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The warning was issued yesterday by scientists during a conference in Barcelona on cardiovascular disease.

Delegates were told new research has revealed that ibuprofen one of the most widely prescribed drugs in the world increased blood pressure more than other non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

The over-the-counter tablet is often the choice for millions in the UK who suffer from the agony of arthritic pain every day.

Researchers at the University Heart Centre in Zurich studied a number of pain relief drugs, which included ibuprofen, naproxen and celecoxib and found a pronounced risk of increased blood pressure in the ibuprofen users, adding to the risk of heart disease and stroke.

The study clearly demonstrates that NSAIDs, particularly ibuprofen, may be not as safe as previously thought

Frank Ruschitzka - Professor of cardiology

Investigator Frank Ruschitzka, professor of cardiology and head of the department at the centre in Switzerland, warned: The study clearly demonstrates that NSAIDs, particularly ibuprofen, may be not as safe as previously thought.

Patients receiving ibuprofen had a 61 per cent higher incidence of de novo hypertension [high blood pressure] compared to those receiving celecoxib.

Researchers had found that celecoxib produced a slight decrease in blood pressure while naproxen caused a relatively small increase.

They warned the findings would have the greatest clinical significance for the elderly, who have a high prevalence of arthritis and hypertension.

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Prof Ruschitzka advised: Patients with osteoarthritis and arthritis should continue to consult their doctor before taking NSAIDs and clinicians need to weigh the potential hazards of worsening blood pressure control when considering the use of these agents.

He said that since decreasing blood pressure by a small amount could lower both stroke and heart mortality by 10 per cent and seven per cent respectively, the findings were particularly significant.

In the UK, 10 million people suffer from arthritis with 8.5 million of these with the most common form, osteoarthritis, caused when the cartilage that cushions movement in the joints is worn away.

Currently around 400,000 people in Britain suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease in which the bodys own immune system attacks the bodys joints.

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The often crippling condition, which has no cure, causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in the joints.

It is typically diagnosed in people aged 40 to 70 and affects three times as many women as men.

Arthritis Research UK confirmed ibuprofen was taken by many sufferers but warned them of the dangers.

A spokesman said: Longterm use of NSAIDs, including ibuprofen, can increase the risk of problems with your heart or circulation, especially if you have other risk factors for these conditions.

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Common health myths and old wives' tales

Therefore you shouldnt take ibuprofen for long-term pain relief without seeing your doctor first and you shouldnt take ibuprofen if youre also being prescribed another type of NSAID tablet.

Experts in heart disease, which remains Britains biggest killer and claims the lives of 155,000 people a year, also welcomed the new study.

Professor Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said last night: Patients and doctors must weigh up the risks and benefits of NSAIDs, particularly if you have another long-term health condition such as arthritis.

Although not all of these drugs raise your blood pressure significantly, its important to have a discussion with your doctor about the best treatment for you.

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Whether you are being prescribed painkillers like ibuprofen, or buying them over the counter, its important to be aware of the risks and you should always talk to your GP or specialist before you start taking any new medication.

NSAID labels include warnings about potential increases in blood pressure but there is little data on the effects of individual drugs.

Researchers found that achieving blood pressure control in patients with arthritis could avoid thousands of deaths from stroke and coronary heart disease each year.

The findings were yesterday presented to the European Society of Cardiology conference in Barcelona.

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New Ibuprofen health ALERT: Painkiller raises blood pressure in arthritis sufferers - Express.co.uk

People talk about arthritis being an invisible condition, says Liam OToole, chief executive of Arthritis Research UK. If you cant see the pain, you cant understand the impact. A study for the charity backs him up: it found eight out of 10 people with arthritis felt society didnt understand their condition because it doesnt look serious.

Yet the scale of the problem is huge. Lives, not just of individuals but of families too, are devastated by the pain, isolation and fatigue wrought by arthritis. Meanwhile, the cost to the NHS and the economy, via lost working days, runs to billions of pounds. Arthritis affects everybody, either directly or indirectly, and yet nobody talks about it, OToole says. While other hidden health problems are frequently discussed, arthritis lags behind in the public consciousness.

Arthritis Research UK wants to change that lifting the lid on arthritis is a crucial part of its overall mission: to create a world free from the impact of the condition. The charity believes that once society understands the true impact of arthritis, people will start working together to find solutions. And with its heritage and expertise, its in a strong position to lead the way.

Each strand of Arthritis Research UKs work plays a key role in its overarching objective. As one of the top five medical research charities in the UK in terms of spending, its currently funding more than 300 active projects up and down the country to develop new treatments, so people with arthritis dont have to live in pain. Its working with politicians, doctors, designers and employers, to ensure the NHS, public services, public spaces and workplaces are better equipped to support those struggling with the condition. And with its constantly evolving information and advice services, it works to assist and reassure them and their loved ones.

Last year alone, the charity spent 21.62m on research. Its focus is threefold: finding a cure for arthritis; prevention of the condition in the first place; and transforming the daily existence of those living with the pain of it. Its renowned for its groundbreaking discoveries, including anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy a whole new class of drugs that have changed the lives of people with inflammatory arthritis over the past 15 years, since Arthritis Research UK funded research into the activities of TNF in the 1990s.

Pain itself is a key area for research. We think there is a significant subgroup probably 4 million people who are really struggling, OToole says. This is not the sort of pain most of us experience for a couple of weeks. This is chronic, long-term pain for months, years, decades.

But the problem has been neglected, he believes, because the health service is organised around diseases and disciplines: There isnt much research into pain because it doesnt fit into that [structure], and there wasnt enough funding. We want to be strategic: we need to get clever scientists together to get them interested in pain.

In recent years, the 81-year-old organisation has sought the views of 10,000 people living with arthritis to help shape its work and ensure their voices are heard by the people with the power to make change. Everything we do is informed by people with arthritis, OToole says.

Arthritis Research UK works closely with healthcare professionals and provides them with advice and support on caring for people with arthritis. For example, together with the Royal College of General Practitioners, the charity has developed a free online programme that teaches GPs core skills in arthritis care.

Its also working with the design community to give people with arthritis more opportunities to live independently, creating the inclusively designed products and public spaces that are so desperately needed. A funding and support programme to help budding designers turn their ideas into commercial products, delivered with the Design Council, has already discovered Handy-Fasteners magnetic fasteners to replace fiddly buttons, which can be added to peoples existing clothes. And with the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, it has developed kitchen products such as a kitchen anchor to support peeling, grating and chopping, and a cook book that encourages hand exercise through recipes involving techniques like kneading.

