Dr. Phil Hariram's Health Blog

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There are many reasons why we feel tired. This is the same in arthritis. In some forms of arthritis, tiredness is part of the illness.
In conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, sufferers are tired irrespective of whether they had a good night’s sleep.
Like pain, fatigue has a strong impact on [...]

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Arthritis can affect your ability to drive. With Arthritis your joints can swell and become stiff. This could result in limitation on bending or other movements. It is, therefore, more difficult to apply brakes, turn the steering wheel, use the accelerator pedal, wear or clip seat belts or move your head to have [...]

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Glucosamine and chondroitin are widely advertised as remedies for osteoarthritis. The benefits, however, are not clear.
A qualitative assessment of various trials were done by T.E. McAlindon et al. to evaluate the benefits of glucosamine and chondroitin products for osteoarthritis of the knee and/or hip.
The studies were randomised, double blind, placebo controlled of four [...]

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Glucosamine is an amino acid sugar produced by the body and present in cartilage. It has been widely promoted as a treatment for osteoarthritis.
There is no conclusive evidence that this drug is effective. It is up to you to make your own mind up on it. There are individuals who swear by it [...]

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Chondroitin is a carbohydrate compound and is present in cartilage. It gives the cartilage elasticity. Articular surface of joints are protected by cartilage (articular cartilage) and this cartilage is a tough smooth gristle that reduces friction and protects the underlying bone from wear. Damage and wear of the cartilage is seen on an [...]

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Apart from gout, diet does not have a significant direct impact on arthritis. Diets, vitamins and supplements will not cure your arthritis but altering your diet to maintain or attain the right weight is an important step to reduce the burden of arthritis.
For weight loss, dietary change and the amount you consume is [...]

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Exercise is good for arthritic joints. Exercise keeps the joint flexible and the muscles strong. Inactive muscles tend to waste and become thin. Make sure you know what to do and do not overdo it. Exercise also makes you feel generally better.
Resting an inflamed joint will help it to [...]

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There are certain arthritic conditions that we know a specific cause for. Gout, for example, we know is caused by a lack of an enzyme, xanthine oxidase, and as a result the level of uric acid in the blood is higher than normal. This high level results in crystals separating out and being [...]

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Patients visit their family doctor or specialists for arthritis treatment mainly because of pain level and restriction to their lives. Most osteoarthritic patients control their pain by using simple analgesics such as paracetamol or whatever is available over the counter.
Stronger analgesics are obtained from their GPs. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) has been used [...]

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There are ways you can help osteoarthritis treatment. Lifestyle changes can make a significant effect on your condition. Obesity affects the bio-mechanics of weight bearing joints. Maintaining the correct weight (BMI) will reduce progression of arthritis especially in the knees.
Maintain a good level of activity and improve on exercise. This [...]