Facts About Rheumatoid Arthritis in America
Nobody wants to be told they have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). As with all arthritis types there’s no medical or natural cure. However, many patients are experiencing natural pain relief and symptom reduction using supplementation to avoid the side effects of drugs. Pain is the body's warning system, and it should be taken seriously.
Rheumatoid arthritis statistics show 1.3 million Americans are affected by the disease, according to the Arthritis Foundation, Sept. 26, 2008. The disease affects everyone, including children--300,000 children have some form of juvenile arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is the second leading type of arthritis in America, but trails far behind the leader, osteoarthritis, which the Arthritis Foundation said affects 27 million Americans.
RA is the most common of autoimmune arthritis diseases
In the May-June, 2007 issue of Arthritis Today, it was reported that rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis of the autoimmune diseases. Other arthritis-related autoimmune diseases include juvenile arthritis, lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, scleroderma, Chrohn’s disease, Sjogren’s Syndrome and Reynaud’s Phenomenon to name a few.
Arthritis Today reported there are more than 100 different kinds of arthritis and most of them involve inflammation. When a patient gets a diagnosis, there is a process of elimination in order to arrive at the proper diagnosis. This process is called “differential diagnosis.”
Differential diagnosis can be a difficult undertaking because so many forms of arthritis, particularly inflammatory forms of arthritis look alike. The doctor needs to determine what is rheumatoid arthritis, versus other arthritis types.
Rheumatoid arthritis prevalence is decreasing
In study statistics released by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion on Jan. 11, 2008 about rheumatoid arthritis prevalence, the following was reported:
- An estimated 1.293 million adults aged 18 and older (0.6%) had RA in 2005 (the latest year statistics are available), down from the previous 1990 estimate of 2.1 million. This is partly due to a more restrictive definition of RA, but in part reflects well established declines in RA prevalence around the world.
- The prevalence among women in the study using 2005 datum, was almost a 2.1 ratio in prevalence for women to men. In 1995 the prevalence was a 1.7 ratio in prevalence for women to men with RA.
- This study observed that the prevalence of RA in women compared to men is increasing for women.
- The study concluded, however, that overall prevalence of RA is decreasing.
Incidence studies from three populations show that incidence of RA in both women and men peaks in their sixties.
RA's functional limitations worse than for osteoarthritis
The functional status of people with rheumatoid arthritis is worse than for osteoarthritis, according to the above Jan. 11, 2008 release, which stated:
- The functional status of people with RA has been observed to be compromised relative to those without the condition. People with RA have worse functional status than those with osteoarthritis, and those without arthritis.
- One study examining the self-reported quality of life among people with RA compared to people without arthritis found that those with RA were 40% more likely to report fair or poor general health, 30% more likely to need help with personal care, and twice as likely to have a health-related activity limitation compared with those without arthritis.
- People with RA have been reported to experience more losses in function than people without arthritis in every domain of human activity including work, leisure and social relations. Work loss among people with RA has observed to be highest among persons among service workers, and lower among those in jobs with few physical demands, or in jobs where they have influence over the job pace and activities.
RA often goes into remission in pregnant women, although symptoms tend to increase in intensity after the baby is born. The disease develops more often than expected the year after giving birth. While women are two to three times more likely to get RA than men, men tend to be more severely affected when they get
Arthritis is leading cause of disability in U.S.
In an article entitled Prevalence of Doctor Diagnosed Arthritis and Athritis-Attributable Activity Limitation—United States, 2003-2005 dated October 13, 2006, it was stated: “Arthritis is highly prevalent among U.S. adults, the leading cause of disability, and associated with substantial activity limitation, work disability, reduced quality of life, and high health care costs. As the population ages, arthritis is expected to affect an estimated 67 million adults in the U.S. by 2030.”
The article, using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) for 2003-2005, indicated that an estimated 21.6% of the U.S. population (46 million persons) had doctor-diagnosed arthritis, and 8.3% (17.4 million persons) had arthritis-attributable activity limitations.
Included in the statistics were doctor-diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, fibromyalgia and other arthritis types. The findings in the report are subject to the limitation that doctor-diagnosed arthritis was self-reported and not confirmed by a health-care professional, although self-report of arthritis has been determined valid for surveillance purposes.
For further information on rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, click on this link: Living with RA.
Natural rheumatoid arthritis pain treatment is increasing
Choosing natural rheumatoid arthritis pain treatment is on the increase when conventional drug therapies are of concern or have not provided acceptable results.
According to an online article in Prime, a provider of continuing medical education, posted Sept. 8, 2006 under the title What Do You Know About Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)?, it was reported that 33% of adults use CAM, and this has increased over time since the last related study in the late 1990’s. The article states that “alternative medicine appeals to patients as being more natural, or less harmful than standard therapy.”
According to a national consumer survey conducted in May, 2008 by the U.S. Government National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the AARP, almost two-thirds of people age 50 or older are using some form of CAM, yet less than one-third of these CAM users talk about it with their providers.