Arthritis Research UK wants people with arthritis and their families to feel supported to live well with arthritis, which is why it provides a huge range of free information on its website tailored to the needs of those living with arthritis.

Theres an enormous unmet need for advice and support, OToole says. Arthritis Research UK is now using cognitive computing and the input of 500 people with arthritis to develop an online virtual assistant that will learn to answer hundreds of questions people living with arthritis might have.

The virtual assistant is available 24 hours a day which is important, given that pain often keeps people awake at night, says OToole. So is the fact they may have personal questions theyd be embarrassed to ask a doctor. Sometimes people are in so much pain they cant hold their partners hand, he says. You can imagine what that does to a healthy love life.

For OToole, the way arthritis is overlooked has been brought home most starkly by the interviews the charity has carried out. In all the conversations, weve almost needed to take the lid off and give people permission to talk about it and say: Its not OK, he says. The emotional outpouring you then get is enormous.

To find out how arthritis affects us all, please visit: arthritisresearchuk.org/jointproblem

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The UK's 'hidden' disease: 'Arthritis affects everybody, yet nobody talks about it' - The Guardian

Arthritis is an unforgiving condition that doesnt just cause physical pain; for many people it impacts so dramatically on their quality of life that it also causes emotional pain. A study conducted by Revealing Reality for the charity Arthritis Research UK found that a quarter of people with arthritis say they often or frequently feel low or depressed on account of their condition. This comes as no surprise to Dr Tom Margham, who works closely with the charity.

Given that mental health and arthritis are so closely linked, healthcare professionals should not just be treating the physical impact of the condition, but also the knock-on effect on mental health, he says.

The invisibility of arthritis means its often misunderstood, making it harder for people living with the condition to find support.

Olivia Belle, Arthritis Research UKs director of external affairs, agrees: Most people underestimate the effects arthritis can have on a persons life. We are working to lift the lid on the reality of living with the condition so that people can live better lives and get the help they need whether that be empathy, treatments or support with their mental health.

The classic symptoms a swollen knee, painful ankles, burning pains in my joints started when I was 17. For the next three years, while studying to be a nurse, I suffered painful flare-ups every few weeks. When I was given a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in 2010, damage to my joints had already occurred. I went through three knee operations in as many years, all of which left me housebound and in a cast for months.

By 2014, I was working as a clinical assistant at a hospital in London. When I had to resign a year later after taking yet more time off for surgery and recuperation, I was and still am devastated. I got another job as a receptionist but I had to leave that, too. Whenever I thought things were going OK, Id need another operation and then Id be back home again, stuck in bed recuperating. Ive had a total of eight operations and Im awaiting a date for my ninth surgery.

Every day, I wear an ankle and foot brace, and my palms are blistered from using crutches. It upsets me that friends arent supportive. When I say Im in too much pain to meet up, they just go out without me; I would really love it if they came over, and we ordered a takeaway and watched a movie together. It doesnt seem fair that Im in my bedroom clutching a knee full of fluid that feels like molten lava, trying to make some kind of sense out of whats happening to me, while everyone else is out having fun and getting on with their lives.

I live at home with my dad; I dont think hes really grasped the seriousness of my illness and my mum is in India looking after my grandmother. I havent even told the rest of my family how bad things are.

I recently flew to America to visit relatives. I had to get away from the four walls of my bedroom and the endless trips to hospital. I did struggle with the travel and Im paying the price for my adventure now with a huge flare up of RA but it was worth it to feel like I had a life again, albeit it only for a few weeks.

To find out how arthritis affects us all, please visit: arthritisresearchuk.org/jointproblem

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Arthritis: the hidden impact on mental health - The Guardian

Almost every drug on the market for heart disease targets cholesterol. So it was major news on Aug. 27 when a group of cardiologists from around the world announced theyd discovered a drug that reduces inflammationand currently used to treat juvenile arthritissuccessfully prevented heart attacks, strokes, and other kinds of cardiac death in a recent trial.

The drug is called canakinumab and sold under the brand name Ilaris by the Swiss company Novartis, which funded the study. It works to treat juvenile arthritis by reducing the number of inflammatory chemicals in the blood called interleukin-1.

The new study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, involved over 10,000 patients living in 39 countries who were at a higher risk of heart disease. Each had a history of heart attacks and high levels of interleukin-1 in their blood; 40% of the patients also had diabetes. Patients were randomly put in four groups and received either a placebo, 50 milligrams, 150 milligrams, or 300 milligrams of canakinumab every two weeks of the first month, and then once every three months through an injection for up to four years after.

Throughout the study, researchers also kept track of heart attacks, strokes, and death resulting from heart failure. By the end of the study, there were just over 1,400 reported incidents of these events; the patients receiving the highest dose of canakinumab had 14% fewer of them than the placebo group.

For years, cholesterol was thought to be the hormonal villain associated with heart disease. The idea was that it would clog up arteries by clumping against the sides of blood vessels, making it impossible for blood to squeeze through. Doctors were hugely excited when cholesterol-lowering statins were invented back in 1994; these drugs are now prescribed to tens of thousands of Americans with the hope that they will keep heart disease at bay.

But lowering cholesterol doesnt seem to prevent heart disease in every patient. So now experts believe high interleukin-1 blood levels can also be responsible for raising heart attack risk. The general thinking is that these inflammatory chemicals end up preventing the heart from healing from damage from previous heart heart attacks. This extra stiffening and swelling may put an extra strain on it in the future, too.

Interleukin-1 isnt all bad; we need it to survive injury or other infections. The chemical works by forcing damaged tissue to swell up with extra fluid from blood vessels, in order to isolate potential pathogens before they make their way all over the body. But interleukin-1 tends to be a little trigger-happy, and can sometimes cause inflammatory reactions that are more harmful than helpful, especially in certain chronic diseases like arthritis, and now, possibly, heart disease.

Interestingly, different results from the same trial suggesting that this therapy may even work to extend the lives of patients living with lung cancer were published in a paper the same day in The Lancet. That said, Barnett Kramer, the director of the Division of Cancer Prevention at the National Cancer Institute who was not associated with the work, told the Washington Post that these effects may be coincidental.

