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Health Center Your Health How to Successfully Manage Osteoarthritis
Health Center Your Health How to Successfully Manage Osteoarthritis Todays is : Tuesday, 09 February 2010
| How to Successfully Manage Osteoarthritis |
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| Written by ARAcontent | |
| Tuesday, 18 December 2007 | |
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(ARA) - Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It occurs when the cartilage in the joints wears down over time. The key to treating osteoarthritis is understanding the condition and actively managing the symptoms, and there are other options beyond simply taking a prescription medicine. “Osteoarthritis is a condition that worsens over time that affects millions of people,” says Dr. Jose Verges, a clinical pharmacologist, honorary professor at the University of Madrid, Spain, and the medical and scientific director for Bioiberica, a medical research company. “After studying osteoarthritis for many years, I feel it is important to treat the condition through a variety of balanced health initiatives and good quality supplements of pharmaceutical grade can have a tremendous effect.” Adults over 40 are more likely to have this disease and it is found in women more than men. No cure exists, so it is important to take care of yourself properly. If you suffer from any of the following symptoms, you might want to talk to your doctor about osteoarthritis and a treatment plan: * Pain in a joint during or after use. * Stiffness in a joint. This might be particularly noticeable after a period of inactivity. * Loss of flexibility. * A rubbing sensation. * Swelling. Many people immediately assume that they will need a prescription to combat the pain associated with osteoarthritis, but that is not always the case. There are other treatment options that are backed by scientific evidence to help relieve the symptoms of this disease. Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are often used and are available over the counter to help to relieve swollen, inflamed or sore joints. But when taken regularly, these drugs can have negative side effects such as cardiovascular, renal and gastrointestinal problems. Certain supplements are viewed as a more natural option and are gaining in popularity because of their effectiveness and continuous positive outcomes in clinical tests as well as their high level of safety. Dietary supplements with chondroitin sulfate (CS) and glucosamine (GLU) are particularly helpful in slowing osteoarthritis progression. Specifically, CS is a very safe option as it does not cause interactions with other products and is suitable for use among diabetic and hypertension patients. When taken together, research confirms disease modifying effects that provide pain relief, advance mobility and a reduction of synovitis, an inflammatory process of the synovial membrane, which is a lubricating tissue that lines the cavities of joints and tendons. A recent study from the U.K. Primary Care Rheumatology Society concluded that CS should be offered to all knee pain sufferers as a first step of intervention. Additionally, a recent publication by the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) places chondroitin sulfate within the top three options for osteoarthritis treatments. These and other studies show evidence that CS is a safe way to combat osteoarthritis pain. CS is also recommended by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR). In Europe, CS is regarded as a drug, but in the United States it is regulated as a supplement by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). CSb Bio-Active, created by Bioiberica, is a CS supplement that has many clinical trials and is sold as Cosamin DS in the U.S. and is used to improve osteoarthritic symptoms such as joint pain stiffness, functional incapacity, as well as slow the development of cartilage damage and improve quality of life. Since the early 1980s, CSb Bio-Active has helped more than 15 million people worldwide relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis. Many doctors are recommending these types of supplements and patients are experiencing pain relief and advanced mobility. In addition to supplements, it’s important to take care of joints in day-to-day life. Rest is the best way to help relieve pain and reduce further damage. After the onset of pain, use the next 24 hours to rest and avoid activities that use the joint repetitively. Implementing an exercise plan with the consent of your doctor is important as well. Simple exercises such as walking, biking or swimming help build endurance and strengthen the muscles that support the joint. Exercise also helps you to manage weight, another stressor on the joints. “If osteoarthritis pain persists, there are advanced treatment options such as stronger medications, cortisone shots and surgery, but it’s best to try to treat the pain more naturally and less invasively,” comments Verges. “Relief and improvement of the condition is possible.” For more information on osteoarthritis and CSbBio-Active visit www.csbioactive.com. Courtesy of ARAcontent |
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