Buddies, boomers and readers,   I thought this is worth sharing :  

 
 What a simple precaution---Could this work ?????? Worth a try !!!

After reading this you will think that I have really lost it .
However, this is a true story .

In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people there was this Doctor
that visited the many farmers to see if he could help them combat
the flu .   Many of the farmers and their family had contracted it
and many died .

The Doctor came upon this one farmer and to his surprise, everyone
was very healthy .   When the Doctor asked what the farmer was doing
that was different the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled
onion in a dish in the rooms of the home, (probably only two rooms
back then) .   The doctor couldn't believe it and asked if he could
have one of the onions and place it under the microscope . She gave
him one and when he did this, he did find the flu virus in the
onion .   It obviously absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping the
family healthy .

Now, I heard this story from my hairdresser in AZ .  She said that
several years ago many of her employees were coming down with the
flu and so were many of her customers .   The next year she placed
several bowls with onions around in her shop .   To her surprise,
none of her staff got sick . It must work .   (And no, she is not in
the onion business . )
The moral of the story is, buy some onions and place them in bowls
around your home .  If you work at a desk, place one or two in your
office or under your desk or even on top somewhere .Try it and see
what happens .   We did it last year and we never got the flu .

If this helps you and your loved ones from getting sick, all the
better .   If you do get the flu, it just might be a mild case .
Whatever, what have you to lose?  Just a few bucks on some onions!

I have posted at my Facebook an article by the Flu Resource Centre on this topic.  Actually, this morning at my workplace we have a briefing on Swine Flu.   Very briefly we touched on Swine Flu situation in Toronto, in other proviinces and cities of Canada.  The unique symptoms of H1N1, the H1N1 vaccination and some precautionary measures we may need at the workplace.

The most effective precautionary measure is constant and proper handwash with soap. 

Hand sanitizor will also help.

Don't touch your face, epecially the mouth, nose and eyes with your hands.

Stay alert. Stay home if you or family members have flu like symtoms.  Check with your family doctor and health authority if required.

The prominant symtoms of Swine Flu:

• high body temperative of 38 degrees celsius
• breathing difficulty
• chest discomfort,
• severe chest pain
• sometimes abdominal pain
• sometimes vomiting

 
Here below is the abstract regarding the main difference between Swine Flu and seasonal flu:

Quote:
 

Similarities

• Symptoms: Symptoms of H1N1 and seasonal flu are very similar, and include fever, body aches, headache, sore throat, cough, runny/stuffy nose, chills, fatigue, and possibly diarrhea and/or vomiting.
• How it's spread: The spread of the H1N1 virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person-to-person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

Differences

• Who is impacted: While everyone is at risk for contracting H1N1, so far the number of cases and deaths reported from H1N1 are less among the people over the age of 64 than that of the seasonal flu. In addition, the CDC reports that "novel H1N1 flu has caused greater disease burden in people younger than 25 years of age than older people." (cite: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm)
• Vaccinations: Currently there is no vaccination against H1N1. However, a vaccination is being developed and will likely be available later this year. The seasonal flu has a vaccine developed annually in order to help people protect themselves. Find out more information about how to protect yourself against seasonal flu by visiting info.findaflushot.com and read our H1N1 blog for the latest information on H1N1 and vaccine development.

How can I tell if I have H1N1 instead of seasonal flu?

Because symptoms of seasonal flu are very similar to H1N1, you will not be able to distinguish between H1N1 and seasonal flu on your own. If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, you should contact your health care provider who will be able to evaluate your symptoms and possibly test for H1N1.

Unquote

Source: Flu Resource Centre:

Author's Note:
According to the latest TV news at 7:00 pm 29.10.2009, Swine flu vaccines are ready.  More vaccines are coming and supply is ample.  Family doctors will get their vaccine supply.  Each doctor will get 500 doses according to the news.  Stay tuned in for more updates.

Buddies, Boomers and Readers,

Yesterday, President of America Barrack Obama declared 'National Emergency'  This morning the Canadian Health Authority released the news that the Swine Flu is spreading from coast to coast. 




Swine Flu is now a pandermic.  What should people do now?    

