have a fresh injury, or in the first few days after knee surgery. It adds strength, but without any movement of the joint.

Similar in effect is straight leg raising. Lying on your back, with the opposite leg bent up (to straighten your spine, and relieve stress across the lower back), you tense your quads, and, while maintaining the contraction, then slowly raise the straight leg up, to about 45 degrees. Then, slowly lower it again. To start with, try for 3 sets of 15-20 repetitions. This, too, is an exercise that is very useful in the immediate aftermath of an injury, or surgery.

Isotonic exercise is muscle contraction with shortening and what we normally think of as exercise, with overt movement of the joint. This type of exercise can utilize the resistance of bodyweight only, or additional external resistance, like free weights, or an exercise machine.

The simplest exercise is a quarter squat. With or without weights, with your back against the wall, simply squat down just a quarter of the way, approximating about 30 degrees of knee flexion, then stand straight and tense the quads strongly.

Even full range movements, like Full Squats or Hindu Squats, can be converted to VMO strengthening exercises by that isometric tensing of the quads, with the knee fully straight, with each repetition.

My personal favorite for working the VMO is the Hack Squat. In this exercise, you hold a barbell or two dumbbells behind your knees and leaning backward to put maximal stress on the VMO, do quarter squats. It's helpful to have a wooden block under your heels to help with balance.

Machine exercises are also useful, but leg press machines are probably better for your knee than leg extension machines, because the leg press loads your knee from above, and is more physiological (a "closed chain" exercise). This is especially true if you have kneecap disease, like chondromalacia patella, or patellofemoral arthritis. Here again, you can handle very heavy weight eventually, because you're using it for a very short arc, just 30 degrees.

Whatever exercises you choose, you will begin to notice an improvement in your pain and your stability within about 10 days, and real improvement within 30 days. As the VMO becomes stronger, your patella tracking will improve and your knee will subjectively feel more stable. Although this regimen can't cure everything, it can go a long way toward making your knees feel better and stronger. Give it a try.

Knee Pain And Exercise

Knee pain is the most common ailment of the body. Ironically the knee is the most complicated joint; it bears virtually all the body weight while performing straightening, bending, twisting and rotating functions. All these functions increase the risk of knee injury. Whereas the more acute knee injuries like torn ligament and cartilages are more prevalent in sports involving jumping, running and turning.

However these injuries are caused when the knees are overworked. These pains gradually develop over days or weeks and gradually worsen over time. When muscles and tendons are overstretched microscopic tears occur (the prevalent pain is usually as a result of inflammation). Avoid chronic problems by giving the tear time to heal. Knee pain is usually caused by the following:

1. When the knees are overworked over a short period of time- this usually occurs when one indulges in very strenuous exercises after a very long exemption.

Usually, the risk of knee injury is higher with age- it can lead to knee osteoarthritis, which is a gradual disintegration of the cartilage.

2. Runner's knee-It is usually found in young people and it is a diffuse pain behind the knee cap. The pains usually get worse after activities such as running and climbing.

There are various solutions or ways of preventing knee pain through exercise but they all center on developing the muscles and supporting the knee.

Knee injuries require time to heal; exercises should be done gradually by increasing the count, and should be stopped once you experience any pain. During these exercises the muscle will tear and after the process of healing the muscle becomes bigger and stronger. These exercises help to correct the problems in the knee joint. Here are some of the exercises required to solve and prevent knee injuries and pain:

Knee exercise for runners - by indulging in this form of exercise you will get to muscle groups in the body like the quadriceps and hamstrings.

Leg raises - this is a simple exercise and it can be done at home.

Standing leg raises - this kind of exercise needs support and it is very similar to the leg raises.

Single leg dip - this exercise strengthens the knee and squads. It also requires support on both sides.

Wall squat - this is a simple compound quad exercise for runners. However, the quadriceps strengthening contraction is possibly the safest, easiest and most recommended exercise you can perform to avoid knee pain and injury. You can always do most of these exercise even while watching television especially if you find difficult to fix exercise in to your program. For optimum result, adhere to the recommendations of the experts like the fitness trainers, gym instructors as well as your physical therapist.

