Rheumatic conditions commonly occur in endocrine disease. Nearly all hormones have as one of their targets the connective tissue cells. Hormones are involved in the development and function of connective tissue. If the components of a particular connective tissue are altered by abnormal hormonal influence, the physical properties of the connective tissue vary, and the functional capability of the tissue will change, creating recognizable illness. Pituitary Gland Excessive production of growth…

What are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)? NSAIDs are drugs that can reduce pain, fever, and inflammation. Inflammation is the body’s protective response to irritation or injury and is recognized by redness, warmth, swelling, and pain. NSAIDs can be used to treat the symptoms of many types of arthritis and soft tissue inflammation such as tendonitis, bursitis, and sprains. It can also be used for gout attacks. It is important to remember that NSAIDs treat the symptoms and do not…

How is arthritis treated? "Arthriti" means inflammation of the joints, and it might cause pain, swelling, and limited motion of one or many joints in the body. More than 100 different illnesses can cause arthritis. Treatment begins after diagnosis by a doctor, who might prescribe medicine to reduce inflammation, pain, swelling, and loss of motion. As part of a comprehensive plan for arthritis treatment, your doctor might also prescribe occupational and physical therapy, which can provide…

What is arthritis? Arthritis is a disease of the cartilage in joints. It can occur as a result of acute or chronic inflammation of a joint and its surrounding soft tissues, following trauma to the joint, or from so far poorly defined genetic and environmental causes. It is characterized by progressive joint deterioration with loss of the smooth "cushioning" cartilage that lines joints. This wear causes structural changes visible on X-rays. The stabilizing soft tissues may also deteriorate.…

Arthritis literally means "joint inflammation," but generally refers to the more than 100 rheumatic diseases and related conditions that can cause pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints and connective tissues. Affecting one in every seven Americans of all ages, arthritis also can deteriorate the joints' support systems, including: Muscles Tendons Ligaments Other parts of the body While medication may be part of a recommended treatment plan for people with arthritis, a tailored…

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A Aerobic exercise — Exercise that conditions the heart and lungs to use oxygen to more efficiently—thus supplying the entire body with larger amounts of oxygen-rich blood—and to build stronger muscles. Examples of aerobic activities include walking, swimming, low-impact aerobic dance, skiing and biking. Acetaminophen — A type of pain-relieving medication (for example, Tylenol®) Achilles tendon — The tendon at…

Arthritis Resources The National Psoriasis Foundation 6600 SW 92nd Avenue, Suite 300 Portland, OR 97223 503.244.7404 www.psoriasis.org The Arthritis Foundation 1330 West Peachtree Street, Suite 100 Atlanta, GA 30309 800.283.7800 www.arthritis.org Road Back Foundation PO Box 447 Orleans, MA 02653 740.881.5601 www.roadback.org National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) National Institutes of Health 1 AMS Circle Bethesda, MD…

Everyone experiences stress at some point. But, by making smart lifestyle choices, you can reduce or even eliminate stress from your world. Explore the stress reducing tips listed below. Eat and drink sensibly. Alcohol and food abuse may seem to reduce stress, but it actually adds to it. Assert yourself. You do not have to meet others' expectations or demands. It's okay to say "No." Remember, being assertive allows you to stand up for your rights and beliefs while respecting those of…

Facial aging is how the appearance of your face changes with age. It occurs mainly as the result of changes in the skin and the deeper soft tissues of the face. Factors that influence external skin changes include natural aging, skin type, sun exposure, facial movement and routine skin care. Facial fat deeper within the face thins with normal aging and, as gravity pulls on the face, the underlying soft tissues droop. However, facial aging can be treated. These two types of changes are separate…

Relationships are complicated, multifaceted and an absolutely necessary part of life. They can be the source of our greatest joy and some of our deepest sorrow. There is absolutely nothing in life that we can achieve or accomplish without other people and it's our relationships that connect us to them. So, it stands to reason -- the better relationships we have, the better outcomes we will get. There are two myths in our culture that seem to influence our thinking, our behaviors and certainly,…

