Women's Health Blog

Around 50 % of the world population suffers from Arthritis in their life span. It is more commonly afflicted in comparison to a cancer and heart diseases. The occurrence of arthritis dates back more than one thousand years. The world record confirms that among all the painful conditions, arthritis ranks highest and the sufferers consume billions of dollars worth analgesics to relieve their pain.

The well known Roman baths were initiated not only for hygiene considerations, it provided help people in ancient times to relieve the pain from arthritis.

Arthritis and its Causes:

Arthritis occurs in following two forms:

1. Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disorder, where the body mistakes in    attacking and damaging it’s on cells causing internal damage to the joints resulting into dysfunction and deformities.

1. Oste-oartharitis:

Osteoarthritis is a result of wearing and tearing of joint surfaces, which are lined by a cartilage, a soft tissue and has a shock absorbing function protecting the underlying bone ends. When the cartilage experiences wear and tear, there is difficulty in the mobility of the joint with pain and swelling further worsening the situation.

The major cause of osteoartharitis is aging, diet considerations and     lifestyle factors.

The Shock Absorbing Effect:

The tissue lining joint surfaces is cartilage, which renders the function of shock absorbing during movements. The cartilage tissue is composed of water held by protein fibers known as collagen. The collagen matrix is responsible for cartilage structure and strengthening. It is surrounded by a network of proteglucans, which is filled with fluid providing protection from damage, besides nourishing the cartilage tissue.

Proteglucans are made of long molecular chains, which include chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine. These two substances are vital building blocks.

Glucosamine is highly necessary for the making of water holding proteins of cartilage, whereas chondroitin sulfates attracts fluids in the joint, which are helpful in maintaining comfortable movement of the joint and also accumulates nutrition for the joint to keep it healthy and functional.

Injury, Wear and Tear of Joint:

In the situations of Injury, wear, or corrosion action of enzymes result into weakening of this protection, thus the cartilage fails to carry out repair function of its own. With slow progression there is damaging effect resulting into deep crevices and clefs, which cause impeding of movement resulting in painful arthritis.

The age old method of treatment of arthritis pain is by suppressing of pain with conventional analgesics like aspirin, ibuprofen etc. There is only temporary relief with these analgesics and the damaging effect initiated progresses at its own pace.

Role of Supplementing Nutrition:

Fortunately presently arthritis progression can be arrested by administration of specific nutrient supplements, which substitute substances, which the body has ceased to produce like Glucosamine and Chondroitin thus restoring the near normal function of the joints with considerable relief of joint pain.

One more useful nutrient is provided by methyl-sulfonyl-methane, it is a sulfur compound found in many food items like fish, fruits, vegetables, mutton and eggs. It helps in increasing the blood supply, reduction of muscular spasms and softening of the scars present in tissues.

Capsium present in cayenne pepper extract is useful in causing relief of arthritic pain.

The benefit of small molecular weight of emu oil helps its convenient penetration into the skin and soothing effect is felt in arthritic joints. It has anti-inflammatory property makes it highly favorite of sports persons in treating their minor injuries.

Correction of Lifestyle & Beneficial Effects:

The change in habits and lifestyle also helps in reducing the uncomfortable arthritis pain. Persons keeping themselves in trim shape and engage themselves in physically active living conditions have only a minor risk to osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is present in weight-bearing joints initially. Overweight persons have higher risk of their joint cartilage wearing out early not at par with the repair function of the cartilage.

It although very common, but less known about sleep problem. It is observed initially as pricking sensation felt as itching present in one or both the legs.

There is no seriousness feeling to a common person, millions of American population take it very seriously. The available figures suggest that more than 12 million Americans are suffering from Restless legs syndrome. Presently it is recognized with lot of seriousness associated with it. Researchers feel that this condition in most of times is wrongly diagnosed, because the symptoms present are of such a trivial nature and general belief is it can not be treated.
Establishment of RLS Foundation:

With an objective of providing the common man the necessary information about Restless Leg Syndrome, a RLS Foundation has been set up to make available the necessary information for the benefit of affected patients and guiding them, which doctor should be contacted to begin the treatment. There is progress in the research work being carried out.

