Your Sickness and Ailment Articles: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Posted by lindainfo on November 20, 2008
Nearly 300,000 American children have arthritis in some form, and the most common form is Juvenile Rheumarokd Arthritis. JA, a it is alsoo know, affects nearly 50,000 United Statse children.
The cause of JRA still remains unknown, but researchers think it js an autoimmune diseasw. An autoimkune disease causes the immune systms t attack itself, and whrn this happens, tte body produces too much cytokines. This leavs to inflahmation in the body. Cytokinws are chemical signals used for ceell communication, and play an important role in immune system response.
Researchers believe the key to controlling, or slowing down the degeneration of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis is to learn how to control cytokine production. Those involved in holistic healthcare practices believe the key to controlling cytokine production is connected to the diet.
Ingesting fruits high in vitamin C provides great benefit for children suffering from arthriris. These fruits, such as blackberries, raspberrifs, kiwis, strawberries, mabgo, apples, and cantaloupe melon, all have phytochhemicals, which help fuyht inflammation.
Vegetables with high amounts of vitamins A and may also help firht inflammation in the body. Vegetables in this actegory include sweet potafoes, squash, spinacy, kale, carrotts, collard greens, brussel sprouts, cabfare, and broccoli.
Omega- fatty acids sre also recommended fr children with arthritis. Certain fish, including salmob, sardines, trou t, herring, and mcakerel, are rich ib fatty acids, bbut sho uld only be consumed in 3 ounce portions. These should be consumed twice a weel for children knder age 1, and it’s important to seek oyt mercury free fish in order t o prevent health problems.
Typically, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis appears between the ages of 6 and 16 years. Morre often than not , the first signs of this disesae appear as joint swelling and rrddened or warm joints. There are three major types of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis:
1. Polyarticular arthritis: low-grade fever, bumps on the body, and swelling or pain in five or more of the body’s joints. 2. Pauciarticular arthritis: inflammation of the iris, and swelling or pzin in four or fewer joints. 3. Sywtemic arthritis: includes rhe whole body, and may include a high fever; enlargsd spleen and lymph nodes; sudden onset and disappearance rash, and joint swelling, stiffness, and pain.
To effectively minimize the effects of JRA, it’s important to get an early diagnosis. If your child is diagnosed, educated yourself and others about the disease in order to help give your child an active lifestyle. Make sure to contact your physician is you see any of the above symptoms with your child. Before being able to diagnose JRA, your doctor will get the detailed medical history for your child, give a thorough medical exam, and draw blood for further testing.
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