psoriatic arthritis

Posted on Rheumatoid arthritis

“Having a high BMI increases the risk of developing several rheumatic diseases, but the risk is not the same for everyone.”

Tips for successful dieting
Tips for successful dieting

A recent study from Uppsala University indicates that having a higher body mass index (BMI) can raise the risk of developing five different rheumatic diseases: rheumatism, osteoarthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis, and inflammatory spondylitis. The researchers also observed that BMI posed a more significant risk factor for women in terms of gout and psoriatic arthritis, compared to men. The study will be featured in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology.

“Understanding the risks associated with rheumatic diseases can help show that maintaining a lower body weight may be an effective intervention to reduce the risk of developing these conditions,” explained Weronica Ek, a Docent and Researcher at the Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology at Uppsala University, who led the study. “Most rheumatic diseases are driven by inf…”Most rheumatic diseases are driven by inflammation in the body and mainly affect joints, muscles and bones, but vital organs and vessels can also be affected. Symptoms of rheumatic disease can include fatigue, swelling and pain in the joints, stiffness and reduced movement function.

Previous studies have revealed a link between rheumatic diseases and a high BMI, which is a measure that adjusts body weight according to the individual’s height. However, it has not been thoroughly explored whether this connection is a result of high BMI causing rheumatic disease, or if patients with rheumatic disease simply tend to have a higher BMI due to other unidentified reasons. This issue is frequently encountered in epidemiological studies that rely on observational data.

“The researchers in a recent study attempted to address the issue by utilizing information found in human genes. They focused on specific genetic variants linked to a high BMI and found that individuals with a genetic predisposition to higher BMI are at a greater risk of developing rheumatic disease.”“Although we have seen this connection in the past, it is difficult to identify the causal relations between BMI and disease. But when we found that the genes linked to high BMI were also associated with a higher risk of these rheumatic diseases, we were able to conclude that BMI truly does have an impact on the risk of developing rheumatic disease,” notes Ek.

The researchers employed the genetic method called Mendelian randomization to investigate differences between men and women. They also explored potential variations in how BMI impacts the risk for women of childbearing age compared to those who have undergone menopause.

“For both gout and psoriatic arthritis, which are common diseases in patients with psoriasis, we found that a high BMI was a stronger risk factor for women than for men. We also observed that the impact of BMI on the risk of developing osteoarthritis was lower in post-menopausal women compared to women of childbearing age,” explained Fatemeh Hadizadeh, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, and one of the main authors of the study.

The researchers also found that a certain increase in BMI did not result in an equal increase in the risk of developing gout among individuals with low, normal and high BMI.

“We observed that an increase in BMI among individuals with a normal weight led to a significantly higher relative increase in the risk of developing gout compared to an increase in BMI among individuals who are already overweight or obese. This implies that the risk does not increase as much for those who are already overweight. However, it’s important to note that the basic risk of developing gout is always higher with a higher BMI. These non-linear effects are intriguing from a molecular biological perspective and can help us understand the underlying mechanisms behind the increased disease risk associated with higher body weight,” explains Torgny Karlsson, a Statistician at the Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology at Uppsala University and one of the lead authors of the study.

Leave a comment Posted on Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis – an introduction




Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis

 

Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that develops in some people with the skin condition psoriasis. It typically causes affected joints to become inflamed (swollen), stiff and painful.

Like psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis is a long-term condition that can get progressively worse. In severe cases, there’s a risk of the joints becoming permanently damaged or deformed, which may require surgical treatment.




However, with an early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, it’s possible to slow down the progression of the condition and minimise or prevent permanent damage to the joints.

 

Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis

The pain, swelling and stiffness associated with psoriatic arthritis can affect any joint in the body, but the condition often affects the hands, feet, knees, neck, spine and elbows.

The severity of the condition can vary considerably from person to person. Some people may have severe problems affecting many joints, whereas others may only notice mild symptoms in one or two joints.

There may be times when your symptoms improve (known as remission) and periods when they get worse (known as flare-ups or relapses).

