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5 Tips for Driving When You Have Arthritis or Back Problems

If arthritis or back problems make driving a car difficult and painful, you may fear you’ll have to stop driving. But don’t give up yet. With work and some modifications, you should be able to remain...

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Easy Ways to Prevent a Stiff Neck

We spend, on average, more than 10 hours of our day staring at screens, according to Nielsen, and many of us spend more than eight hours a day sitting at work. With all that sedentary time where we’re...

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Warning: Are You Aware That Energy Drinks Can Trigger Strokes?

Energy drinks line the never-ending wall of coolers at rest stops, drugstores and supermarkets. You may not think twice about grabbing one to stay awake on the road, to study or to work a long shift....

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Is There Anything I Can Do to Prevent Osteoarthritis?

Q: Is there anything I can do to prevent osteoarthritis? Or is it just inevitable? A: Osteoarthritis may seem like something we have to put up with as we age. It may not be possible to completely stop...

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Can You Get Gout in Your Hands?

Q: I’ve had attacks of gout in my big toe. Now, I’m getting joint pain and swelling in my hands. Can you get gout in your hands? A: Gout is a painful form of arthritis that usually affects joints in...

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Are There Any Telltale Signs That You’re Not Getting Enough Calcium?

Q: How can I know if I’m getting enough calcium? Are there any symptoms of calcium deficiency? A: Both calcium and vitamin D are essential for bone health. The body needs calcium for other functions...

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7 Pointers for Living Well With Lupus

If you’ve just been diagnosed with the chronic autoimmune condition lupus, you might be wondering, Why is my body turning against me? Maybe you’ve waited months or even years to finally get a...

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Osteoarthritis: Who Gets It and What You Can Do About It

By Scott Burg, DO Around the world some 240 million people suffer with osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis. In the U.S. the incidence of osteoarthritis has been rising steadily, from 21...

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Why the Benefits of Osteoporosis Drugs Outweigh the Risk of Rare Side Effects

Hesitating to take a drug your doctor has prescribed for osteoporosis or osteopenia because you’ve heard about alarming side effects? There’s important information you need to know, which should help...

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Could My Stiff, Aching Back Be a Sign of Ankylosing Spondylitis?

Q: I have chronic lower back pain that’s worse in the morning. Could it be ankylosing spondylitis? A: Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis that causes inflammation of the spine, resulting in...

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What Causes High Uric Acid Levels That Can Lead to Gout?

Q: I understand that high levels of uric acid lead to gout. What causes uric acid to be too high? A: There’s a common misunderstanding that gout is caused by overindulging in foods high in purines,...

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My Doctor Says I Have a Spinal Condition Called DISH. What Exactly Does That...

Q: I’ve been told I have diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. What is this, and what can be done for it? A: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a condition that mostly affects the...

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Is Arthritis Hereditary?

When people age gracefully and live a long life, many often credit their lifestyle choices and “good genes.” Similarly, when people fall ill to a serious disease, inherited “bad genes” can be a cause...

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Did Gum Disease Cause My Arthritis?

Q: I have gum disease, and I was recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. I’ve heard these may be linked. Did gum disease cause my arthritis? A: The link between the two diseases is not yet...

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Do You Need Vitamin K Supplements for Your Bone Health?

You know your body needs calcium and vitamin D for strong, healthy bones. But do you know your bones also need vitamin K? And should you be taking a vitamin K supplement? Vitamin K has long been known...

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How Can I Find Relief From the Dryness in My Eyes + Mouth Caused by Sjögren’s?

Q: I have Sjögren’s syndrome, and I have dryness in my eyes and mouth. Is there anything I can do about this? A: Sjögren’s syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease. In autoimmune diseases, the body’s...

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Understanding Arthritis: 8 Common Questions Explained

The term arthritis refers to inflammation in the body’s joints, such as the knees, wrists, ankles and hips. But arthritis isn’t just one thing. It’s actually an umbrella term for more than 100...

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Healthy Eating With Arthritis: 3 Tips to Improve Your Symptoms

No magic diet is going to make your arthritis disappear — whether it’s osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or another form. But, there’s good news: If you’re realistic about your goals, paying...

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Could a JAK Inhibitor Be Right for Your Rheumatoid Arthritis?

If methotrexate — the first drug doctors usually prescribe for rheumatoid arthritis — stops working for you, or you can’t tolerate it, there are a growing number of options. Thankfully, a wide range...

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Gout Attacks? Here’s Why You Might Want to Consider Medication to Lower Your...

If you’re among the 9 million Americans who live with gout — a form of inflammatory arthritis — you’re all too familiar with the periodic attacks of pain and swelling in your big toes and other...

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Do You Really Need to Take Vitamin D Supplements?

Calcium, fish oil, ginseng, vitamin D. There are a plethora of dietary supplements that you may take for just about anything. The one that sticks out is vitamin D, and you may have heard that it help...

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How Rheumatoid Arthritis Affects Young Adults

When we think about the sore, swollen and stiff joints of rheumatoid arthritis, we often associate those with older age. And while it’s true that older adults are much more likely to be diagnosed with...

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Can Kinesio Tape Help with Osteoarthritis?

You may have seen athletes with large strips of brightly colored tape placed on their skin meant to enhance their performance. Did you know the same type of tape — called Kinesio tape, elastic...

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Lupus and Pregnancy: Is It Safe?

A lupus diagnosis comes with a lot of questions. And because lupus usually emerges during the reproductive years, questions about getting pregnant are high on that list.  “It can be safe to get...

