Four more questions answered
Q: Is there a link between arthritic symptoms and a woman's menstrual cycle?
A: Not really. I think a lot of women feel worse premenstrually. It's a bit like the weather; some patients will have more symptoms when it's cold and wet. I think changes in the menstrual cycle would have the same affect.
Q: Is there a link between caffeine and arthritis?
A: No. The big issue is being overweight. There hasn't been very much association between any nutrient and foodstuff. There's usually a food du jour that people are pointing a finger at. We figure everyone is getting a basic nutrition.
Q: What can I do to alleviate the pain associated with arthritis?
A: If it feels good, do it. If you apply heat and if feels better or if you apply cool and it feels better, then do it. As long as it isn't going to do any harm, do it. People learn what works for them; they'll walk half a mile and feel good instead of a mile and a half and feel terrible, they'll play one set of tennis instead of two, they'll take a hot shower first thing in the morning. There are also arthritis-friendly gadgets to help with everyday activities like opening cans.
Q: Are there any promising studies being done?
A: I wouldn't be surprised if a link between an environmental factor and a genetic factor is proven. For example, 100 people go to the Caribbean or Mexico and get diarrhea. Five of them will later develop reactive arthritis. Why only these five? There must be some sort of microorganism that triggers a genetic marker. We think this (environmental-genetic) link would hold true for many of the autoimmune diseases. There are a lot of studies being done on therapeutics while waiting for the ultimate vaccine. Drugs are being tailor-made for those who don't react to standard medications and they're very good. These patients are doing quite well.
For more information, visit The Arthritis Society's website.
Check out 10 arthritis-friendly tools
Page 2 of 2
A: Not really. I think a lot of women feel worse premenstrually. It's a bit like the weather; some patients will have more symptoms when it's cold and wet. I think changes in the menstrual cycle would have the same affect.
Q: Is there a link between caffeine and arthritis?
A: No. The big issue is being overweight. There hasn't been very much association between any nutrient and foodstuff. There's usually a food du jour that people are pointing a finger at. We figure everyone is getting a basic nutrition.
Q: What can I do to alleviate the pain associated with arthritis?
A: If it feels good, do it. If you apply heat and if feels better or if you apply cool and it feels better, then do it. As long as it isn't going to do any harm, do it. People learn what works for them; they'll walk half a mile and feel good instead of a mile and a half and feel terrible, they'll play one set of tennis instead of two, they'll take a hot shower first thing in the morning. There are also arthritis-friendly gadgets to help with everyday activities like opening cans.
Q: Are there any promising studies being done?
A: I wouldn't be surprised if a link between an environmental factor and a genetic factor is proven. For example, 100 people go to the Caribbean or Mexico and get diarrhea. Five of them will later develop reactive arthritis. Why only these five? There must be some sort of microorganism that triggers a genetic marker. We think this (environmental-genetic) link would hold true for many of the autoimmune diseases. There are a lot of studies being done on therapeutics while waiting for the ultimate vaccine. Drugs are being tailor-made for those who don't react to standard medications and they're very good. These patients are doing quite well.
For more information, visit The Arthritis Society's website.
Check out 10 arthritis-friendly tools
Page 2 of 2
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