Treatment Options for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

In the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, doctors typically recommend a combination of medication, lifestyle changes, dietary goals, exercise, and physical therapy aimed to address the following:

– Relieve painful RA symptoms to put the disease in remission.

– Prevent any further joint damage and disability.

– Improve joint function and overall well-being.

To attain these goals, medical professionals will often recommend these strategies to treat rheumatoid arthritis:

Physical therapy

Physical therapy is a tool often recommended to improve joint function and overall range of movement for RA patients. Therapeutic exercises will often be used to help make movement in the hands and feet pain free. Therapists will often also introduce assistive tools—such as emergency alarms, reaching sticks, buttons to open doors, walking assists (i.e., canes), buttonhooks for dressing, and cooking and food preparation aids (i.e., grasping aids to help open jars and protective knife handles to protect the wrist and fingers).

Dietary changes

Diet can impact the lives of rheumatoid arthritis patients in a positive or negative manner. With the primary goal of managing pain and encouraging improved joint function, doctors will often prescribe patients consume a well-balanced diet consisting of lean protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains while avoiding inflammatory foods such as red meat, refined sugar, processed foods, and fatty fried foods. Health professionals may also introduce supplementing with fish oil and/or plant oils (i.e., evening primrose oils) known for their natural pain-relieving benefits.

Physical activity

Daily, low-impact exercise is important for RA patients in order to promote regular movement and improved range of motion. Good examples of RA-approved exercise includes swimming, Tai Chi, yoga, and walking, which is gentle on swollen joints.

Medication

Medications prescribed to treat RA focus on relieving symptoms while slowing the progression of the disease. However, many medications used to treat RA often carry serious side effects (i.e., mood swings, weight gain, and bone loss), which is why patients should be closely monitored by a doctor and adhere to drug frequency and dosage to prevent an overdose. To treat painful RA symptoms, doctors often prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (or NSAIDS) such as over-the-counter ibuprofen (i.e., Advil) or naproxen sodium (ie., Aleve). To reduce inflammation, prednisone (a corticosteroid) is often prescribed either via oral pill or injection. Lastly, doctors aim to prevent the progression of RA with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (or DMARDS) paired with a “biologic agent” (i.e., etanercept, batacept, adalimumab, certolizumab, etc.).

Surgery

Surgical intervention is considered only for RA patients with severely damaged mobility in instances where a joint or tendon can be saved or replaced entirely. For instance, joints may be fused or removed via a synovectomy (removal of inflamed joint lining) performed on a knee, hip, finger, wrist, or elbow. Joints can also be surgically replaced with prosthetics created from metal or plastic.

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Foods to Avoid if You Have Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (or IBD) that occurs when chronic inflammation causes ulcers to develop in the inner lining (i.e., colon and rectum) of the digestive tract. Colitis may cause symptoms of abdominal cramping, bleeding, and pain. There are several ulcerative rx colitis medications that your doctor may prescribe as treatment, however, diet is also important.

Here are six foods to avoid if you suffer from ulcerative colitis:

1. Fibrous foods
Fiber is a part of a healthy diet. However, fiber is one of the foods that you will need to avoid if you use biologic treatments for ulcerative colitis. Fiber can irritate the digestive system. You should limit your intake of whole grains as well as raw and undercooked vegetables. Vegetables are an important part of your diet. However, you should try pureed vegetable soup. It will be a lot easier for your body to digest them.

2. Sulfates
Sulfate is a nutrient that the body requires. However, it can also feed a bacteria that creates a toxic gas inside of the intestines. If you find yourself constantly bloating, then you may have too much sulfur and sulfates in your diet. Red meat, beer, wine, apple juice, grape juice, cheese and eggs are some of the foods that have sulfates in them.

3. Dairy products
It is common for people who have ulcerative colitis to have an intolerance to dairy products. If you do not know whether dairy products are a trigger for you, then it is a good idea for you to keep a food diary. You should eliminate yogurt, milk, butter and cheese if your symptoms get worse.

