Arthritis is a general term that describes the inflammation in and around the body’s joints. It comes from the greek word arthro=joint and the medical ending term itis=inflammation. Joint is the area where two or more bones meet to allow movement. This area consists of : cartilage, synovial membrane, ligaments, tendons, bursas, synovial fluid and meniscus.
People of all ages inclunding children are suffering from arthritis that causes pain stiffness and swelling around the joints.
What increases a person’s chance to develop arthritis may be:
- Age — The risk of developing arthritis, especially osteoarthritis, increases with age.
- Gender — In general, arthritis occurs more often in women than in men.
- Weight — Being overweight puts extra stress on the joints that support a person’s weight. This increases wear and tear, and the risk of arthritis.
- Work factors — Jobs in which the worker has to keep doing the same movements over and over, or does a great deal of heavy lifting, can cause stress in the joints and/or an injury, which can lead to arthritis.
There are more than 100 types of arththritis and related conditions. The most common type is osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage gradually deteriorates. Cartilage is the main type of connective tissue that enables joint motion. It serves a variety of structural and functional purposes and exists in different types throughout our joints, bones, spine, lungs, ears and nose. It is made up of “chondrocytes,” or specialized cartilage cells, that produce a matrix of collagen, proteoglycans (a special type of protein) and other non-collagenous proteins. These materials help cartilage attract water and give it its shape and specific properties. Cartilage enables nearly frictionless joint motion. Eventually, if the cartilage wears down completely, bone will rub on bone. Osteoarthritis besides the breakdown of cartilage affects the entire joint. It causes changes in the bone and deterioration of the connective tissues that hold the joint together and attach muscle to bone. It also causes inflammation of the joint lining.
Osteoarthritis was long believed to be caused by the wearing down of joints over time. But scientists now see it as a disease of the joint. Factors that may contribute to OA:
- The risk of developing OA increases someone gets older because bones, muscles and joints are also aging.
- Joint injury. A break or tear can lead to OA after years.
- Using the same joints over and over in a job or sport can result in OA.
- Extra weight puts more stress on a joint and fats cells promote inflammation.
- Weak muscles. Joints can get out of the right position when there’s not enough support.
- People with family members who have OA are more likely to develop OA.
- Women are more likely to develop OA than men.
The symptoms of osteoarthritis may develop slowly and worsen from time to time. They include:
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Tenderness
- Loss of flexibility
- Grating sensation
- Bone spurs.
- Swelling
- Redness
- Warmth
People suffering from arthritis must live with joint pain and probably many of the other symptoms of this condition which leads to mobility issues that affect sections of their everyday life such as walking, kneeling, climbing stairs even gripping of the fingers.
Arthritis cannot be cured, but an effective arthritis treatment plan can help manage the disease. Arthritis treatment focus on controlling the symptoms and minimizing the joint deformities. Most of the treatments are pain relief oriented using over the counter (OTC) therapies such us acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, or analgesics. This form of treatment reduces the symptoms.
Other treatments focus on supporting the joints by enhancing and promoting their mobility and flexibility. Vitamins and minerals are very important in overall health and even more important when you have arthritis.
A type of Vitamin B3, called niacinamide may improve osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms and reduce the need for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by suppressing inflammation.
A chemical that is found in humans, animals and many plants called MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) is also a strong ally to the treatment of arthritis. MSM has powerful anti-inflammatory properties that can improve arthritis-related symptoms. It helps lessen the inflammation while relieving the joint pain and swelling. It also inhibits the breakdown of cartilage. Additionally, it can enhance the effectiveness of other common supplements used to treat arthritis such as glucosamine.
Glucosamine is a natural compound that is found in the cartilage. As a supplement it can treat the painful condition caused by the inflammation, breakdown, and eventual loss of cartilage. It may also help slow knee joint degeneration associated with osteoarthritis.
The principal structural protein in cartilage is Undenatured Type II Collagen. UC-II® is a patented form of Collagen with Undenatured (native) Type II Collagen that works with the immune system to support healthy joints. It is derived from chicken sternum cartilage and is manufactured through a patented, low temperature, non-enzymatic process. It is so effective that you only need a small amount of this undenatured form of type II collagen to help support joint health.
UC-II® ingredient travels intact to immune cells near the gut activating the immune cells (regulatory T cells) to recognize type II collagen. When regulatory T cells recognize type II collagen in joint cartilage, they release bioactive compounds like TGF-beta and IL-10 . In this way, UC-II® ingredient signals your body to rebuild and repair joint cartilage.
Preclinical and clinical studies support the safety and efficacy of UC-II in modulating joint discomfort in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.