2 health benefits of turmeric, according to experts

From fortune.com

Americans spend around $50 billion a year on supplements. One of the most popular is turmeric, a bright orange root that has its roots in both traditional Eastern medicine and cuisine. Proponents are willing to pay $20 or more for a bottle, hoping to relieve arthritis pain and inflammation, lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and treat whatever else happens to ail them. But is it worth the money?

While a lot of research has highlighted turmeric’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, the wide range of supplement potencies and doses used in studies has made it hard to confirm any health claims.

Dr. Keith Singletary, professor emeritus of nutrition at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has reviewed the evidence on turmeric. His take? “I think it’s promising,” he says, but he stresses that it isn’t “the cure-all that marketing would make it appear.”

Health benefits of turmeric

The health properties attributed to turmeric come from natural compounds called curcuminoids. “Curcumin, which is the major one, is believed to be largely responsible for the health benefits of turmeric,” says Singletary.

What might curcumin do? The best evidence centres on two conditions: arthritis and metabolic syndrome.

Arthritis

Considering turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties, it’s not surprising that researchers have investigated its use for arthritis. The supplement does appear to reduce pain and stiffness from osteoarthritis, the most common form of this achy joint disease.

“It’s not a miracle drug, but it probably works as well as ibuprofen or acetaminophen,” says Dr. Janet L. Funk, professor of medicine and vice chair of research for the Department of Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson. Her lab studies plant-derived dietary supplements for inflammatory diseases.

While a lot of research has highlighted turmeric’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, the wide range of supplement potencies and doses used in studies has made it hard to confirm any health claims.

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Metabolic syndrome

This isn’t a disease, but rather a cluster of conditions like obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high triglycerides that collectively increase the risk for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. About 1 in 3 American adults have metabolic syndrome, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

Studies have looked at the effects of turmeric on blood sugar, triglycerides, and insulin levels, as well as on inflammation (which also plays a role in metabolic syndrome). “In general, there was a strong preponderance of evidence that it might help reduce all those things. So it might have some benefit in people who are overweight and concerned about inflammation and diabetes,” Funk says.

But—there’s a very big caveat. “There’s a lot of inconsistency between studies,” Singletary says. And therein lies the problem in evaluating turmeric.

An imperfect science

Though plenty of research is being done on turmeric, the studies aren’t consistent. Researchers have tested different amounts of the supplement in different groups of people for different amounts of time. Some studies added a compound like piperine, found in black pepper, to make turmeric more active in the body (researchers call this increased “bioavailability”).

For example, one study on knee osteoarthritis had participants take 180 milligrams (mg) of curcumin for eight weeks. Another one used doses of 500 mg plus 5 mg of BioPerine (black pepper) extract three times a day for six weeks.

Because most of the studies have lasted four months or less, researchers don’t know what might happen with long-term use. “The bottom line is, there’s no definitive, well-designed studies at this point,” Funk says. She’s sceptical that there ever will be, given that the nutraceutical industry and the National Institutes of Health aren’t funding them.

The risks of turmeric

Turmeric is probably safe if you get it from the spice or you take only the recommended amount in supplements, says the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. In larger quantities, it could cause GI side effects like nausea or diarrhea.

Piperine poses its own set of issues, because it increases the bioavailability of curcumin by inactivating an enzyme in the liver that would otherwise break it down. “That enzyme is really important for [breaking down] most drugs people take,” says Funk. Theoretically, piperine might cause a buildup of medications in the body, thus increasing the risk for side effects. “Generally speaking, if you’re taking other medications, I would shy away from any product that has piperine in it, just in case it could interfere with the metabolism of your other drugs,” she adds.

An even bigger concern is a rare but serious risk of liver damage from turmeric supplements, as well as high levels of lead in these products. Several studies, including one that Funk co-authored, found excessive amounts of lead in some turmeric supplements—especially those that contained turmeric root. Exposure to lead in large quantities can have toxic effects on the body, including heart and kidney problems.

Should you take turmeric?

