Every second German affected! How to prevent osteoarthritis in everyday life

April 21, 2020| Barbara W. Andrade| 0 Comment | 7:35 am

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Health

Around 35 million people in Germany suffer from osteoarthritis. Is sport good for the joints? Whether for prevention or for those affected: exercise is the best medicine. FOCUS Online explains which sports are suitable and what you should pay attention to.

If you want to do something about osteoarthritis, you should exercise.
With these sports you can prevent.
At the same time, those affected can still practice many sports.

Anyone who hurts movements in their knees, shoulders or ankles usually suffers from osteoarthritis. It is the most common joint disease. At least five million Germans suffer from it. Experts even speak of 35 million people affected in Germany for early forms of osteoarthritis.

From the age of 30, the risk increases linearly. Among those over the age of 60, 50 percent of women and a third of men suffer from osteoarthritis.

Strictly speaking, however, everyone would get osteoarthritis, says Karl-Dieter Heller, chief physician at the Orthopedic Clinic Duchess Elisabeth Hospital. From the age of 40 at the latest, arthritic changes appear in the X-ray. Osteoarthritis occurs when bones, ligaments, tendons and joint capsules wear out.

Many movements are therefore painful. That tempts you to keep calm. However, this is exactly the wrong way to go. Anyone who wants to prevent joint wear and tear should definitely be active in sports.

With these sports you can prevent osteoarthritis

On the one hand, the aim of sport is to move the joint and maintain flexibility. The movement supplies the cartilage with nutrients. Because this itself is not supplied with blood.

On the other hand, the movement strengthens the joint-stabilizing muscles, which relieves the joint.

Sport improves the metabolism in the joint and the control function of the joints is maintained. Bones and cartilage are relieved.

Cycling, Nordic walking, swimming and cross-country skiing are sports that do not put stress on the joints, but move them gently.

At the same time, a change in diet also plays an important role in prevention, as being overweight puts extreme stress on the joints.

This is how many hours of exercise a week should be

Heller recommends: Three quarters to an hour three times a week is a good workload.

Limit: If you experience swelling and pain in your knees, shoulders or feet, you should adjust the intensity of your training.

Stop-and-go sports can put too much strain on the joints. These include tennis, badminton and squash.

Bad habit or dangerous? That’s why it cracks when we pull our fingersBad habit or dangerous? That’s why it cracks when we pull our fingers

April 27, 2020| Barbara W. Andrade| 0 Comment| 7:46 am

Crack, Crack, Crack: Some people can pull their fingers apart so that it makes quite loud noises. Scientists wanted to know where this pop is coming from.

So far there have been various theories about the origin of noise.
Researchers observed the process in the magnetic resonance tomograph.
There is no indication of whether the cracking is bad or good for the joints.

The cracking noise when pulling apart of fingers formed according to a study by the formation of a cavity in the joint.

Finger in the magnetic resonance tomograph

In the investigation, Greg Kawchuk’s team from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, took a closer look at a man’s metacarpophalangeal joints in an MRI scanner. The scientists present their results in the journal “PLOS ONE” .

Is there a threat to health?

Some people can crack their joints when they pull their fingers apart. There is currently no evidence as to whether this phenomenon is bad or good for the joints. “So far, no one has ever been able to prove that this cracking is harmful to health in the long term,” says Professor Jörg van Schoonhoven from the Clinic for Hand Surgery at the Rhön Clinic in Bad Neustadt an der Saale.

Different theories

For a long time there have been various theories about where the popping sound when clicking your fingers comes from. Some scientists suspected that the crackling sound was caused by a bursting bubble in the joint space.

Other researchers hypothesized that the sound is caused by the flapping of ligaments.

Another explanation for the origin of the cracking is what is known as tribonucleation: a mechanism in which the movement of surfaces creates gas bubbles in a liquid.

Study author as guinea pig

To date, there has not been any direct experimental evidence that solidly supports any of the theories. Kawchuk’s researchers wanted to change that.

For their study, the scientists needed someone who had the ability to crack their metatarsophalangeal joints on request. These joints connect the bones of the metacarpus to the base members of the fingers. The choice fell on Jerome Fryer, one of the study authors.

Pull until it cracks

In the experiment, the researchers examined each finger of the test subject in isolation in a special magnetic resonance tomograph, with which movement sequences can be recorded.

The finger was attached to a kind of tube that was connected to a cable at the other end. Then the cord was pulled until Fryer’s fingers cracked. The entire process in the joint was recorded with an MRI scanner.

Is a cavity the cause?

Shortly before the cracking could be heard, the researchers were able to observe the formation of a cavity in the images.

