In my last post I described the symptoms of  Rheumatoid arthritis and how you can expect to feel. None of which sound very good.

You need to know there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis but medications can reduce inflammation in your joins relieving some of the pain. Medications can also slow joint damage. Occupational and physical therapy teaches patients how to protect their joints because if joints are too severely damaged surgery may be required.

The problem is many drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis have potentially serious side effects. Doctors do tend to prescribe the medications with the least side effects and if those don’t work, they prescribe the more serious medications. Some of the medications include:
NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as over the counter ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen sodium (Aleve). Stronger meds are by prescription but side effects may include stomach bleeding, gastric ulcers and liver and kidney damage.

Steroids such as prednisone do reduce inflammation and slow joint damage. Side effects are easy bruising, thinning of bones, and greater risk for cataracts.

Immunosupressants calm your immune system which is out of control in rheumatoid arthritis. Some of these are Imuran, Azasan, and Neoral. The problem is these meds can increase your risk of infection because your immune system isn’t working at its peak.

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or DMARDs which slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis and save the joint and other tissues from permanent damage. I don’t know very much about these drugs but the more familiar names are Trexall, Arava, and Rheumatrex. Their side effects include possible liver damage, bone marrow suppression and sever lung infections.

There are other drugs that target some of the inflammatory substances in your body and help slow down the crippling process. Of course they also have side effects especially possible liver damage and at greater risk for infections.

Then there’s surgery to repair your damaged joints. This  is usually considered when medications don’t work. The purpose of most surgeries is to help restore your ability to use your joint.  A few of the procedures include:

Total joint replacement or arthroplasty. This is when the surgeon removes the damaged joint and inserts a prosthesis made of metal and plastic.

Tendon repair. Your tendons may be damaged around your join and they can be repaired.

Removal of the joint lining (synovectomy) if it is inflamed and causing pain.

Joint fusion or arthrodesis.  This is recommended to stabilize or realign a joint and for pain relief when you can’t have a joint replacement.

Then there are people, and I know several, who simply decide to live with the pain but manage to find different ways to approach everyday tasks so there is less pain. For example, lean into a glass door to open it rather than pushing on the door with sore arms. Then there are all the gripping and grabbing tools for working in the kitchen to reduce pain in your fingers.

Whatever way works for you to reduce pain and maintain mobility is the way you need to work out with your doctor.

To your good health,
Ruthan

Ruthan Brodsky
Business Writer
Content Creator

Upside of Aging

In the last couple of posts I wrote about osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two most common types of arthritis but they affect your joints in different ways.

In osteoarthritis, the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in your joins wears away and can result in bone grating on bone. In rheumatoid arthritis your immune system attacks the lining of the membranes that surround your joints (called synovium). This causes the synovium to become inflamed and leads to the destruction of cartilage and bone within a joint.

About 1.3 million Americans have rheumatoid arthritis which is considered a chronic inflammatory disorder. Like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis also occurs more in women than men. It typically begins in middle age and occurs most often in older adults.

When the synovium is inflamed it also thickens. The tendons and ligaments that hold the joint together can then weaken and stretch gradually causing the joint to lose its alignment and strength.  Medicine doesn’t know what starts this process although your genes don’t cause rheumatoid arthritis they can make you at higher risk for environmental factors such as infection from certain viruses and bacteria that may trigger the disease.

Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include:

• Joint pain, swelling and warmth
• Weight Loss
• Low-grade fever
• Fatigue which can be severe during a flare
• Loss of motion in affected joints
• General aching and stiffness
• Joints that are tender to the touch
• Red and puffy hands

Rheumatoid arthritis usually causes problems in several joints at the same time. Smaller joints are affected first such as your wrists, hands and ankles. The signs and symptoms of the disease can come and go and sometimes have increased activity which is called “flare-ups”. They often alternate with periods of relative remission during which the swelling and pain fade or disappear.

