Q
What is arthritis?
A Arthritis refers to inflammation
of the joints. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis,
which is also known as degenerative joint disease because it is
characterized by joint degeneration and loss of cartilage - the shock
absorbing gel like material between joints. |
| The percentage of people with
osteoarthritis increases dramatically with age. Surveys have indicated
that over 40 million Americans have osteoarthritis, including 80% of
persons over the age of 50. Under the age of 45, it is much more common
in women.
|
Q
What joints are affected in osteoarthritis?
A The weight bearing joints such as
the knees, hips, and spine, as well as the hands, are the joints most
often affected with the degenerative changes of osteoarthritis. These
joints are under greater stress because of weight and use.
|
Q How
does a person know if he or she has osteoarthritis?
A The onset of osteoarthritis can be
subtle. Morning joint stiffness is often the first symptom. As the
disease progresses, there is pain during motion of the involved joint,
which is made worse by prolonged activity and relieved by rest |
| Osteoarthritis is usually
quite easily distinguished from other types of arthritis. In more
inflammatory forms of arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis and gout, the
joints will appear red, spongy and warm. In osteoarthritis, however, the
joint will generally be cooler and bony hard. If you think you have
arthritis consult a physician for an accurate diagnosis. |
Diagnostic summary of
osteoarthritis.
Symptoms: mild early morning stiffness, following periods of rest, pain
that worsens on joint use, and loss of joint function.
Signs: local tenderness, soft tissue swelling, joint crepitus, bony
swelling, restricted mobility, Heberedn’s nodes, and other sign of
degenerative loss of articular cartilage.
|
Q
What causes osteoarthritis?
A 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
the degenerative changes by stressing the collagen matrix of the
cartilage. Damage to the cartilage results in the release of enzymes
that destroy cartilage components. With aging, the ability to restore
and manufacture normal cartilage structures decreases. So, what I am
saying is that aging is the primary cause of osteoarthritis. But, just
because you may be getting older doesn’t mean that you have to suffer
from the pain of osteoarthritis. |
| Secondary osteoarthritis is
associated with some predisposing factor which is responsible for the
degenerative changes. These predisposing factors 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.).
|
Q
What is the conventional medical treatment for osteoarthritis?
A The primary drugs used in
the treatment of osteoarthritis are the so-called “nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs” which includes asprin. Although
these drugs are extensively used in the united states, research
indicates that they may actually accelerate the progression of joint
destruction and cause more problems down the road. These drugs are also
associated with side effects including gastrointestinal upset,
headaches, and dizziness, and are therefore recommended for only short
periods of time.
|
Q How
do they accelerate joint destruction?
A NSAIDs work by inhibiting
enzymes involved in the production of inflammatory compounds. Enzymes
are molecules that speed up chemical reactions. They either join
molecules or split them by making or breaking the chemical bonds that
keep molecules together. NSAIDs not only suppress the enzymes that
produce inflammatory compounds, but they also inhibit enzymes that
manufacture cartilage components. |
| So, you see why the use of
NSAIDs in the treatment of osteoarthritis is a classic example of a drug
suppressing the symptom while promoting the progression of the disease
process. A person may feel free from pain while on the NSAID, but his or
her arthritis is silently getting worse as noted in several clinical
studies that have shown that NSAID use is associated with acceleration
or osteoarthritis and increased joint destruction.
|
Q
What can be used instead of NSAIDs in the treatment of osteoarthritis?
A Glucosamine! Glucosamine is a simple molecule that can
be naturally produced in the body. The main function of glucosamine on
joints is to stimulate the manufacture of molecules known as
glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) key structural components of cartilage. It
Appears that as some people age, they lose the ability to manufacture
sufficient levels of glucosamine. The result is that cartilage loses its
ability to act as a shock absorber. The body’s inability to
manufacture glucosamine has been suggested to be the major factor
leading to osteoarthritis. That’s why supplementing your diet with
stabilized glucosamine is so vitally important. |
| Total Health Recommended
Glucosmine Products
|
Q Are
there scientific studies that show Glucosamine is effective?
A Yes. Glucosamine has been the subject of more than 300
scientific investigations and over 20 double blind clinical studies. |
| The benefits of Glucosamine in
the treatment of osteoarthritis are impressive. In one of the more
recent studies comparing Glucosamine to a placebo, 252 patients with
osteoarthritis of the knee were given either a placebo or 500mg of
Glucosamine three times daily for four weeks. Glucosamine was
significantly effective in improving pain and movement after only four
weeks of use. Previous studies have shown that the longer Glucosamine is
used the more obvious the therapeutic benefit. These results are
consistent with other double blind studies versus a placebo.
|
Q
Have there been studies comparing Glucosamine to NSAIDS?
A Yes. In these head to head
double blind studies Glucosamine was shown to produce better results
than NSAIDs in relieving the pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis
despite the fact that Glucosamine exhibits very little direct anti
inflammatory effect and no direct analgesic or pain relieving effects.
While NSAIDs offer purely symptomatic relief and may actually promote
the disease process, Glucosamine appears to address the cause of
osteoarthritis. By treating the root of the problem through actually
building joint cartilage, Glucosamine not only improves the symptoms,
including pain, it also helps the body repair damaged joints. The
clinical effect is impressive, especially when Glucosamine’s safety
and lack of side effects is considered.
|
Q How
long before results are seen with Glucosamine?
A With Glucosamine supplementation, most people will
experience significant improvement within two to eight weeks. However,
the longer it is used the more obvious the results. The effects are
cumulative and long lasting.
|
Q
Does Glucosamine interact with any drugs?
A There have been no reports
of any adverse drug interactions with Glucosamine. The only caveat is
that individuals taking diuretics may need to take higher dosages
|
Q I
am a diabetic. Can I Take Glucosamine?
A Yes 98% of glucosamine is absorbed intact and has
absolutely no effect on blood sugar levels.
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