It is important to note that the most feasible way of protecting your knee from injury is by developing and strengthening the muscles around the knee.

Feline Arthritis - Nothing to Purr About

Cats are usually very stoic creatures but when it comes to feline arthritis, even the toughest tabby of them all will eventually give in and complain. Feline arthritis is a progressive, non-infectious disease characterized by joint swelling and pain. It can appear at any age but it usually affects middle-aged or geriatric cats.

What causes feline arthritis?

Certain factors contribute to the development of feline arthritis. These may include trauma, such as those caused by accidents or injuries to the joints, congenital disorders and developmental disorders. A commonly overlooked factor that usually leads to feline arthritis is obesity, which usually causes excessive weight to bear down on joints and cause too much pressure.

There are several types of cat arthritis - these include:

Progressive polyarthritis. This is characterized by arthritis affecting multiple joints and often worsens with age. Progressive polyarthritis usually affects the hock, wrist and feet. It can be severely painful, especially once the cartilage has eroded and bones are exposed.

Traumatic arthritis. This type is caused by injury to the joint from accidents, fights or even a fall. When left unchecked, the trauma can degenerate the joint and cause swelling and bone damage.

Osteoarthritis. Also referred to as degenerative arthritis, this is a chronic disease that often comes with age, characterized by the slow wear and tear of a joint. This usually occurs at the shoulder and elbow.

What are the symptoms?

When your cat shows symptoms of feline arthritis, it's usually when the disease has already progressed. These are some of the most common symptoms associated with feline arthritis:

Difficulty in moving or obvious expression of pain when moving.

Reluctance to engage in the usual physical activities.

Altered gait or limping.

Stiffness, difficulty in rising from a resting position.

Irritability, nervousness, aggression or depression.

Getting your cat diagnosed

Feline arthritis isn't arthritis until it's confirmed. If your cat shows signs of limping or inflammation, don't assume it is arthritis immediately and try to comfort your cat by giving him painkillers. Feline arthritis is best left for a veterinarian to diagnose and whatever medications you might need to administer should have the vet's approval.

During your visit to the vet, your cat will undergo a series of check ups in order to rule out any other diseases that may contribute to similar symptoms. It is also important that the vet examines your cat's medical history to find out if the problem is related to past injuries and diseases.

To check for the progress of the disease, an x-ray may be used which will show any deformed or damaged joints. An x-ray will often tell the veterinarian whether your cat needs to undergo surgery or will perform well with certain medications. Other forms of diagnosis may also be used by your veterinarian, including ultrasound, radiographs and blood tests.

Treatment for feline arthritis

A proper diagnosis from the veterinarian is important in order to determine the type and progress of the disease. This will help the vet prescribe the proper medication and therapies for your cat based on his age, the severity of his condition and medical history. The approach of treatment for feline arthritis is two-fold: one to treat the pain and inflammation and the other is to improve your cat's mobility.

If pain and swelling are present, medications may be prescribed, which can offer temporary relief. Common medications used include painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs must be prescribed by your veterinarian and should not be administered without the doctor's advice. Some drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and certain NSAIDs have adverse side effects that may not be well tolerated by cats.

Some supplements, such as chondroitin and glucosamine, are sometimes recommended to help in the healing of damaged joints. Glucosamine is one of the components that make up the cartilage while chondroitin inhibits damaging enzymes as it encourages cartilage formation. If the disease has progressed and joint malformation is already present, corrective and reconstructive surgery may be performed.

Supplementing medication

Your cat may have to deal with feline arthritis for the rest of his life, so it's important that he is provided a comfortable place to rest and sleep. A heating pad will greatly increase your cat's comfort although providing a warm place to sleep will usually suffice. Since it often requires extra effort for your cat to move, make sure he has easy access to his bed, food and water bowls. It may also be necessary to help your cat lose weight, as some forms of arthritis are caused and made worse by excess weight.