The drug itself is not likely to be a miracle cure. In both papers, those taking canakinumab were at a higher risk of dying from infectionssuggesting that there are risks associated with decreasing the bodys immune response. Canakinumab is also really expensive: a years supply for heart disease treatment would cost $64,000. But, this trial opens the door for future treatments for patients for whom controlling cholesterol isnt enough to improve heart health.

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In a first, scientists may have found a treatment for heart disease that doesn't target cholesterol - Quartz

A study conducted by Keele University shows that patients with rheumatoid arthritis who are also suffering with anxiety or depression may avoid talking to their GP about their mental health symptoms.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term inflammatory condition which causes joint pain, swelling and deformity. Although 1 in 5 people with rheumatoid arthritis experience anxiety or depression, the study (funded by the Haywood Hospital) found that healthcare providers may not recognise mental health problems; instead prioritising physical health concerns. The research showed that this negative experience of care can lead to patients feeling unable to raise their mood problems in future consultations.

The Haywood Foundation funded the set-up of nurse-led clinics in two North Staffordshire community hospitals, as part of a rheumatoid arthritis annual review. Dr Annabelle Machin, a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded researcher, interviewed patients about their previous experiences of care, understanding of anxiety and depression, and preferences for the management of mood problems.

Some patients interpreted their mood problems as normal because of their rheumatoid arthritis, which prevented them from seeking help. Others reported GP appointments to be anxiety-provoking, or felt that their GP prioritised physical over mental health concerns. Patients felt these potential barriers to the discussion of their mood problems could be overcome through continuity of care, provision of time, and encouragement to attend follow-up appointments by a named GP. Patients experiencing severe anxiety and depression felt that mood problems themselves could be a barrier to self-referral for psychological therapy, suggesting that a GP referral could improve access to care.

There was key input from a patient group, who not only assisted with study design and analysis of the interview transcripts, but also helped to develop an information leaflet, which educates patients about mental health problems and treatments in rheumatoid arthritis. The leaflet is now readily available in the Patient Information and Education Resource Centre (PIER) at the Haywood Hospital.

Lead researcher and academic GP, Dr Annabelle Machin, said, "I would like to thank the NIHR for funding this study, which I hope will promote future discussion of mood problems within rheumatoid arthritis annual reviews, as this could have a great impact on both physical and mental health outcomes for patients".

Explore further: Study examines opioid use in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

More information: Annabelle Machin et al. Improving recognition of anxiety and depression in rheumatoid arthritis: a qualitative study in a community clinic, British Journal of General Practice (2017). DOI: 10.3399/bjgp17X691877

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Improving the recognition of anxiety and depression in rheumatoid arthritis - Medical Xpress

Do you suffer from arthritis and take over-the-counter (OTC) arthritis drugs? You could be at risk of adverse drug events.

You are not alone. The most commonly used OTC arthritis drugs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Aleve, and Naproxen. The FDA estimates that 17% of adults in the United State took Ibuprofen and 3.5% of adults took Naproxen in any given week. While these drugs are extremely effective in reducing pain and inflammation associated with arthritis, they are also responsible for many adverse drug reactions, and are associated with stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, heart attacks, heart failure and liver failure.

The label instructions for use of both Ibuprofen and Aleve recommend that you consult with your physician if you take these drugs for more than 10 days for arthritis pain. It goes on to say that the drugs temporarily relieve minor aches and pain due to----minor pain of arthritis. Id like to emphasize the word temporary and advise all with arthritis pain that these drugs are not indicated for long term use unless supervised by your physician.

According to a recent report, the use of these NSAIDs increase the risk of acute kidney injury by 50% in the general population and patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The report also estimated that the incidence of acute kidney injury doubled in patients over 50 compared to those that did not take NSAIDs.

There are many forms of acute kidney injury associated with NSAIDs including kidney failure requiring dialysis, allergic disease of the kidney, worsening of underlying chronic kidney disease, worsening high blood pressure and elevation of blood potassium levels. NSAIDs also can cause interactions with other drugs that you may be taking for other diseases. Many of these adverse drug events can be life-threatening.

I recommend that if you are interested in taking NSAIDs that you consult with your physician and review your medical history. You should avoid long term use of these agents and you should be monitored carefully while you are taking these drugs over extended periods of time.

Learn more about pain medications.

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Arthritis Drugs and Kidney Disease - HuffPost

MONTPELIER The next meeting for the Fibromyalgia and Arthritis Support Group will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 7 p.m. at the Montpelier Senior Center, 325 N. Jonesville St.

Fibromyalgia is a common and disabling disorder affecting two to four percent of the population. Patients with fibromyalgia usually ache all over, sleep poorly, are stiff on walking, and tired all day.

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Fibromyalgia, arthritis support group to meet Sept. 5 - The Bryan Times (subscription)

The new approach to treating arthritis is based on brown algae. Credit: istockphoto / Empa

Researchers at ETH Zurich, Empa and the Norwegian research institute SINTEF are pursuing a new approach to treating arthritis. This is based on a polysaccharide, a long-chain sugar molecule, originating from brown algae. When chemically modified, this "alginate" reduces oxidative stress, has an anti-inflammatory effect in cell culture tests and suppresses the immune reaction against cartilage cells, thereby combating the causes of arthritis. The research is, however, still in its infancy.

Arthritis is the most-widespread joint disease, with around 90 percent of all people over 65 being affected to varying degrees, but this degenerative disease is also widespread amongst younger people. In arthritis, the cartilage in the joint, a type of protective layer on bones that "lubricates" the joint, degenerates over time. This can be extremely painful for sufferers, because inflammatory reactions are associated with cartilage degeneration. In the later stages of the disease, bones are no longer adequately protected and can directly rub against each other.

Arthritis can affect all joints in the body, but most often affects the knee joint, hip joint and fingers. The disease has been considered incurable until now. Current treatment methods, such as anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers, mainly address the symptoms. Often, the only remaining option is an operation to replace the affected joint with an artificial one.

