“We don’t know for sure what causes cleft lip and palate. They may be caused by a combination of things, like genes and things in your environment, like what you eat or drink and medicines you take. Genes are parts of your body’s cells that store instructions for the way your body grows and works. Genes are passed from parents to children.”
March of Dimes (https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/topics/birth/cleft-lip-and-cleft-palate)
“July is National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month. The American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA; https://acpa-cpf.org/) Craniofacial anomalies (CFA) are a diverse group of deformities in the growth of the head and facial bones. Anomaly is a medical term meaning “irregularity” or “different from normal.” These abnormalities are present at birth (congenital) and there are numerous variations. Some are mild and some are severe and need surgery. Some craniofacial anomalies are associated with anomalies elsewhere in the body, which can be serious..”
The American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA; https://acpa-cpf.org/)
“When your baby is born, the blood left inside the umbilical cord is very special. It contains powerful hematopoietic stem cells, which have a 30-year history of helping to save lives through transplant medicine. There’s also exciting research using cord blood for regenerative medicine, which aims to harness the powerful cells inside to help the body heal itself. Both cord blood and cord tissue are rich sources of powerful stem cells. Newborn stem cell preservation is the process of saving the blood and tissue from the umbilical cord, after birth, for potential future use. Cord blood stem cells have been used in the treatment of over 80 conditions as part of a stem cell transplant. Today, stem cell research continues to evolve, bringing new hope to patients and their families. In fact, more than 500 CBR families have already used their preserved cord blood in a stem cell transplant or investigational setting.”
CBR Blog (https://blog.cordblood.com/2019/06/cord-blood-awareness-month-help-spread-the-word/)
“There is no single test that doctors can use to diagnose JIA. However, they may suspect that a child has the disease if he or she is younger than age 16 and has unexplained joint pain, stiffness, or swelling that has lasted for at least 6 weeks. Doctors usually diagnose JIA by ruling out other conditions that have similar features. The goals of treatment are directed on control inflammation, reduce pain and stiffness, prevent joint and organ damage, preserve and improve joint function, promote physical and psychosocial growth and development, and achieve remission. Most children with JIA need a combination of medicines and a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and exercise, to reach these goals. The specific treatment plan will depend on the child’s age, the type of JIA, and on other factors, such as disease severity. In general, doctors will treat the disease aggressively early on, tapering off medications once remission is reached.”
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin diseases – NIH (https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/juvenile-arthritis/diagnosis-treatment-and-steps-to-take)
Diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis can be difficult because joint pain can be caused by many different types of problems. No single test can confirm a diagnosis, but tests can help rule out some other conditions that produce similar signs and symptoms.
Some of the most common blood tests for suspected cases include:
X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging may be taken to exclude other conditions, such as fractures, tumors, infection or congenital defects.
Imaging may also be used from time to time after the diagnosis to monitor bone development and to detect joint damage.
Treatment for juvenile idiopathic arthritis focuses on helping your child maintain a normal level of physical and social activity. To accomplish this, doctors may use a combination of strategies to relieve pain and swelling, maintain full movement and strength, and prevent complications.
The medications used to help children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis are chosen to decrease pain, improve function and minimize potential joint damage.
Typical medications include:
Your doctor may recommend that your child work with a physical therapist to help keep joints flexible and maintain range of motion and muscle tone.
A physical therapist or an occupational therapist may make additional recommendations regarding the best exercise and protective equipment for your child.
A physical or occupational therapist may also recommend that your child make use of joint supports or splints to help protect joints and keep them in a good functional position.
In very severe cases, surgery may be needed to improve joint function.
“Arthritis in children is called childhood arthritis or juvenile arthritis. The most common type of childhood arthritis is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), also known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Childhood arthritis can cause permanent physical damage to joints. This damage can make it hard for the child to do everyday things like walking or dressing and can result in disability.”
Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC)
Like adults, children can develop arthritis. The most common type of chronic, or long-lasting, arthritis that affects children is called juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). JIA broadly refers to several different chronic disorders involving inflammation of joints (arthritis), which can cause joint pain, swelling, warmth, stiffness, and loss of motion. The various forms of JIA have different features, such as the pattern of joints involved and inflammation of other parts of the body besides the joints. JIA may last a limited time, such as a few months or years, but in some cases it is a lifelong disease that requires treatment into adulthood.
JIA is “idiopathic,” meaning that its origins are not understood. While the exact causes of JIA are unknown, it begins when the immune system becomes overactive and creates inflammation.
With treatment, most children achieve periods of wellness (remission), and sometimes the disease goes away permanently with no further need for medications. It is important to see a doctor early if your child has swollen or stiff joints because delaying therapy can lead to joint damage, a lesser response to treatment, and other problems.