Is it worth taking turmeric? “That’s the million- dollar question,” says Singletary. Given the lack of clear evidence on its benefits and the potential risks, he says you’re safest getting turmeric through your diet. You can add the spice to soups, stews, sauces, and smoothies. Top them with a pinch of black pepper or cook turmeric in oil to enhance its bioavailability.

If you do use turmeric supplements, it can be difficult to know which form is best, or how much to take. The best advice is to ask your health care provider, says Singletary. Start out with a low dose to see how your body responds to it. And don’t expect turmeric to be a “cure-all for all your ailments, which is unlikely to be the case,” he adds.

https://fortune.com/well/article/turmeric-health-benefits/ 

Rheumatoid Arthritis is on the rise. The big question: Why?

From healthcentral.com

Cases of RA are predicted to nearly double in the next 30 years. Our experts explain why, and whether it’s a trend that can be reversed 

Despite everything you’ve read about innovations in medicine eradicating diseases from hepatitis B to smallpox, when it comes to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the trend is disturbingly the opposite. According to the most recent findings from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD), “the single largest and most detailed scientific effort ever conducted to quantify levels and trends in health,” RA cases are expected to rise a shocking 80% over the next 30 years.

Current estimates put the number of people with rheumatoid arthritis globally around 18 million; by 2050, the GBD estimates that number will increase to 31.7 million. It’s a massive increase for a condition that has been celebrated by the medical community in recent years for its treatment success rates with the introduction of specialized medications called biologics and Janus kinase inhibitors. (Indeed, deaths from RA are in decline largely due to therapeutic innovations, according to a review looking into the GBD study findings that was published last year in Lancet Rheumatology.)

Given how far we’ve come to treat it, it’s a surprise and concern to experts that this autoimmune disease, which targets not only your joints but heart, lungs, and nervous system as well, is still growing in communities around the world. What makes experts so certain a spike in rheumatoid arthritis is coming? What’s possibly driving it? And what risk factors are in your control to reduce your chances of developing it? We went to the experts for the answers to these questions and more.

Where We Stand Now With RA

To put the current predictions about RA into perspective, it’s important to note what trends clinicians have been seeing in both the number of cases and disease burden for some time.

In the United States, it’s estimated that 1.3 million American adults have RA. Those statistics are debated among experts, who note that they are derived from studies on RA that are “inconsistent” in their findings, according to a recent article in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. (Some studies show an increase in RA prevalence, others show a decrease, and still others show no measurable change at all.)

To complicate matters, another recent study in Frontiers of Medicine points out that because the classifications for an early RA diagnosis were updated in 2010, an increase in incidence for RA may be due primarily to increased diagnoses under the new criteria, rather than an increase in actual disease cases.

Why Scientists Are Concerned

The GBD study itself is a research undertaking looking at the health impact of not just RA, but also “hundreds of diseases, injuries, and risk factors;” it involved some 9,000 researchers in more than 160 countries and territories worldwide overall over multiple years, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington in Seattle, which leads the study.

For RA, the prevalence—which includes the number of cases of a disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—was estimated in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2020 by researchers called the GBD 2021 Rheumatoid Arthritis Collaborators. The researchers used population-based studies and medical claims data from dozens of studies to reach their conclusions that RA cases would mushroom, as would the time of disability (or burden) of the disease.

“Multiple factors can be contributing toward the increased incidence and burden of RA,” says Vicky Nahra, M.D., a rheumatologist and assistant professor in the division of rheumatology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. From lifespan to lifestyle, experts have their eye on a few key variables.

Aging Population

One reason behind the rise in global RA prevalence is the sheer number of people who are aging into the demographic that traditionally has the highest rates of the disease. “We know RA occurs more in women and in older individuals, and given our aging population, it is expected to see more cases,” says Dr. Nahra.

In the next 30 years, the U.S. population is projected to grow by about 0.3% per year overall, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Meanwhile, experts expect an increase of 111% in the population 65 and older by 2050, the Pew Research Center reports. While you can develop RA at any age, it most often starts affecting people in their 30s to 60s, according to the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, and researchers have found that RA is a common inflammatory disease in older age groups.

