Archive for the ‘Arthritis Symptoms’


Mangosteen is the Fruit of the Loom These days

All and sundry these days are talking about how to eat and drink hale and hearty that it is hard to keep up with the tempo of products that are out there waiting to be consumed. From all kinds of exotic berries to green tea and even coffee, it appears that practically every kind of drink and fruit has some good quality medicine to offer to mankind.

There is one fruit though that has been used since the beginning of man in the Eastern world for its manifold beneficial anti-inflammatory health proprieties which only in recent times have been discovered in the Western hemisphere and has been object of deep scrutiny by the many health care professionals to confirm the genuineness of such properties. It is called the wonder fruit by many or mangosteen.

This wonder fruit originated in Southern Asia, is also known under the name of Xango the location where the mangosteen is usually grown. Countless individuals consider that this crop comes from the mango variety but experts have discovered that it mainly belongs to an Asian tropical evergreen tree.

This edible fruit is about the dimension of a tiny orange, has a hard purplish red colored outer shell and a white pulp in the center of the fruit itself. The tree is slow growing and in actual fact the fruit takes in the region of seven to ten years to grow getting to a height of approximately seventy feet.

It has just of late been discovered in North America while it has been cultivated for quite some time in Hawaii. The United States are holding off the cultivation and sale of the fruit owing to worries of the fruit fly epidemic. As of today, the mangosteen is only available in frozen or in can form and not as fresh fruit.

The fruit can be devoured as is, as a juice or can be purchased in the form of supplements. Thanks to its healing properties it can help in battling a succession of diseases such as: numerous skin conditions, some forms of dysentery, dehydration, many infected wounds, malaria, tuberculosis and can even be employed as a tonic for fatigue and low energy levels. All in all, the greatest way to chomp through mangosteen is in its extract form. Standard use could improve circulation, arthritis and even cases of acne.

Whatever form you decide to consume this wonder fruit, consulting an expert would be a good norm so as to fully understand the countless potential of the health benefits of mangosteen.

Lupus - What Are The Different Types?

The chronic pain of lupus can affect anyone from 15 to 50 and it does affect nearly 2 million Americans. Because people with this disease have an autoimmune system, the body of the people suffering from lupus is constantly under attack. The skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, the eyes, the nervous system and blood-making cells can all suddenly become targets. While currently there is no cure for lupus, the disease can be treated in different ways to minimize damage. For mild cases, your primary physician can monitor or recommend medication. If the lupus has progressed and affected other organs, a specialist like a Dermatologist, Cardiologist, Nephrologist or Neurologist may be needed.

There are five types of lupus: systemic lupus erythematosus, which affects the joints and organs; discoid lupus, which affects the skin; sub-acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, which is characterized by skin lesions; drug-induced lupus that develops after a drug reaction; and neonatal lupus that affects newborns. Lupus signs include: fatigue, fever, weight loss/gain, joint pain/stiffness/swelling, butterfly rashes on the cheeks, skin lesions that worsen with sunlight, mouth sores, fingers and toes that turn white or blue in the cold, shortness of breath, chest pain, dry eyes, easy bruising, anxiety, depression and/or memory loss. The Lupus Foundation says there are no two cases of lupus that are exactly alike. Signs may emerge gradually or come on suddenly, and can be mild or severe. The majority of individuals have episodes of "flare-ups". If you want to get tested for lupus, your physician will pose various questions, go through a standard physical, have blood and urine samples done and get an electrocardiogram.

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) manifests itself as an inflammation, with rashes and scarring on the face, ears and scalp. The lesions may be inflamed, scaling or crusty in appearance, with the centers lighter and the rims darker. A small percentage of these patients have internal organ failure too, but usually symptoms are primarily skin-related. Cortisone ointment or injections can be helpful in treating the flare-ups. Drugs like Plaquenil, Aralen, Imiquimod, Quinacrine, Accutane or Soriatane are sometimes prescribed but should be carefully monitored for side effects.

If you are found to have lupus, then it is significant that you get at least 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Keep in mind that even very small amounts of light from the sunlight can harm you skin, so you should wear clothing that is protective, for instance lond pants and shirts, use SPF 15 or higher sunscreen, stay away from tanning beds as well as utilizing plastic devices that block UV type of emissions from indoor lights. Getting regular exercise is also important in recovering from flare-ups, reducing heart attack risks and fighting depression. If you’re a smoker, then doctors recommend that you quit because the risk of cardiovascular disease increases with the added vascular stress caused by nicotine. Lastly, eat a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. To keep your mood elevated, the Lupus Foundation offers educational programs, counseling, group exercising classes and community events like "Walk For Lupus" to help raise money and awareness. Becoming an advocate is a great way to regain a sense of control.

To learn more go to arthritis pain relief and at Arthritis Pain

Arthritis Symptoms And Signs

With over a 100 different forms of arthritis, it can be difficult to determine which type a patients has.  Pinpointing arthritis symptoms can help expedite the diagnoses of arthritis.

Typical Arthritis Symptoms

The word arthritis means joint inflammation, and this is a result of having arthritis.  Some forms of arthritis can actually affect body’s organs and can cause death.

Arthritis symptoms in the initial stages can be somewhat undefined.  Vague pain and being tired may accompany joint pain that can come and go.  Most of the specific pain surrounds the joints of the patient.  These arthritis symptoms can be in the form of direct joint pain, redness and warmth around the joints, swelling and tenderness around the joint and the patient may experience limited range of motion in the joint.

Arthritis symptoms are important to keep track of in order to get definitive diagnoses.  When a patient begins seeking medical advice in regards to their symptoms, the patients history will play an important part in being able to determine the form of arthritis that they have.

A doctor will also perform a physical evaluation of a patient that is experiencing arthritis symptoms.  This can be in the form of looking at the patients joints, and determining if the rang of motion is compromised.  The doctor may also be searching for warm or red joints, and will ask the patient numerous questions in order to get a clear physical picture of the patient.  Arthritis symptoms may not be obvious to a patient, so the doctors questioning can lead to a proper diagnoses.

There are several major forms of arthritis.  Discovering which arthritis symptoms go with these diseases can help in finding out which form of arthritis a patient has.  Rheumatoid Arthritis has some classic arthritis symptoms, including severe morning stiffness, the small bones of the hands and feet may be swollen and painful and extreme fatigue are common arthritis symptoms in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Osteoarthritis often appears as a constant pain in a specific joint.  This pain may be more evident after continued use of the joint.  The pain is more common later in the day, and this form of arthritis can also occur with other arthritis conditions.

Psoriatic Arthritis affects not only the joints but also the skin.  The arthritis symptoms associated with this arthritis include, swollen joints and red, patchy and scaly skin.  This form of arthritis has an impact on both joints and skin areas.

Anklosing spondylitis is another form of arthritis.  The arthritis symptoms associated with this disease include, severe lower back pain that will progress up the spine and into the ribs.  This form of arthritis is very painful and begins with chronic lower back pain.

As arthritis is a very common condition, learning some of the classic arthritis symptoms can assist a patient in getting the proper treatment.