Initial research results are encouraging

In laboratory tests, the team led by ETHZ researcher Marcy Zenobi-Wong and Empa researcher Katharina Maniura has now succeeded, together with SINTEF in Norway, in identifying a substance with the potential to halt cartilage degeneration in joints. This substance is the polysaccharide alginate extracted from the stems of brown algae - or more precisely cuvie (Lat. Laminaria hyperborea), which is similar to specific extracellular biomolecules in cartilage. The researchers chemically modified the alginate with sulfate groups and then added it in dissolved form to cell cultures to examine the reaction of various cell types to the modified polysaccharide. This revealed that alginate sulfate can significantly reduce oxidative stress, which is a frequent cause of cell damage or even cell death, and the more sulfate groups attached to the alginate molecule, the greater this reduction.

Alginate sulfate was also able to suppress the inflammatory reaction, again depending on the number of sulfate groups, and was able to down-regulate the expression of genes that trigger an inflammatory reaction in both human cartilage cells, known as chondrocytes, and in macrophages, the "scavenger cells" of our immune system. The algal molecules should therefore slow down cartilage degeneration. "The hope is that they can even stop this degeneration," says Empa researcher Markus Rottmar.

Further research work necessary

The alginate sulfates have so far only been tested in vitro, i.e. in the laboratory with cell cultures. However, the encouraging results mean that research will now continue. The next stage is to test the substances on animals. If this is also successful, clinical trials can then be conducted on people. These tests are, however, laborious and time-consuming. If everything were to work perfectly, it would still be a few years before arthritis patients could be treated with alginate sulfate.

Explore further: Prolactin reduces arthritis inflammation

More information: Anne Kerschenmeyer et al. Anti-oxidant and immune-modulatory properties of sulfated alginate derivatives on human chondrocytes and macrophages, Biomater. Sci. (2017). DOI: 10.1039/c7bm00341b

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Treating arthritis with algae - Medical Xpress - Medical Xpress

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Doctors battling to find ways of stopping or easing the pain caused by the disease launched a nationwide campaign to highlight the true impact on patients.

It came as research shows arthritis costs the UK economy 2.6billion a year.

More than 10 million people in Britain suffer from the disease, which causes swelling of the joints.

Yet while it is the leading cause of pain in the UK, campaigners say it remains largely invisible.

Dr Liam OToole, chief executive of Arthritis Research UK, said: We have this sort of culture of suffer in silence, grin and bear it, its what my granny used to suffer from.

"Actually it affects all of us directly and indirectly. We all lose out from it and we want to make sure people dont suffer in silence.

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Launching the campaign, Dr OToole added: Today we have taken an important step in changing the way the nation sees this major public health issue.

New research shows 25 million working days are lost annually in the UK due to the two most common forms, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

The figure is set to rise to 25.9 million lost days at a cost of 3.4billion to the economy by 2030, according to research by the York Health Economics Consortium at the University of York.

By 2050 the figures will increase to 27.2 million working days, costing the economy 4.7billion a year.

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Change will only come if we can win acknowledgement that there is a problem in which we all have a stake

Dr OToole

The NHS and wider healthcare system will spend 10.2billion treating the conditions this year and a total of 118.6billion in the next decade.

Consortium director Matthew Taylor said: Our research highlights just how significant that impact is and the fact that its set to increase.

"Its imperative that we all understand arthritis better, so that we can take the necessary steps to help people living with it.

A separate survey showed that around three in four people with all types of arthritis say their family and social lives are compromised.

Just over half of those quizzed feel they are a nuisance to their families, while around a third of sufferers report a negative effect on physical intimacy with their partners.

While 88 per cent of sufferers describe it as a debilitating and life-restricting condition, the report reveals the condition is largely hidden from public view.

The survey found 86 per cent of people with the condition try hard not to let arthritis define them or their personality.

And even though it impacts people of all ages, 89 per cent of people living with it believe the condition is viewed by society as an old persons disease.

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More than 100million is being spent this year to develop breakthrough treatments and find a cure.

But campaigners insist more resources need to be ploughed into the issue.

Dr OToole said: There is a complete mismatch between the enormous impact arthritis has on individuals, their families and society and the attention, priority and resources society currently gives to it.

He added: One of the root causes of this is the conditions invisibility. Change will only come if we can win acknowledgement that there is a problem in which we all have a stake.

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Anne Kearl, 55, from Hampshire has osteoarthritis.

She said pain is always there, adding: When friends and colleagues cant physically see anything wrong with you, they assume youre OK and often I let people think that rather than be honest about my arthritis.

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Arthritis: Experts STEP UP battle to beat agonising condition - Express.co.uk

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Taking oral contraceptives may reduce the risk for rheumatoid arthritis, a new study has found.

The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unclear, but since it is about three times more common in women than in men, some have suggested hormonal factors might be involved.

Swedish researchers studied 2,641 women with the disease and 4,251 healthy controls. They did blood tests and collected health and behavioral data, including information about their reproductive history, breast-feeding and use of contraception. The study, in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, followed them for eight years.

Women in the study had used oral contraceptives for an average of seven years. Over all, after adjusting for age, alcohol consumption, smoking and other factors, current users were 15 percent less likely, and past users 13 percent less likely, than those who had never used oral contraceptives to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Users with positive blood tests for the antibody called ACPA, a predictor of rheumatoid arthritis, reduced their risk by 16 percent.

Although some smaller studies have found a link between women who had breast-fed their babies and a lower risk of rheumatoid arthritis, this study found none.

If youre already using oral contraception, you dont need to stop if you have a family history of R.A. or are diagnosed with the disease, said the lead author, Cecilia Orellana, a postdoctoral fellow at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. But we are not recommending you start them as a preventive. We cant overlook the other potential side effects of the drugs on other conditions.

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Oral Contraceptives Tied to Lower Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk - New York Times

Infographic courtesy of Gout and Uric Acid Education Society.

The community is invited to attend and support the 2017 Walk to Cure Arthritis on Saturday, Aug. 26, to help raise awareness and funding in the effort to find a cure for arthritis. The fundraising event will be held at Liliuokalani Park at 189 Lihiwai Street in Hilo and registration can be completed online.

Arthritis is a growing condition in Hawaii with roughly 19 percent of residents affected by some form of the condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Health experts say its important to speak with a rheumatologist to discuss treatment options in suspected cases.

In light of the upcoming Walk for Arthritis fundraiser, 70-year-old Hawaii Island resident Dennis Leatherman is sharing his story of suffering with chronic gout, an inflammatory arthritic condition that can lead to severe pain and joint damage.

Gout is caused by too much uric acid in the bloodstream, and can lead to sudden episodes of pain, stiffness and swelling. For many people the pain is overwhelming. It usually begins in the big toe and when left untreated, can spread to the ankles, heels, knees, wrists and fingers.