Climbing Obesity Rates

Research suggests there’s an increased risk of developing RA if you have obesity, per a recent review of studies on the topic. According to that review, higher body mass index (BMI) in middle age and early adulthood, and larger waist circumference were all associated with an increased risk of developing RA. Being obese can also make RA symptoms worse, according to the Arthritis Foundation, and even impact RA meds’ effectiveness, which both can contribute to the overall burden of the disease.

Obesity (defined as BMI of 30 or greater) prevalence doubled in the U.S. from the late 1970s to 2000, and CDC statistics show it has continued to climb, from 30.5% of Americans considered obese in 2000 to 42.5% in 2022, the most recent data available.

But whether obesity will continue to be a predominant driver of rheumatoid arthritis for the next three decades remains to be seen, notes Grace C. Wright, M.D., Ph.D., a consultant rheumatologist in New York City and the founder and president of the Association of Women in Rheumatology (AWIR). For instance, the recent advent of new anti-obesity drugs might help in slowing RA rates that are tied to obesity, Dr. Wright points out, as well as “shifting patient outcomes for those who already have rheumatoid arthritis,” she says.

Smoking

In the GBD study, the only risk factor analysed in relation to RA prevalence was smoking. With regard to RA, smoking is specifically associated with a certain type of this condition: Research has found an association between smoking and an increased risk of developing seropositive RA, according to a recent journal article. When you have seropositive RA, blood tests typically show high levels of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCPs), a type of antibody, the Arthritis Foundation reports. It was once thought that the other type—seronegative RA, when you don’t have high levels in certain blood tests—was a milder form of the condition, but doctors are realizing it can be just as damaging to joints as seropositive RA, per Dr. Wright. So it’s key to be diagnosed with either type of the condition ASAP to reduce that damage, and to understand the seropositive connection if you’re a smoker.

But herein lies an important nuance: This smoking issue may be less impactful to U.S. numbers of RA cases than in other countries. For instance, some places have a higher prevalence of smoking than the U.S., such as the World Health Organization’s (WHO) defined South-East Asian Region. While smoking is increasing in some countries, like Congo, Egypt, and Indonesia, the WHO reports, smoking is on the decline in the U.S.

Air Pollution

Frequent exposure to air pollution is also associated with higher risk of developing autoimmune diseases, including RA, research has found. In the U.S., air pollution continues to be an issue, even after significant improvements in air quality since the Clean Air Act was established in 1970, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

A 2023 “State of the Air” report from the American Lung Association (ALA) found that almost 36% of Americans, or 119.6 million people, live in areas in the U.S. that have failing grades from unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. And the report found that 63.7 million Americans live in counties that have failing grades for daily spikes in “deadly particle pollution,” which was “the most ever reported under the current national standard.” Health issues from air pollution are becoming especially apparent as we see air quality diminish worldwide with climate change, Dr. Wright points out. It’s causing things like massive wildfires that darken our skies and fill the air with pollutants.

Other Potential Factors

Another important reason for the predicted jump in RA prevalence and burden? Doctors now have better tools for diagnosis, Dr. Nahra says. In the past, they often had to rely on X-rays—which can show RA activity as calm, even during active progression, according to the Arthritis Foundation—but newer technology, like musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can show inflammation and bone erosion that X-rays can’t.

Some patients also now have better access to medical care, specifically rheumatology, for proper diagnoses, she says, with telehealth expansion during the pandemic helping to expand access. That means they’re getting diagnosed at a potentially higher rate than before. And this might only accelerate in the future to account for the projections bringing larger increases than the historically upward trending curve.

COVID-19 itself may even play a role in the increasing number of cases, thinks James Schiff Topilow, M.D., a rheumatologist at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, NJ. “Multiple epidemiologic studies have linked COVID infections with increased rates of vasculitis and various other autoimmune diseases, including RA,” Dr. Topilow says. “Given COVID is not going away anytime soon, and our country’s own median age is projected to increase, our country will not be immune to these processes.”

