October 2024: ARTHRITIS

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What is going wrong in our bodies when our joints began to hurt? What should we be doing to get things right?

We will try to understand how aging and other factors contrive to produce arthritis. Large numbers of arthritis sufferers have created a medical epidemic for the whole country. Almost 30% of everyone between the ages of 45 and 65 have had a doctors diagnosis of some form of arthritis.

WHAT IS ARTHRITIS?

This is an umbrella term for a host of associated inflammatory diseases. Osteoarthritis is the most common form. Osteo means"bone" in Greek and is a form of arthritis pain that affects moving joints. Some other forms of arthritis are:

•  Rheumatoid arthritis

•  Fibromyalgia

•  Gout

•  Lupus

•  Vasculitis

•  Spinal stenosis

•  Inflammatory bowel disease

•  Chronic fatigue syndrome

BETTER GET HELP

Arthritis begins to become more prevalent in one's mid-40's. Since arthritis comes in various forms, It's wise, at any age, to seek professional medical help when you feel chronic joint, or any other continuous pain.

DIAGNOSTIC TESTING

Your doctor has a vast array of laboratory and imaging tests that reveal much of what is going on with arthritis. The following are some of the most common tests:

• C-Reactive Protein (CRP)

Measures the level of the CRP protein produced by the liver in response to inflammation.

• Rheumatoid Factor (RF)

This test measures the presence of RF protein produced by the immune system that has attacked healthy tissue.

• Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide (Anti-CCP)

This tests for antibodies that are often found in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This is an excellent early test for RA.

• Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)

This test measures the density of red blood cells. A heavier than normal red blood cell can indicate inflammation in the body, which is common in various forms of arthritis.

• Anti-nuclear Antibody (ANA)

This test can identify arthritis disorders such as lupus.

• Complete Blood Count (CBC)

This test evaluates the overall health of your blood, and helps identify conditions, that are similar to arthritis. These tests, backed-up by imaging tests such as X-Ray and MRI, provide a thorough look at most arthritic conditions.

YOUR BODY IS MADE TO MOVE

At least 90% of us should be able to go through life without interference from arthritis. The once accepted conclusion that wear and tear on body joints is a major contributor to arthritis is now being critically questioned. The medical profession is now concentrating on all the underlying factors that contribute to arthritis, rather than just treating the effect of arthritis.

Metabolic Health is the new term health providers use to measure overall health. You should not exceed these measurements:

(1) High Blood Pressure

130/85 mm Hg or higher

(2) High Blood Sugar

100 mg/dl or higher

(3) Excess waist circumference

Men: 40 inches or more

Women: 35 inches or more

Triglicerides 150 mg or more

(4) HDL (good) cholesterol

Men: Not less than 40 mg/dl

Women: Not less than 50 mg/dI

Failing one, or more, of these four conditions makes you less metabolically healthy and subject to arthritis, plus the increased risk of heart disease, stroke, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. Sources: Co-Pilot Al, and Robert Lustig, MD, endocrinologist.

CHANGE LIFESTYLE FACTORS

We live in a culture where our modern lifestyles are at the center of a poor metabolic health storm. Combating those forces that work against us will greatly reduce the potential for disease and suffering.

RX FOR METABOLIC HEALTH

Regular physical activity is the absolute best solution for preventing, or reducing the effect of arthritis. If you have devised a plan to be physically pro-active most days of the month, then all the other factors that contribute to improved metabolic health, such as diet, sleep, stress reduction, weight control, and social

connectivity, will all fall into place.

ADVICE FROM THE "NEW HEALTH ORDER" TEAM

We both experience a low degree of osteoarthritis, which, we believe, is kept under control with strict adherence to the four metabolic health conditions mentioned previously. All these conditions can be measured. In addition, we try to optimize our lifestyles: Exercise, diet, sleep, stress control, and social life.

We take a number of supplements like omega-3, Vitamin B complex, folic acid, turmeric, glucosamine, MSM, and magnesium. We absolutely avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup, soft drinks, trans-fats, and fried foods.

Home cooking is superior to almost any ultra processed food found in the freezer section of supermarkets. Organic, wild, grass fed, and free range is preferable to all other commercial food products, when possible.

Disclaimer: We recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider on all matters of diet, supplements, and lifestyle.

Your New Health Order team: Roger and Arlene