The following is an excellent article on Cancer.  I just got it from my boomer buddy.  I share this with all boomers visiting my site here:

 

AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY AND
ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE
IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY .

Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins:


1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few
billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are
unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.

3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumours.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental,
food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow,
gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not
result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence
the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer
cells to spread to other sites.

11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.


WHAT CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like
NutraSweet, Equal,Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses
but only in very sma ll amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and
substituting with unsweetened soy milk, cancer cells are being starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than
beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline
environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach
down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to no urish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try
and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at
temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties.
Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.


12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrified and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of  cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the  body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.....

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life..

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

The following is a Google Translation for the email a boomer buddy sent me.  If you use computer, then you better read it until the end.  More importantly pass this message to friends you know.


記得關電腦 !
請轉知關心你的好友們 記得關電腦
沒想到鍵盤的輻射量最高

大家記得中午時要關上電腦
別再讓它摧殘你們了 ..........
據醫學報告指出
每天使用電腦4-6小時，

三年後得到癌症的機率比正常人多26﹪

你是否常覺得頭重重的或記憶力衰退呢 ?

趴著睡覺的時候要記的把電腦關機，不只是把螢幕關掉而已，因為只把螢幕關掉是無法杜絕輻射線的，而且我們都是趴著睡，頭直接對著電腦，哪天得了老人癡呆症或腦瘤就來及了！

輻射線真的很可怕的！！
小心啊~健康重於一切！！^0^

電腦族的殺手---胸廓出口症

常坐在電腦桌前的你，是否一坐就是好幾個小時而且坐姿不正確，總感到莫名肩頸疼痛，甚至於無心工作？

現在請你作個小測驗，請你將你的頭向左側方向望去，然後將你的頭４５度朝下慢慢彎下去，動作做到這裡,你的脖子頸肩是否感到不正常的酸痛？對假使你有上述症狀，你可要小心了，因為你很可能得到現代電腦文明病「胸廓出口症候群」的受害者。

殺手原來是電腦。據醫學報告指出每天使用電腦 4-6小時，三年後得到癌症的機率比正常人多26﹪。

你和癌症有個約會，殺手原來是電腦

電腦一族的您或許常納悶為何常常感到腰酸背痛，身體抵抗力越來越弱，精神常常無法集中，您絕無法想像原因出在\'電腦 ?

電腦所散發出的輻射電波往往為人們所忽視，依國際 MPRⅡ防輻射安全規定，在 50c m 距離內必需少於25V/m的輻射曝露量，
但您知道電腦的輻射量是多少嗎？

告訴您:

Ⅰ、鍵盤1000V/m

Ⅱ、 滑鼠 450V/m

Ⅲ、螢幕 218V/m

Ⅳ、 主機170V/m

Remember to turn off the computer!
Please convey to care for your friends who remember off the computer
Did not expect that the maximum amount of radiation the keyboard

It will be recalled to close at noon on the computer
Please do not let it destroy all up to you ..........
According to medical reports that the
Computer 4-6 hours a day,

Three years later the chance to be cancer, 26% more than normal

Do you often feel heavy or memory, the first recession?

Tummy sleep time to remember the computer off, not just the screen turned off, because when only the screen can not be turned off to prevent radiation, and we are tummy sleeping, head directly into the computer, someday got senile dementia or brain tumor and had to come!

Radiation really terrible! !
Ah ~ health care more important than everything! ! ^ 0 ^

Computer users killer --- thoracic outlet syndrome

Often sitting at a computer desk for you, whether it is a sit for several hours, and incorrect posture, always feel inexplicable neck and shoulder pain, and even the motivation to work?

You may now make a small test, please raise your head you looked to the left direction, and then your head 45 degrees down slowly bends down, action to do here, feel your neck is not the normal neck and shoulder pain? If you have the right symptoms, you have to be careful, because you are very likely to be of modern computer diseases of civilization "thoracic outlet syndrome" victims.

Killer original is the computer. According to medical reports that the use of a computer 4-6 hours a day, three years later received the chance of cancer 26% more than normal.

You have cancer, dating, killer of the original computer

PC owners, you may often wonder why the often feel back pains, body immunity gradually become weaker, the spirit is often unable to concentrate, you absolutely can not imagine the reason for the \ 'computers?