How to Reduce Risk Factors

The big question: Is anything we can do now to reduce RA risk factors, in a bid to lower future prevalence rates? That depends, Dr. Wright says. Some risk factors for the condition are modifiable and others, like the genetic connection to RA, are not. In fact, one study found that having a first-degree relative with RA can make you more than twice as likely to develop the condition than someone who doesn’t.

Still, if you’re looking for a way to proactively contribute to a future RA decline, these are three modifiable RA risk factors to consider. While they may or may not have an impact on global rheumatoid arthritis rates, they’ll at the very least have a positive impact on your overall health.

Air Pollutants

According to the ALA, no matter where you live, you can take steps to protect yourself from air pollutants. Step one, check your daily air pollution forecast for where you live (www.AirNow.gov is one potential resource): The ALA advises not exercising outside when pollution is estimated to be high and instead take your exercise indoors, like a gym or a walk through the local mall, to reduce your exposure to breathing in harmful air pollutants. The EPA also recommends investing in a portable air cleaner for your home or office to help reduce pollutants indoors. The agency reports that the most effective way to make indoor air healthier is to reduce or clean out pollutants.

Obesity

Losing weight and maintaining a healthy BMI might help reduce this RA risk factor, Dr. Nahra explains. You can do so through small steps, Dr. Wright says. “We have many things that we can do with weight management that don’t necessarily have to be that you’re taking a pill, but they’re healthy behaviours—like, eat a little bit more green, and a little bit less brown,” she says. “Change the colour coding of your food. Find ways to make it fun.”

A diet high in fiber and prebiotics, including vegetables, fruit, beans, legumes, unsweetened yogurt, nuts and seeds can help maintain a healthy microbiome and weight that can assist with RA management, says Leslie Axelrod, N.D., a staff physician at Sonoran University in Tempe, AZ, specializing in integrative rheumatology.

Smoking

Doing a smoking cessation program ASAP is advisable if you have RA or are at risk for it, our experts say. There are many helpful resources to support you in your journey to stop smoking—like the ALA’s Freedom From Smoking program; a website with tools, tips, and info on stopping smoking started by the National Cancer Institute called Smokefree.gov; and an overview on all things quitting smoking from the American Heart Association. Because it’s worth it—one study of women in the Nurses’ Health Studies found that seropositive RA risk was reduced by 37% in the women studied who didn’t smoke for 30 years or more when compared to those who had just stopped smoking.

Reducing the Burden of RA

Back to the GBD study—which showed that there was not only a rise in RA cases, but also an increased burden of living with the condition. The latter, say experts, should be considered a modifiable variable—as long as you remain vigilant about managing your care.

“We can prevent damage accumulation if we quickly set out and control disease activity,” Dr. Topilow says. He thinks society has normalized joint pain, to the detriment of people with RA. A delay in care can lead to disease progression, Dr. Topilow says, allowing for greater disease burden which can include disability from joint damage and loss of healthy years of life, as the GBD study shows.

“People should be certain to let their doctors know if they have new onset of joint pain,” he says. “Especially pain that is associated with morning stiffness over 30 to 60 minutes and pain that improves with activities, which are more typically seen in inflammatory, autoimmune processes such as RA, and should not just assume the pain is a normal part of the aging process.”

The earlier RA is diagnosed, the better for easing the burden of the disease, Dr. Nahra agrees. “It is critical for RA to be diagnosed as soon as possible so that we can initiate treatment and prevent damage to the joints and subsequent loss of function or deformities,” she explains.

It’s not just the joints and related disability to consider—RA can have implications throughout the body, Dr. Axelrod says. “It also has other effects, including cardiovascular risks and changes to the lungs,” she explains. Left untreated, it can cause further damage to the joints, surrounding tissue, and heart, nervous system, and lung issues, the WHO reports.

The Future of Rheumatoid Arthritis

It would be ideal, agree researchers and clinicians, to not only be able to predict trends in RA prevalence, but to know for certain what’s driving them, so as to head any spike in disease off at the proverbial pass. But while experts have theories and likely contributors, there is no single smoking gun when it comes to the anticipated rise in rates over the next three decades.