4. Carbonated drinks
Carbonated drinks are beverages that fizzle when you open them. This includes sodas and carbonated water. Drinking carbonated beverages can also increase the risk of obesity. People who are obese usually have worse symptoms of ulcerative colitis. Obesity can also increase the risk of heart disease.

5. Caffeine
It is a good idea to limit your intake of caffeine if you are taking ulcerative colitis. This includes sodas, teas, chocolate and coffee. Caffeine is a stimulant, so it has a tendency to get things going. That is why you may suffer diarrhea and stomach pain after you consume something that has caffeine in it.

6. Alcohol
Alcohol is not good for you to drink if you suffer from ulcerative colitis. Alcohol has a tendency to affect people differently. Some people experience vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, vomiting and nausea. Excessive alcohol intake can also lead to liver problems. The liver is responsible for detoxifying the body. Furthermore, alcohol has a tendency to interfere with the way that your body processes medications. This can alter the way that the active drug molecules are excreted. It can also increase the risk of liver complications.

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fashion

5 Dress Types to Suit Women of All Ages

Fashion is such an individualized thing. Everyone is different and therefore everyone has personal preferences when it comes to different types of dresses. One thing is true though; it’s important to have at least one versatile and flattering dress in your wardrobe. When determining what type to choose, there are several styles to consider that can be appropriate for different types of events and different figures.

Women today attend many events that require dressing up for the occasion. These may include weddings, dates, parties, work events, and brunch. When looking to buy a dress to suit a wide range of occasions, here are some flattering options for all ages and body types:

1. Wrap dresses

Wrap dresses are exactly what they sound like. These dresses are pulled together with a front closure. One side of the dress is wrapped across the front and then either goes behind the back part of the waist to either be attached by buttons or tied. The construction of this dress creates a v-neck front. It also accentuates the curves of the wearer in the chest area.

2. Maxi dresses

Maxi dresses are a great option for many occasions. They are long and go to the floor. Generally, they are designed to fit the body on the top, and then be flowy and long on the bottom. The fun thing about them is they can feature many different necklines and come in various patterns and colors. This makes them very individualized to the person.

3. A-Line dresses

A-line dresses are named after the shape they take on the body, which is an “A”. They fit to the top part of the body and begin to flare gradually out at the waist and hips, becoming wider as the hem progresses. A-line clothing can be found not just in dresses, but also in coats and skirts.

4. Little black dresses

Everyone has heard of the little black dress. This is such a versatile option that can be found in your closet. It can be dressed up or down for numerous types of events. As a general design, it is usually a simple dress that tends to be quite short. The elegance and simplicity create a fairly blank canvas that allows you to create the exact type of look that you want. Many designers provide limitless options for this much-needed wardrobe essential. Victoria Beckham cocktail dresses are one good brand to consider.

5. Mini dresses

A mini, or short dress that hangs just above the knees is a common style. This design became popular in the 1920’s. It was later revitalized in the 1960s, and has remained an integral part of many wardrobes ever since. A mini shift style dress is a loose-fitting dress that is very comfortable and does not fit tightly around the waist or any part of the body. It is loose at both the hips and the waist so the dress falls loosely down from the shoulders all the way down to the bottom of the dress. Darts are generally located in the bust area. It is a straight silhouette that can be flattering for those that have bodies that are shaped more like a column and it also elongates petite figures as it shows off the legs.

When shopping for dresses, every designer has his or her own individual interpretation. It is fun, and a great idea to look at the individual designers and fashion forward celebrities to find the one that fits your aesthetic most closely. Also, remember that designers also have many other clothing options. As an example, when looking at what stars wear, like Kourtney Kardashian or Victoria Beckham (blouses, skirts, dresses and pants), you might find a designer that the star tends to wear a lot that you can draw inspiration from.