| Overview of Arthritis | | | | exacerbate arthritis in most individuals. A variety of |
| Effective help is currently available for people to | | | | diets and "hand-me-down" information exists about |
| proactively manage arthritis and enjoy life to the | | | | certain foods and arthritis, in particular the night |
| fullest. But the actual prevention of arthritis itself is | | | | shade plants, but none of it has been proven. |
| yet another story. | | | | There is a rare form of arthritis called Spure which is |
| With rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the membranes or | | | | caused by allergies to wheat products. Avoiding |
| tissues lining the joints become inflamed. There is no | | | | those will eliminate this disease. Associated features |
| known way to prevent any form of this disease, | | | | include weight loss, diarrhea and osteoporosis. Consult |
| including osteoarthritis, adult-onset arthritis and | | | | your health care provider if this is a concern. |
| juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. The exact causes of all | | | | There are things you can do to reduce your risk for |
| these conditions are unknown. | | | | getting certain types of arthritis or to reduce disability |
| It's very important for people who fear they are at | | | | if you already have arthritis. |
| risk of rheumatoid arthritis to realize that at this time | | | | Overweight and obese people have a higher |
| there are no medications to take or lifestyle | | | | frequency of arthritis. Excess weight increases risk |
| modifications to make that can completely prevent | | | | for developing osteoarthritis in the knees, and |
| this crippling disease. However, by making changes to | | | | possibly in the hips and hands. Women are at special |
| your weight and diet and engaging in moderate | | | | risk. In men, excess weight increases the risk for |
| exercise, you may be able to slow or even halt the | | | | developing gout. It's important to maintain your |
| disease's onset and progress. | | | | recommended weight, especially as you get older. |
| But you can only really take the measures needed to | | | | Arthritis Prevention Programs |
| control arthritis after it is diagnosed. Until it is known | | | | The Center for Disease Control has implemented |
| for sure if certain bacteria or viruses trigger the | | | | programs in several states to reduce the onset and |
| disease, contact with people suffering from it will not | | | | consequences of arthritis. The National Arthritis |
| change your risk of developing it. | | | | Action Plan: A Public Health Strategy delineates the |
| Traditionally, medications and physical therapy have | | | | actions necessary to better understand the arthritis |
| been used to manage the disease. A massive amount | | | | burden in the USA and helps to fully apply known and |
| of nutrient research has also shown the effect diet | | | | effective interventions. |
| and supplements have on the body's healing | | | | This document represents the combined efforts of |
| processes. Lifestyle changes can also make a big | | | | nearly 90 organizations, such as the Arthritis |
| difference. | | | | Foundation, government agencies and many other |
| Causes of the Disease | | | | groups and individuals with an interest in arthritis |
| Joint injuries caused by accidents or overuse increase | | | | prevention and control. |
| the occurrence of some types of arthritis. You can | | | | The NAAP proposes a nationally coordinated effort |
| also inherit certain genes that may increase your risk. | | | | for reducing the occurrence of arthritis and its |
| More research is needed to find out how to reduce | | | | accompanying disability by focusing on these three |
| the disease's onset from these factors. | | | | areas: |
| Some individuals have an inborn tendency to | | | | 1. Surveillance, epidemiology and prevention research |
| degenerative joint disease because they have | | | | to strengthen the science base. |
| changes in the structure of the important | | | | 2. Communications and education to increase |
| protein-building blocks of the articular cartilage which | | | | awareness and provide accurate information about |
| covers the surface of their joints. These seemingly | | | | arthritis. |
| small but significant abnormalities predispose their | | | | 3. Programs, policies, and systems promoting |
| joints to wear and degeneration. In other cases, joint | | | | increased quality of life for people with arthritis and |
| injuries may contribute to the development of DJD. | | | | facilitating arthritis prevention measures. |
| No foods have been definitively shown to cause or | | | | |