Hand care for people with arthritis
Arthritis Digest
by Iona Walton
1d ago
This certified organic hand lotion leaves skin feeling beautifully soft and moisturised. Enriched with skin-conditioning sunflower oil, protective beeswax to help lock in moisture, and a purifying blend of organic essential oils, it’s the perfect treat for aching hand joints. Organic Defence Hand Cream 50ml is available for £6.50 (50ml) from www.nealsyardremedies.com or tel 0800 0832 111.   Nail saviour Good Housekeeping recently asked 770 women to test 42 brands of nail strengtheners over one month. Winning product Orly Nail Defense Strengthening Treatment is enriched with proteins to s ..read more
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Target calcium crystal deposits to relieve osteoarthritis knee pain
Arthritis Digest
by Iona Walton
4d ago
Calcium crystal deposits in the knee contribute to joint damage and could represent a successful area of treatment, says new research in Arthritis & Rheumatology. Knee osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting around 600 million people worldwide. There are no treatments available that prevent its progression. Previously, calcium crystal deposits in the joint were thought to be of no clinical importance. But now a team from the US has used new imaging techniques and found that calcium crystal deposits in the knee can actually contribute to worsening of joint damage. “T ..read more
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Gut microbiota imbalances may influence fibromyalgia
Arthritis Digest
by Iona Walton
1w ago
Imbalances in the intestinal microbiota could lead to development of fibromyalgia. People with fibromyalgia seem to have higher levels of Clostridium, Bacteroides, Coprococcus and Ruminococcus, but lower levels of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Eubacterium, Lachnospiraceae and Firmicutes. Microbiota changes were linked to the availability of neurotransmitters that influence pain levels. Another effect of the imbalances could be increased permeability of the lining of the intestines, stimulating the gut-brain axis immune pathway, the researchers stated. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth ..read more
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The iconic actor and writer Sheila Hancock reveals stress induces rheumatoid arthritis flares
Arthritis Digest
by Iona Walton
2w ago
Sheila Hancock’s successes extend way beyond her phenomenal award-winning acting career. A celebrated author, she is interested in world events, tragedies, politics, and helps where she can, working tirelessly for charities and in schools. Personal sadness comes to us all and Sheila has had her fair share, so she was well-equipped to take on a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis in her eighties, seeing it as another challenge to be faced. “My first encounter with rheumatoid arthritis was excruciating pain in my hand four years ago,” she remembers. “At the time I was dealing with a build-up of extr ..read more
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High temperatures and low humidity may double risk of gout flare
Arthritis Digest
by Iona Walton
1M ago
Weather conditions may double the risk of a gout flare says new research from Australia. But no clear link was found between weather and common muscle and joint symptoms. There is a longstanding belief that changes in weather can trigger muscle and joint pain. Although the study in Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism finds no clear pattern between the two, it did reveal that warm weather could lead to dehydration and increased uric acid concentration in people with gout. Researchers pooled data from existing international studies on weather and musculoskeletal pain that involved over 15,000 ..read more
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Acupuncture may reduce the risk of stroke linked to rheumatoid arthritis
Arthritis Digest
by Iona Walton
1M ago
A course of acupuncture could curb the heightened risk of stroke associated with rheumatoid arthritis, reveals a large study published in BMJ Open. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in people with rheumatoid arthritis. And they are more likely to have a stroke than the general population, note the researchers. Acupuncture is already used to control pain and dampen down inflammation, and the researchers (who analysed data from over 23,000 people) wanted to find out if it might also lower the risk of ischaemic stroke – caused by a blood clot in the brain – that is associated with syst ..read more
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New discovery may reverse atherosclerosis associated with rheumatoid arthritis
Arthritis Digest
by Iona Walton
1M ago
A molecule called resolvin (RvT)4 has been found to enhance the body’s natural defences against atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) in people with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis in the UK and affects around 1% of the population. Around 10,000 people receive a diagnosis every year. Alongside the more widely-known symptoms of joint inflammation, people with the condition are twice as likely to develop blood vessel disease. Studies in mice show that increasing levels of the RvT4 molecule in the body improves the ability o ..read more
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Physical activity recommended for fatigue in inflammatory arthritis
Arthritis Digest
by Iona Walton
2M ago
When we are fatigued, taking exercise feels like an impossibility. Just walking across the room to the bathroom is an effort; donning a pair of trainers and trudging around the block – let alone going for a swim – is simply out of the question. Yet increasing evidence shows that’s exactly what we must force ourselves to do, in order to counter the physical and mental lethargy that fatigue presents. And little by little, we will see the positive effects. “Fatigue is prevalent in people with [inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (I-RMDs)] and is one of the most challenging sympto ..read more
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New health strategies continue to ignore osteoporosis
Arthritis Digest
by Iona Walton
2M ago
A recent announcement from the Health Secretary regarding women’s health priorities included problem periods, women’s health research and support for domestic and sexual abuse victims are among the government’s priorities. A glaring omission, however, is osteoporosis. In response, Craig Jones, Chief Executive at the Royal Osteoporosis Society, comments: “The Government has several important achievements to its name on its Women’s Strategy, but a gaping omission is anything to support women with osteoporosis. Half of women over 50 will suffer life-changing, sometimes fatal, fractures due to th ..read more
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Polyunsaturated fatty acids combat inflammation
Arthritis Digest
by Iona Walton
2M ago
A new review highlights the important role of diet and lifestyle in the management of rheumatoid arthritis. Outlook for people diagnosed with the autoimmune condition has drastically improved due to new drugs, but there is still a way to go. In recent years research has discovered that some nutrients, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, can reduce inflammation and act as antioxidants, thus protecting against the onset of rheumatoid arthritis. Polyunsaturated fats are a category of fats that include both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Think fatty fish, nuts, seeds, flaxseed oil and vegetabl ..read more
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