Joint pain is not an inevitable sign of aging, nor is it usually a sign of a condition like arthritis. Instead, joint pain is most often a sign of chronic inflammation or hormonal imbalance. When women learn to solve these underlying problems, most find their joint pain and stiffness significantly improve, or disappear altogether.
The healthy immune system triggers the inflammatory response to deal with sporadic threats like injury or infection. But in many women, the inflammatory response is constantly on a low “simmer.” This chronic, low-grade inflammation prevents cell regeneration and repair and gradually tears down tissues — including those in your joints.
Chronic inflammation can be caused by a diet that’s too high in refined carbohydrates and sugars and too low in essential fatty acids. A high-carb diet promotes prolonged high levels of insulin, which disrupts cellular metabolism and spreads inflammation. Undiagnosed food allergies or sensitivities also contribute to inflammation when those foods are eaten. Many women with chronic inflammation also suffer from digestion problems due to an inflamed digestive tract.
"Women typically feel pain more intensively, more often, and in more parts of the body than men," says Tarvez Tucker, MD, a pain specialist and director of the Pain Clinic at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, in Lexington.
Female hormones are believed to play a role in women's higher susceptability to pain. Many women with OA, RA, lupus, and fibromyalgia report an increase in joint pain just before or during their periods. This is likely because estrogen levels plummet right before menstruation and rise again after a woman's period is over.
(many products offered at Progressive Health may help)
"Estrogen is believed to be protective against pain," says Dr. Tucker. "It peaks during pregnancy, probably to protect women from the pain of childbirth."
Some research shows that 80 percent of women with RA experience a remission of symptoms during pregnancy and a flare-up when estrogen dips during the postpartum period. Additionally, reproductive hormones are suspected as factors in the high incidence of autoimmune diseases in women since conditions such as RA and lupus are most common during the childbearing years.
Women react much differently than men to medications for relieving joint pain. Fluctuating hormone levels can reduce the amount of medicine circulating in the bloodstream, which means that women may need more of the standard dose. Plus, female digestive systems are slower, causing certain medications (like common otc pain relievers) to take more time to pass through the digestive tract where they're absorbed more fully. And because pain sensitivity increases right before a woman's period, more pain-relieving medicine may be required at this time of the month.
"Women need to be aware of these factors, ask the right questions, and be persistent about getting an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment," says Dr. Tucker. By becoming educated about how joint pain affects them, women can increase the odds of finding relief and getting the best health care possible.
Best course of action is to first see the doctor and get a determination of why the joint pain is happening. Then proceed accordingly. After the medical itinerary is underway, it can be helpful to find herbal supplements to enhance the solution. Many excellent products are available at credible sites like Native Remedies where you can not only get product recommendation, but you can also get educated about any condition, including joint pain and imflammation.
Match Ailments to Products Here
Joint pain is not an inevitable sign of aging, nor is it usually a sign of a condition like arthritis. Instead, joint pain is most often a sign of chronic inflammation or hormonal imbalance. When women learn to solve these underlying problems, most find their joint pain and stiffness significantly improve, or disappear altogether.
The healthy immune system triggers the inflammatory response to deal with sporadic threats like injury or infection. But in many women, the inflammatory response is constantly on a low “simmer.” This chronic, low-grade inflammation prevents cell regeneration and repair and gradually tears down tissues — including those in your joints.
Chronic inflammation can be caused by a diet that’s too high in refined carbohydrates and sugars and too low in essential fatty acids. A high-carb diet promotes prolonged high levels of insulin, which disrupts cellular metabolism and spreads inflammation. Undiagnosed food allergies or sensitivities also contribute to inflammation when those foods are eaten. Many women with chronic inflammation also suffer from digestion problems due to an inflamed digestive tract.
"Women typically feel pain more intensively, more often, and in more parts of the body than men," says Tarvez Tucker, MD, a pain specialist and director of the Pain Clinic at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, in Lexington.
Female hormones are believed to play a role in women's higher susceptability to pain. Many women with OA, RA, lupus, and fibromyalgia report an increase in joint pain just before or during their periods. This is likely because estrogen levels plummet right before menstruation and rise again after a woman's period is over.
(many products offered at Progressive Health may help)
"Estrogen is believed to be protective against pain," says Dr. Tucker. "It peaks during pregnancy, probably to protect women from the pain of childbirth."
Some research shows that 80 percent of women with RA experience a remission of symptoms during pregnancy and a flare-up when estrogen dips during the postpartum period. Additionally, reproductive hormones are suspected as factors in the high incidence of autoimmune diseases in women since conditions such as RA and lupus are most common during the childbearing years.
Women react much differently than men to medications for relieving joint pain. Fluctuating hormone levels can reduce the amount of medicine circulating in the bloodstream, which means that women may need more of the standard dose. Plus, female digestive systems are slower, causing certain medications (like common otc pain relievers) to take more time to pass through the digestive tract where they're absorbed more fully. And because pain sensitivity increases right before a woman's period, more pain-relieving medicine may be required at this time of the month.
"Women need to be aware of these factors, ask the right questions, and be persistent about getting an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment," says Dr. Tucker. By becoming educated about how joint pain affects them, women can increase the odds of finding relief and getting the best health care possible.
Best course of action is to first see the doctor and get a determination of why the joint pain is happening. Then proceed accordingly. After the medical itinerary is underway, it can be helpful to find herbal supplements to enhance the solution. Many excellent products are available at credible sites like Native Remedies where you can not only get product recommendation, but you can also get educated about any condition, including joint pain and imflammation.
Match Ailments to Products Here