The scientists therefore assume that tribonucleation has taken place in the joint: “It is a bit as if a vacuum is being formed,” explains Kawchuk in a communication on the study. “If the joint surfaces suddenly separate, there is no longer any liquid left to fill the increasing joint volume. This creates a cavity.” The noise is generated by this event.

“It is interesting to know what acoustic phenomenon is behind the cracking of the fingers,” said the hand surgeon van Schoonhoven. However, by including only one person in their study, Kawchuk’s researchers would be able to explain the phenomenon only for that person. “The experimental setup does not allow any generalized statements,” said van Schoonhoven.

Can California Health Insurance Rate Reviews Stop Excessive Rate Hikes?Can California Health Insurance Rate Reviews Stop Excessive Rate Hikes?

June 12, 2016| Barbara W. Andrade| 0 Comment| 12:56 pm

Lаѕt year, California wаѕ granted thе power tо scrutinize proposed health insurance rate increases bу insurance companies. Insurance companies planning tо increase thеіr plan premiums bу mоrе thаn 10 percent аrе subject tо rate reviews. Excessive premium increases wоuld necessitate insurers tо publicly justify thе unjust rate hikes.

Despite thе implementation оf rate reviews, little help іѕ seen bу millions оf consumers. California health insurance premiums continue tо skyrocket making іt hard fоr Californians tо afford health care coverage.

Evеn thоugh California саn publicly shame аnd persuade insurers tо prevent proposed increases, іt ѕtіll lacks thе power tо reject thе proposed excessive rates bу insurance companies. Thе state couldn’t еvеn stop Anthem Blue Crоѕѕ frоm increasing оnе оf іtѕ coverage rates bу 16.1 percent еvеn thоugh іt wаѕ publicly declared thаt thе planned rates wеrе excessive.

Consumers Demand California Health Insurance Rate Regulations

Sіnсе 2002, Californians hаvе seen a 153 percent increase іn employer health insurance. Bесаuѕе оf thіѕ, thе desire tо regulate California health insurance premiums increased mоrе thаn еvеr. Consumer groups want regulators tо dо mоrе thаn embarrass аnd persuade. Thеу want tо рut аn end tо excessive premium increases. A consumer advocate group еvеn stated thаt thеу wіll begin gathering signatures frоm people tо help set uр real rate control.

Evеn thоugh thе Department оf Insurance wаѕ able tо reduce, postpone аnd withdraw 50 оut оf thе 300 rate changes lаѕt year, it’s nоt еnоugh. According tо Deputy Commissioner Janice Rocco, іn order tо adequately protect consumers, having thе authority tо reject excessive California health insurance premium increases іѕ necessary. Hоwеvеr, thеrе аrе ѕtіll wауѕ thаt consumers саn afford health coverage despite increasing premiums.

Hоw Cаn Consumers Afford California Health Insurance Plans?

If уоu аrе living оn a tight budget, уоu mіght bе pondering whеthеr tо gеt health care coverage оr nоt wіth premiums оn thе rise. Thеrе аrе ѕtіll wауѕ tо help people afford thе health coverage thеу need.

A high-deductible health plan іѕ аn option fоr people whо аrе іn good health. Compared tо co-pay plans, high-deductible plans offer lower premiums bу аѕ muсh аѕ 40 tо 50 percent. Wіth thе passage оf thе health care reform law, high-deductible plans аrе appealing mоrе thаn еvеr. Preventive care services аrе 100 percent covered wіth nо out-of-pocket costs еvеn bеfоrе meeting уоur deductible. Meaning, annual physical exams аnd screening procedures fоr health conditions саn bе enjoyed wіthоut worrying аbоut co-payments, co-insurance аnd deductibles.

Yоu саn uѕе thіѕ added free benefit аѕ lоng аѕ уоu gо wіth in-network providers. Constantly monitoring уоur health саn help kеер money іn уоur pocket. Early detection оf illness саn significantly decrease уоur out-of-pocket medical expenses. Aѕ wе аll know, developing a chronic illness іѕ harder tо treat resulting іn expensive medical bills.

Nоw іѕ thе tіmе tо gеt a California health insurance plan. Onсе уоu hаvе a pre-existing condition, insurance companies саn charge уоu higher premiums оr еvеn deny уоu coverage. Wіthоut health coverage, уоu аrе financially exposed tо huge medical bills whеn illness strikes. Luckily, insurers саnnоt deny children wіth pre-existing conditions health coverage duе tо thе Affordable Care Act mandate. Aѕ fоr adults, уоu need tо wait untіl 2014 whеn health care reform fully takes іtѕ course.

Whіlе уоur health іѕ good, gеt coverage nоw tо kеер rates lоw. Yоu ѕhоuld аlѕо dо ѕоmе comparison shopping еvеrу year tо gеt thе mоѕt affordable health insurance rates frоm insurance companies іn уоur area.