Computers emit radiation waves are often neglected by people, in accordance with international MPR Ⅱ radiation safety requirements must be less than 50c m distance of 25V / m the amount of radiation exposure,
However, the amount of radiation you know how much computer do?

To tell you:

Ⅰ, keyboard 1000V / m

Ⅱ, the mouse 450V / m

Ⅲ, screen 218V / m

Ⅳ, the host 170V / m

The following is another email I got from a boomer buddy.  It should be shared among million of peoples especially the boomers.   It is common knowledge that is not common among us. 

If you take an aspirin or a baby aspirin         
once a day, take it at night.  The reason:        
aspirin has a 24-hour "half-life".                
therefore, if most heart attacks happen in           
the wee hours of the morning, the                
aspirin would be strongest in your system..
       
FYI, aspirin lasts a really long time in
your medicine chest.

Please read on.

WHY ASPIRIN BY THE BED saves         
lives ....

It is important to always have          
ASPIRIN in the home!!!

Why have Aspirin by the bedside ?
ABOUT HEART ATTACKS:     

There are other symptoms of a heart attack           
besides the pain down  the left arm..
One must also be aware of an intense pain on the
chin, as well as  nausea and lots of sweating, however              
these symptoms may also occur less frequently.
NOTE : There may be no pain in the chest during a heart
attack.
The majority of  people (about 60%) who have had a heart
attack during their sleep, did not wake up. However, if
it occurs, the chest pain may wake you up from       
your deep sleep.
If that happens,  IMMEDIATELY DISSOLVE TWO  ASPIRINS IN YOUR MOUTH and swallow them with a bit of water.  Afterwards, phone a neighbor or a family member who lives very close by and state "HEART ATTACK!!!" and that you have taken 2 ASPIRINS.
Take a seat on a chair or sofa and wait for their arrival and ..       
DO NOT LIE DOWN !!!
A Cardiologist has stated that, if each person, after
receiving this e-mail, sends it to at least 10 people, probably a           
life could be saved!
 

I got to check my gmails as I have not open them for a while.  And I found couple of emails very interesting and informative.  I want to share with my boomer friends.  there are millions of them out there online.   Guy enjoy.  They are good stuff:
 

I  have used an onion which has been left in the fridge, and sometimes I don't use a whole one at one time, so save the other half for later..

Now with this info, I have changed my mind....will buy smaller onions in the future. 

I had the wonderful privilege of touring Mullins Food Products, Makers of mayonnaise.  Mullins is huge, and is owned by 11 brothers and sisters in the Mullins family.  My friend, Jeanne, is the CEO.

Questions about food poisoning came up, and I wanted to share what I learned from a chemist. 

The guy who gave us our tour is named Ed. He's one of the brothers Ed is a chemistry expert and is involved in developing most of the sauce formula. He's even developed sauce formula for McDonald's.

Keep in mind that Ed is a food chemistry whiz. During the tour, someone asked if we really needed to worry about mayonnaise. People are always worried that mayonnaise will spoil. Ed's answer will surprise you. Ed said that all commercially- made Mayo is completely safe. 

"It doesn't even have to be refrigerated. No harm in refrigerating it, but it's not really necessary." He explained that the pH in mayonnaise is set at a point that bacteria could not survive in that environment. He then talked about the quaint essential picnic, with the bowl of potato salad sitting on the table and how everyone blames the mayonnaise when someone gets sick. 

Ed says that when food poisoning is reported, the first thing the officials look for is when the 'victim' last ate ONIONS and where those onions came from (in the potato salad?). Ed says it's not the mayonnaise (as long as it's not homemade Mayo) that spoils in the outdoors. It's probably the onions, and if not the onions, it's the POTATOES.

He explained, onions are a huge magnet for bacteria, especially uncooked onions. You should never plan to keep a portion of a sliced onion. He says it's not even safe if you put it in a zip-lock bag and put it in your refrigerator. 
 
It's already contaminated enough just by being cut open and out for a bit, that it can be a danger to you (and doubly watch out for those onions you put in your hotdogs at the baseball park!) 

