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Fighting Arthritis with Conventional and Blood Type Therapies
ARTHRITIS IS A WILY ENEMY, CAPABLE OF TAKING on many forms. Symptoms may develop over time, but many of my patients report that they appear suddenly and without warning. The resulting pain, loss of function, and overall disability can be devastating, and those afflicted face a confusing array of options for treatment.
Nutritional strategies, which are the foundation of the Blood Type Diet, are still relatively uncommon in conventional medicine. Yet, in more than two decades treating patients with arthritis, I have seen remarkable and satisfying results using dietary adjustments.
Most of my patients fight disease using the best that conventional medicine has to offer, along with the added benefits of a diet that is genetically suited to their blood type. I advise you to do the same, educating yourself about the potential benefits and potential complications associated with various protocols.
Conventional Treatments: Pros and Cons
THE MAJOR PROBLEM with conventional medical protocols for arthritis is that they focus almost entirely on relief of symptoms. Virtually all current research is devoted to drug development. Treating arthritis and related conditions is big business, but relatively little attention is given to underlying causes and prevention.
Common treatments being used for arthritis include the following:
Over-the-counter analgesics, such as Tylenol, offer mild pain relief and fever reduction. They are not anti-inflammatories.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, have long been used to reduce arthritis pain and decrease inflammation. However, gastrointestinal complications, and even ulcers, are common side effects of NSAIDs. Three new drugs, introduced in the 1990s (Celebrex®, Vioxx® and Bextra®) have been heavily promoted as causing fewer ulcers and other gastrointestinal complications than older anti-inflammatory medicines. In addition, they inhibit an enzyme called COX-2, which triggers inflammation, while sparing an enzyme called COX-1, which helps protect the stomach lining. But the safety of these drugs has been called into question recently. A new study, focused on arthritis patients at high risk of recurrent ulcers, shows that Celebrex did not offer the level of protection previously claimed; nearly 10 percent of patients would develop another bleeding ulcer each year. Of the study patients receiving Celebrex, about 5 percent had recurrent bleeding during the six months of research, compared with about 6.5 percent for older medications, such as Prilosec. In addition, the newer anti-inflammatory drugs did not protect as many patients from dangerous kidney complications as past studies showed. Blood Type O individuals should be wary of using NSAIDs and should look for natural alternatives when possible.
Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory hormones made naturally in the body or produced synthetically. Corticosteroids are used to treat many autoimmune inflammatory conditions because they decrease inflammation and suppress the immune system. Corticosteroids can be given by mouth, in creams applied to the skin, or by injection. Short-term side effects of corticosteroids include swelling, increased appetite, weight gain, and mood swings. These side effects generally stop when the drug is stopped. It can be dangerous to stop taking corticosteroids suddenly, so it is very important that the doctor and patient work together when changing the corticosteroid dose. Side effects that may occur after long-term use of corticosteroids include stretch marks, excessive hair growth, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, damage to the arteries, high blood sugar, infections, and cataracts. Because of the link between Blood Type A and high levels of cortisol during stress, Blood Type A individuals should minimize the use of corticosteroids when possible—especially if there are sleep disturbances.
Viscosupplements replace hyaluronic acid (HA), a substance that helps lubricate the joints, which is lost in patients with osteoarthritis. They are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of knee pain in osteoarthritis patients who are unresponsive to nonpharmacologic measures and analgesic medications and who have experienced significantly increased flares of inflammation or extensive inflammation in one or a few joints. Two drugs, Hyalgan (hyaluronan) and Synvisc (hylan), are injected directly into the joint to replace the hyaluronic acid and help the joint move freely. Researchers are currently testing whether hyaluronic acid can slow the progression of osteoarthritis.
Enbrel (etanercept) is a genetically engineered protein that helps reduce symptoms and inhibits the progression of structural damage in adult patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis who have not responded well to other treatments. Enbrel works by binding to and inactivating a compound called tumor necrosis factor that is involved in the cascade of chemical reactions that cause inflammation. The usual side effects are injection site reactions that include redness, itching, bruising, or pain at the injection site, upper respiratory infections, allergic reactions, stuffy nose, cough, sore throat, poor wound healing, upset stomach, and headache. There have been very rare reports of serious nervous system disorders such as multiple sclerosis, seizures or inflammation of the nerves of the eyes, and serious infections, including sepsis and tuberculosis.
Surgery may be required to repair damage to a joint after injury or to restore function or relieve pain in a joint damaged by arthritis. The doctor may recommend arthroscopic surgery, bone fusion, or arthroplasty (also known as total joint replacement, in which the damaged joint is removed and replaced with an artificial one).
Arthroscopic knee surgery is performed on more than 300,000 Americans each year who suffer from osteoarthritis to clear out debris or repair damaged cartilage. It, too, is coming under harsh scrutiny. Recent government research suggests that this surgery may be worthless. A provocative study compared arthroscopic knee surgery for osteoarthritis to a sham procedure and found no difference in the outcomes. In a type of study only rarely conducted, some patients got a real knee operation, while others underwent the sham surgery. At every point over the next two years, those who had the fake surgery could climb stairs and walk slightly faster on average than those who had had real operations. The study authors stated that the benefits derived seemed to come from a placebo effect, not the surgery itself.
BEFORE BEGINNING ANY treatment plan involving medications, injections, or surgery, make sure you thoroughly discuss all of the pros and cons with your physician. Understand the full implications of each therapy and assess it in the context of your personal medical history, the severity of your condition, and your risk factors for digestive problems, immune deficiencies, or metabolic imbalances.
Fighting Arthritis with the Blood Type Diet
THE BLOOD TYPE DIET is designed to work in a complementary way with other therapies. If you are being treated for an arthritic condition, talk to your physician before beginning this program and keep him or her informed of your progress. Never stop taking medication without consulting your doctor, even if you think you no longer need it. It can be dangerous to abruptly cease certain medications.
The Blood Type Diet and its associated strategies can benefit you by:
Attacking the underlying cause of arthritis. The Blood Type Diet promotes a healthy immune system, reducing the potential for infections that can trigger arthritis and normalizing the inflammatory response.
Relieving the symptoms of arthritis. Arthritis patients using the Blood Type Diet typically experience a reduction of pain and inflammation. Supported by the exercise and lifestyle guidelines, they also report more energy and greater joint flexibility.
Counterbalancing the side effects of conventional treatments. Most medical treatments for arthritis have side effects, some of which are severe. When used in conjunction with NSAIDs, for example, the Blood Type Diet can help minimize gastrointestinal problems. When used in conjunction with corticosteroid treatment, the Blood Type Diet can help you avoid or minimize weight gain, edema, and depression.
Minimizing the risk of medical complications related to arthritis. Arthritic conditions do not exist in a vacuum. Scientists are increasingly discovering correlations between the inflammatory properties of arthritis and the risk for other serious diseases, including heart disease, kidney disease, and depression. By recognizing and addressing the blood type-specific risk factors for these diseases, you can help prevent their occurrence.
Establishing overall health and fitness. The arthritis blood type plan utilizes the best of naturopathic medicine, combined with individualized diet, exercise, and lifestyle strategies that support maximum health. The Blood Type Diet is nutritionally tailored to emphasize foods that support digestive, immune, and metabolic balance. It fights obesity (a factor in the development of osteoarthritis) and improves strength and fitness by reducing fat and building lean muscle mass.
ARE YOU READY to start? Find your blood type section, and we’ll get you on the right diet for your type to fight arthritis.