The NCCAM/AARP survey revealed some reasons why this doctor-patient dialogue about CAM does not occur. The most common reasons survey respondents cited were:
- That the physician never asked
- They did not know they should discuss CAM
- There was not enough time during the office visit
More than one-half of respondents who had talked about CAM with their physician said they (not their physician) initiated the CAM discussion. The telephone survey was administered to a nationally representative group of 1,559 people age 50 or older.
"Buyer beware" is the watchword of dietary supplement industry
Consumers are becoming increasingly aware that natural dietary supplements can relieve rheumatoid arthritis pain and improve health. Unfortunately, natural supplements are part of a “buyer beware” industry unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 1994 until June of 2010, when the current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs) become fully implemented.
This means presently you must be careful when choosing a natural dietary supplement. There’s a wide variance in supplement quality and in recent years the industry has been plagued by a few unscrupulous companies and many instances of marketing hype.
The gold standard for high quality dietary supplements is placebo controlled, double blind clinical studies. Such studies are required by the FDA for pharmaceutical drugs but aren’t required for dietary supplements. Even the new cGMPs do not require studies for supplements.
If you can find a company whose studies have been published in peer-reviewed respected medical journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, The American Journal of Cardiology, or The Journal of the American Medical Association, you’ve found a winner for sure.
Only one dietary supplement company has a 20-year landmark study
When investing in dietary supplements, consider it first as an investment in your health. This way, you won't want to waste your money on poorly formulated or synthetic supplements containing artificial colors, sweeteners, binders, fillers, etc. that will not be readily absorbed into your bloodstream.
Instead, you'll want a high quality dietary supplement with ingredient purity, potency, and guaranteed efficacy that your body's cells will happily absorb.
To help me find a top-tier manufacturer, I devised a list of 30 questions concerning standards of excellence that led my husband and I to the company referenced in the Landmark Study below. It's the only one that we trust for natural nutritional and herbal supplementation.
There's only 20-year clinical landmark study on its consumers that verifies from blood samples that its supplement users retained normal levels of blood pressure, HDL, cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein and homocysteine.
The 2006 study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from the U.C. Berkeley School of Public Health comparing one company's supplement users to people who took either no sup0plements or other brands of multivitamins from different companies. For details, go to:
www.landmarkstudy.com
The natural dietary supplement company above that my husband and I use has invested more than $250 million in clinical testing, research and development and has over 90 published studies in peer-reviewed scientific journals—more than any other nutritional company! This 50-plus year-old company stands out as the gold standard in the natural dietary supplement industry.
Featured natural rheumatoid arthritis pain relief
The causes of rheumatoid arthritis are still not completely understood by medical practitioners. However, natural pain relief complements traditional cortisteroidal or over the counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapies and does so with minimal side effects.
When talking about all types of arthritis, I think it makes sense to build the body from the inside out through natural supplements and natural vitamins for overall well being.
For rheumatoid arthritis pain relief I specifically recommend three natural pain products.
Natural pain relief for rheumatoid arthritis
More and more people today are choosing safer alternatives to treat joint pain and inflammation due to rheumatoid arthritis. The following products ease symptoms and help people lead a more comfortable life (the bold links for the supplements listed will take you to the manufacturer's product pages for prices and additional information on each):
Glucosamine & Cat's Claw Joint Relief
Clinical studies indicate that glucosamine hydrochloride is most effective when arthritis symptoms are moderate to severe. Glucosamine has the ability to rebuild cartilage for joint health and comfortable movement. Formulated with the addition of clinically proven cat's claw extract, this product provides faster relief in as little as one week as it lubricates and cushions joints to provide enhanced mobility and range of motion.
Boswellia and Safflower Oil Pain Relief
When the boswellia herb and oil from the safflower are used in combination, it creates a potent, natural arthritis pain relief supplement without gastrointestinal side effects. In studies, these two ingredients together are more effective when combined, that they are separately. Boswellia extract is a very potent 5 Lox inhibitor. The safflower extract contains a potent ingredient that is a very selective Cox 2 inhibitor. Therefore, this product is effective against both the 5 Lox and Cox 2 pain pathways--both of the major pathways--which is the only product on the market of its kind. Its formulation and synergy is so unique that there's a patent pending on this supplement.
This topical menthol analgesic provides temporary relief (up to four hours) for minor pain associated with backache, arthritis, bruises and sprains. It offers fast absorption and deep penetration to soothe aching joints and muscles on contact. In addition to menthol, it contains a proprietary blend of natural ingredients that targets the source of discomfort and provides quick relief by improving blood circulation in the affected area.
Fish Oil (EPA) - (Essential Omega-3 Fatty Acids)
This fish oil supplement provides a full spectrum of seven ultrapure omega-3 fatty acids, naturally found in cold water fish (tuna, mackerel, halibut, cod, salmon). High in DHA and EPA, it supports joint function due to its anti-inflammatory properties and is easy to digest with low odor and no aftertaste. It also helps to maintain a healthy heart and cardiovascular system.
Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) from borage seed oil is used as an anti-inflammatory. GLA helps our bodies form prostaglandins - potent hormone-like substances that help regulate many bodily processes. When combined with Vitamin E and sunflower seed oil, the formula helps maintain cellular integrity.
Valerian, Passion Flower and Chamomile Sleep Aid
As a natural alternative, valerian root side effects are few, and minor by comparison to pharmaceutical drugs. In fact for an insomnia remedy it has good tolerability. Most studies suggest that it’s more effective when used continuously rather than as a one-night sleep aid. However many individuals successfully use it on a need-only basis. An advantage of valerian over drugs is the lack of sleepiness on awakening when used at recommended dosages. This supplement also contains a complementary blend of two additional herbs, chamomile and passion flower. Together, they provide a calm state and promotes restful sleep.
Recommended supplements for rheumatoid arthritis
Included above are three products designed in 2003 as a balanced pain relief program that's so good my husband and I are now completely free of pharmaceutical drugs of any kind. We both have osteoarthritis, not rheumatoid arthritis, however, the Arthritis Foundation in its publication Arthritis Today on June 6, 2007 included their ingredients as potentially helpful on a list they published for rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
Our symptoms, including pain, are controlled. My husband's knees used to swell so much he could barely get in and out of a car. Today, he plays tennis three times a week and his knees are in the best shape they've been in ten years.
It's for these reasons that I recommend this company's trio of natural joint pain products for safe and natural rheumatoid arthritis treatment.
Disclaimer: Health statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Relief. Many of the natural or herbal supplements for osteoarthritis are also recommended for rheumatoid arthritis. The patient is trying to obtain the same or improved relief from rheumatoid arthritis without gastrointestinal and other side effects related to drugs. Click here for RA natural treatment options
What is rheumatoid arthritis? It’s not the “wear and tear” disease of aging. Instead, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune systemic disease that affects the joints by causing inflammation. In addition to conventional drug treatment, some patients also successfully use complementary medicine or alternative natural dietary supplements. Click here for more
Living with rheumatoid arthritis. The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis tend to come and go. Periods of severe symptoms (flare-ups) will be followed by periods when the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are nearly gone. The main symptom is pain, and the major sign of the disease is tenderness in nearly all inflamed joints. Click here for more on symptoms of living with RA
What is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis? Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and related forms of juvenile arthritis affects nearly 300,000 children in the U.S. The main difference between juvenile and adult rheumatoid arthritis is that more than half of all JRA children outgrow the illness, while adults usually have lifelong.... Click here for details on juvenile RA
Joint Pain Relief. Wouldn't it be great if you could have a drug-free future with no harmful side effects and have complete control over your joint pain? And wouldn't it be great if the natural joint pain supplement you used was guaranteed to be completely safe for your health? It's not a dream--all of this is possible.... Click here for more on natural joint pain relief
Herbal Pain Relief. In the last twenty years in the United States, the public has become increasingly dissatisfied with the cost and side effect risks of prescription medications. This, combined with an interest in returning to natural or organic remedies, has lifted herbal supplements and alternative medicines to higher popularity in the United States than ever before for treatment of arthritis pain. Click here for background on herbal medicine
Osteoarthritis Relief. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It affects joints of the knees, hips, fingers, lower spine and neck. Symptoms typically develop gradually. A joint is swollen, sore or stiff at first. Click here for more on osteoarthritis
Knee Pain Relief. During their lifetimes, an estimated 45 per cent of Americans will develop knee osteoarthritis, the most common kind of arthritis. Increasing numbers of arthritis patients are seeking alternative natural products that provide pain relief and help the body build cartilage and promote comfortable movement of the knee. Click here for more knee joint information.
Neck Pain Relief. Usually, everyday activities are the cause of neck pain. Some can be altered or eliminated to relieve common symptoms such as neck pain and a stiff neck and perhaps forestall the onset of arthritis. Natural supplements can be helpful. Click here for more information
Hand Pain Relief. Wrist, finger, and thumb joint pain are all symptoms of arthritis of the hand. Increasing numbers of arthritis patients are seeking alternative natural products that provide pain relief and help to regenerate cartilage in the hand joints. Hand arthritis most often occurs in three places...Click here to find out more
Elbow Pain Relief. Early symptoms of elbow joint pain are often controlled with a combination of natural anti-inflammatory treatment and home self care. Tennis elbow is not arthritis--it is a typical elbow pain condition. Click here for more
Ankle Pain Relief. If the pain you’re feeling is getting worse, it may be timely to consider dietary supplements for ankle pain relief naturally. Untreated ankle pain and repeated bouts of swelling and stiffness will result in reduced mobility and restricted quality of life as the years go by. Click here for more on ankle pain
Hip Pain Relief. Hip arthritis studies show glucosamine hydrochloride dietary supplements provide pain relief similar to drug therapy without risk of side effects for those with moderate to severe arthritis symptoms. Click here for more information on hip pain
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