Ed says if you take the leftover onion and cook it like crazy you'll probably be okay, but if you slice that leftover onion and put on your sandwich, you're asking for trouble. Both the onions and the moist potato in a potato salad, will attract and grow bacteria faster than any commercial mayonnaise will even begin to break down.

So, how's that for news? Take it for what you will.. I (the author) am going to be very careful about my onions from now on. For some reason, I see a lot of credibility coming from a chemist and a company that produces millions of pounds of mayonnaise every year.'

Also, dogs should never eat onions. Their stomachs cannot metabolize onions .Please remember it is dangerous to cut onions and try to use it to cook the next day ,it becomes highly poisonous for even a single night and creates Toxic bacteria which may cause Adverse Stomach infections because of excess Bile secretions and even Food poisoning.
 
Please pass it on to all you love and care.

Just recently, I got connections again with some buddies.  One of them is Tony.    I love what he sent .. 230 millions. It is awesome.  If you want to know what it is simply read on.  If you don't read Chinese, get the translation with Google.  It is amazing.  Guys, have a very nice long week end.

送你兩億三千萬
 
如果有人說送你兩億三千萬，你會相信嗎？這篇短文，真的為你送上，只要你照單全收，一生一世，受惠無窮。

第一個憶，是回憶：回憶自己一生，有多少值得珍惜的親情、友愛、值得感恩的人生快事、值得自豪的大小成功、值得欣慰的賞心樂事...，儘管並非事事如意，但能平平安安地活到今 天，留下不少快樂回憶，足以老懷安慰。 
 
第二個憶，是失憶：把過去種種不愉快的經驗、耿耿於懷的傷害、別人對自己的不夠好、吃虧與不幸的遭遇...，通通拋向九霄雲外，人就分外地輕鬆與年青。

第一個千萬，千萬要開開心心過日子：凡事一笑置之，用正面積極的態度面對，在任何環境下都懂得自得其樂，笑口常開。

第二個千萬，千萬要保重身體：小心飲食，少肉多菜，恆常保持輕巧的運動，身心康泰。

第三個千萬，千萬要開放心靈，接受新事物：不要以年老而固步自封，和世界保持接觸， 聆聽不同的聲音，讓今天的我比昨天進步，與人分享和分擔。

這兩億三千萬，人人伸手可得，並且變化多端， 自由組合，誠為最有價值的生命投資項目。







Send you 230 million
 
If someone says that will give you 230 million, would you believe it? This short, really for you send, as long as you accept, whole life, benefit immensely.

Recalling the first one, is to recall: memories of his life, how many cherished affection, friendship and joy to life worthy of thanksgiving, to be proud of the size of the success, thankfully enjoyable ..., although not all the best, but it can safely land alive today, leaving behind a lot of happy memories, enough to comfort the old Wye.
 
Recalling the second is the loss of memory: the past all kinds of unpleasant experiences, to heart damage, others are not good enough on their own, suffer with the unfortunate experience ... it, all tossed Cloud Nine, people on sub-field easily and young .

The first one never, never want to live a happy heart: everything laughed, with a positive attitude to, in any environment is to understand their own entertainment, smiling.

The second 10 million, 10 million to take care of themselves: Be careful diet, less meat and more vegetables, regular exercise to maintain lightweight, good health.

The third 10 million, 10 million to open minds and accept new things: Do not use old to rest on its laurels, and the world keep in touch, to listen to different voices, so that I am today than yesterday progress, to share with others and sharing.

The two Yisanqianwan, everyone easy reach, and changing the free combination, honesty as the most valuable life-investment projects.

By David Au

One day I woke up trying to get out of the bed in the early morning, I got a sharp stabbing pain at the right knee as I walked just steps away from my bed. The pain is crippling painful that I could hardly walk further to the washroom in the ensuite. It was the first pain attack I ever experienced. What is the cause for this acute knee pain? I tried to recall my memories figuring out what would be the possible cause. The only thing I can associated the knee pain with was the anger outburst which led to restlessness during the day and the sleepless night that followed through.

I check it out that anger outburst which is an extremely emotional disturbance of the mind can lead the abnormally large of amount of bio-active substances into the blood vessels of our own body. This sudden released of large of amount bio-stimulant substances can be very harmful to the body tissues and organs, even fatal irreversible organ damages. For this very reason, there are incidences of heart attack, stroke and even death following an anger outburst.

