Arthritis is an inflammation of a joint, usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and stiffness, and resulting from infection, trauma, degenerative changes, metabolic disturbances, or other causes. It occurs in various forms, such as bacterial arthritis, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis.
Low-carb diet effective at lowering blood pressure – In a head-to-head comparison, two popular weight loss methods proved equally effective at helping participants lose significant amounts of weight. But, in a surprising twist, a low-carbohydrate diet proved better at lowering blood pressure than the weight-loss drug orlistat.
Obesity comes with plenty of health risks, but there’s one that’s perhaps not so well known: an increased risk of developing cancer, and especially certain types of cancer like liver cancer. – Epidemiological studies indicate that being overweight or obese is associated with increased cancer risk. The most dramatic effect of obesity on cancer risk has been noted for a common form of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC.
Yoga reduces cytokine levels known to promote inflammation – Regularly practicing yoga exercises may lower a number of compounds in the blood and reduce the level of inflammation that normally rises because of both normal aging and stress, a new study has shown.
UT rheumatologists advance genetic research related to disabling form of arthritis – Work done in part by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston has led to the discovery of two new genes that are implicated in ankylosing spondylitis (AS), an inflammatory and potentially disabling disease.
FDA Approves ACTEMRA? (tocilizumab) for the Treatment of Moderately to Severely Active Rheumatoid Arthritis – Genentech, Inc. , a wholly owned member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ACTEMRA? (tocilizumab) for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had an inadequate response to one or more tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist therapies.
Abuse in childhood linked to migraine and other pain disorders – Findings suggest abuse is a risk factor for chronic headache – Researchers from the American Headache Society’s Women’s Issues Section Research Consortium found that incidence of childhood maltreatment, especially emotional abuse and neglect, are prevalent in migraine patients.
Running shoes may cause damage to knees, hips and ankles — Greater stresses on joints than running barefoot or walking in high-heeled shoes observed – Knee osteoarthritis (OA) accounts for more disability in the elderly than any other disease. Running, although it has proven cardiovascular and other health benefits, can increase stresses on the joints of the leg.
Too much physical activity may lead to arthritis — knee osteoarthritis. – Middle-aged men and women who engage in high levels of physical activity may be unknowingly causing damage to their knees and increasing their risk for osteoarthritis.
Heart disease found in Egyptian mummies — Findings suggest that atherosclerosis is not only a modern disease. – Atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries has been detected in Egyptian mummies, some as old as 3,500 years, suggesting that the factors causing heart attack and stroke are not only modern ones; they afflicted ancient people, too.
PCPs are front line defense in diagnosing serious illness in patients with acute lower back pain — ‘Red flag’ clinical features aid PCPs in screening patients for serious diseases. – Primary care physicians are front line defense in diagnosing serious illness in patients with acute lower back pain, revealed by researchers at The George Institute for International Health in Australia.
Women who make poor shoe choices at risk for foot pain later in life – Women who make poor shoe choices early in life suffer with foot pain in later years, revealed by researchers. The new study is published in the October issue of Arthritis Care & Research, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology.
Women with strong thigh muscles protected from symptomatic knee osteoarthritis — Quadriceps strength in either sex does not predict OA found on x-rays. – Thigh muscle strength does not predict the occurrence of knee osteoarthritis (OA) uncovered in x-rays, but does predict incidence of painful or stiff knee OA, revealed by researchers at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
