Most people don't realize that there are over 100 types of arthritis in existence.

Psoriatic arthritis is definitely one of the lesser known types of arthritis. But it is a serious form of arthritis nonetheless. Oh, if it only got the "glamor girl" attention that rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis does! Come on people, give psoriatic arthritis its due! Pay attention here!

We can learn a lot about this disease just from the name of the disease. Guess what? This joint condition is associated with a skin condition often known as "the heartbreak of psoriasis". I know you've heard of that one! Well,psoriasis is a rather common skin condition in which the skin of the body reacts and shows up as red, raised patches on the skin, alligator-like scaly skin and simply an over all, generalized inflammation of the skin. Right now, psoriasis is known to affect around 2% of Caucasian Americans. But it is important to remember that this skin condition can most definitely appear in others besides just the Caucasian population.

The skin condition psoriasis most often affects the scalp, face, navel, tips of the elbows, knees, and areas surrounding the genitals and anus. Health professionals estimate that 10 per cent of all psoriasis patients concurrently develop some form of inflammation in the affected joints. These patients are thus classified as suffering from psoriatic arthritis.

Obviously, one of the major risk factors for developing psoriatic arthritis is the presence of the skin disorder, particularly if it affects the joints. Psoriatic arthritis usually strikes later in life, with most diagnosed cases occurring in the fourth or fifth decades of the patient's life. It appears that gender is not a risk factor, since men and women are affected equally.

The majority of those who battle psoriatic arthritis actually battle psoriasis first. Yes, many patients experience the onset of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis at different times. So it should be a warning sign that if you see psoriasis that you should also be on the look out for the signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis.

However, some patients develop arthritis before the onset of psoriasis. Roughly 15 per cent of psoriatic arthritis patients report the presence of arthritic symptoms before developing psoriasis. In fact, many patients report living with psoriasis for many years before developing any signs of arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis is a systematic disease just like other forms of arthritis. With any systemic disease, other areas of the body can be attacked as well. So this simply means that you best be on the look out for problems with other body parts. For example, psoriatic arthritis patients can also be at risk for other problems with the kidneys and lungs. Patients may also experience problems with the heart, the eyes and the mouth. Systemic … affecting other areas as well. The whole body is at risk.

In the most serious cases of psoriatic arthritis, the impact on your vital organs can be life altering. With psoriatic arthritis, you are also at increased risk for spinal inflammation with can cause increased pain and limited movements.

So, here's the million dollar question. Just what causes psoriatic arthritis? Want the million dollar answer? Ok, here it is, we don't really know the cause of psoriatic arthritis. While there are many scholarly theories out there that attempt to explain the basis of psoriatic arthritis, the precise cause remains a mystery. Current research seems to point to many factors which can contribute to the development of psoriatic arthritis. One such factor is environmental, another is a flaky immune system and finally a genetic marker, known as HLA-B27. This particular genetic marker is found in many psoriatic arthritis patients, but it is not always the case and so don't count on it.

Other genes also appear frequently, furthering the notion that psoriatic arthritis is genetic in nature. Currently there are blood tests available that test individuals for these genes. Another common factor in most psoriatic arthritis cases helps support the notion that the disease is at lease partly immune in nature. Changes in the immune system also appear to be a common factor. In these cases, environmental factors (including the presence of infectious agents) may be responsible for the development of the disease.

Psoriatic arthritis is not something to be taken lightly. It is a serious health condition and must be managed as such. Partnering with your health care provider can produce the best result in managing this disease.

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Believe it or not, cancer deaths could be reduced by 33% if people were a little bit more aware of what kinds of foods they should be eating. That figure has been revealed by The National Cancer Institute.

What you eat can very often determine how long you are going to live and whether you are at risk from cancer or not. The American Cancer Society carried out a telephone survey and found that ignorance about lifestyle choices and their impact on a person's health was staggeringly high. Sadly, many of these people are the ones most likely to succumb to cancer. The importance of information and education campaigns cannot be overstressed.

The fact that chili peppers are so spicy makes us believe that they are not too good for the stomach.Nothing could be further from the truth! They are a valid ally in the fight against stomach cancer simply because they contain a chemical called capsaicin which neutralizes nitrosamines which cause cancer.

Broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage also have had a great press and not without good reason ! These are the vegetables that contain a chemical that can transform a cancer producing estrogen into a much milder one. This is well documented for the prevention of breast cancer. Brocoli get an extra prize in that they contain the chemical sulforaphane which can help to prevent certain cancers such as rectal cancer.

Carrots contain beta-carotene which are well known for helping sunbathers get a quick safe tan. Apart from that, they contain a chemical called falcarinol which has been effective in preventing cancer. My other favourite is the avocado because I know it is a potent antioxidant which will fight the free radicals which cause cancer.