Another major problem with rheumatoid arthritis are the complications which result from the joint damage. The joint damage can be debilitation and disfiguring. Damage may make it difficult or impossible to do daily activities. You may not have the energy to complete tasks that used to be routine.

It’s important to discuss your symptoms with your family doctor who may refer you to a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in the treatment of arthritis. Your doctor will check your joints for swelling and redness and strength. She will also check your reflexes.

Your doctor may also order imaging and lab tests to help determine the cause of your symptoms. Keep in mind that rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages because its signs and symptoms mimic other diseases. There is no one test or physical finding to confirm the diagnosis.

More in my next post about the treatment and therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. In the meantime, if you have questions about the disease type them in the comment box and I’ll answer them in the next post.

To your success at copying with rheumatoid arthritis.
Ruthan

Ruthan Brodsky
Health Writer’
Business Writer & Copywriter
Upside of Aging

Arthritis is one of the more common and debilitating health problems throughout the world. What’s more it seems to be increasingly affecting our daily lives. The Surgeon General of the US in a report on bone health warned that by 2020 half of all Americans older than age 50 will be at risk of osteoporosis and low bone mass if no immediate action is taken by individuals at risk.

Since I wrote a few previous posts about arthritis and several people emailed me regarding arthritis.  http://www.secretstohealthandaging.com/osteoporosis-and-falls/ I think the next few posts about arthritis will be helpful for them and for you.

The problem is that the term arthritis doesn’t represent just one disease but a number of diseases and conditions that affect the joints. In the U.S. 46 million adults have some form of arthritis. This number is expected to get higher with our aging population.

Although arthritis can affect anyone, women get the disease more often then men. This is especially true for the common symptoms of today’s arthritis problems.

Most people have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the more common but rheumatoid arthritis in the more debilitating.

Osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease affects 27 million in the U.S., mostly women. Osteoarthritis is also more likely to take place as you get older. In fact, if you’re older than 65 chances are very good that some of your joint pain and stiffness is from osteoarthritis. Joint Injury, obesity, and an occupation that requires repetitive moves can also lead to a diagnosis of arthritis.

In osteoarthritis, the problem is the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in your joints. The material is usually smooth and slippery to allow for easy movement. However, over time it begins to wear away and become rough. This can cause pain.

For many people, the cartilage wears down completely and they’re left with bone rubbing on bone which is very painful and can injure the joint in the long run. This condition usually shows up in the hands, knees, hip or lower back.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

• Pain or tenderness in a joint during or after being used or after not using it such as getting up in the morning.

• Discomfort in a joint with the change of the weather;

• Joint swelling and stiffness after use;

• Loss of flexibility in a joint.

• Bony lumps on the middle or end joints of your fingers or base of your thumb.

There is currently no cure for most types of arthritis including osteoarthritis. Many forms of arthritis are chronic or sometimes they’re cyclical in nature which means the symptoms may subside for a time and then flare up again. The absence of symptoms doesn’t mean the arthritis is gone.

More on osteoporosis and bone health in my next post.
In the meantime exercise, work on your strength and eat a healthy diet. Sounds simple enough but those are 3 ways to reduce your risk of bone loss and osteoarthritis.

To your success in maintain bone health

Ruthan

Ruthan Brodsky

Health Writer and Content Creator

Business Writer and Copywriter

Upside of Aging

Every time I research fibromyalgia I discover a new theory about its cause and a different direction for its treatment.

Connecting fibromyalgia to depression is a concept with some popularity because many studies show patients have been diagnosed with clinical depression at some point in their lives. This has led to debate whether the pain of fibromyalgia is really a physical manifestation of depression or if depression might result from being in constant pain.

Some antidepressant medications can relieve pain when prescribed in lower doses that those used to treat depression. These drugs boost serotonin and help give you a good night’s rest. For some women anti-anxiety medications such as Xana and Valium may also help relive muscle spasms

Another theory centers around what is called central sensitization which state that people with fibromyalgia have a lower threshold of pain because the brain is extra sensitive to pain. Some researchers think that repeated nerve stimulation causes the brains of some people to change which results in high levels of certain chemicals in the brain that signal pain. In addition, the brain receptors for pain seem to develop a memory of the pain and become more sensitive which results in overreacting to the pain.

