Arthritis is the inflammation of a joint. There are a number of causes, from viruses to simple 'wear and tear'. However, there is no evidence to suggest that food, cold, damp, or creaking/clicking joints are to blame.
Although there is no specific cure for arthritis, there are a number of treatments which help to control the pain and stiffness.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form, it affects about 9% of people in the U.K. It's due to natural wear and tear of weight bearing joints (hips, knees, ankles), particularly in the elderly.
You are more likely to suffer osteoarthritis of the weight-bearing joints if you are overweight. It is restricted to bone ends and doesn't spread.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a long term disease of the immune system, in which joints become inflamed. It affects about 2% of people in the U.K., mostly women in their 30Õs and 40's.
It attacks joints and tendons, especially in smaller joints. Still's disease (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) affects children under 4. It may disappear after a few years, but can stunt growth and cause permanent deformities.
Ankylosing spondylitis causes bony bridges to form between vertebrae in spine. Initial symptoms include stiffness of the back and neck.
20% of people with the skin condition psoriasis, develop stiff and painful joints (particularly finger), this is called Psoriatic Arthritis. The symptoms are similar to rheumatoid arthritis.
Gout is a painful condition caused by too much uric acid in the bloodstream. This causes crystals to form in the joints. It is generally hereditary, in men aged 30-50.
Gout can appear suddenly and often in the big toe. Reducing alcohol intake may help prevent attacks.
In addition to those mentioned previously, there are many other forms of arthritis. If medication is ineffective, some forms can be treated by surgery (e.g. hip replacement). For those suffering arthritis, here are a few self-help guidelines:
° Maintain an active and busy lifestyle
° Always do the exercises recommended by your doctor
° Use heat treatment before exercising (e.g. hot bath)
° Intersperse work periods with rest every hour
° Rest before you feel tired
° Don't sit in any one position too long
° Avoid lifting heavy objects
° Use your strongest joint where possible (e.g. shut drawers with your hands, not fingers)
° Use 2 hands to hold a cup
° Use as many labour-saving devices as possible
° Avoid being overweight
BACK PAIN
The lower spine is very mobile, and back pain is normally due to a minor upset of its natural movements.
Most people experience back pain at some time (it is one of the main causes of work absence - in the U.K., it accounts for 26,000,000 lost working days/yr).
Most likely affected are those with jobs involving lifting, carrying, or spending long periods sitting or bending awkwardly.
Normally, it's not serious and corrects itself in a few days. Some back pain, however, can be related to a specific disorder.
If it persists for more than 2-3 days, or associated with weakness in a leg or problems with bladder control, seek medical advice.
Common causes of backache:
° Strain/lifting heavy objects incorrectly
° Digging the garden
° Moving furniture
° Being overweight
° Pregnancy
° Falling
° Poor design bed
° Poor design car seat
° Poor design working chair
° Poor posture
Back Pain may be reduced by resting on a firm mattress or board. Analgesic drugs and direct heat (a hot water bottle is best) can help to relieve pain.
As with all aspects of health care, prevention is always the best method.
Make a note of the following tips and incorporate them in your daily lifecycle:
° Take care when stressing your back (e.g. when lifting)
° Exercise each week (walking or swimming are best)
° Firm bed - if you have a soft bed, place a board the under mattress
° When bending down, go down on one knee - don't stretch
° When lifting, bend your knees and keep your back straight
° When carrying groceries, balance the load evenly with 2 bags
° Use chairs which support the small of your back
° Do not use soft or bucket-shaped chairs for long periods
° Sit correctly - you should be able to rest your feet flat on the floor with your knees at a right-angle
BALDNESS
A loss of hair, known medically as alopecia. It is hereditary and not caused by wearing hats or too frequent hair washing or brushing. Male baldness progresses with age and cannot be reversed or prevented.
Hair thinning may follow 2/3 months after severe illness. Some drugs (especially anti-cancer) and certain diseases, cause temporary loss of hair.
Wigs and toupees can be used. Hair transplants are sometimes successful as a permanent method of replacing lost hair. Certain drugs may cause hair regrowth in some cases.
BODY ODOUR
Sweating is a natural way of regulating body temperature in response to hot conditions or strenuous exercise (it's also related to stress or anxiety).
Some people naturally sweat more than others. The body continuously secretes moisture through sweat glands (about 3,000,000 of them) all over its surface and normally this evaporates quickly.
Body odour is the smell caused by sweat on skin surface. Sweat itself has no odour, but if it remains on skin for a few hours, bacteria develops and often leads to body odour (however, sweat may smell strongly of garlic, curry or other recently eaten foods).