I went to see my family doctor for his medical advice and prescription. I told him briefly about my anger incident and knee pain. Then he told me the following treatment options for my knee pain:

Over-the-counter and prescription medications

This would include Tylenol and Aspirin, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. They can reduce inflammation as well as knee joint pain.

Natural supplements

They are chondroitin and glucosamine the most popular alternatives in recent years. They have less side effects. The former aids in building joint cartilage, while the latter fights against degeneration of cartilage. Studies have proven their effectiveness in alleviating osteoarthritic joint pain,

Physical aids

Padding, crutches, and splints, and even simple rest can take the pressure off the knee and provide temporary relief while the joint recovers from injury.

Specific exercises

Simple stretching and low-impact aerobic activities such as walking and swimming increase joint strength and flexibility.

Now, my knee pain is almost gone. I still keep on taking chondroitin and glucosamine and low-impact exercise. The most important of all, I always remind myself don't get angry for the good of our own body.

David Au author of Baby Boomers Blog - articles, news and videos baby boomers blog

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Au
http://EzineArticles.com/?Boomers-Knee-Pain&id=2025253

Author: Darrell Miller

Osteoarthritis is perhaps the fastest growing form of arthritis in the United States. According to the Arthritis Foundation, one third of all adult Americans have x-ray evidence of osteoarthritis. Last year over 7 million visits to the doctor were osteoarthritis related which is second to cardiovascular disease in America. As we age this number is going to increase unless we take steps to stop arthritis. Over the years researchers have developed medications to help relieve pain but none have actually addressed the underlying cause of joint destruction. In this article we will take a look at the characteristics of osteoarthritis and the current treatments available. Also, we will look at natural alternatives that can help improve quality of life.

Osteoarthritis is a disorder that involves certain bones and joints in the body. A joint is where two bones are connected and made up of cartilage which is surrounded by muscles and tendons. Some joints have a limited range of motion such as a rib in the rib cage and others have a much wider range of movement like hips, knees, elbows, wrists, and thumbs. The wider ranges of motion joints are called synovial joints. (1) Synovial joints have a unique structure. The bones that are connected to synovial joints are cover in a tough fibrous tissue call cartilage. This tough cartilage tissue between the bones is called the joint capsule. The joint capsule has an inner cavity which is lined with an inner membrane called the synovial membrane. With in this membrane there is fluid called synovial fluid which is a thick, slippery fluid that fills the small places in between and around the two bones connecting. The fluid is filled with a substance that lubricates the joints and eases movement. (1,2)                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                    HealthZone

This joint cartilage serves two purposes. First, it allows for a smooth surface to bear heavy weight and ease joint movement when in motion. Secondly, the joint cartilage absorbs shock and distributes the forces and mechanical stresses out to the bones connected to the joint.

Joint function is under continual mechanical stress while in motion and the joints ability to resist the stress reflects its health. If the mechanical stress becomes to much for the joint, some physical changes occur in the joint cartilage covering the bones. (1,2)

Cartilage is tough and some what elastic in nature comprised of water, collagen and complex proteins called proteoglycans. (3) When osteoarthritis has been diagnosed in a patient, the cartilage has started to weaken and become frayed. Over time the cartilage breaks down exposing the two bones of the joint. When two bones rub together all sorts of damage can happen. Bits of bone and cartilage break off and float around in the joint space. When the joint is bent, one usually experiences a gritty grinding feeling which is painful. Over time tiny bone spurs can grow into the cartilage and surrounding tissue causing a great deal of pain and decrease range of motion in the joint. As the arthritis progresses, the pain and discomfort will increase creating sleepless nights and miserable days.

Even though the exact cause of osteoarthritis is not known, researchers do know that it is not age related. Researchers have observed the disease having the same destructive changes in younger patients diagnosed which haven't been observed in older individuals who don't have the disease. (2,4,5) Researchers have observed that certain conditions do seem to trigger the disease or make it worse.