Treatment usually includes a combination of medication that lessens pain together with exercise, relaxation techniques and improving general health.

Medical professionals sometimes treat the pain with cortisone injections, massage, heat or acupuncture. Common choices of medications include:

• Analgesics such as Tylenol may ease the pain.
• Your doctor may recommend nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Advil;
• Antidepressants may also help ease the pain and fatigue and promote sleep;
• Anti seizure drugs often used to treat epilepsy are often helpful in eliminating some types of pain.

Therapy such as talking with a counselor is also helpful for bringing back a self confidence to deal with the condition. Beyond that staying healthy, reducing stress and getting enough sleep are all possible factors for treating pain. Therapy is also helpful when dealing with the frustration of having a condition that’s often misunderstood.

Complementary and alternative therapies for pain are also often used by many patients. Some of these include:

• Acupuncture;
• Message therapy;
• Yoga and tai chi.

The pain may be eliminated for a short period of time.

Exercise may aloe help relieve some of the pain. In fact, a study in Finland in 2001 found that exercise was more effective than medication in alleviating symptoms. Doctors suggested that changing your diet to relieve painful symptoms from fibromyalgia does work or at the least lessens the pain. They believe that much of the pain can be reduced by eliminating foods such as corn, wheat, dairy products, sugar and nuts.

Obviously there is more to be learned about fibromyalgia. In the mean time get enough rest, ask your doctor about medications, start an exercise program for stretching, rear relaxation techniques to ease muscle tension and stress and talk to your doctor about medications.

Much success in maintaining your courage to
live with fibromyalgia.

Ruthan

Health Writer
Copywriter & Business Writer
Content Creator
Upside of Aging

Currently, there is no known cure for macular degeneration. There are, however, new therapies emerging. It’s recommended, for example, that individuals with macular degeneration maintain a regular schedule of eye examinations. During these examinations, detailed documentation with photographs may be performed so that your doctor is better able to monitor the condition, note any changes that may occur, and determine the most appropriate therapy.

 
Treatment for Dry Macular Degeneration
Supplementation with specific anti-oxidant vitamins and minerals has been shown to significantly slow the progression of Dry AMD. You should talk to your ophthalmologist for details on the dosage and side-effects.

 
The National Eye Institute’s Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) found that taking a high dose formula of antioxidants and zinc, plus Vitamin C, E and beta carotene, zinc and zinc oxide and cupric oxide for people with developing advanced AMD may delay the onset of advanced AMD. There is no need for people with early stage AMD to take the AREDS formulation. You should also know that diet alone can’t provide the same high levels of antioxidants and zinc as the AREDS formulation

 
Treatment for Wet Macular Degeneration
The newest treatment for wet AMD is Lucentis, a drug that was approved by the FDA in 2006. This drug inhibits the growth and leakage of abnormal blood vessels and it is the first treatment that has been shown to improve vision in some eyes rather than simply slowing the rate of vision loss. Lucentis is delivered through tiny injections in the eye, once a month for three months, with additional, less frequent injections, as needed, for one year or more. A similar drug, Avastin, is also commonly used for the treatment of wet AMD.

 
Other treatments include laser treatments and photodynamic therapy. Laser surgery uses a laser to destroy the fragile ,leaky blood vessels. A high energy beam is aimed directly onto the new blood vessels, destroy them and preventing further loss of vision. The problem is laser  treatment may also destroy some surrounding healthy tissue and vision. Only a small percentage of people are treated with lasers.

 
Laser therapy and photodynamic therapy are designed to seal the leaking blood vessels, halting the damage they can inflict upon the retina. These treatments are effective in slowing the progression of wet macular degeneration and are sometimes used in combination with Lucentis or Avastin. They don’t restore vision in eyes already damaged. Research is underway to find new and more effective treatments for this condition.