Relapses can be very difficult to predict, but can often be managed with medication when they do occur.

When to seek medical advice

See your GP if you experience persistent pain, swelling or stiffness in your joints – even if you haven’t been diagnosed with psoriasis.

If you’ve been diagnosed with psoriasis, you should have check-ups at least once a year to monitor your condition. Make sure you let your doctor know if you’re experiencing any problems with your joints.

Causes of psoriatic arthritis

Between one and two in every five people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis.

It usually develops within 10 years of psoriasis being diagnosed, although some people may experience problems with their joints before they notice any symptoms affecting their skin.

Like psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis is thought to occur as a result of the immune system mistakenly attacking healthy tissue.




However, it’s not clear why some people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis and others don’t.

Diagnosing psoriatic arthritis

If your doctor thinks you may have arthritis, they should refer you to a rheumatologist (a specialist in joint conditions) for an assessment.

The British Association of Dermatologists website has information on the psoriasis epidemiology screening tool (PEST) (PDF, 209kb). This is a questionnaire you may be asked to fill out, which helps your doctor decide if you need a referral. People with psoriasis should be asked to fill this out annually.

A rheumatologist will usually be able to diagnose psoriatic arthritis if you have psoriasis and problems with your joints.

They’ll also try to rule out other types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

A number of tests may be carried out to help confirm a diagnosis, including:

blood tests to check for signs of inflammation in your body and the presence of certain antibodies found in other types of arthritis

X-rays or scans of your joints

Treating psoriatic arthritis

The main aims of treatment will be to relieve your symptoms, slow the progression of the condition and improve your quality of life.

For most people, this involves trying a number of different medications, some of which can also treat the psoriasis. Ideally, you should take one medication to treat both your psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis whenever possible.

The main medications used to treat psoriatic arthritis are summarised below and include:

  • non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • corticosteroids
  • disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
  • biological therapies

Complementary therapies

There’s not enough scientific evidence to say that complementary therapies, such as balneotherapy (bathing in water containing minerals), works in treating psoriatic arthritis.

There’s also not enough evidence to support taking any kind of food supplement as treatment.

Complementary therapies can sometimes react with other treatments, so talk to your GP, specialist or pharmacist if you’re thinking of using any.

Managing related conditions

As with psoriasis and other types of inflammatory arthritis, you may be more likely to get some other conditions – such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) – if you have psoriatic arthritis. CVD is the term for conditions of the heart or blood vessels, such as heart disease and stroke.

Your doctor should carry out tests each year (such as blood pressure and cholesterol tests) so they can check whether you have CVD and offer additional treatment, if necessary.

You can also help yourself by:

having a good balance between rest and regular physical activity

losing weight, if you are overweight

not smoking

only drinking moderate amounts of alcohol

 

Your care team

As well as your GP and a rheumatologist, you may also be cared for by:

a specialist nurse – who will often be your first point of contact with your specialist care team

a dermatologist (skin specialist) – who will be responsible for treating your psoriasis symptoms

a physiotherapist – who can devise an exercise plan to keep your joints mobile

an occupational therapist – who can identify any problems you have in everyday activities and find ways to overcome or manage these

a psychologist – who can offer psychological support if you need it

Leave a comment Posted on Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis – Top 5 High Impact Exercises For Stronger Bones

Statistics has it that people above the age of 50 are nearly 50% more likely to develop an osteoporosis-related fracture, particularly in the spine, hip and wrist. One of the most effective ways to strengthen your bones is through engaging in regular exercises. You can start exercising today irrespective of your age or gender to prevent osteoporosis.  According to Nicole Dorsey, an exercise physiologist, your bones become more fragile as you age, and thus you should learn how to exercise safely. Since Osteoporosis makes your bones weaker, you are at an increased risk of fractures if you don’t exercise with care.

 

Here are top 5 high-impact exercises to strengthen your bones:

 

  1. Superman Exercise
Top 5 High Impact Exercises For Stronger Bones

Top 5 High Impact Exercises For Stronger Bones

Superman exercise involves Pilates-based moves that are specifically designed to stretch and strengthen muscles along your spine. They are great moves to stabilize your entire core and the back.