As a local art teacher and artist, Leatherman said the severity of his pain made him doubt whether he could continue painting. After multiple doctor visits and years of pain, Leatherman was finally diagnosed with chronic gout. He now leads an art class as a therapeutic activity for local residents struggling with various health conditions.

Only 10 percent of people with gout receive proper treatment, according to the Gout and Uric Acid Education Society.Leatherman hopes that sharing his own story will raise awareness about gout so others can get proper treatment if they notice symptoms.

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2017 Walk to Cure Arthritis Comes to Hilo Aug. 26 - Big Island Now

Yet despite it being the countrys leading source of pain and disability it remains a largely invisible and overlooked condition that is often dismissed as an old persons disease, even though the truth is that it can attack people of all ages.

This is why Arthritis Research UK is launching a campaign to highlight the condition and its awful debilitating effects. Apart from the physical toll, it costs the economy 2.58billion a year.

There are always medical conditions that attract the publics attention and their sympathy. Arthritis is not one of these: it is almost a Cinderella illness. And most who suffer from it tend to do so in silence. Often they do not wish to be a nuisance to their families, let alone the medical profession.

Yet nobody would wish chronic pain on anybody. It can make life unbearable and many with arthritis are in pain all the time.

Many people with agonising conditions of all types will be stoical and put up and shut up. But with a disease such as arthritis and related illnesses such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, the very fact that it is so widespread makes it essential that the campaign not only raises awareness but also leads to more research and eventually a cure.

Brexit makes us safer

Our new chief trade negotiator Crawford Falconer will this week begin working alongside Liam Fox in the Department for International trade. In the run-up toBrexithis role will be crucial and it is to be welcomed that here is a senior figure who is wholeheartedly committed to getting the best out of quitting the EU.

Mr Falconer also believes that new alliances and trade deals made by Britain will make the world a safer place. He says: Many countries still recognise that open-trade policies directed at engaging with others are at the core of any strategy to improve the global prospects for political openness and stability.

For too long we have heard nothing but doom-laden despair at the complexity of extricating ourselves from Brussels with some even saying it is a job that simply cant be done. How refreshing to hear such a positive and optimistic attitude to Brexit.

Bake Off - we missed you

The new Bake Off, it must be admitted, looks very much like the old Bake Off though with some different people. The appeal of the show was always its gentle and quintessentially British charm, which thankfully seems intact.

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Arthritis: Invisible illness causing untold pain to sufferers - EXPRESS COMMENT - Express.co.uk

Arthritis sufferers forced to take time off work will cost the economy 3.43 billion a year by 2030, according to new research.

The two most common forms of the condition, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, currently cost the UK economy 2.58 billion annually through 25 million lost working days.

But this will jump further by 900,000 more lost working days for the condition which costs the NHS and the wider healthcare system 10.2 billion every year.

Over the course of the next decade, an estimated 118.6 billion will be spent on the condition.

The figures were published by Arthritis Research UK, which is launching a campaign to raise the profile of the condition.

The research detailed in the report titled the Nations Joint Problem report, reveals the current and future impact of the condition on the economy, the NHS as well as families and individuals across the UK.

One-in-six people currently have OA and RA, and this is predicted to rise to one-in-five by 2050.

Experts predict that by then the figures will increase to 27.2 million working days and, an annual cost of 4.74 billion.

Arthritis is an umbrella term used to describe painful conditions that affect the bones, muscles and joints in all parts of the body.

Even though nine-in-ten people with arthritis (88%) describe it as a debilitating and life-restricting condition, the report reveals the condition is largely invisible from the public and even an acceptable, part of getting older.

The research suggests sufferers find there is also a stigma attached to the condition, which is often dismissed as an old persons disease, even though arthritis impacted on people of all ages.

Anne Kearl, 55, who has osteoarthritis, said: Pain is normal to me. Its always there. I may paint a smile on my face, but I will be hurting all over.

"Its had a big impact on my mental health; pain and depression feed off each other and in my experience, its hard to separate them out a lot of the time.

"I never know when I wake up if Im going to have a good day or a just got to get through it day. Thats the reality for me of living with arthritis.

"Because arthritis is invisible people other than my family dont see the reality. When friends and colleagues cant physically see anything wrong with you, they assume youre OK and often I let people think that rather than be honest about my arthritis."

Liam OToole, Chief Executive of Arthritis Research UK, said: "There is a complete mismatch between the enormous impact arthritis has on individuals, their families and society and the attention, priority and resources society currently gives to it.

"As a result, people with arthritis do not get the help or support that they need. We are all losing out.

"Whether its an employer who loses out on the skills of an employee, a child who misses out on playing with their parents or grandparents, the strain on the NHSs resources, or someone with arthritis who is trying to get through every day in pain, the impact of arthritis is being felt across the whole of society."

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'Invisible' arthritis to cost UK economy 3.43 billion a year through sufferers taking time off work - Mirror.co.uk

The condition is three more times as common in men than women and symptoms tend to develop gradually, sometimes over many years.

Now experts have revealed the pain and the extreme tiredness which the condition causes can have a major impact on quality of life for people with the condition.

Scientists said this suggests new approaches to treating this painful condition may be needed.

Ankylosing spondylitis causes back pain, stiffness, fatigue and impaired mobility that develops over time.

There is no cure for AS at the moment.

However, a new study has shed light on some of the most prevalent modifiable factors that predict a poor quality of life in people with ankylosing spondylitis.

The University of Aberdeen research has indicated that some of these factors - which include pain, fatigue and poor physical function - are currently better monitored than others.

The study analysed data from 959 patients involved in the Scotland Registry for Ankylosing Spondylitis, which collected clinical and patient-reported data on ankylosing spondylitis from across Scotland.

A total of five factors were identified as independent predictors of a poor quality of life among patients: moderate to severe fatigue, poor physical function, chronic widespread pain, high disease activity and poor spinal mobility.

Physical function is generally monitored using a tool called the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), while the Bath

Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) is used to measure disease activity, and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) is used to assess spinal mobility.

However, this leaves two factors - chronic widespread pain and fatigue - that do not receive the same attention.

It was suggested that the nonspecific nature of these symptoms may explain why they are not traditionally monitored in ankylosing spondylitis to the same degree.

