Arthritis, aches and attitude

Arthritis, aches and attitude

Are they Linked?

We all have our down days but I do believe that seeing the glass half full really does have a positive effect on our health!

In another blog, I talk about the effects of stress in its many forms on the body but how is it linked and what can we do about it?

Stress causes inflammation by over production of cortisol. This is our primitive ‘fight or flight’ chemical and is great when used for running from a sabre toothed tiger but not so great if we are emotionally threatened!

So how is this linked to conditions such as arthritis? Arthritis is a generic term and covers many chronic degenerative joint conditions. Primarily, the articulator cartilage affected, becomes more fibrous and therefore wears away allowing bone to rub on bone. Keeping active not only improves circulation but also can serve as a great way to interact socially. Whilst activities such as sudoku and crosswords help stimulate the brain, social interaction releases endorphins which help to reduce stress levels.

Massage is also great for improving circulation and getting blood to the area to help relieve symptoms whilst not putting any pressure on the joints.

A new form of treatment is the hyperbaric chamber. The late Dr Michael Mosely reported on clinical trials whereby divers placed in hyperbaric chambers to relieve symptoms of the ‘bends’ (or decompression sickness) were found to have increased regenerative levels in their white blood cells. The cleaning of these cells due to high pressure oxygen administered in the chamber rejuvenated cells by clearing out the toxins. This was also found to reduce the aging process! It is also now recommended for use in post cancer treatment and fatigue issues. It is the ultimate detox!

A good nutritious diet also helps and if you don’t like some of the foods recommended you can also purchase good quality supplements.

So, in conclusion, keeping our minds and bodies happy, healthy and destressed can reduce the risk of early onset conditions whilst improving existing ones!