  • Lie face down on a mat and place your forehead lightly on a towel
  • Keeping your thighs together, extend your legs straight behind you while squeezing your      inner thigh muscles
  • Reach your hands overhead such that the pinkies are touching the floor with your palms facing each other.
  • Gently lift your right arm forward and off from the floor about 2 inches and hold this position for about 5 seconds before lowering and repeating with the other arm.
  1. Lifting Weights


Numerous researchers indicate that you can increase your bone mass, especially on your spine, through strength training workouts. About a 2009 research from Canada’s McMaster University, performing weight training exercises for one year can increase spinal bone mass by 9% in postmenopausal women. However, it should be done with a lot of care to prevent bone joint pain, especially in the arms, hips and back.

  •     Select a convenient weight and perform 8-12 slow and steady repetition in a row and stop.

 

  •     Take 30 to 60 seconds rests between sets. Beginners should perform a set thrice every week, and gradually work up over a couple of months.

 

  1. Standing Hip Abduction

This happens to be one of the most effective exercises that is also gentle for patients receiving psoriatic arthritis treatment. It involves standing leg lifts that strengthens the muscles around the hip while lubricating hip joints that are vulnerable to fractures in osteoporosis patients.

  • Place a firm, high-backed chair or bench about a foot from your left side
  • Hold the top of the bench with your left hand while standing with feet hip-width apart, your knees bent and belly tightly firm
  • Gently lift your right leg out to the side about 6 inches off the floor while keeping it straight.
  • Point your toe slightly and hold this position for 3 seconds before slowly lowering your foot to the ground.
  • Make 8-12 repetitions and switch to your left foot.

 

  1. Band Step-outs

 

Resistance band set-outs help to improve flexibility while strengthening muscles. They are ideal for preventing bone joint pain in patients suffering from osteoporosis as they don’t strain your joints.

  • Using a resistance band that sits loosely around your mid-thighs, place your arms alongside your body or on your hips
  • Bend you’re both knees while contracting your abdominals and gently lower your hips into a half-squat. Ensuring your belly muscles are firm, slightly contract your buttocks muscles.
  • Using your right foot, take a giant, slow step out to the right side
  • Stay in half-squat position for a while before stepping the left foot together with your right foot. Step out again slowly with your right leg and go on with the step-outs to the right side eight times.

 

  1. Standing Hip Extension

 

This is another great exercise for your hips. It involves moves that strengthen lower-body muscles that go a long way in making daily activities easier, such are rising from a chair or getting out of your car.

  • Stand about 2 feet in front of a firm bench of the high-backed chair. Place your hands slightly on the top of the bench for support
  • From your waist, lean slightly forward to shift your weight on your left hand
  • Slowly extend your right leg backward to bring it just beneath your hip height
  • Hold this position for 3 seconds ensuring you keep your belly muscles contracted.
  • Gently lower your right leg to the floor using controlled movements and repeat 8-12 times. Rest for 30-60 seconds and then switch to the left leg

Conclusion

There are plenty of high impact exercises that can strengthen your bones and keep fractures at bay. They should be performed with care if you are prone to conditions like osteoporosis and arthritis. It is important to contact your doctor before taking up and exercise routine, especially if you are at an advanced age. Exercise regularly for the sake of your overall wellbeing!

Reference

https://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/bone-health/bone-support-faqs/what-is-the-role-of-exercise-in-bone-health.html

http://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/living-with-osteoporosis-7/exercise-weight-bearing

Author Bio

Meighan Sembrano is an author at Consumer Health Information. She has a keen interest in writing. She has contributed many beauty related articles in many popular websites. She has  done her Mass Communication degree. She now lives in Washington DC. She is a social worker who spends her free time searching about life, health, beauty, world news and lifestyles fitness related articles. She is fond of travelling and trekking. To know more about her, follow her on Facebook and Twitter.