Think of three words to describe yourself. What are they? These answers have a direct impact on the way you lead your life. Your self-image is directly related to your self-esteem and can actually become how you are viewed by yourself and others. You are a person with vast, unlimited potential. Until you believe that to be the truth, you will continue to deny yourself free access to your own wisdom and magnificence. Make Your Self-Esteem Soar Following is a list of seven ways to help you…

All of us have been on the receiving end of someone else's anger. Through those miserable experiences, we have all learned one important thing: joining them in their anger and firing back verbal assaults didn't solve the problem. In fact, it might have made it worse. If we want to effectively deal with the problem in such a way that resolves the issue and maintains the relationship, there are certain key strategies and behaviors which you can employ. Listen First Assume that they have a…

You're committed to doing the best work you can. You're smart and hardworking and want to excel. But as you move ahead and make progress, you begin to detect a little resentment coming from your coworkers. At first you try to ignore it, then you start to get angry and frustrated. You're tempted to confront it head- on, but aren't sure if that's the right move or not. What's the right strategy? While there are no hard and fast rules, and every situation may be different, the following four…

Did you ever have the kind of day that made you wonder where all the nice people went? It was as if there was not a single nice person left in the world. Vendors were cranky, your coworkers were grumpy, even your best friend was a little testy. What happened? Was it something in the water? Were the stars lined up wrong? While there are times when we all get a little crabby, I do believe there is something we can do to bring out the "nice" in people. My Experience Let me share a story with…

There will always be times in your personal and professional life when you have to say "no" to someone's request. The challenge is how to do it without alienating them. In fact, would it be possible to say "no" and actually have the person walk away appreciating you? I believe it truly is. How Not to Say No I was in a small electronics store the other day and watched a woman try to return an item. She started out fairly pleasant, but no matter what she said, the store manager was curt, short…

Your heart is too small to continue to carry painful experiences in it, all because you refuse to forgive! You should be tired of allowing people you haven’t forgiven to take up space in your mind. It is probably more than past the time for you to let it go, let them go, forgive, and live! You will find freedom, relief, as well as inner and outer peace when you give yourself permission to forgive. Forgiving as a Process Moving to a point of forgiving a friend or loved one for an atrocity…

This can be a challenge. An alcoholic can't be forced to get help except under certain circumstances, such as a traffic violation or arrest that results in court-ordered treatment. But you don't have to wait for someone to "hit rock bottom" to act. Many alcoholism treatment specialists suggest the following steps to help an alcoholic get treatment: Stop all "cover ups" Family members often make excuses to others or try to protect the alcoholic from the results of his or her drinking. It is…

Is It Safe to Drink During Pregnancy? No, alcohol can harm the baby of a mother who drinks during pregnancy. Although the highest risk is to babies whose mothers drink heavily, it is not clear yet whether there is any completely safe level of alcohol during pregnancy. Does Alcohol Affect Older People Differently? Alcohol's effects do vary with age. Slower reaction times, problems with hearing and seeing, and a lower tolerance to alcohol's effects put older people at higher risk for falls,…

During your regular physical examination, your doctor will take a thorough personal and family medical history. He or she will also perform and/or order one or more of the following: Breast Examination During the breast exam, the doctor will carefully feel the lump and the tissue around it. Breast cancer usually feels different (in size, texture and movement) than benign lumps. Certain tests can be used to view the tissue better: Mammography: An X-ray test of the breast can give important…

Breast Cancer Treatments If the tests find cancer, you and your doctor will develop a treatment plan to eradicate the breast cancer, to reduce the chance of cancer returning in the breast, as well as to reduce the chance of the cancer traveling to a location outside of the breast. Treatment generally follows within a few weeks after the diagnosis. The type of treatment recommended will depend on the size and location of the tumor in the breast, the results of lab tests done on the cancer…