| Joint Support
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative joint disease) is a form of arthritis (inflammation of a joint) caused by degeneration of cartilage. Cartilage is a gel-like structure that provides protection to the ends of joints by acting as a shock absorber. Without cartilage in a joint, bone literally rubs against bone, leading to pain, deformity, inflammation and limitation of motion in the joint.
The onset of osteoarthritis can be subtle. Morning joint stiffness is often the first symptom. As the disease progresses, there is pain on motion in the affected joint that is made worse by prolonged activity and relieved by rest. This is usually accompanied by local tenderness, soft tissue swelling, joint crepitus (cracking sounds), bony swelling, restricted mobility, and bony nodules. X-ray findings show narrowing of the joint space (the area between the bones taken up by cartilage). The weight-bearing joints such as the knees, hips and spine, as well as the hands, are the joints most susceptible to the degenerative changes of osteoarthritis. These joints are under greater stress because of their greater load and use.
What Causes Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is divided into two categories: primary and secondary. In primary osteoarthritis, the degenerative "wear-and-tear" process occurs after a person turns 40 years of age. The cumulative effects of decades of use leads to degenerative changes which the ageing body is no longer able to prevent nor repair. However, nutritional and botanical intervention may provide some symptom relief and in some cases, even slow down the degenerative process.
Secondary osteoarthritis is associated with some predisposing factor which is responsible for the degenerative changes. Predisposing factors in secondary osteoarthritis include: inherited abnormalities in joint structure or function, trauma (fractures along joint surfaces, surgery, etc.), presence of abnormal cartilage, and previous inflammatory disease of the joint (rheumatoid arthritis, gout, etc.).
What is Gout?
Gout is a common type of arthritis caused by an increased concentration of uric acid (the final breakdown product of purine—one of the units of DNA and RNA) in biological fluids. In gout, uric acid crystals are deposited in joints, tendons, kidneys and other tissues, where they cause considerable inflammation and damage. Gout may lead to debilitation from the uric acid deposits around the joints and tendons; kidney involvement may result in kidney failure.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Gout?
The first attack of gout is characterised by intense pain, usually involving only one joint. The first joint of the big toe is affected in nearly half of first attacks, and is at some time involved in over 90% of individuals with gout. If the attack progresses, fever and chills will appear. The first attack usually occurs at night and is usually preceded by a specific event such as dietary excess, alcohol ingestion, trauma, certain drugs (mainly chemotherapy drugs, certain diuretics and high dosages of niacin) or surgery.
What Causes Gout?
Gout is the result of increased synthesis of uric acid, reduced ability to excrete uric acid, or both over production and under-excretion of uric acid.
Several dietary factors are known to trigger gout, including consumption of alcohol, high-purine-content foods (organ meats, meat, yeast, poultry, etc.), fats, refined carbohydrates and excessive calories.
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the entire body, but especially the joints. The joints typically involved are those of the hands, feet, wrists, ankles and knees.
The onset of RA is usually gradual, but occasionally is quite abrupt. Fatigue, low-grade fever, weakness, joint stiffness and vague joint pain may precede the appearance of painful, swollen joints by several weeks. Several joints are usually involved at the onset, typically in a symmetrical fashion, that is, both hands, wrists or ankles. In about one-third of individuals with RA, initial involvement is confined to one or a few joints.
Involved joints will characteristically be quite warm, tender and swollen. The skin over the joint will take on a ruddy purplish hue. X-ray findings usually show soft tissue swelling, erosion of cartilage, and joint-space narrowing. As the disease progresses, deformities develop in the joints of the hands and feet. The common terms used to describe these deformities include: swan neck, boutonniere and cock-up toes.
What Causes Rheumatoid Arthritis?
There is abundant evidence that RA is an autoimmune reaction in which antibodies formed by the immune system attack components of joint tissues. Yet what triggers this autoimmune reaction remains largely unknown. Speculation and investigation have centred around genetic factors, abnormal bowel permeability, lifestyle and nutritional factors, food allergies, and micro-organisms. RA is a classic example of a multifactorial disease wherein an assortment of genetic, dietary and other factors contribute to the disease process.
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