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Lumps and Bumps on Your Body: When You Should Worry

Finding a new lump or bump on your body would give most of us pause. After all, a lump can, in rare cases, mean cancer. But not every bump or lump should cause concern or worry. To get a better...

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How To Manage Psoriatic Arthritis Fatigue

Most people think of psoriatic arthritis as a joint disease. And it’s true that the disease causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. But those aren’t the only classic symptoms of psoriatic...

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How Does Psoriatic Arthritis Affect Your Feet?

Walking, running, jumping, standing. Despite all they do for you, it’s easy to take your feet for granted. But when foot pain gets in the way of living, there’s no ignoring it. Unfortunately for...

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Psoriatic Arthritis vs. Osteoarthritis

You have psoriasis, and now you’re experiencing joint pain. Does this mean you have psoriatic arthritis? Or could it be unrelated? “Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, and, sometimes,...

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How Does Psoriatic Arthritis Affect Your Nails?

If you’re living with psoriatic arthritis, you know how it can affect your skin and joints. Odds are, you’ve noticed changes to your nails, too. Fingernail and toenail differences are quite common...

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Psoriatic Arthritis vs. Rheumatoid Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are easy to mix up. Both cause pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. But they’re more like siblings than identical twins. “Rheumatoid arthritis and...

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Can You Have Psoriatic Arthritis Without Psoriasis?

You have swollen, painful joints. It might be a sign of psoriatic arthritis. But you don’t have the telltale skin rash that signals psoriasis. Could you have one condition without the other?...

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Do Omega-3s Help Arthritis?

Your body needs omega-3 fatty acids for health. Why? Quite simply, these fats may help reduce inflammation. Your body needs fat for good health, but the type of fat is what really matters here....

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What To Do for a Spider Bite

If you’re afraid of spiders, you’re not alone. Many people fear these eight-legged insects. In more serious cases, this fear can even have an impact on your day-to-day life. In fact, there’s a...

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The 4 Biggest Psoriasis Triggers

Psoriasis is a skin disorder characterized by itchy, scaly rashes. This skin condition isn’t contagious, though — it’s what’s known as an immune-mediated disease, or a disease occurring when your...

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How To Cope With Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain

It can feel overwhelming to be diagnosed with a chronic disease like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The autoimmune disease can affect the joints on both sides of your body. You may experience pain and...

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Are Rheumatoid Arthritis and Anemia Connected?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects more than 1.3 million people in the United States, while an estimated 3 million Americans are anemic. But it’s not uncommon for those with RA to also have anemia. So,...

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Natural Remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis affects more than 1.3 million people in the United States. While the condition is far more common in women and people designated female at birth than men...

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Strategies for Coping With Ankylosing Spondylitis

You’ve been experiencing lower back pain. And your doctor has just diagnosed you with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Your head is swimming with worries and plenty of questions. Now what? First, it’s...

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Why Ankylosing Spondylitis Causes Eye Pain

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of inflammatory arthritis that typically affects your lower back. While those who have AS may experience stiffness, fatigue and pain, the autoimmune condition can...

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Tips for Fighting Fatigue From Rheumatoid Arthritis

The autoimmune condition rheumatoid arthritis affects your joints, but it’s considered a systemic illness. That means your whole body feels an impact, with symptoms that ebb and flow depending on...

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Does Ankylosing Spondylitis Cause GI Problems?

If you’re living with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), you know that the brunt of symptoms comes in your lower back and hips. The feeling of stiffness and joint pain is no surprise, but what if you start...

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Natural Ways To Treat Ankylosing Spondylitis Symptoms

Are you dealing with hours of morning stiffness and waking up at night from back pain? The symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) — an inflammatory autoimmune disease — can make it difficult to move...

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Best Types of Exercises for Ankylosing Spondylitis

The last thing you want to do when you’re feeling stiff and painful is move. But exercise is exactly what will help you feel better when you have ankylosing spondylitis (AS), an inflammatory arthritis...

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Having a Healthy Pregnancy When You Have Rheumatoid Arthritis

You’re pregnant, and you’re thrilled (congrats, by the way!) … but you’re worried, too. What does this mean for your rheumatoid arthritis (RA)? Good news: Healthy, successful pregnancies can...

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What’s the Best Diet for Ankylosing Spondylitis?

You probably already know that nibbling on carrots is healthier than diving into a bag of chips. And that what you eat affects your weight and energy levels. It’s also a factor in conditions like...

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5 Cold and Flu Remedies You’ll Want to Skip

Whether it’s from your grandmother or an influencer on Instagram, advice surrounding cold and flu season can come at you from every which way, and leave you wondering which remedies will help ease...

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What’s the Best Diet for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

You already know that what you eat can impact your weight, shape and elements of your health like your blood pressure and cholesterol. But did you know that your diet can also play a role in your...

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Ways To Prevent Psoriatic Arthritis Flare-Ups

The symptoms of psoriatic arthritis can disrupt your life. Your joints can feel stiff and swollen. You may feel exhausted. Even if you’re taking medication to manage your symptoms, you may still...

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Natural Remedies for Psoriatic Arthritis

Swollen joints, stiffness in your joints and back, fatigue. If you have psoriatic arthritis, those are just some of the symptoms you may have to deal with on a daily basis. “Psoriatic arthritis is a...

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How What You Eat Affects Your Psoriatic Arthritis

If you have psoriatic arthritis, you know all too well the discomfort that can come from having inflamed joints. That’s why what you eat can help manage pain. So, is there a certain psoriatic...

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