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| The Major Types of Arthritis and the Appropriate Diet Plan |
Arthritis is a broad term that refers to a group of health conditions associated with inflammation and pain in the joints. Indeed, it is commonly known as joint disease. Although anyone of any age can develop arthritis, it is a condition that mostly affects mature adults and the elderly. It turns out that arthritis affects at least one out of every 30 people and is a major cause of disability especially in the elderly.
Although there are different types of arthritis, the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and management techniques remain the same. The condition presents symptoms that can be moderate or severe. Its symptoms can also be permanent or chronic. It also turns out that some types of arthritis affect such organs of the body as the kidneys, heart, lungs and eyes.
Arthritis is diagnosed in different ways. Physical examination is usually the first diagnostic routine that a physician performs. Both imaging scans and blood tests are normally performed with the aim of identifying the specific type of arthritis a patient has developed.
Different treatment methods are employed in treating different types of arthritis. A treatment method can be undertaken by a single physician or a group of physician and medical specialists depending on nature and complicity of the condition.
What are the major types of arthritis – what should be the diet plan?
There are simply many types of arthritis. While most are minor, some are major because of their high rate of occurrence and their impact on health and comfort of affected patients.
Osteoarthritis
This is a type of arthritis that occurs when there are changes in joint bone cartilage. Cartilage is the soft tissue that serves to protect against adverse friction between a joint bone and adjoining bones. Development of this type of arthritis is gradual and mostly affects the neck, hip, spine and feet where it causes pain and stiffness in the joints.
In addition to such medications as painkillers, steroids, and non-steroid anti-inflammatory medications, physicians also recommend exercises, weight loss, and such therapies as aromatherapy as ways of managing the condition. Like with any other type of arthritis, osteoarthritis has no cure.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
This is the other type of arthritis that is very common. It is an autoimmune inflammatory health condition that affects the joints, tendon sheaths, and bursae (the sacs of fluid that enhance movement between muscles and tendons). Joints and areas affected become painful, stiff and swollen.
Different patients experience this type of arthritis differently, which makes it hard to diagnose. Development of this type of arthritis can be very devastating because a patient always feels tired and recurring pain in the affected area(s).
Treating rheumatoid arthritis involves administration of anti-rheumatoid medications that help to slow down the progression of the condition. Physicians also do prescribe anti-inflammatory medications to minimize swelling. It is only when a patient's condition becomes worse that a physician will recommend joint replacement surgery.
Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
DISH is a type of arthritis that affects the spine, head, and large joint of the body where it causes ligaments to harden. It is a condition that mostly affects the elderly and particularly those with Type 2 diabetes. Development of this type of arthritis is linked to long-term use of certain medications and in particular retinoid medications commonly known as synthetic vitamins.DISH presents varied symptoms including body stiffness especially in the mornings, general body pain, reduced mobility and swallowing difficulties.
Metabolic Arthritis
This is a type of arthritis that causes pain and swelling in joints, particularly in the knees and toes. This type of arthritis is commonly referred to as gout and develops when the level of uric acid in the body becomes excess. This can be because the body produces more uric acid that is necessary or when the body does not eliminate excess uric acid through urine.
Development of gout is linked to illness, high-stress level, joint injury, excessive use of diuretics, obesity, and excessive dehydration among other factors. Joints affected ache, swell and become reddish and painful. Gout is never permanent. It occurs in form of attacks.Like with any type of arthritis, physicians do prescribe non-steroid anti-inflammatory and steroid medications for treatment of gout.
Infectious Arthritis
This is a type of arthritis that develops when fungi, bacterium or a virus enters a joint and triggers inflammation. This can be after an injury to a joint. Although most cases of infectious arthritis are effectively treated using antibiotics, delayed treatment usually leads to chronic infectious arthritis.
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Arthritis does not only affect mature adults and the elderly. It also affects young adults and children especially children between 15 and 18 years. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis causes pain and redness of the eyes and tendon pain. Some children experience blurred vision and at times loss of vision. The most active joints become swollen and very painful. Gums can also be affected; in which case brushing of the teeth becomes a painful experience.
The occurrence of this type of arthritis is associated with a high-stress level, a sudden change to a medication a child uses and illness and in particular illness caused by a virus. Physicians do prescribe painkillers, non-steroid anti-inflammatory medications, eye drops and biological therapies for treatment and management of this type of arthritis.
What should be the Diet Plan?
From the onset, there is no cure for arthritis regardless of type. Medications available only serve to prevent further development of the condition and to reduce pain and inflammation.
Similarly, there is no diet plan that cures arthritis. However, a number of scientific studies have established a link between a healthy lifestyle and reduced impact of arthritis. Indeed, a healthy lifestyle has been found to a very effective way of preventing the development of any type of arthritis.
According to both The Academy of Nutrition and Diabetics and The American Heart Association, sticking to a diet plan composed of such food as fish, nuts/seeds, fresh fruits/vegetables, healthy oils (olive, safflower, avocado and virgin), beans and whole grains is the surest way of preventing or managing arthritis. These foodstuffs contain high levels of very important nutrients that help in preventing and managing arthritis. They include calcium, vitamin D, iron, vitamin C and selenium.
A healthy lifestyle is not limited to a healthy diet plan. Development of arthritis has also been linked to excess body weight or obesity. There is a very close link between the two because excess body weight exerts undue pressure on body joints, which leads to the development of arthritis. Indeed, it has been scientifically established that appropriate body weight helps in reducing inflammation caused by any type of arthritis.
