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…

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 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…

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.…

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 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…

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 is asthma? Asthma is a disorder of the lungs that causes the airways to: Swell (or become inflamed), specifically in the airway linings Produce large amounts of mucus that is thicker than normal Become more narrow due to muscle contractions surrounding the airways The symptoms of asthma are: Feeling short of breath Frequent coughing, especially at night Wheezing (a whistling noise during breathing) Difficulty breathing Asthma is very common; it affects about 5 to…

What is occupational asthma? Occupational asthma is asthma caused by or worsened by exposure to substances in the workplace. These substances may cause asthma in one of three ways: An allergic reaction. An irritant reaction. A reaction in which chemicals that occur naturally in the body build up in the lung, resulting in asthma. For example, health care workers can develop an allergy to latex gloves by breathing in the powdered proteins from the inner lining of the gloves. Workers…

Research has shown that well-controlled asthma during pregnancy does not increase the risk of complications to either the mother or the infant. The following are some common questions and answers addressing concerns of pregnant asthmatics. I use an inhaler to control my asthma. Will this harm my baby? This is one of the most common concerns. The best thing to do is to talk to your doctor, who will look at how severe your asthma is and what treatment is appropriate for you. Most inhaled…

Asthma is the leading cause of chronic illness in children. It affects as many as 10 to 12 percent of children in the U.S. and, for unknown reasons, is steadily increasing. It can begin at any age, but most children have their first symptoms by age 5. What makes a child more likely to develop asthma? There are many risk factors for developing childhood asthma. These include: Presence of allergies Family history of asthma and/or allergies Frequent respiratory infections Low birth…

By monitoring symptoms and practicing self-management, people who have asthma can control their asthma symptoms. An important part of learning to control asthma is keeping a daily asthma diary. The asthma diary is used to: Record daily peak expiratory flow (PEF) readings and asthma symptoms Compare PEF readings with asthma zones, and Keep track of how often rescue medications are used Recording this information will help you become aware of early signs of asthma episodes. Your doctor…

The airways in a person with asthma are very sensitive and react to a variety of external factors, or "triggers." These triggers cause the airways to tighten and become inflamed and blocked with mucus, resulting in difficulty breathing. An acute asthma attack can begin immediately after exposure to a trigger or several hours or days later. There are many kinds of triggers, and responses to them vary from person to person. A trigger may be harmless to some asthmatics but contribute to an…

Asthma medications are the foundation of good asthma control. This handout has been prepared to help you understand and follow your or your child's asthma action plan. Learn all you can about your or your child’s asthma medications. Know what medications are included in the action plan, when these medications should be taken, their expected results and what to do when they fail. Helpful facts and tips There's no medication to cure asthma. Asthma medications are used to stop, control and…

To diagnose asthma, your doctor will review your medical history, family history, and symptoms. He or she will be interested in any history of breathing problems you might have had, as well as a family history of asthma or other lung conditions, allergies, or a skin disease called eczema. It is important that you describe your symptoms in detail (coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness), including when and how often they occur. Your doctor will also perform a physical…

What is asthma? Asthma is a disease of the bronchial tubes or airways of the lungs. Air is normally taken into the body through the nose and windpipe and into the bronchial tubes. At the end of these tubes are tiny air sacs (alveoli) that deliver fresh air (oxygen) to the blood. The air sacs also collect stale air (carbon dioxide), which is exhaled out of the body. During normal breathing, the bands of muscle that surround the airways are relaxed and air moves freely. During an asthma episode…

Allergy and Asthma Network (AAN)3554 Chain Bridge Rd., Suite 200Fairfax, VA 22030703.385.4403 or 1.800.878.4403American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI)555 East Wells Street, Suite 1100Milwaukee, WI 53202-3823414.272.6071American Academy of DermatologyPO Box 4014Schaumburg, IL 60618866.462.DERM (3376)American Academy of OphthalmologyP.O. Box 7424San Francisco, CA 94120-7424415.561.8500American Academy of Pediatrics141 Northwest Point BoulevardElk Grove Village, IL…

Sulfites are chemicals used as preservatives to inhibit browning and discoloration in foods and beverages during preparation, storage, and distribution. Sulfites have been used in wine making for centuries. Sulfites are found in certain foods and beverages, and in a variety of medications. The use of sulfites as preservatives in foods and beverages increased dramatically in the 1970s and 1980s. Due to cases of severe reactions to sulfites, a ban by the FDA went into effect in August, 1986.…

Allergy sufferers looking for relief at the local pharmacy are faced with many product choices. To make the right choice for you, you first need to recognize and understand your allergy symptoms. Then, learn what medicines are available over-the-counter, how each medicine works, and which symptoms each type of medicine is designed to treat. What’s happening: The allergic response Allergies are the immune system’s response to normally harmless substances that it mistakes for harmful…

How can I tell if it's allergies or just a common cold? Symptoms of allergies and colds can be similar, but here's how to tell the difference: Occurrence of symptoms -- Both allergies and colds cause symptoms of sneezing, congestion, runny nose, watery eyes, fatigue, and headaches. However, colds often cause symptoms one at a time: first sneezing, then a runny nose and congestion. Allergies cause symptoms that occur all at once. Duration of symptoms -- Cold symptoms generally last 7 to…