Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Arthritis - Basic Facts and OTC Treatments


Arthritis is a disease that affects millions of Americans every year. Given the large number of people affected by the disease it is important to understand what exactly is arthritis and how it is treated. The first step in treatment of arthritis is a proper diagnosis. A visit to the doctor will begin the process of diagnosing if one has arthritis and determining what should be the next step in treatment. Arthritis has many different forms that can display different symptoms depending on the type of arthritis in which one is afflicted. Arthritis generally causes pain, swelling, and a loss of movement in the affected areas. An example of some of the types of arthritis is Osteoarthritis, Gout, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, and Fibromyalgia. These are a few of the types of Arthritis, however there are many more. Arthritis can have over 100 different types of manifestations. Arthritis is a very common disease among Americans. Limitations of sex, age, and race do not exist for Arthritis; it affects many without regard to these characteristics.

Due to the large amount of individuals affected by arthritis pain, it is important to understand how to treat arthritis. The treatment of arthritis can have different objectives. The most common objective is treating the symptoms of the disease. Many are motivated to self medicate with over the counter medications when they are combating symptoms such as joint pain. Topical creams can help with minor arthritis pain. Popular topical creams generally use ingredients like menthol or salicylate. Applied directly to the afflicted areas, they provide some relief of pain and swelling. Ibuprofen, Naproxen, and Acetaminophen are other popular over the counter medications that arthritis sufferers use to combat minor arthritis pain. These medications are effective, but arthritis sufferers are increasingly turning to herbal remedies to help fight the disease.

Herbal remedies are becoming more popular each day with arthritis sufferers. They are perceived as an alternative for those who wish to treat their minor arthritis symptoms at home. It is important to read guidelines and safety precautions when using herbal remedies. The smart consumer understands that knowing exactly what is being taken and the side effects associated with the remedy is also important for his or her health. Glucosamine and Chondroitin are two ingredients that are considered helpful in combating arthritis symptoms. Glucosamine is considered useful for relieving arthritis joint pain. Chondroitin is considered an important component for the production of cartilage. Using these two ingredients together could yield positive results for arthritis pain sufferers. Synotrex is an herbal remedy that uses Glucosamine and Chondroitin together in order to alleviate minor arthritis symptoms. Given the large numbers of individuals who suffer from arthritis, it is important to consider all options when fighting the symptoms of the disease.

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