Do you have body odour?... ask your best friend...
Most body sweat is salt water, which doesn't encourage bacteria to grow and therefore doesn't smell. It comes from eccrine glands and is initially most profuse from forehead, palms, soles of feet. Feet are the perfect environment for bacteria and fungi to flourish being under warm, airless conditions for many hours.
The other form of body sweat is from apocrine glands, around the armpits, groin and nipples. These don't become active until adolescence and the scent is often associated with sexual attraction. The sweat itself is a sticky, milky fluid which contains fats and proteins. If it's allowed to stay on the skin for long, it may encourage bacteria which causes a particularly pungent body odour.
Four rules to prevent body odour:
° Wash all over once a day, with antibacterial soap
° Use a deodorant containing antiperspirant
° Wash clothes regularly, particularly those close to skin
° Try clothes made from natural fibres (e.g. cotton, wool), they let skin 'breathe' and absorb sweat
BOWEL PROBLEMS
Most cases of abdominal pain are caused by minor digestive upsets, but if severe and persistent, seek medical advice. In the interim, rest and take fluids only.
Diarrhoea is rarely dangerous. Generally a result of viruses and passes within 48hrs. No treatment is required other than rest and drinking plenty of fluids. However, if it persists or re-occurs, seek medical advice.
Dysentery (bacterial infection common in hot countries), causes violent blood-stained diarrhoea, with fever and abdominal pain. This is a serious condition which should be treated immediately.
'Irritable bowel' is associated with abnormally strong and irregular muscle contractions in the bowel. Symptoms include: Recurrent cramping pains in lower abdomen, intermittent diarrhoea and constipation.
It has no serious underlying disorder. Causes include emotional disorders (stress, anxiety, depression), coffee, raw fruits and vegetables, hormones, drugs and laxative overdose.
A high fibre diet often relieves many symptoms associated with bowel problems. It provides the bulk that helps the large intestine carry away body waste and keeps faeces soft.
Eating plenty of fibre may help prevent cancer of the large intestine and other bowel problems. It also aids weight loss by filling the stomach, without extra calories (see the 'About Your Diet' supplement).
° Don't strain when defecating as this puts extra pressure on the anus and can cause haemorrhoids.
° Eat plenty of fibre to avoid constipation.
° Using laxatives regularly is harmful and can reduce muscle control of the bowel.
BREASTS
One function of the breast is providing milk to a baby. Another is sexual.
A man's breast is an immature version of the female. A woman's breast contains fatty tissues which hold milk-producing glands.
The size and shape is determined by the amount of fatty tissue and conditions of muscles and ligaments supporting it. It's not uncommon for one breast to be slightly larger than the other.
Most breast problems are minor and easy to treat. However, if you notice any of these changes, seek medical advice:
° Painless lump in breast or armpit (possible cancer)
° Change in outline of skin or breast
° Discharge from nipple, or retraction or inverted nipple
° Pain with breast feeding (including cracked nipples)
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, 1:20 are affected and in the U.K. it causes 10,000 deaths/year. Most occur because the disease has spread beyond the breast at time of detection.
Therefore early detection is vital and regular self-examination essential (see 'Self Examination' supplement).
The golden rule is be familiar with your own body and examine yourself every month to look for changes.
Increased risks include: Not having children (or having them late in life), being overweight, family history of breast cancer.
If you are 40+ and at increased risk, as well as regular self-examination, find out from your doctor about local screening services.
CANCER
Cancer has affected mankind since prehistoric time and is just as common in animals, birds and fish.
In the USA and U.K., it effects more than 1:4 people and is the most common cause of death after heart disease.
It's impossible to specifically identify what causes cancer, but there are a number of risk factors which increase the chances of developing it.
Without doubt, the quicker cancer is diagnosed and treated, the higher the chance of cure. Some can be completely cured, if diagnosed early enough.
Therefore, it makes sense to adjust your lifestyle to reduce the chance of contracting cancer, and to be aware of simple self-examination techniques to detect it at an early stage.
The lifestyle risks are:
° Smoking (a conclusive cause)
° Asbestos (a conclusive cause)
° Diet (plenty of fibre reduces risk)
° Frequent sunbathing
° Excessive alcohol consumption
° Promiscuous sexual behaviour
There are a number of yet unspecified chemicals in food, water and our environment which are believed to trigger cancer. Also, but as yet unproved, cancer causing viruses.
However, we do know cancer is hereditary, so check the occurrence of cancer in your family. The risks increase dramatically with age, so make self-examination part of your life.