The Basics of Injury Prevention for Figure Skaters

An athlete who participates in a sport, whether it be individual or team, obviously has an increase in risk for injury than the non-athlete. If the athlete participates in one sport year round, that risk may increase due to the repetitive motion and muscle dominance associated with that sport. Competitive figure skating is a sport that requires year round practice, with little time for rest; therefore, skaters are susceptible to injury in various joints and muscles. When a family enters the world of competitive figure skating, or even recreational skating, it is important for that family to be aware of the factors that cause and can prevent injury. By adhering to some basic guidelines, a skater may have a long and prosperous career without significant interruptions by injuries. Longevity in the sport is important to maintain consistent training and progress, and a skaters' overall musculoskeletal health is important post-skating career. This article will discuss several precautions a skater can take to prevent injury.

Proper Equipment

Biomechanical alignment of the body is influenced from the bottom up, starting at the feet. An alignment dysfunction, lack of motion, or improper arch in the foot can have an effect on the knee, hip, and back. Unlike gymnasts, who have no support on their feet, figure skaters have the luxury of wearing exceptionally designed boots to support them. A skilled boot fitter will be able to match the correct skate to a skater's level of ability, yet the correct boot is only the beginning of the process. A skater with a flat foot may need either generic or custom arch supports to prevent excessive pronation in the skate. If pronation is not addressed, it may cause a skater to twist the boot or favor one edge over the other. A high, rigid arch can be addressed with extra cushioning in the arch of the skate, to increase the amount of shock absorption in the foot, which is lacking in a high, rigid arch.

Attention should be paid to the width of the foot, the flexibility of the ankle, and the skaters' weight. If a skater uses a boot that is too stiff or too flexible for his or her body type, it may affect a variety of joints. The ankle must bend properly for the knee and hip joints to function correctly.

Mounting of the blade in the proper position can affect a skaters' balance on the edges and the ability to maintain control in turns, spiral, spins, and jump landings and takeoffs. An excessive angle of turn-in of a skaters' knee or an anteverted hip (turned in) may require the blade to be moved to compensate for the alignment problem. An experienced boot fitter will spend a significant amount of time watching a skater balance, walk, squat, etc. to find the ideal blade alignment for that skater.

Padding is also essential to prevent injuries from falling. Every skater falls when he or she is learning a new jump, and those falls are not always pretty! Vulnerable areas are the hips and buttocks, and various types of padding have been invented to create a cushioning for the susceptible areas. If the padding does not provide enough cushioning, and a skater lands consistently on a certain spot, it may be beneficial to cut a hole in the pad over that spot and build up the padding around it. Therefore, pressure will not be put on the sore spot. Padding on the buttocks can also reduce the amount of shock to the spine when a fall occurs. Back injuries are quite common among figure skaters, and all necessary steps should be taken to prevent them.

Proper Warm-up

I can't stress the importance of a proper warm-up enough! In this day and age, skaters rush from school to skating with a few minutes to spare to put the skates and gloves on, leaving little time for stretching and warm-up. The problem is, those ten minutes of warm-up that the skater skips can quickly result in a muscle strain. Muscles should reach a certain temperature and mobility level before a skater completes jumps that require plyometric strength or spins and spirals that require a certain degree of flexibility. A muscle that is not warmed up can not be pushed past its maximum flexibility level, and will result in pain.

Dynamic warm-ups have gained in popularity in the past five to ten years, and involve taking each joint and muscle through its full range of motion in an active way. The tissue temperature of a muscles increases far more quickly with dynamic stretching than if a skater stretches statically. Static stretching (holding a muscle in a lengthened time period in one position) does not increase tissue temperature and will not effectively prepare a skater's muscles.

Ideally, 15 to 20 minutes of dynamic warm-ups should be completed, yet even 10 minutes will provide a skater with a decent warm-up to prevent muscle strains. A skater will learn which muscles are his or her 'problem area,' and can create a warm-up that is most beneficial for the body as a whole.

