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