At 20, 40, 60 and 70 years: how to eat healthily at any ageAt 20, 40, 60 and 70 years: how to eat healthily at any age

May 20, 2020| Barbara W. Andrade| 0 Comment| 8:59 am

Sometimes the body needs more protein, sometimes more carbohydrates and after a certain age it should be less overall. If you want to eat healthily for a lifetime, you should always keep an eye on your age when shopping and cooking.

According to today’s recommendations, a healthy diet consists of plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit, good oils, as little industrially processed food as possible, economical consumption of animal products, white flour and sugar – from children to old people.

So there is only healthy and unhealthy diet, but no age-related diet. But: Over the years and depending on the situation in life, the need and utilization of nutrients change. And here age definitely plays a role. For example, the nutritionists at the University of California in San Diego have put together an overview of what to look out for .

This is what matters from 20 to 40:

The basal metabolic rate is highest in young adults, which means that the body consumes the most calories even without physical activity. At this age, many people can “eat what they want” without getting fat. At least at this age, the body forgives a few fast-food orgies and other antics.

In general, it is important to build up muscles, bones and connective tissue between the ages of 20 and 30 , also with the help of a sensible diet. Everyone can benefit from this basis in later years, when it is no longer so easy to maintain fitness.

In these years, special attention to nutrition requires more of a life circumstance for women: pregnancy.

Special dietary instructions for young pregnant women only

In addition to a diet full of high-quality nutrients and the natural avoidance of tobacco and alcohol , it is important to ensure an optimal supply of vitamins, minerals and trace elements so that the child develops well. Eating for two, on the other hand, is completely unnecessary and wrong.

Therefore, all expectant mothers should take folic acid in the first 3 months of pregnancy . Iodine tablets can also be useful. And vegans also have to pay attention to a number of micronutrients that they lack by avoiding animal foods: iron, zinc , calcium, vitamins B12, B2 and D as well as an appropriate intake of omega-3 fatty acids.

This is important from 40:

From the age of 40, the metabolism begins to slow down. While the body can usually break down too much sugar and carbohydrates by the age of 30, it loses this ability by the age of 40 at the latest. Suddenly, an unchanged diet is reflected in the stomach and hips.

Anyone who is only now finding an adequate diet can still set the course for a healthy future.

Anyone who has already eaten reasonably healthy should now pay more attention to the following elements:

Fruits and vegetables in bright colors – the antioxidants they contain act as cell protection with an antiaging effect in the body.
more whole grains on the menu
a (small) portion of red meat twice a week – good for building muscle , also important for women because of the prevention of iron deficiency
Vegetarians should pay particular attention to green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale or Swiss chard.

Here are some things to watch out for in your 50s and 60s:

Now begins a dangerous age for cardiovascular problems such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Anyone who has neglected their diet and has not taken much exercise must expect type 2 diabetes .

It is now important to have a diet that keeps the blood sugar level stable and prevents deposits in the blood vessels. It should be low in cholesterol, high in fiber and slowly digestible carbohydrates, so:

lots of vegetables
little animal fat
no sugared soft drinks
little white flour products

In addition:

nuts
Good oils (olive, flaxseed)
Fish (omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D)
Low-fat dairy products (calcium)

Changes in hormones accelerate the loss of calcium from the bones. The substitution of calcium plus vitamin D can now counteract the threat of osteoporosis . Because of the breakdown of estrogen during menopause , it occurs earlier and more frequently in women. But bone loss threatens men too.

An omega-3 supplement can benefit heart health if someone doesn’t eat sea fish. Omega-3 fatty acids stabilize the blood vessels.

Proper nutrition with 70 plus:

With age, various physiological and psychological changes occur that directly affect nutritional needs. The taste buds and appetite decrease, as does the desire to cook freshly and by yourself.

The body is less able to absorb and use many vitamins and minerals. With age, the digestive juices in the stomach change, reducing the absorption of iron, calcium, and vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid.

Long-term use of prescription drugs can decrease the absorption of certain nutrients.

Less calories, but not less nutrients

Seniors need fewer calories than younger people, but no fewer nutrients. Protein becomes important again in old age: it can delay muscle loss in old age, especially when combined with strength training.

As a rule of thumb, one gram of protein per kilogram of body weight per day . However, it should not be exclusively protein from meat, as it promotes inflammation, especially in the joints.

Because digestion becomes sluggish with age, fiber is important for the 70+ generation. A teaspoon of psyllium husks are a recommended alternative to the vegetables or whole grains that would be necessary for an optimal supply. To do this, seniors have to drink plenty, even if that is difficult for many.