Off-Ice Strength and Conditioning

Every skater should be involved in an off-ice strength and conditioning program, whether it be one day or five days per week. Skating is a sport that creates dominance in certain muscle groups, and over time, a skater develops an imbalance in muscle strength. This may lead to joint or muscle pain. If a skater is properly evaluated by a health professional, that person can determine which muscles are inflexible or weak, and will guide a skater toward a program that will focus on the skaters' deficits. Sk8Strong has developed programs that will focus on skating specific muscles, yet also address the need for an overall balance in musculature to prevent injury.

Figure skating also requires a significant amount of hip stability from the gluteal and hip abductor muscles, and strength in the quadriceps. Without proper hip stability, a skater will have trouble stabilizing landings, achieving the correct alignment on jump takeoffs, and creating power for higher jumps. Gluteal and hip abductor strength (in my opinion) is lacking in many skaters, and can be the primary cause of inconsistency, injuries, and slow progression of skills. It will greatly affect the movement pattern of the lower extremity when a skater bends the knees and hips.

Core strength is absolutely necessary for a skater to prevent back injury. Skating is a sport with a high demand for core stability, and the abdominals play a large part in keeping the back and trunk healthy. At least two days of core strengthening exercise is recommended for any skater, both to prevent injury and improve skating skills.

Strength and conditioning may also involve stamina training, if a skater is at a level that demands a lengthy program. There are various methods of stamina training, including the use of a slideboard, jump rope, elliptical, or exercise bike. The slideboard is most useful, as it trains the muscles in a similar manner to skating. Why is stamina training is important to prevent injury? Near the end of a program, the muscles are fatigued. Fatigued muscles do not create as much power, and the risk of falling is increased. Stamina training will increase oxygenation to muscles, increasing the chance that the muscles will stay strong at a later point in a program. This will improve performance and decrease the risk of falls.

Flexibility: too much or too little

Since the inception of the International Judging System, there is high demand for flexibility for all skaters. Spin variations and spirals require more mobility than in years past to gain the maximum amount of points. For the lucky few that possess the natural mobility for these positions, the need for consistent stretching is not at a premium. In fact, the 'overly flexible' skater should do more strength training to compensate for the overabundance of mobility in his or her joints. Excessive joint mobility typically results in a lack of stability.

The muscles a skater should focus on for mobility are the psoas (front of the hip), hamstrings (back of the thigh), and adductor (inner thigh). A flexible psoas is will help a skater reach back efficiently for jump takeoffs and extend the free leg for landings and spirals. The adductors and hamstrings will also affect a spiral and camel spin.

Quadriceps (front of thigh) and ITBand (outer thigh) tightness will not directly affect most skating moves, yet play an important role in prevention of injury. Skaters are constantly using these two muscles for power, which tends to make the muscles tighter. Both will affect mobility and motion at the knee and hip, and can cause pain around the kneecap if not stretched on a regular basis.

Try Moves Within Your Range of Motion

Some skaters just aren't meant to do a biellman or a haircutter spin, no matter how hard they try. A biellman requires a great amount of flexibility in the hamstrings, psoas, adductor muscles, and a great amount of joint mobility into extension of the lower back joints. It is recommended to consult with a physical therapist of other health professional to evaluate back mobility and flexibility of the previously mentioned muscles before trying a biellman. Forcing a joint into a position that it does not naturally reach is harmful to the joint, and a skater is setting her or himself up for injury. Find alternate ways to gain points, and your body will thank you!

Hip Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis affects a person's joints. The parts of body at maximum risk are the hips and knees. Hips carry the body weight and, over years, the smooth and glistening articular cartilage that helps the hip joint to glide ultimately wears thin. Initially, there is discomfort and stiffness in groin, buttocks, or thighs that increases with activity inflaming the hip joints and reducing rotation, flexibility, and movement.