Self-examination is covered thoroughly in its own section. However, the golden rule is be familiar with your own body and examine yourself every month to look for changes.
Cancer develops in organs, so check them carefully, look for bumps, swelling, etc. Notice skin changes and keep an eye on any moles and skin blemishes.
These are the major body warning signs:
° Coughing up blood
° Persistent cough or hoarseness (difficulty swallowing)
° Thickening or lump in breast or neck
° Change in shape or size of testes
° Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing
° Passing blood with urine/faeces
° Change in bowel or bladder habits
° Unexplained loss of weight
° Unexplained indigestion
° Unexplained persistent abdominal pain
° Unexplained persistent tiredness
° A sore that does not heal (especially on hands or face, which are more exposed to sun)
° Bleeding or discharge from nipple
° Unusual bleeding or discharge
° Recurrent headaches
° Blemish or mole that enlarges, bleeds or itches
As well as self-examination, it makes sense to discuss with your doctor what local screening services are available.
Screening, or testing, for certain types of cancer dramatically aid early detection, often before the person experiences any symptoms.
DANDRUFF
Scales of dead skin from the scalp, most common in young adults.
This harmless, but irritating rash often produces unsightly white flakes in hair and on shoulders of clothes.
If you have dandruff, shampoo your hair every 1-2 days with an anti-dandruff shampoo. If this fails, seek medical advice.
EXCESSIVE SWEATING
Annoying, but harmless condition which affects adults. It may occur anywhere on the body but commonly affects armpits, palms and soles of feet.
Excessive sweating may last a lifetime, or a few years. The condition is often inherited and aggravated by minor exercise, heat, obesity and emotional state (e.g. stress, anxiety).
Women going through menopause often complain of 'hot-flashes.'
Although there is no medical solution, using a good antiperspirant will control sweating. The most important act, however, is to prevent body odour (see 'Body Odour' section of this supplement).
When buying clothes, it may be a good idea to choose colours which are less obvious to wetness (e.g. a white shirt camouflages under arm sweat much more effectively than blue).
Natural fabrics (e.g. cotton, wool) keep the body cooler by absorbing sweat and letting skin 'breathe'. Therefore, try to avoid wearing synthetic fabrics (e.g. nylon) close to the skin.
Ensure your clothes are washed regularly.
FEMALE GENITALS
Itching in the vagina or painful sex may be symptoms of infection (vaginal itching is common after menopause and results from low oestrogen levels).
However, some result from reactions to chemicals in deodorants, creams and spermicides. Soft swellings often follow overstretching during childbirth, but other swellings or sores may indicate serious underlying problem. Seek medical advice.
Cleaning the genital area should be part of daily washing. The skin is delicate and needs to be treated gently to prevent inflammation or irritation. Use only plain water (bath salt, soap, may cause irritation).
It should only be necessary to wash external skin of vulva ; the internal lining is kept clean and moist by natural secretions (thin white discharge), which also protects against infection.
Vaginal douches and deodorants may cause irritation as they upset the chemical balance inside the vagina.
Here are a few tips to prevent infection:
° Keep genital area clean
° Empty bladder completely when urinating, wipe away any residue
° Always wipe anus towards back (keeps germs from bladder opening)
° Reduce urine acidity (dilute fruit juice with water)
° Drink plenty of fluids, avoid very sweet drinks
° Always empty bladder after sexual intercourse
° If using a diaphragm, get your doctor to check it fits correctly
° Avoid wearing nylon tights or pants; cotton is best, since it absorbs sweat and allows air to circulate
FEMALE URINATION
Common disorders of urination are pain, frequency, lack of control and, change in colour or smell of urine.
With mild pain when urinating, take plenty of fluids and rest. If severe burning sensation, or possibility of sexually transmitted disease, seek medical advice.
Poor bladder control is generally caused by weak muscle control or infection in the urinary system.
Frequent urination is often related to normal menstruation or excessive fluid intake. Seek medical advice if the urination is painful, contains blood or if there's possibility of sexually transmitted disease.
Stress incontinence (slight urination during coughing or laughing) is quite common, particularly after childbirth. If it curtails social activity, surgical treatment may be required.
Sudden loss of bladder control may indicate injury of spinal or nervous system. If you've recently suffered a back injury (or fail to urinate longer than 15-20hrs), seek medical advice.
Passing red/pink urine indicates bleeding in urinary system. Seek medical advice if it can't be attributed to something you've eaten (food dyes affect urine), or if the colour/smell of urine changes.
Dark urine is a symptom of jaundice. Blue or green urine is usually caused by medicines.
Offensive or fishy smelling urine is often a sign of infection.