By definition, JIA begins in children and adolescents before the 16th birthday. Most types of the disease are more frequent in girls, but enthesitis-related JIA, a form of the disease that involves inflammation of the places where ligaments and tendons (flexible bands of tissue) attach to bones, is more common in boys. Systemic JIA, a rare type of JIA that features fever and rash, affects boys and girls equally. Children of all races and ethnic backgrounds can get the disease.
It is very rare for more than one member of a family to have JIA, but children with a family member with chronic arthritis, including JIA, are at a slightly increased risk of developing it. Having a family member with psoriasis is a risk factor for a form of JIA called psoriatic JIA.
Generally, they all share arthritic symptoms of joint pain, swelling, warmth, and stiffness that last at least 6 weeks.
If left untreated, uveitis can lead to eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma, and vision loss, so it is important for children with JIA to have frequent eye exams.
Tune in tomorrow on the causes, how its diagnosed and treated!
“Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are different types of arthritis. They share some similar characteristics, but each has different symptoms and requires different treatment. So an accurate diagnosis is important.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis affects about one-tenth as many people as osteoarthritis.
The main difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is the cause behind the joint symptoms. Osteoarthritis is caused by mechanical wear and tear on joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system attacks the body’s joints.”
MyHealth.Alberta.Ca (https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/Pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=aa19377)
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints. (Arthro=joint / itis = inflammation)
The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms are joint inflammation that comes from pain, warmth, and swelling. The inflammation is typically symmetrical that is occurring on both sides of the body at the same time (such as hands, wrists, or knees). Other signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis include joint stiffness that is particularly in the AM upon awakening or after periods of inactivity; ongoing fatigue, and low-grade fever. Signs and symptoms come about gradually over years but can come on rapidly for some other people.
The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is usually caused by normal wear and tear, while rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. Other types of arthritis can be caused by uric acid crystals, infections or even an underlying disease, such as psoriasis or lupus.
Treatments vary depending on the type of arthritis. The main goals of arthritis treatments are to reduce signs or symptoms and improve quality of life through Occupational or Physical Therapy and/or through medications, the old way.
Things that make arthritis worse: 1.) conventional medicine through doctors ordering medications (see Dr. David Brownstein’s website for his Natural Way to Health (with his book) to overcome arthritis). Drugs rarely CURE things. We are trained to believe doctors have all the answers with medications or surgeries in resolving our health problem. NOT THE CASE ALWAYS. It’s unnatural with arthritis and many other diagnoses. Natural therapies and good foods are not taken seriously by enough people in America in regards to helping a condition, like arthritis, or even prevention (which should be your first intervention, don’t wait for the diagnosis).
2.)Infection – check if a bacterial infection started your arthritis. If that is the cause antibiotics, low dose some doctors have given to people in studies and have worked. You would think this would be used more often, at least in testing for before just prescribing anti-inflammatory or analgesics meds. If its infection you need to kill the bacteria and the only way to do that it is with an antibiotic which kills a bacterial infection.
3.)DIET – Too many sugars or chemical preservatives and sweeteners which is in the standard American diet. Processed Foods are BAD. The same foods that cause obesity, diabetes and coronary artery disease can easily cause arthritis. Increase your fruits and nuts in your diet. Vitamin C and E are good for you. Pomegrante extract also.
4.) Dehydration- main causes of arthritis. Many simplify the problem. Your joints need water and if not enough it will cause an auto immune response=inflammation and get worse with processed foods.
5.) Heavy metal toxicity-Mercury, Arsenic and Nickel it includes. Not a fluke and mercury is one of the worst metals to have toxic in your body. Fish is the second worst source of heavy metal food. Few things you can do now, eat tuna occasionally. Silver malcum fillings have your dentist remove. Have your doctor do a heavy metal toxicity test on you if you never had one done and with arthritis.
6.) Low or imbalances of hormones=headache, faster aging, fatigue/lethargy, skin wrinkling sooner in life. Synthetic hormones don’t perform as well in your body and can lead to problems. Female hormones can increase your chance to breast cancer for example.
ACT America and one way to do that is go to Dr. David Brownstein website and check out Reverse your Arthritis to deal with your arthritis naturally and reading his books with bonuses.
Diet and bodyweight impact on arthritis
Experts say that eating a well-balanced diet is vital when you have arthritis. Not only will you be receiving critical nutrients, you will also be either maintaining or arriving more quickly at a healthy bodyweight. If you are overweight you will be adding extra pressure on weight-bearing joints. Many patients have found that losing just a few pounds made a significant difference to their quality of life. Doctors and nutritionists are more frequently advising arthritis patients to keep sugary and/or fatty foods to a minimum – such as red meat, cream and cheese. You should make sure you are eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, as well as whole grains. Omega-3 essential fatty acids are thought to relieve to some extent the symptoms of arthritis. A common source of Omega-3 fatty acids is oily fish, such as sardines, herring, trout, and salmon. The healthier our country the better our health care system will turn out for everyone.