However, given the important role they play in patients' quality of life, it could be beneficial for these trends to be monitored more closely.

The researchers said: "These findings provide evidence that in addition to traditional clinical targets (BASDAI, BASFI and BASMI), focus on nonspecific symptoms (chronic widespread pain and fatigue) - perhaps with non pharmacological therapies - may yield important improvements in quality of life."

Dr Devi Rani Sagar, research liaison manager at Arthritis Research UK, said: "Ankylosing spondyloarthritis is an incredibly painful condition, which affects 200,000 people in the UK and can dramatically reduce a person's quality of life, making everyday activities such as walking to the shops and standing in the kitchen extremely difficult.

"This new study demonstrates the impact that pain and fatigue can have on quality of life for people with this condition, and that monitoring these symptoms may help to give a better indication of the success of treatments.

We welcome more research to find effective ways to reduce pain and fatigue to help make everyday life better for people with arthritis."

Woman's arthritis symptoms were cured with miracle device previously used on horses.

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Back pain and fatigue? Symptoms could be warning sign of THIS form of arthritis - Express.co.uk

By Jane Brody

When a physically active person like me injures a joint, especially one as crucial as a knee or ankle, one of the first thoughts is likely to be How fast can I get back to my usual activities?

That kind of thinking, however, could set the stage for a painful chronic problem years later: post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

In the rush to get back in the game whether as part of a team or elite sport or simply a cherished recreational activity like jogging or tennis it is tempting to short-circuit the rehabilitation needed to allow the joint to heal fully. But adequate recovery, including rehab measures aimed at strengthening structures that support the injured joint, is critical to maximize its stability, reduce the risk of re-injury and head off irreparable joint damage.

And you dont have to be a senior citizen to pay the price of failing to build up the tissues that help protect that joint. Studies have shown that when an adolescent or young adult suffers a knee injury, for example, X-ray evidence of arthritis is often apparent within a decade.

As a team of orthopedists and rehabilitation specialists from the University of Iowa explained, Recent research suggests that acute joint damage that occurs at the time of an injury initiates a sequence of events that can lead to progressive articular surface damage. That means deterioration of the surface of the bone itself and the connecting tissues that cushion and stabilize bones of a joint like the knee, which is what arthritis is all about.

Osteoarthritis afflicts some 27 million Americans, and that number will certainly grow with the increase in obesity, the current emphasis on lifelong physical activity and the aging of the population. It is a degenerative joint disease that occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of bones and often the surface of the bones themselves wear down, causing pain, stiffness, instability and disability that can interfere with work and mobility and diminish quality of life.

The Iowa team noted that arthritis will eventually develop in more than 40 percent of people who seriously injure the ligaments (the stabilizing bands that connect bones to one another); the meniscus (the crescent-shaped cartilage that cushions the knee and certain other joints), or the articular surface of a joint. People with a history of trauma to the knee, for example, are three to six times more likely to develop arthritis in that knee. Even without an acute injury, highly repetitive impact on a joint can damage the articular cartilage.

This may help to explain why I ended up with bone-on-bone arthritis and had to replace both knees at age 63. I had suffered three ligament injuries (while skiing) and after years of running and singles tennis, the meniscus in both knees had shredded. Although I did the recommended physical therapy after each injury, I now know that I was not sufficiently diligent about maintaining the strength and flexibility of the supporting muscles and other tissues that might have better protected my knees for years longer.

A consensus statement in the Journal of Athletic Training said that arthritis should no longer be considered a disease that affects only the elderly.

Increasing evidence demonstrates that young and middle-age adults are suffering from osteoarthritis as well, the statement said. More than half of adults with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis are younger than 65.

In fact, as Joseph M. Hart, an athletic trainer who conducts clinical research at the University of Virginia, and his colleagues wrote in the journal, A 17-year-old athlete who tears her anterior cruciate ligament could develop osteoarthritis before she turns 30, potentially leading to chronic pain and disability. Damage to this ligament, in the center of the knee, is the most common injury among young athletes, especially girls, they wrote.

Jeffrey B. Driban, an athletic trainer at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, said that one person in three who injures the anterior cruciate ligament will have X-ray evidence of osteoarthritis within 10 years whether or not the injury is repaired surgically.

Driban and co-authors pointed out that some sports soccer, elite-level long-distance running, competitive weight lifting and wrestling are associated with a higher risk of knee injuries.

Sports participants who suffer a knee injury can minimize the risk of reinjury and arthritis, Driban said, by not rushing back into activity or trying to play through pain. They must strengthen the muscles that support the joint the quads, hamstrings and hip muscles. Its important to think about the entire lower extremity, not just the knee.

After an injury, an athletic trainer, rehabilitation specialist or physical therapist who specializes in orthopedics can evaluate a persons muscle strength, endurance, balance and movement quality, then guide recovery with a structured rehab program that is maintained for six to nine months, Hart said.

It is also important to continue to pursue an active lifestyle, said Abby C. Thomas of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

You may have to modify the activities you do, but you have to stay active to maintain strength and cardiovascular fitness without putting repetitive stress on a joint thats already injured, she said. If your knee hurts and you cant run, maybe get on a bike or swim, activities that place less stress on the knees.

Dont sit around on the couch because running hurts, Thomas said. Try walking, or something different, but dont give up on physical activity.

Lifelong activity is also important to prevent weight gain, since every extra pound places disproportionate stress on the knees. All the authors emphasized that pursuing a healthy lifestyle is crucial for everyone, not just elite athletes and those who play on school teams.

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Brody: Time after a joint injury can fend off arthritis - Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Dear Doctor: We were shocked when our daughter, who is 26, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I thought arthritis was something that elderly people got. What treatments are available and what are our daughter's prospects for an active and healthy life?

Dear Reader: We're very sorry to hear about the medical challenge your family is facing and hope the information we offer will be of help.

When it comes to what is commonly referred to as "arthritis," we're actually talking about two different conditions. Osteoarthritis, which is the type of arthritis you're thinking of in regards to a more elderly population, is a degenerative disease. In osteoarthritis, the tissues of the joints deteriorate due to wear and tear. When the cartilage that cushions the joints begins to break down, it leads to swelling, stiffness and pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an inflammatory autoimmune disease. Joint damage occurs because the immune system has gone haywire and begins to target the body's own tissues. Although RA most commonly affects the joints, it can also involve other parts of the body, including the lungs, digestive system, circulatory system, skin and eyes.

