Fibromyalgia
Positive emotion – a new anti-inflammatory?
Positive emotions are linked to lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (the proteins that signal the immune system to work harder) in research published in the journal Emotion.
It has long been established that a healthy diet, exercise and sleep bolster the body’s defences against physical and mental illnesses. But the new findings suggest that positive emotions can be added to the list. Continue reading
Deadly nightshade foods and arthritis: urgent need for research based on strong anecdotal evidence
potatoes – tomatoes – aubergines – peppers – goji berries
• People with arthritis used to be told to eat less foods from the deadly nightshade family as a way of reducing symptoms.
• In recent years this thinking has been widely dispelled as a myth.
• There is no scientific evidence that suggests that foods from the deadly nightshade family exacerbate arthritis symptoms. But equally, there is no research concluding that they don’t.
• Bearing in mind the wealth of anecdotal evidence from people with arthritis that eliminating all (or particular) nightshade foods from their diet has made a fundamental difference to their symptoms, it is somewhat surprising that no studies have been done in the area.
• It could be that some people have individual reactions to particular foods and do see an improvement in their symptoms if they eliminate them. Perhaps some of us have genes that make us more susceptible to the effects of solanine, or another component of deadly nightshade plants. Why wouldn’t experts put deadly nightshade plants to the test in light of all the anecdotal evidence in the area? Continue reading
Night time leg cramps more common in summer
Painful nocturnal leg cramps are about twice as common during summer than in winter, says research in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
In the UK and Canada quinine is sometimes prescribed to treat leg cramps, so a team looked at the number of new quinine prescriptions for adults over 50 years of age in British Columbia, Canada, over a six year period. Continue reading
Chronic pain: negative communication with doctors can make symptoms worse
Doctors who communicate to patients that they do not believe or understand them (albeit without meaning to) can actually make people’s symptoms worse, suggests a small study published in the American Journal of Medicine. Continue reading
Brighton Marathon beckons. Iona Walton from Arthritis Digest magazine fundraises for leading arthritis charity
I’ve taken the plunge… and signed up to run the Brighton Marathon this April. And it’s all thanks to you, the community we’ve created via our website, facebook and twitter.
I’ve been editing Arthritis Digest magazine for over two years and now realise the devastating impact that arthritis and similar conditions can have on every aspect of life for some people. Continue reading