Osteoarthritis of hips affects both genders equally due to diverse causes such as age, obesity, congenital deformity, injury, or stress. We cannot reverse the effects of Osteoarthritis of the hips but it is important for sufferers to go in for early treatment to reduce discomfort. Consult a doctor to determine the extent of damage and the treatment required. An x-ray will check if the hip joint space has changed or there is any development of bone spurs or abnormalities. If in the early or initial stages, the patient is advised to rest the hip, participate in a physical therapy program, engage in non-strenuous exercises like swimming, water aerobics, or cycling to keep the joint functional and healthy. A hip Osteoarthritis patient can follow a self help plan of sound sleep at night, work on weight reduction by following diet plans, reduce strenuous activity, and generally take it easy. Women need to be extra vigilant because they are more susceptible to hip osteoarthritis. Use a cane or some support when and if movement is painful, and keep in mind that household chores can be shared or done at leisure. Another precautionary measure is wearing appropriate footwear.

Once the disease sets into the advanced mode, hip replacement surgery or arthoplasty is advised to help cure the pain and improve mobility. Surgery is not an instant cure and if both hips are affected it requires patience and a rehabilitation program to pull the muscles in shape. Treatment also depends on the patient's attitudes, daily activities, and anxiety.

Shoulder Pain Side Sleeping - How to Relieve Your Pain and Finally Get a Good Night's Sleep

If you are suffering from shoulder pain, side sleeping can be difficult. It hurts to lay on your side. You may experience a constant deep ache or sharp pain. It is difficult to roll over, change positions, or find a comfortable way to fall asleep. Shoulder pain can lead to long, uncomfortable, sleepless nights.

The most common source of shoulder pain is an injury to the muscles and tendons of the rotator cuff. You may be diagnosed with conditions such as bursitis, rotator cuff tendinitis, impingement, and tears.

The rotator cuff is a group of small muscles located around the ball-and-socket joint of the shoulder. They are important for circular arm movements. This area is also a fragile area prone to overuse and injury. When these muscles are injured, it is often difficult to raise your arm over your head, reach behind your back, or even to get dressed on your own. It also makes sleeping difficult if you like to lay on your side.

There are a few simple things you can do to help relieve the pain and get some much needed rest. These include taking pain medicine such as aspirin or ibuprofen. You can also pile up pillows around the affected area to help shift some of your weight off of the injured shoulder.

However, you will receive the most benefit from a series of exercises that specifically target the shoulder and the rotator cuff in particular. There are a number of specially designed exercises, developed by physical therapists to aid in rotator cuff injuries. These include targeted exercises to help speed recovery, re-build strength, relieve pain, and prevent loss of range and mobility.

While it is always a good idea to consult with a physician first, there are many exercises that you can do on your own, in the comfort of your own home.

One easy exercise to begin with is a door press. This exercise will stretch out the muscles in your shoulders and upper chest. To begin, stand facing an open doorway. Place your hands and forearms on the door frame with your fingers pointing straight up towards the ceiling. Your upper arms should be level with your shoulders. Leaving your arms in place on the door frame, slowly press yourself through the doorway. You'll feel tightness in both the front and back of your shoulders. Hold this position for several seconds then use your arms to slowly push yourself back out to your original position. Repeat this exercise several more times. But always remember to move slowly and stop before there is any pain.

How to Stop Teeth Grinding

How to stop teeth grinding at night is a question that millions of Americans are asking themselves each morning. This condition is also known as Bruxism. Waking up with a sore jaw, pressure behind your ears or even headaches are not signs of a good night sleep. Sometimes worn, flat or chipped teeth or even more serious conditions such as Maloccusion or TMJ (also known as Temporomandibular joint disorder) will be enough to get you to schedule an appointment with your doctor or dentist.

When it comes to grinding or clenching, many people do not see eye to eye on this subject. However, research shows that Doctors say that stress is the most common cause of teeth grinding at night. Frustration or suppressed anger can also lead to this as well. In addition, by staying away from drugs or alcohol such as caffeine or pills can greatly help stop teeth grinding at night. But what many people don't realize is that there might be a simple solution to their teeth grinding problem. Mouth guards, tray's and even retainers can help stop teeth grinding. These items will work and will help protect your teeth from any further damage that may occur while sleeping.

