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.