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Natural Health and Herbal Remedies Blog
information on herbal medicine
SELF-HELP PREVENTION: ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM
What are they?
Arthritis and rheumatism are woolly terms used to describe a host of painful conditions of the joints and muscles. True arthritis is either osteoarthritis, in which the bone surfaces are worn away with age (a degenerative condition), or rheumatoid arthritis in which inflammation destroys a joint and its surrounding tissues. General aches and pains in muscles and joints that we all seem to get as we get older are often referred to as ‘rheumatism’ or ‘arthritis’ when in fact they are neither.
Arthritis is, however, just about the commonest disease in the western world, according to the World Health Organization. Almost half the population has at least some signs of osteoarthritis and almost 1.5 million in the UK alone suffer from the effects of rheumatoid arthritis. In the USA 26 million working hours are lost each year through arthritis, which claims a million victims every year.
Only 2 people in every 100 will reach the age of 70 without experiencing some kind of rheumatism or arthritis. Lorry drivers, those who lift a lot and housewives are most affected.
Although drugs have done much to alleviate the pain of many arthritis sufferers, and joint replacement has come a long way, there is still no ‘cure’ for these diseases, which blight the lives of millions of people.
What causes them?
The true causes of arthritis and rheumatism are not known and there is no cure. However, there are many factors that are known to contribute to these conditions and some can be prevented. Preventable factors are:
• Too much fat in the diet.
• Food allergies (for example to gluten-containing foods).
• Too little vitamin C.
• Too much sugar.
• Too little calcium.
• Too little zinc.
• Under-nutrition in general.
*98/72/5*
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