Many researchers say that learning to relax will help you to learn how to stop teeth grinding. Techniques such as yoga or stretching exercises will help with this condition. It is said that grinding or clenching is thought to be hereditary and that it is also related to gender as women are three times more likely than men to grind their teeth.

Things to check for in the mouth and on the teeth and gums are as follows. Periodontal pockets (loss of supporting bone around the teeth), bony ridges (tori), sensitive, fractures, wearing or breaking of the teeth. Other indications are difficulty to hear, sore jaw or mouth, hard to open or close your mouth, neck pain and even locked jaw.

Learning how to stop teeth grinding at night may very well be challenge in itself. To know whether it is related to stress or something else is a another story and you may need to consult with a doctor. In any case, educating yourself and taking action are the two most important steps you can do avoid grinding and clenching at night. What ever you decide, be sure to get the problem resolved before it leads to more serious conditions down the road.

Homeopathic Remedies for Gout - Secure A Pain Free Solution!

High levels of uric acid accumulation in blood trigger a severe medical condition known as gout. Uric acid is a natural waste produced by certain foods and by-products of the digestive processes. Gout occurs when uric acid is produced in huge quantities that it makes the kidneys unable to deal with this extra amount. Hence, the excess amount gets accumulated within the body. The excess of uric acid is stored in areas surrounding the tissues and joints and forms a needle like crystal structure which causes the acute pain and inflammation. Homeopathy can be an essential measure of gout relief during the painful attacks, joint pain and inflammation.

Finding homeopathic remedies for gout as an essential cure is believed to be safe and effective. A qualified homeopath can prescribe you constitutional cures which can help you to reduce the pain and the likelihood of future painful episodes. Homeopathic remedies for gout involve various treatments which help to minimize the likelihood of more painful experiences.

Homeopathy is believed to be a type of energy medication which seeks to stimulate the defense system of the body. Thus, homeopathic remedies for gout are based on the treatment of the symptoms and not just the disease causing all those symptoms. Such medicines heal your mind, body and soul in accord and reinstate balance, rather than using drugs to suppress the symptoms.

Homeopathic treatment for gout involves selection of remedies considering the overall medical condition of the sufferer. The remedies are not only based on physical conditions or symptoms, but it entails the emotional and mental state of the patient, diet, family history, character, lifestyle and the other normal factors to recommend the best cure.

As per a medical report, more than 70 % people suffering from gout are likely to produce excess of uric acid, another 30 % people can't eliminate the uric acid properly from their system, and about 25% people include a family history of having gout. More so, increased levels of uric acid in the system can be an indicator of the poor kidney function. Therefore, homeopathic gout treatments are vastly individualized.

In homeopathy, people suffering from gout are treated as distinct individuals with several factors to consider while prescribing the best treatment procedure. Each patient is prescribed a useful remedy which matches with their symptoms.

As uric acid is regarded as a byproduct of some foods, gout is strongly related to the regular diet. Improper diet and obesity are two primary reasons which increase the risk of having gout. They can be inherited or brought about due to crash dieting, over-eating, surgery, stress, drinking and joint injury.

Homeopathic remedies for gout may even include treatments in the form of lifestyle and dietary changes. This may also include recommendations for herbal and vitamin supplements for a healthy and quick recovery.

Recommended Homeopathic Remedies for Gout:

There are several possible choices when it comes to find the homeopathic remedies for gout. The most common remedies include Arnica, Belladonna, Benzoic Acid, Colchicum, Berberis Vulgaris, Ledum, Urtica Urens and Lycopodium. All of these medications are commonly prescribed to treat gout and cure the sudden pain and inflammation. The homeopathic practitioner selects the right remedy which closely matches with the symptoms. However, the frequency of the dosages normally varies with the given condition of the individual.

