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Doctor... I Have Rheumatoid Arthritis - Can I Drink Alcohol?
Main Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common chronic disease and the most common cause of crippling. RA affects roughly 2 million Americans.Did you know that low back pain is one of the earliest symptoms of arthritis? People over 60 ..... The treatment of RA involves the use of two major types of medications. The first type is the anti-inflammatory group. These help with symptoms. The second type is the disease modifying group. These help slow the disease process down. Both groups of medicines are metabolized through the liver. What that means is that it is not a good idea to use alcohol either heavily or chronically while on these medicines. In fact, many rheumatologists advise their RA patients taking methotrexate- one very common disease modifying drug- to avoid alcohol altogether. Another issue is the increased rate of peptic ulcers that can develop in patients taking non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Concomitant alcohol use increases the risk of ulcers. Now… what is the evidence to the contrary? A recent Swedish study found that a copious dose of alcohol reduced the risk that mice would develop rheumatoid arthritis. My Doctor Wants Me To Take Enbrel For My Rheumatoid Arthritis-What Can You Tell Me About It? TNF alpha is a cytokine, a protein that is produced during the inflammatory response. TNF alpha ..... Lead researcher Dr. Andrzej Tarkowski, professor of rheumatology at Goteborg University said, "I wouldn't dare to do it (the experiment) in humans." The mice were given a daily regimen of tap water supplemented with 10 percent alcohol. "That would do liver damage in humans," Tarkowski noted. Tarkowski, published the findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (December 19, 2006). Tarkowski was interested in the mechanism by which alcohol might help prevent rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks its own joint tissue. Discover Alternative Therapies For Rheumatoid Arthritis Because rheumatoid arthritis medications are known to have side effects -- some ..... "We have shown that it goes through the up-regulation [increase] of testosterone," he said. "That down-regulates inflammation, which is part of the arthritic process." “Test tube studies also show that alcohol increases the migration of white blood cells, which take part in the inflammatory process,” Tarkowski added. In the experiment, male mice were given injections of collagen to induce rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers noted a significantly lower onset of disease and fewer destructive symptoms in mice who drank water with 10 percent alcohol added in, than in those who drank plain tap water. What Do You Need To Know About Rheumatoid Arthritis What is meant by Rheumatoid Arthritis? Rheumatoid Arthritis is a very commonly found form ..... Does this now give permission for RA patients to party hardy? The study has very little application to humans in that it was a study designed to study possible RA prevention in male mice through testosterone modulation. Too Many Books, Supplements, And Programs If I read 1 good valid murder mystery book, would I really want that to be the ONLY ..... Since most RA patients are women, the results of the study probably aren’t useful for most RA suffereras. It might be interesting someday to look at possible RA prevention in men using alcohol but it’s entirely too premature to look at it now. Tarkowski also alluded to the possibility of using acetaldehyde, a breakdown product of alcohol, in preventing rheumatoid arthritis. Acetaldehyde though is toxic and it would have to be used cautiously, if ever, in a human trial. Ways To Alleviate The Pain Associated With Rheumatoid Arthritis My advice is that it’s OK to have an occasional drink. In particular, there is evidence that red wine might have beneficial effects as far as cardiovascular risk, which is a real worry in RA patients who appear to have accelerated atherosclerosis as part of their disease. But do it in moderation.Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that mostly affects women, but men are also ..... Dr. Wei (pronounced “way”) is a board-certified rheumatologist and Clinical Director of the nationally respected Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland (http://www.aocm.org). He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and has served as a consultant to the Arthritis Branch of the National Institutes of Health. He is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and the American College of Physicians. For more information on arthritis and related conditions, go to: http://www.arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com/arthritis-treatment.htmlArthritis Treatment |