Patients are having very terrible feeling in the legs finding difficulty in sleeping, which becomes unbearable, while sitting in an automobile. An element of heredity is also involved. After its proper diagnosis and it’s treatment, the patients get relief.

Close Look at RLS Syndrome:

The more evident symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome relate to discomfort feeling in the legs, which become more prominent at night or in the situations, where legs do not get an occasion to move about. There is slight relief, when the legs are moved by walking little bit before going to bed for sleep, which ensures good sleep at night.

The activities responsible for Restless Legs Syndrome include traveling in a plane, long drives, going to theatres or sitting to view sports events.
Patients suffering from restless legs syndrome observe a downwards trend in the life style they are leading and are ignorant about the cause of their disease. If the patients visits his doctor and relates the problem, the investigations shall confirm the disease diagnosis and treatment can be started to cure the disease.
It is not only the patient, who has to be aware of RLS Syndrome, the doctor also needs to be aware of incidences and options of specific treatment available.
Restless Leg Syndrome Symptoms:

• There is feeling of discomfort and presence of creepy-crawly, tingly sensation found deep in the legs.
• One can not resist a desire to move one’s legs so that terrible feeling is relieved.
• There is short term relief in respect of symptoms of RLS syndrome and one feels comfortable by moving about of legs.
• The symptoms get highly disturbing during evening and night time, especially when you’re at rest.

Following Characteristics present suggest presence of Restless Leg Syndrome:

• If there are a number of leg movements, exhibiting repetition of jerks in the leg.
• Feeling Fatigued including sleep problem.
• There is a family occurrence of Restless Leg Syndrome
• There is no other condition observed indicating a cause to RLS like symptoms like Iron deficiency or pregnancy.

Accessing the information about RLS one start understanding the problem and describing the condition to the doctor is helpful in initiating the right treatment and get relieved quickly.

The suffering person feels relieved by practicing yoga, having a massage, doing relaxing exercises and at the same time avoiding caffeine and alcohol.

Difficult case can be treated by the doctor by advising a variety of medicines known to him to relieve RLS Syndrome.

As every woman should know, getting a pelvic examination regularly is vital in maintaining her health. Pelvic exams are typically recommended on an annual basis. Although a regular physician can perform this type of exam, it is typically done by a gynecologist. The pelvic exam consists of both a visual and manual inspection of the reproductive organs in women. The purpose is to ensure that no infections or growths exist. A Pap smear test is also performed which tests for cervical cancer.

During this type of examination, a woman undresses and dons an examination gown. The patient lies down on the examination table with her feet in stirrups, which hold the legs up and open so the doctor can easily perform the exam. During the exam, the doctor will observe the outside of the reproductive organs for any signs of redness, signs of infection, abnormal growths, or sores. The doctor then performs the internal exam by placing a speculum into the vaginal walls to open up the area such that he/she can see the cervix.

Part of the internal pelvic examination involves the doctor checking the uterus and ovaries by placing a finger into the vagina while pushing down on the lower stomach area with the other hand. In performing this exam, the doctor can feel for any abnormalities in the ovaries and uterus.

The doctor examines the cervix by performing a Pap smear test, which is a test used to collect cells from the bottom of the cervix, which lies at the end of the vagina. The cells are scraped and then sent to a lab which will look at the cells under a microscope and look for any abnormal cells which might indicate cancer of the cervix. It is very important to have a Pap smear test performed on an annual basis (unless your doctor recommends a higher frequency due to certain determined risks) once you become sexually active or by age 21, whichever occurs earlier. This test may no longer be necessary in women who have had hysterectomies or upon reaching the age of 70. However, you should always check with your doctor and follow your doctor’s advice on when and how often to you should be screened.

If during your pelvic examination, the doctor finds an abnormality, he or she will notify you immediately. However, it may take a little longer to receive the results from the Pap smear. Simply because a Pap smear comes back as abnormal does not mean you have cancer. In that event, a second test will be taken to ensure it was an accurate result or a false positive, which can occur for a variety of reasons. However, if problematic cells are found, finding them early provides for the highest success in addressing and resolving the problem.

Going to your gynecologist for regular annual examinations is the wisest way to address women’s health and to prevent many issues which strike women today. Do not skip that appointment with the gynecologist, as doing so may mean the difference between life and death by failing to catch a problem in the beginning stages.