 
The bottom line is that the older you get, the greater your risk for cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. I wrote these 4 posts because no matter how old you are, your eyes are so important to your quality of life. Again, you’re the captain of your ship – your body. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, taking your medication, and making necessary lifestyle changes are all actions that can keep your eyes healthy.

To your healthy eyes,

Ruthan

Ruthan Brodsky
Health Writer
Business Writer
Upside of Aging

Fibromyalgia was the diagnosis for my golfing buddy. She started to complain about her aches and pains last summer. Early this spring she started what was to become a round of visits to doctors to find out what was wrong with her.

I was visibly upset when she told me she had fibromyalgia because I know there is no instant cure let alone a long term cure. As much as the world of medicine knows about fibromyalgia they still have a very long way to go.

Fibromyalgia or FMS (Fibromyalgia syndrome) is defined as a disorder in which the patient has widespread musculoskeletal pain plus other symptoms such as fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues.

I emphasized the word disorder because I don’t like it; it tells me and you absolutely nothing except something is not right, not normal. Anyone feeling the aches and pains of fibromyalgia could tell you of course something isn’t right. I feel like I have the flu and every muscle and joint hurt.”

Symptoms and Unknown Causes
Today research shows the fibromyalgia may be caused by the brain amplifying pain sensations when it processes pain signals. Other possibilities include abnormalities in the spine and brain stems of some people. However, certain factors such as cold weather, stress, poor posture and repetitive motions can exacerbate the symptoms.

If this sounds a lot like chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), you’re right because FMS and CFS have been known to occur together. Other health problems can overlap also with fibromyalgia such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Other coexisting conditions that a person may have include

• Fatigue·
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Endometriosis
• Headaches
• Irritable bowel syndrome

Of course, all this overlapping makes diagnosis difficult.
Other factors causing fibromyalgia include:
·    Genetics because it does tend to run in families and make some more susceptible ;

People with fibromyalgia often describe their pain as a constant dull ache usually around the muscles. The pain is felt on both sides of the body and above and below the waist. It is also characterized by additional pain when firm pressure is applied to specific areas of your body called tender points. Tender point locations for most people include:

• Back of the head
• Between shoulder blades
• Tops of shoulders
• Front side of neck
• Upper chest
• Outer Elbows
• Upper hips
• Sides of hips
• Inner knees

It’s no wonder someone with fibromyalgia symptoms has trouble sleeping!

Symptoms sometimes begin after a physical trauma, surgery, infection or even a major psychological stress. For other people, there is no single event and symptoms start and gradually accumulate and intensify.

Women are more likely to develop fibromyalgia than men. It can also strike at any age and for most people symptoms come and go with no observable cause.

Fibromyalgia doesn’t lead to other conditions or diseases but the pain and lack of sleep associated with it does interfere with you ability to function at home or one the job. Patients become very frustrated because the disease and conditions are so often misunderstood and can result in depression and anxiety.

More on my next post about treatment for fibromyalgia. In the meantime, do you have a history of this condition? How did you get your condition diagnosed? If you have a story to tell I’d very much like to hear it. Email me so we can exchange numbers.

To your healthy aging,

Ruthan

Ruthan Brodsky
Health Writer
Copywriter & Business Writer
Upside of Aging

The first time Age-related Macular Degeneration made sense to me was when I visited my aunt – my favorite aunt – and she told me she couldn’t drive anymore. She could see just well enough to play bridge with her long time friends.

Macular degeneration is a breakdown of the central portion of the retina. The disease robs you of the central vision needed to see detail directly in front of them, recognize a familiar face across a room, or read. Risk factors for macular degeneration are age, family history, smoking, and high cholesterol.

There are two forms of macular degeneration: wet and dry.