In the United States, about 1.5 million people (more women than men) are living with RA. It generally doesn't appear until the 40s, and becomes increasingly common as we hit our 50s and beyond, but cases in younger people are not rare.

The most common sites of inflammation in RA are the wrists and the finger joints closest to the palm. However, the knees, neck, ankles, feet, elbows and shoulders can also be involved. RA has a symmetrical pattern, so the joint on each side of the body is usually affected. In addition to that symmetry, symptoms of RA include tender and swollen joints, a feeling of warmth within the joints, fatigue and occasional fever. For many people, prolonged morning stiffness or difficulty moving again following a long period of inactivity can be some of the early signs of RA.

Treatment is tailored to each person's symptoms. Your daughter's rheumatologist will discuss lifestyle changes to address inflammation. This includes using special tools or aids to help with difficult tasks, pursuing the right kind of exercise -- hatha yoga has been found to be helpful -- and striking the optimal balance between activity and rest.

Eating a well-balanced anti-inflammatory diet can help manage RA symptoms. This treatment approach got a boost recently when a study found that RA patients who ate fish twice a week (baked, steamed, raw or broiled, but not fried) scored measurably lower on a standardized scale that measures disease activity.

Some medications for RA address pain and inflammation. Others take aim at the disease process itself. All have potential side effects, so urge your daughter to learn the risks and benefits of any proposed medication.

Looking to the future, advances in immunotherapy and the expanding study of the ever-surprising gut biome offer hope for RA sufferers. In the meantime, prompt treatment is crucial. Make sure your daughter finds a good rheumatologist she likes and begins her medical care.

Eve Glazier, M.D., MBA, is an internist and assistant professor of medicine at UCLA Health. Elizabeth Ko, M.D., is an internist and primary care physician at UCLA Health.

Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o Media Relations, UCLA Health, 924 Westwood Blvd., Suite 350, Los Angeles, CA, 90095. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.

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Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis unique to individual patient ... - Beatrice Daily Sun

Updated 7 hours ago

Carl W. Miller of Irwin started collecting guns in high school, became a marksman in the Army National Guard and spent more than 45 years teaching hunter/trapper courses in area sportsmen clubs.

He loved it, said his daughter Colleen Stubbs. He enjoyed (teaching) and they counted on him.

Mr. Miller became interested in firearms from when he could carry one in his hands, said his sister, Mary Ann Brown.

He reloaded his own ammunition. Shortly before his death, he was asking if she was interested in selling a Mossberg rifle owned by her late husband, she said.

It was his passion, she said.

Carl W. Miller died Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in Excela Westmoreland Hospital. He was 82.

He was born July 11, 1935, in Arona, the son of the late Lawrence J. and Violet Miller.

He joined the Army National Guard in 1954 and attained the rank of sergeant in the 110th Infantry, his family said.

He was on active duty during part of his six-year enlistment.

Mr. Miller retired from CTP Carrera Inc. in Latrobe, where he was a quality assurance technician.

He was a member of American Legion Post No. 359 in Irwin and the National Rifle Association.

Her brother was a prankster who liked to wait until the tensest moment in a horror movie to yell boo, Brown said. He was a bundle of laughter and fun.

Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in the 1960s, he didn't allow the inflammatory joint disease to stop him from participating in shooting competitions as well as hunting and fishing, his daughter said. He also made muzzleloaders.

He was still able to target shoot and be very, very good, so he was very proud of that, Stubbs said.

Mr. Miller occasionally hunted elk in Colorado, but mainly hunted deer, turkey and small game in Pennsylvania and fished for trout in area streams, said his son Eric Miller of Greensburg. He had 50 to 60 guns in his collection.

He also enjoyed camping and taking vacations in Hilton Head and the Outer Banks.

He was easygoing, his son said. He got along with everybody.

Their father was a social butterfly who developed an interest in photography and video in the 1960s, Stubbs said.

At family reunions, Christmas parties and other gatherings, he was the man with the video camera long before most people had them, she said.

He had his own darkroom and collected cameras, his family said.

Whenever he traveled, his camera was always with him, Stubbs said.

His memberships included the Irwin Sportsmen's Club, the White Oak Road and Gun Club and the McKeesport Sportsmen's Association.

He was a member of as many as he could join, she said.

Mr. Miller was preceded in death by his wife of 36 years, Martha G. (Lash) Miller. He is survived by their four children, Denise Sager of Mt. Pleasant; Christine Trout and her husband, W. Ronald, of Richland; Colleen Stubbs and her husband, Jeff, of Erie; and Eric Miller and his wife, Terri, of Greensburg; 12 grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Joseph W. Nickels Funeral Home, 404 Sewickley Ave., Herminie. Interment with full military honors will follow at Westmoreland County Memorial Park, 150 East Side Drive, Hempfield.

Memorial donations may be made to the Arthritis Foundation, 790 Holiday Drive, Green Tree, PA, 15220.

Brian Bowling is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-850-1218, bbowling@tribweb.com or via Twitter @TribBrian.

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Rheumatoid arthritis didn't stop Irwin man from enjoying the outdoors - Tribune-Review

Over time, rheumatoid arthritis can damage the joints themselves as well as the nearby cartilage.

There is no cure for the condition, however the symptoms can be treated using medication and supportive therapies such as physiotherapy.

In this large population-based study, we were able to address these questions more thoroughly than has been possible before, the researchers wrote.

Using the Pill for more than seven years - the average length of use among the study participants - was associated with a 19 per cent lower risk of developing arthritis.

Further research is required to explore the biological mechanisms behind our findings.

The oral contraceptive pill contains artificial versions of the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which women produce naturally to prevent the ovary releasing an egg.

Pill usage declines steeply with age, from two-thirds of women aged 20 to 24, to 11 per cent of women in their late 40s.

There is no upper age limit beyond which healthy women should not take the pill, however those who smoke are advised not to take it above 35, according to the Family Planning Association, a sexual health charity.

Published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, the study also sought to identify whether breastfeeding was associated with a lower risk of arthritis, as had been suspected, however no significant link was found.

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Does the pill prevent arthritis? New study suggests a link - Telegraph.co.uk

The human joint is a wonderfully flexible and durable evolutionary innovation, but like any good machine eventually itwears down. And in many people, this wearing is thought to causearthritis.