Homeopathic Gout Medicine and Its Benefits:

Homeopathic gout remedies offer several benefits. These include:

1. Overall improvement in the health, since homeopathy treats a person on a whole.


2. Homeopathic treatment is easy on the pocket.


3. Homeopathic treatments can be easily administered. They are generally taken in the form of pills.


4. Homeopathic gout treatment is secure and free from side effects.


5. Homeopathic medication is safe for both children and adults.


6. Homeopathy usually includes natural ingredients, so they are safe and non-toxic, and free from severe side effects.


7. Unlike most conventional gout treatments, homeopathic gout remedy treats patient as whole and not just only symptoms. It ensures long term effects.

What to Do When You Have TMJ Disorder

When you think that there is something wrong with with you and the symptoms are just like TMJ disorder and you have read and studied the symptoms carefully, then you can take some precautionary steps to prevent it from becoming a danger for you.

The first thing that you can do is to rest the jaw. This means that you should not use it until it is desperately needed. Pain is felt if the jaws are opened widely. This should also be avoided.

Chewing of things that are too hard to bite and chewing gums should be avoided. Rather soft food and liquid food should be taken so that rest is given to the mouth. With this, some medications with the consult of doctor should also be taken. Never take a pain killer without the permission of a doctor.

Hamburger and things like that which requires your mouth to be opened widely should be avoided. If proper care is not taken, the results could be more dangerous than what it would be. With this care, proper medication and consultation with the doctors should also be taken in order to prevent anything that is not good for the person suffering from TMJ disorder.

More than 80% of the patients of TMJ disorder have pain in the head. If you also feel something like that then you have to take care of that. This pan could be more when you are using your jaws. You can take some pain killer if the doctor recommends you. This headache can be severe or of low intensity depending on the condition of the person.

So, with proper care and medication, this an be prevented from surgery.

Pain in Left Side of Jaw - How to Cure the Pain

"Doctor, the pain in the left side of my jaw is killing me!", the father of two complained.

The dentist nodded reluctantly and said, "You've most likely got TMJ, it's a stress related condition affecting the jaw area, here's what I recommend you do...".

What Did The Dentist Say Next?

This dentist wasn't like most other dentists, who will tell their patients to fork out their money and buy an expensive mouth guard to wear at night. He suggested something a little less well known and a lot more effective.

TMJ Jaw Exercises.

He said the exercises will strengthen and stretch certain muscles in your body which will relieve stress on the muscles that are causing your jaw pain. They will only take about 10 - 15 minutes to do, but they will have to be done daily for about 2 - 3 weeks.

The Results:

After getting this advice, the father took got a list of specialised exercises and went home and started straight away. He thought they would be a lot more complicated than they were and the massages felt great and started some of the pain disappeared instantly.

He was so happy he let out an excited yelp and accidentally opened his mouth too wide. A bit too early for that he thought. Doing the exercises every day turned out to be a breeze and it was barely a week later when he called his dentist and told him the pain in the left side of his jaw had completely disappeared.

Lower Back Pain - Rectus Femoris

Lower back pain with irritation of the L3, L4 nerve roots can cause pain and spasm in the rectus femoris and pain and spasm in this muscle will aggravate lower back pain.
This muscle is one of the four muscles termed the quadriceps muscles. The quadriceps are the muscles in the front of the thigh and are responsible for straightening the knee.
The rectus femoris arises from an area on the pelvic bone known as anterior superior iliac spine and the part of the bone just above the hip joint. It inserts at the upper border of the kneecap (patella) and also to the tubercle on the front of the shin bone (tibia). Its action is to bend the thigh upwards (hip flexion) and to straighten the knee (knee extension). It receives the L2-L4 nerve root supply through the femoral nerve.

Since rectus femoris is the only muscle of the quadriceps that crosses over the hip joint as well as the knee joint, this muscle is more vulnerable to trauma than the other three quadriceps muscles (vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and vastus intermedius).

When the hip and knees are bent as in sitting, crouching or squatting, rectus femoris and tensor fascia lata muscles are very tight at the hip and excessively stretched at the knee. This predisposes the muscles to get easily traumatized. Additionally, aging of the L3, L4 nerve root, injury, or irritation from presence of degenerative arthritis of the spine, slipped disc, bulging disc are also responsible for underlying neurogenic weakness in this muscle.