Dry macular degeneration, the more common kind, is the less destructive form of the disease. It takes place when deposits called drusen collect behind the retina.
Macular degeneration develops differently in each person which means it will affect regions of the macula differently from person to person and the symptoms tend to vary. Although it causes a progressive loss of central sight, however, it does not cause total blindness. Peripheral vision is unaffected, allowing a certain amount of mobility in normal surroundings. If left untreated, the wet type of macular degeneration may progress rapidly.
Some of the symptoms are:
·    Blurry vision
·    Distorted vision
·    Straight lines appear wavy
·    Objects may appear as the wrong shape or size
·    The loss of clear, correct colors
·    Difficulty reading
·    A dark, empty area in the center of vision
The symptoms described above may not necessarily mean that you have age-related macular degeneration. However, if you experience one or more of these symptoms, contact your eye doctor for a complete exam.
There are several ways in which AMD can be detected. If you’re over 60 you eye care professional may suspect you have AMD especially if you complain about changes in your central vision. Usually AMD is detected during a comprehensive eye exam that includes:
·    Visual acuity test to determine how well you see at various distances
·   Dilated eye exam I which drops are place in your eyes to widen or dilate the pupils. Your lens and retina and optic nerve are examined closely for eye problems.
·    Tonometry uses an instrument that measures the pressure inside the eye
·    You may also be asked to look at an Amsler grid. The pattern of the grid resembles a checkerboard. You cover one eye and stare at a black dot in the center of the grid. If you notice that the straight lines in the pattern appear wavy or you notice that some of the lines are missing these may be signs of AMD.
More on treatments for AMD in my next post. As you get older AMD will become more familiar to you. I think it’s a good idea to find out about this condition, how it’s treated and how you can prevent it before you need to worry about it personally.
To your good vision as you age,
Ruthan
Ruthan Brodsky
Business Writer
Health Writer & Content Creator
Upside of Aging

About 3 million American adults have glaucoma but only half of them  know it. That’s because most people don’t have their eyes checked often enough and simple tests may not reveal it. As a result, glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. mostly affecting people over age 40.

Glaucoma causes fluid accumulation and pressure inside the eye. Usually the eye constantly produces fluid which is drained through normal channels. When the balance is upset, pressure can build up and damage the optic nerve. Too often glaucoma doesn’t produce any symptoms until it’s already caused damage to peripheral vision.

Fortunately, glaucoma can be diagnosed earlier. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends a comprehensive eye exam for all adults starting at age 40, and every three to five years after that if you don’t have any glaucoma risk factors. After age 60, you should be screened every year. If you are African-American or are diabetic  your doctor likely will recommend periodic eye exams starting between ages 20 and 39, and every one to two years after age 40.
In addition, be aware that a severe headache or pain in your eye or eyebrow, nausea, blurred vision, or rainbow halos around lights may be the symptoms of an acute angle-closure glaucoma attack. If you experience two or more of these symptoms together, seek immediate care at an emergency room or an eye doctor’s (ophthalmologist’s) office right away.
Glaucoma treatments reduce intraocular pressure by improving aqueous outflow, reducing the production of aqueous, or both. Glaucoma can’t be totally cured, and damage caused by the disease can’t be reversed, but treatment and regular checkups can prevent visual loss in people with very early glaucoma. If visual loss has already occurred, treatment can slow or prevent further vision loss.

Glaucoma treatment often starts with medicated eyedrops. Be sure to use the drops exactly as prescribed. Otherwise, your optic nerve damage could get even worse. . Because some of the eyedrops are absorbed into your bloodstream, you may experience side effects unrelated to your eyes. To minimize this absorption, close your eyes for one to two minutes after putting the drops in. Press lightly at the corner of your eye near your nose to close the tear duct for one or two minutes, and wipe off any unused drops from your eyelid.

If drops alone don’t bring your eye pressure down to the desired level, your doctor may also prescribe an oral medication. Take these pills with meals to reduce side effects.