Instead, while rheumatoid arthritis prevalence and burden continue to increase around the world, including in the U.S., the take-home message for most of us is: Do what you can to reduce your changeable risk factors. And if you are experiencing the early warning signs of RA such as stiffness, swelling, tenderness, or pain in your joints, seeing your doctor to get a diagnosis is key. The disease—if left untreated—can be a more debilitating and challenging condition than it need be. “There is no need to suffer in silence,” Dr. Topilow says. “There are new treatments for RA that can help lessen symptoms and minimize joint damage.”

https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/rheumatoid-arthritis/why-rheumatoid-arthritis-is-on-the-rise

How to get a good night’s rest when you have arthritis

From optum.com

Aches and pains can make it hard to sleep well, and that can lead to more pain. Find out ways to start snoozing better 

If you have arthritis, you’re probably no stranger to tossing and turning at night. Joint pain can make it tough to fall asleep, stay asleep or both. In fact, up to 80% of people with arthritis report some type of issue with their z’s. 

So, what’s going on? “There are several reasons why people in pain can have a difficult time sleeping,” says Michael Guma, DO. He’s the medical director of rheumatology for Optum in Rutherford, New Jersey.  

For one, changing positions at night can cause pain. With some forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, joints can stiffen up when you’re not moving, says Dr. Guma. Then when you shift position during the night, those joints hurt.  

Unfortunately, bad nights can set up a vicious cycle. “Lack of sleep is like an amplifier for your pain. It can be like turning the pain volume knob to a higher number,” Dr. Guma says.  

And for older adults, missing out on sleep can increase the odds of falls or accidents, as well as memory issues and depression, according to the National Institute on Aging.   

Bottom line, says Dr. Guma: “It’s so important to get that good night of sleep.” Here’s how to get started. 

Soothe your muscles as you prep for bed 

Experts often recommend taking a warm shower to help you relax before bedtime. But it can have other benefits too. “For some people, a warm shower may help relax tight muscles,” says Dr. Guma. This can help take pressure off the joints, making sleep easier to come by.  

It’s also key to practice good sleep hygiene habits. This is important for everyone, but especially if you find it tough to drift off. Keep your room cool, dark and quiet. And keep TVs and other devices out of the bedroom. Also try to avoid napping in the late afternoon or evening. 

Check your position — and bed accessories 

Depending on where you have stiff joints or pain, you may have to sleep in a certain position to feel your best, notes Dr. Guma. Let’s say you experience neck pain (a condition called cervical spondylosis). “The way you position yourself on your pillow, in addition to the type of pillow you’re using, can really make a difference in your pain and how well you sleep,” says Dr. Guma. 

A special pillow might support your neck as you snooze. Consider testing several if neck pain keeps you awake. Some people with arthritis also find that a fuller pillow that keeps their aligned with their spine can lead to better-quality rest. 

You’ll also want to find a comfortable mattress. There is no one best mattress for everybody with arthritis, notes Dr. Guma. Plus, your needs may change as you get older. “Some people find that a hard, stiff mattress is great for their arthritis, but they need a softer mattress as they age,” he says. 

Also handy: extra pillows. If you’re a side sleeper, for example, putting a pillow between your legs can ease hip, knee or back pain. 

Time your pain medications 

If you’re on regular pain medication, such as an anti-inflammatory, switching the time of day you take it might improve your sleep, notes Dr. Guma. Say you take a pain reliever in the morning, but you wake up at night from pain. Ask your doctor if you can take the medication after dinner or closer to bedtime.  

Doing so may allow the dose to peak at night. “This may help some people feel less stiff in the morning, and it may also help people get better sleep,” Dr. Guma says.  

Remember to check with your doctor or pharmacist before making changes to your medications or the timing of when you take them. 

Be active during daylight hours 

You might think that it’s what you do before bed that really matters. But daytime activities, especially if you’re outside, make a difference too. “When people have an active, busy day, they often sleep better at night,” says Dr. Guma.  

