Karen’s Free Health and Fitness Tips

Arthritis is, sadly, a very common and very painful condition. It can make working and even basic living extremely difficult. In order for treatment to prove effective in combating the symptoms and to allow the sufferer to live as normal a life as possible, it is essential to correctly diagnose which type of arthritis the patient has. The two most common types of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, are very different in character and require completely different methods of diagnosis, as well as very different methods of treatment.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition that affects as many as one in every hundred people. It is caused by a malfunction in the body’s defence systems and nobody has yet been able to discover why this happens. The genes that are responsible for the problem, have been identified - but the exact means by which the trouble occurs remains unknown. The disease is not hereditary, no increased risk has been found if you have a sufferer in your immediate family. In rheumatoid arthritis extra blood flow causes joints to become swollen and painful and in extreme cases can even permanently damage the joint. It is essential to seek medical help to reduce inflammation, as the damage to joints is permanent and irreversible.

There are more commercials then ever for Depression. I am sure you can remember this line on TV, “Who does Depression hurt? Everyone.” Sadly, the commercial makes a good point, that Depression does hurt everyone. If you or someone you care about is dealing with Depression, then this article is for you.

Realizing that anyone can get Depression, makes this an important topic for anyone to learn more about. According to Depression.com, Whatever its cause, depression is not just a state of mind. It is related to physical changes in the brain, and connected to an imbalance of a type of chemical that carries signals in your brain and nerves. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters.

Other causes may be your family history (Genetics), stress and trauma, negative outlook, serious medical condition, anxiety and other psychological disorders. When something bad happens, most people bounce right back, but there are others who sink into a world of darkness. No energy and just sleeping all the time.

Clinical depression is currently the leading cause of disability in North America as well as other countries, and is expected to become the second leading cause of disability worldwide (after heart disease) by the year 2020, according to the World Health Organization. The odds are not looking too good!