Families who have frequent occurrences of osteoarthritis tend to lean on the idea that it could be a genetic factor. Osteoarthritis of the hands is often seen as genetic. (2) People who are extremely active or have physically demanding jobs have a higher occurrence of developing osteoarthritis. Also, individuals who have certain bone disorders are prone to osteoarthritis as well. Individuals who are over weight are at risk. Because of the excess pounds, these individuals usually develop osteoarthritis in the knees and feet. Over weight individuals usually have denser bones which do not absorb as much shock as thinner bones might causing more damage to joint cartilage.

Currently there is no sure way to prevent osteoarthritis, but slowing the progression may help with some lifestyle changes. The arthritis foundation suggests individuals who are prone to osteoarthritis should maintain a healthy weight and loose weight if needed. They also suggest that these individuals should exercise on a regular basis as a preventative measure. (4) Consumption of Calcium and other vitamins such as vitamin A, C, D, and E can help as well. (6-8)

Treatment of osteoarthritis is usually focused around reducing or relieving the pain an individual experiences and maintain or improve the movement so to reduce any permanent disability. (2) Your Medical practitioner normally prescribes a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen which is only effective in pain management. Sadly these NSAIDs have side effects which can be serious. NSAID induced gastrointestinal complications cause more than 100,000 hospitalizations and nearly 16,500 deaths each year in the United States. Long term use of NSAIDs can cause ulcers in the stomach and intestinal tract which product heartburn and abdominal pain. NSAIDs can interfere with blood clotting and even cause kidney damage. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is some times prescribed for pain relief, but acetaminophen does not reduce inflammation and have the same side effects as NSAIDs plus in large doses can cause liver damage. (9)

Newer medications released to the public are called COX-2 inhibitors which provide pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects with out the side effects of other NSAIDs. (11,12) In some cases, COX-2 inhibitors can cause stomach damage and bleeding. (13,14) All of these medications may help with the pain but does nothing to slow down or stop the osteoarthritis. This medication has no effect on the disease itself. (10)

After reviewing all the side effects from the medications available, some believe that Glucosamine sulfate and Chondroitin Sulfate are better for osteoarthritis because Glucosamine and Chondroitin actually improve synovial joint health without any life threatening side effects. (3)

Glucosamine sulfate and Chondroitin sulfate work so well as treatment for osteoarthritis that even physicians routinely recommend it. Glucosamine sulfate and Chondroitin sulfate are naturally occurring compounds found in human joints. (15,16) When consumed in the right combination can actually reverse the damage in joints affected by osteoarthritis. Glucosamine is a natural substance found in synovial fluid and is the basic building block of proteoglycans, one of the compounds in synovial cartilage. Europeans have been using Glucosamine and Chondroitin sulfate for more than 10 years to help ease joint pain. Only in the past few years have researchers from American and Europe worked together to figure out how this works. Researchers discovered that Glucosamine sulfate reduces synovial joint inflammation which explains why people feel better after taking the supplement.

Scientific studies have discovered that Glucosamine sulfate can help stimulate cartilage cell growth, inhibit proteoglycans breakdown, and rebuild the damage done by osteoarthritis. (17,18) Glucosamine Sulfate not only helps your feel better but also repairs the damage that's all ready done. The only Glucosamine used in all the studies was Glucosamine sulfate. When the body digests Glucosamine sulfate the sulfate separates and forms a ion salt called a sulfate ion. This sulfate ion is critical for the body to synthesize proteoglycans. (17)

Researchers believe that Chondroitin sulfate works in a similar way to Glucosamine sulfate and should be consumed along with Glucosamine sulfate. Several studies investigated the action of Chondroitin sulfate and determined for best results one should take them both together. However, if your health care practitioner suggests taking only one or the other it is best that you follow your practitioners advice.

Other vitamins and minerals are beneficial to individuals suffering from osteoarthritis. Suck as, folic acid and B12 may increase joint mobility and vitamins A, C, D, and E may prevent the progression of the disease as well as prevent osteoarthritis all together. (8,19,20) Several clinical studies used the herb Boswellia serrata which help with swelling and yielded good results as well. Cayenne or capsaicin ointment can help elevate the pain associated with osteoarthritis. Cayenne pepper depletes the nerves of a neurotransmitter called substance P. This substance P transmits pain messages to the brain, so cayenne is very effective in relieving osteoarthritis pain.