Since the quadriceps is essential for keeping the knee steady when going down steps, inclines and in the walking phase after the heel strikes the ground, weakness of the rectus femoris and the tensor fascia lata (which also has L4 nerve root fibers) can predispose the person to falls.
To strengthen the rectus femoris and tensor fascia lata muscles, the principle involves education starting first with shortening contractions of the spinal extensors from the neck to the lower back and the hip extensor muscles. The hip flexor tightness is secondary to imbalanced contraction of the hip flexor muscles such as rectus femoris, tensor fascia lata, adductor muscles and the iliopsoas muscles in the presence of weak back and hip extensors such as the gluteus maximus, lower part of the adductor magnus muscle and the hamstring muscles. When the knee is flexed, the hamstring muscles do not participate in straightening the hip (extension). Therefore most of the strength of the hamstrings is directed to bending the knee (flexion).
The health education for shortening contractions of the spinal extensors and hip extensor muscles such as gluteus maximus and adductor magnus must be performed first to return strength to these muscles. These extensor muscles are the main muscles constantly exposed to lengthening contractions at the hip making them weak.

At the knee, the weakness in the extension force results in unopposed pull of the knee flexor muscles. The shortening and spasm in the knee flexor muscles such as the hamstrings and the gastrocnemius muscles are difficult to release primarily. Therefore shortening contractions of the knee extensor muscles such as the rectus femoris, tensor fascia lata and the other three quadriceps muscles need to be performed first.

It is difficult to isolate these muscles to be individually trained for shortening contractions. Selective activation of these muscles is best performed with motor point stimulation using the eToims Twitch Relief Method.

Thus in the treatment of lower back pain and discomfort, rectus femoris has to be treated together with all the other large and powerful muscles that cross multiple joints and are exposed to lengthening contractions. Therefore, treatments must involve the entire spinal muscles from the neck to the base of the spine, gluteus maximus, adductor magnus, and tensor fascia lata muscles as a minimum.
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Relieve Joint Pain Naturally

The human body has more than 200 bones and also the same number of joints that connect them. Even a sedentary life style can require the use of dozens of joints every day. Joint discomfort is probably the most common of all physical complaints. It's important to learn how to naturally relieve joint pain. Affecting millions of Americans this type of pain can make the simplest of activities difficult if not downright painful.

Cartilage, a substance that covers the ends of the bones, provides a true friction free surface between them. Though designed to be strong and vigorous cartilage can break down as joints are used. Joints can also just plain wear out. This can be due to the wrong diet, age, injury or excessive weight, predisposition and more. But you can relieve joint pain naturally.

As the protective covering of bones thins and eventually diminishes the results are a bone-against-bone joint. This leads to inflammation which is nature's way of beginning the healing process. It is a positive step but can get out of control. Inflamed cells release substances to the affected area called inflammatory mediators. These mediators are short lived substances that affect nearby cells by turning them into inflamed cells. This painful condition causes increased blood flow, higher localized temperature and swelling, putting pressure on nerve endings. The joints most affected by inflammation are high stress areas such as hips, hands, knees and spine. But these areas can be protected naturally from joint pain.

The complications resulting from thinning cartilage can also lead to what is known as osteoarthritis. What causes this condition? It could be hereditary, metabolic or even mechanical. Medical conditions such as bleeding disorders in the joints, disorders that block blood supply to a joint and other types of arthritis such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis can also lead to osteoarthritis. Given all these factors it's more likely than not that the majority of the population will experience the havoc created by thinning cartilage tissue and the joint pain that follows. In fact 27 million Americans are affected by this disease as compared to 8 million in the United Kingdom and 3 million in Canada. And that's just one form of arthritis. All told over 46 million Americans suffer arthritis. It is predicted that by 2020 the number of cases will rise to 60 million and by 2030 when 72 million people will have passed their 65th birthday 20% of Americans will be at high risk for the disease. And are you aware that every year nearly half a million hip or knee replacement surgeries occur? Protecting joints early on and knowing how to naturally relieve joint pain can go a long way to enhance one's quality of life.