Pain from arthritis strikes some 54.4 million U.S. adults, and is "one of the most common chronic conditions in the nation," accordingto theCenters for Disease Controlwebsite. The disease causes stiffness, swelling and pain in the joints and has been found in humans for thousands of years. (Scientists even identified evidence of arthritis inNefertari's mummified knees.) But researchers havelong assumed that arthritis rates have spiked in recent years as people live longer and populations grow heavier. Now, as Mitch Leslie reports forScience,a study of ancient knees has finally provided evidence to support the trend, and suggests that arthritis maynot be an inevitable fate ofold age.

To tease out the history of arthritis, Harvard University biologist Ian Wallace studied skeletons of middle-aged and elderly people from various time periods of America, including specimens from Native Americansup to 6,000 years old. He thought that perhaps in the early days of humanitywhen when walking was the main way to get around and many people spent their lives hunting, farming or fightingthe rates of arthritis would actually be fairly high due to the joint stress fromall this activity.

But this wasn't the case.

Instead, it appears that osteoarthritis of the knees affects far more Americans today than even just a few decades ago, Leslie reports. And aftercontrolling for weight and age, the results suggest that these factors have no effect on how many people develop the disorder. Strikingly, the rate of osteoarthritis has more than doubled among Americans just since 1940. Wallace and his team pubished their results earlier this month in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

We were able to show, for the first time, that this pervasive cause of pain is actually twice as common today than even in the recent past," Wallace says in a statement. "But the even bigger surprise is that its not just because people are living longer or getting fatter, but for other reasons likely related to our modern environments.

The study doesn't make any conclusions for why this spike has occurred, but study co-author Daniel Lieberman suggests that the epidemic of sitting in mondern-day Americacould be affecting how our joints are formed and maintained, leading to more arthritis,Richard Harris reports for NPR. Changing diets and the rising rates of injuries from sports among children and adults could also play a role.

Though cause is still unknown, the study's results suggest that the disease may not be as inevitable as once believed. We should think of this as a partly preventable disease,"Lieberman says in a statement.

Today, there is no true "cure" for arthritis, only management of pain, such as takingmedications, wearing splintsand losing weight. In 2003, Americans spent some $80.8billion on diagnosis and treatment of the disease. But researchers hope to eventually stem the flow of that money. The latest study gives hope that with continued testing of treatments and ways to prevent osteoarthritis, we can eventually beat this ancient ailment.

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What a 6000-Year-Old Knee Can Teach Us About Arthritis - Smithsonian

There are more than 200 different kinds of arthritis, with symptoms not limited to joint pain and swelling but also including, for some people, fatigue, psoriasis, or even mouth ulcers, depending on the type of arthritis. Its often thought of in terms of painful hands and creaky knees, but the true impact of arthritis on daily life is all too often misunderstood, underestimated and ignored.

The two main types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis. The most common symptom in all forms of arthritis is pain.

According to research firm Revealing Reality, who carried out a study for Arthritis Research UK, for many people living with arthritis, dealing with pain is an ongoing battle: eight out of 10 (78%) report experiencing pain most days and almost six out of 10 (57%) suffer with it every day.

As a result, many people have to give up careers or reduce working hours. Likewise, family life can be affected, with fatigue and pain making it difficult to look after children or enjoy moments of intimacy with a partner. The pain and impact caused by arthritis can also lead to mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression.

Its not a problem associated with any one group of people either: while some types of the condition are more common in older people, others can strike at any age. The word arthritis itself just means joint pain, explains Dr Tom Margham, a GP and clinical adviser to Arthritis Research UK. Its not a diagnosis in itself, its a symptom, he says. While there are effective treatments, work to find a cure for the condition is still ongoing.

Osteoarthritis is by far the most common form of arthritis, affecting at least 8 million people in the UK. Though almost anyone can get it, its more common among people who are in their late 40s or older, among women, and in people who are overweight.

It happens when the surfaces within joints become damaged, so the joint doesnt move as smoothly as it should. Joints are living tissue, Margham explains, constantly adapting in the face of stresses and strains. Its about wear and repair: if the balance of wear is bigger than the repair, thats when you start to get symptoms.

In the worst cases of osteoarthritis, cartilage becomes so thin that it no longer covers the ends of the bones, leaving them to rub against each other and wear away. This not only causes considerable pain and stiffness, it affects mobility and dexterity, seriously limiting day-to-day life, for example by making something as simple as getting out of bed, sitting down or climbing the stairs into an arduous task.

But the idea that osteoarthritis is just an inevitable consequence of ageing that cant be helped is a myth, says Margham. Its not a condition that progresses inevitably: there are definitely lots of things that can help, he says. Its largely about trying to restore and maintain normal joint function.

That means exercising and moving the joint to strengthen it and the muscle around it, for instance by doing squats or lunges, even if it seems counter intuitive. One of the things we push really hard for people with osteoarthritis to do is to go against the natural tendency to think: I better not move it, because thats the best way to protect the area. In fact, hurt doesnt necessarily mean harm to the joint, he says.

If people stop moving when they have pain they very quickly become less fit. A colleague of mine says: If you rest, you rust, adds Margham. It doesnt take a gym or any special equipment, you just use your body weight and gravity.

Any doctor will be happy to discuss pain-management options, and its important to do so.

Treatments for osteoarthritis include steroid injections into the joint, occupational or physiotherapy and in severe cases joint replacement surgery. Painkillers, such as paracetamol, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce stiffness and swelling, as well as relieving pain, making it easier to stay active.

Inflammatory conditions are treated by suppressing the immune system a specialist treatment thats usually provided in a hospital outpatient department. Rheumatoid arthritis, estimated to affect more than 400,000 people in the UK, is a common example, with symptoms other than pain and swelling including fatigue, depression, and flu like symptoms.

The thing you need to treat is the pain, adds Margham. We would always say to people: Dont suffer in silence.

Olivia Belle, director of external affairs at Arthritis Research UK, comments: Arthritis, and its effect on individuals, is not well understood. Far from being just inevitable aches and pains, it can actually have a huge impact on peoples lives at any age. But because arthritis is invisible, the condition is underestimated and dismissed by wider society, and so people are not getting the help that they need. At Arthritis Research UK, we are committed to revealing the reality of living with arthritis to help improve the support available.

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What is arthritis? Separate the facts from the fiction - The Guardian