Along with supplements, exercise is an important to help keeps joints mobile and healthy. For those suffering from osteoarthritis, water aerobics might be an option because it is low impact and gives one the ability to flex their joints with out applying much weight on the joints.

It is easy for those who don't feel well to self diagnose. If you suspect that you have a joint health issue, get evaluated by a licensed health care provider before taking any steps to get better on your own. Some of these same symptoms can be related to other illnesses which require different treatment. Only a health care provider can be certain one has osteoarthritis. With proper exercise and supplements one can reduce the constant stiffness and pain associated with osteoarthritis and this can lead to a healthier pain free life. All the supplements mentioned can be found at your local or internet health food store.

References:

1. Siedel HM, Ball JW, Dains JE, Benedict GW. Classification of joints. In: Mosby's Guide to Physical Examination. 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby, 1999: 695.

2. Bancroft DA, Pigg JS. Osteoarthritis syndromes. In: Porth CM. Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott; 1998: 1133-1138.

3. McCarty MF. Enhanced synovial production of hyaluronic acid may explain rapid clinical response to high-dose glucosamine in osteoarthritis. Medical Hypotheses 1998;50,507-510.

4. Arthritis Foundation. Osteoarthritis. Available at: www .arthritis .org/answers/diseasecenter/oa. Accessed June 26, 2001.

5. National Institutes of Health. Osteoarthritis. Available at: www .nih .gov/niams/healthinfo/osteoarthritis /osteohandout_breaks.html. Accessed July 3, 2001.

6. Tiku ML, Shah R, Allison GT. Evidence linking chondrocyte lipid peroxidation to cartilage matrix protein degradation. Possible role in cartilage aging and the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. J Biol Chem. 2000;275:20069-20076.

7. Sowers M, Lachance L. Vitamins and arthritis. The roles of vitamins A, C, D, and E. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 1999;25:315-332.

8. McAlindon TE, Jacques P, Zhang Y, et al. Do antioxidant micronutrients protect against the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis? Arthritis Rheum. 1996;39:648-656.

9. Graumlich JF. Preventing gastrointestinal complications of NSAIDs. Risk factors, recent advances, and latest strategies. Postgrad Med 2001 May;109(5):117-20, 123-8. Complete article available online at: www .postgradmed .com/issues/2001/05_01/graumlich.htm.

10. Lehne RA. Acetaminophen. In: Pharmacology for Nursing Care. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: W.B. Saunders; 1998: 705-706.

11. Ballinger A, Smith G. COX-2 inhibitors vs. NSAIDs in gastrointestinal damage and prevention. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2001;2:31-40.

12. Goldstein JL, Correa P, Zhao WW, et al. Reduced incidence of gastroduodenal ulcers with celecoxib, a novel cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, compared to naproxen in patients with arthritis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2001;96:1019-1027.

13. Colville-Nash PR, Gilroy DW. Potential adverse effects of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition: evidence from animal models of inflammation. BioDrugs. 2001;15:1-9.

14. Laudanno OM, Cesolari JA, Esnarriaga J, et al. Gastrointestinal damage induced by celcecoxib and rofecoxib in rats. Dig Dis Sci. 2001;46:779-784.

15. Uebelhart D, Thonar EJ, Zhang J, Williams JM. Protective effect of exogenous chondrotin 4,6-sulfate in the acute degradation of articular cartilage in the rabbit. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 1998;6:6-13.

16. Leeb BF, Schweitzer H, Montag K, Smolen JS. A meta-analysis of chondroitin sulfate in the treatment of osteoarthritis. J Rheumatol. 2000;27:205-211.

17. Deal CL, Moskowitz RW. Nutraceuticals as therapeutic agents in osteoarthritis. The role of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and collagen hydrolysate. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 1999 May;25(2): 379-95.

18. Glucosamine sulfate. Monograph. Altern Med Rev. 1999;4:193-195.

19. Adebowale AO, Cox DS, Liang Z, et al. Analysis of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate content in marketed products and the Caco-2 permeability of chondroitin sulfate raw materials. JAMA. 2000;3:37-44.

20. Crolle G. D'Este E. Glucosamine sulphate for the management of arthrosis: a controlled clinical investigation. Curr Med Res Opin. 1980;7:104-109. About the Author:
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