Alcohol has come in for a lot of scrutiny. Some researchers regard it as a carcinogen and indeed , if it is consumed in great quantities, can lead to all sorts of diseases and damage the liver. But red wine, if consumed in moderate quantities, can help in the fight against cancer. This is because red wine has lots of polyphenols which are antioxidants. In addition the skin of the grapes contains resveratol which can inhibit cancer cells from multiplying.

Monoterpenes are most useful substances which can sweep out carcinogens from the body. Most citrus fruits contain these such as oranges, lemons and grapefruit. These fruits are also full of vitamin C, folic acid and beta-carotene.

Add nuts, mushrooms and figs to all these good things to eat and you have many of the essential ingredients of the Mediterranean Diet which has been researched all over the world because it is such a healthy diet and can play a significant part in preventing heart disease and lowering cancer rates. Why go to all the fuss of complicated meal plans, calorie counting and difficult recipes when you can all the benefits of tasty, easy food which the Mediterranean Diet provides.

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Which weight loss program is in the forefront for preventing heart disease and reducing cancer rates? The Mediterranean Diet Time for up to date news on Health, Wellness and Fitness. Visit The Wellness Bible Click here to get your own unique version of this article.

Every day, patients are diagnosed with arthritis, but it is by no means a "new" condition. On the contrary, arthritis has an ancient history. Even still, despite the fact that medical professionals have spent centuries developing newer and better treatments, one arthritis remedy holds almost archaic qualities.

While there are more than one hundred different types of arthritis, most of them share similar chronic, painful symptoms: swelling of the affected area, morning stiffness, sharp and throbbing pain, localized or widespread pain, and mild to severe loss of mobility.

Just as arthritis can present itself in many different forms, patients can benefit from a wide range of treatment options. Arthritis treatments vary from conventional drug therapies to specialized yoga and other alternative methods. Of course, every arthritis case is unique, so each treatment method may not bring relief to every patient.

There is also an interesting shift underway that is affecting the way that doctors treat patients with arthritis. Natural medicine is becoming mainstream, and alternative treatment options are becoming an acceptable part of arthritis therapies. Fish oil is one of the latest trends that doctors and nutritionists are excited about.

Fish oil is rich in two types of omega-3 fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Both of these omega-3 fatty acids are highly respected and well documented for their abilities to reduce inflammation. Because of these strong anti-inflammation properties, fish oils are naturally good choices for arthritis sufferers. Patients do have questions, however. Do they really work? And, more importantly, are fish oils effective for relieving pain?

The problem with most alternative medicine therapies is that they are relatively new, and lack sufficient medical and scientific research needed to provide definite proof. Fish oil is one of these treatments yet to be clinically proven effective. Early research findings, however, are encouraging.

Recent clinical trials and laboratory studies conclude that fish oil, because of its omega-3 structure, can be helpful in reducing morning muscle stiffness and joint pain that so many arthritis sufferers live with. Researchers have not yet concluded the appropriate dosage required for maximum effectiveness, nor how the fish oil treatment program should last.

There are potential side effects that patients should be aware of, before embarking on a fish oil treatment regime:

Blood Clots

In some cases, fish oil has been shown to increase risks associated with the blood's clotting abilities. In other words, some people may find that fish oil affects the time it takes for the blood to clot. This can be an important issue in cases where the patient is already taking medications that affect the clotting of blood.

Lower Blood Pressure

Fish oil supplements may also interact with blood pressure medications. Supplementing the diet with fish oil while taking high blood pressure medications may cause a significant drop in blood pressure.

Possible Contaminants

Fish oil can pose a danger due to the significant levels of contaminants that may be present. The natural mercury level in fish can cause it to be an unsafe choice for some patients. Consuming fish oils may pose serious risk, particularly to young children and pregnant or nursing women. Fishes that typically contain the highest mercury levels are tuna, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish and shark.

If you are considering taking fish oil supplements to treat arthritis, but you have concerns about the risks, avoid oils derived from those types of fish that are known to contain high levels of mercury. You'll need to conduct some research, but the results are worth the efforts.

While patients should be aware of the concerns before starting fish oil therapy for arthritis, there are few side effects once they start taking the supplements. Those possible side effects, such as gas and other stomach disturbances, are usually relatively minor.

Arthritis is certainly not a new disease. However, new treatment options are promising a new relief for arthritis sufferers. To find out more about fish oil, and other alternative arthritis treatments, speak to a trusted herbalist or your family doctor.

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Writer Mabel Dugmore is a columnist for several popular web magazines, on health discovery and pregnancy themes. This and other unique content 'fish oil' articles are available with free reprint rights.