You may require  surgery to treat glaucoma if you can’t tolerate medications or if they’re ineffective. Sometimes a single surgical procedure may not lower eye pressure enough, in which case you’ll need to continue using eyedrops or have another operation. Possible complications from glaucoma surgery may include infection, bleeding, abnormally high or low eye pressure, and, potentially, loss of vision. Having eye surgery may also speed up the development of cataracts. Most of these complications can be effectively treated.

Today glaucoma can be treated with lasers to burn tiny openings that aid fluid drainage from the eye. There are also medications that relieve pressure in the eye by increasing fluid outflow.

In the mean time you can protect your eyes and reduce your risk of glaucoma by not smoking and controlling your hypertension which is linked to glaucoma. Many observational studies have also linked diets rich in antioxidants with a reduced risk of glaucoma and macular degeneration so it makes sense to eat more fruits and vegetables.

In my next post I’ll write about age related macular degeneration or AMD. In the meantime keep in mind that a healthy lifestyle may reduce your risk of eye diseases.

Ruthan

Ruthan Brodsky
Upside of Aging
Health Writer
Business Writer & Content Creator

We know our eyes change as we get older. Even if you were born with 20/20 vision, by the time you reached 40 you probably needed glasses, at least for reading. By the time you reached 65 or 70 most of you have at least a minor cataract and several of you may have glaucoma. After age 75 your chances for macular degeneration increase significantly.

Not surprisingly, vision loss is associated with disability, restriction of daily activities and an increased in falling. Not the quality of life you want to lead as you get older.

There are steps you can take, however, to preserve your sight.

If you live long enough you’ll probably develop cataracts. That’s when the lens of the eye, which is the part that lets you focus at different distances, becomes cloudy and gradually thickens. The clouded lens is removed surgically and replaced with an artificial lens which can not only correct your vision so that you may not require any glasses.

Cataract is definitely one of the most common conditions among seniors. Although there are many factors that increase the rate of developing cataracts such as family history, diabetes, smoking, sunlight exposure, eye injury and long term steroid use, a majority of the cataract cases are age related.

When you have a cataract you see halos around lights, especially at night which makes night driving risky. Your images are blurry and your colors dull.On the other hand, you may have a cataract but a pair of new prescription glasses solves your problem. When the glasses stop working that’s the time to consider having your cataract removed. In other words when you’re daily activities are hampered it’s probably time for cataract surgery.

After 13 years of watching my cataracts my doctor told me it was time to remove them. His reasoning was that although my cataracts were not impeding my vision significantly, two years ago they developed a lens which corrects astigmatism.

Astigmatism is a vision condition that causes blurred vision due either to the irregular shape of the cornea, the clear front cover of the eye, or sometimes the curvature of the lens inside the eye. An irregular shaped cornea or lens prevents light from focusing properly on the retina, the light sensitive surface at the back of the eye. As a result, vision becomes blurred at any distance. Astigmatism frequently occurs with other vision conditions like nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia).

Most people have some degree of astigmatism. Slight amounts of astigmatism usually don’t affect vision and don’t require treatment. In my case I was very near sighted and one eye had a major astigmatism.
The cataract surgical procedure takes less than 10 minutes using a local anesthetic. The results were incredible. For someone who wore glasses since she was 7 years old, I passed my last drivers exam without wearing glasses! I could read street signs and people’s faces from a distance and read film credits on the screen! I only needed glasses to read.
Right now the only cure for cataracts is surgery. Wearing protective sunglasses may help prevent the early onset of cataracts but there are so many other factors that influence their development it’s difficult for doctors to point to one thing.
Your best bet is to visit a professional for eye examinations on a regular basis. They can tell whether you have developing cataracts. However, you’re the one who knows best if you can see. If you think you have a problem inform your doctor. Your eyes are such an important part of the quality of your life. Keep them in good shape.
Ruthan

Ruthan Brodsky
Health Writer & Business Writer
Copywriter & Content Marketer