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Nick on Monday, September 17th, 2007 |
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What is glucosamine and what does it do, really?
Glucosamine is an amino sugar that was identified in 1876. It is found in healthy cartilage. Glucosamine is made naturally in the body.
But like many other things, as we grow older, our bodies lose its ability to make it naturally. This can cause problems in our joints, more seriously in some than in others. Supplemental glucosamine may help rebuild cartilage and treat arthritis.
If you buy glucosamine, you will generally buy it in the form of glucosamine sulphate or glucosamine hydrochloride. Glucosamine is considered a dietary supplement, not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for medical treatment in humans, although it is used as veterinary treatments as a supplement. In Europe it is used as a medical drug in the form of glucosamine sulphate.
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Nick on Tuesday, August 28th, 2007 |
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If you have a family history of osteoarthritis then you have a higher chance of developing the disease yourself. Besides genetic predisposition, osteoarthritis can be present in those who are overweight or those who routinely put stress on the particular joint. Injury is also a culprit.
Osteoarthritis affects the joints in the body, most commonly the spine, hips, knees, feet and hands. It is caused by the wearing down of cartilage between these joints, causing bones to rub together. This causes discomfort and a decrease in mobility to the area.
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Nick on Monday, August 27th, 2007 |
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Rheumatoid Arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune disorder, causing your immune system to attack the joints, causing a painful inflammation. Unlike other forms of arthritis like osteoarthritis, RA also attacks the organs like the heart, eyes and lungs. Of the 100+ forms of arthritis, this is one of the most debilitating varieties.
Rheumatoid Arthritis affects 1 out of 100 North Americans, or 2.1 million people, and women are three times more likely to get the disease than men. The cause of RA is unknown, but a popular theory points to the disease being infectious as those who have close friends or family with the disorder are more likely to develop it themselves. Susceptibility to the disease may also be an inherited trait as well.
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