100 different forms identified by the Arthritis Foundation

It is estimated that in the United States around 50 million people are living with arthritis. The disease can be debilitating and cause stiffness, joint deformities and significant pain but there are certain treatments available that will help sufferers of arthritis to live full lives.

Arthritis exists in 100 different forms which have been identified by the Arthritis Foundation. The most common type of arthritis is caused by wear and tear that occurs on joints over time and it is known as osteoarthritis. Another very common type is rheumatoid arthritis which is where the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues which leads to significant and uncomfortable inflammation.

Painkillers are a common prescription for people with arthritis and surgery is another type of medical intervention that is sometimes necessary. As well as these medical options, there are complementary techniques that can be used to reduce inflammation and encourage a patient’s overall well-being.

Integrative medicine is a form of treatment which blends complementary treatments with conventional medicine and there are many different approaches and forms which it can take. Some approaches are targeted to reducing general inflammation which can ease the pain of arthritis patients. Some methods are more targeted towards specific areas but one thing doctors agree on is that they should be consulted before anyone decides to pursue alternative therapies.

Some naturally occurring things such as ginger and turmeric are capable of reducing inflammation, have no side effects and are regarded as completely safe. There is no chance of a patient having any complications when using these and they will not interact with any other medication the patient might be taking.

Several clinical trials have taken place to see whether these two ingredients might be helpful in reducing pain associated with arthritis. They have been shown to have the effects of reducing inflammation but currently the number of studies conducted is rather limited.

There are numerous other foods that can be used to reduce inflammation including cinnamon, soy and garlic. It is important that people do consult their doctor before they start taking these ingredients however as they might have certain interactions with drugs that the previous two foods do not. http://www.arthritis.org/

People should also be aware that some forms of arthritis can be caused by food allergies so simply leaving some of these out of your diet might reduce inflammation. Experiment with removing different foods from your diet to see which ones aggravate your condition.