That goes double for getting exercise during the day, whether it’s walking around the park or dancing in the living room. “Exercise burns calories and uses muscles and joints, and that leads to deeper, less disrupted sleep,” Dr. Guma says. Just don’t work out within three hours of bedtime.

Manage your moods 

Having arthritis can affect your mental health, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Chronic pain can trigger depression, as well as anxiety. And depression can also make pain worse.  

You don’t want to lie in bed thinking about how bad you feel, says Dr. Guma. That’s why it’s important to treat depression or anxiety along with arthritis, he notes. “It’s an important part of treatment that’s often ignored.” 

Therapy with a mental health provider who specializes in chronic disease may help. There are also certain medications, such as duloxetine (Cymbalta), that treat pain as well as depression and anxiety, suggests Dr. Guma.  

Just talk to your doctor openly about what you’re feeling. Together, you can come up with a solution for the pain and your moods. 

Stay away from sleeping pills  

“You want to avoid medications that are habit-forming,” says Dr. Guma. But you can try melatonin. It’s a supplement you can buy over the counter that helps promote sleep. Your brain naturally produces melatonin, a hormone, when it gets dark. It signals your body that it’s time to sleep. But as you age, your brain makes less of it. Talk to your doctor about the right dose to start with. 

https://www.optum.com/en/health-articles/article/chronic-condition-care/how-get-good-nights-rest-when-you-have-arthritis/

Gout not just for Victorians: 1 in 40 Brits have this extremely painful disease

From news-medical.net

If you thought gout was an outdated condition affecting portly, red-faced Victorians, think again.1 in 40 Brits now have this extremely painful disease, making it the UK’s most common form of inflammatory arthritis. Cases among people in their 20s and 30s have increased by 30%, and faster monitoring and treatment is needed, says a leading expert.

Many of us have a mental image of gout sufferers as plump, elderly Victorian gents who drank too much port. Nothing could be further from the truth. The most recent figures reveal 1 in 40 Brits are now suffering from this extremely painful condition, making it the most common form of inflammatory arthritis, and cases have escalated by 30% among younger people in their 20s and 30s.

In more than half of all cases, gout classically manifests as a severely painful, red and hot joint in the big toe. It can then spread to the rest of our feet and hands and even become disabling. Gout is caused by the accumulation of uric acid in blood and tissues, which forms crystals. If these crystals get into a joint, they can trigger inflammation.

Gout flares, as they are called, can be agonising. Yet a leading health expert says it is the only form of arthritis that is entirely curable with treatment and cases can by eliminated by regular monitoring.

Dr Avinash Hari Narayanan (MBChB), Clinical Lead at London Medical Laboratory, says: ‘Unfortunately, gout is a condition that is very much still with us, despite the fact that simple blood tests can help identify people likely to suffer a flare before it ever happens.

‘The charity Arthritis Action says 1 in 40 Brits now have the condition and it can lead to debilitating pain, even for younger people.  A study published in the journal BMC Primary Care last November found gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis yet, frequently, it is not managed well enough or taken seriously.

‘The report found the medical management of gout is typically focused on the treatment of flares through lifestyle modification. Even though successful treatment using urate (uric acid) lowering therapies (ULT) has seen consistent results over 20 years, in the UK only around a third of people with gout are treated with ULT and the report found adherence to treatment is poor.

‘This finding was echoed by another report released last year in The Lancet Rheumatology. It found that “inconsistent recommendations about when to initiate urate-lowering therapy are likely to increase uncertainty around disease management.” Crucially, this paper agreed that: “Poor adherence to therapy is also a concern, particularly in dormant periods between flares.” Again, regular monitoring using simple finger-prick blood tests can help people stick to their target levels.

‘The last major UK study into the condition was held as long ago as 2012. At that time, a report in the British Medical Journal’s (BMJ) Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases revealed cases were significantly higher in 2012 than in 1997, the date of the preceding major study, with a 63.9% increase in prevalence and 29.6% increase in incidence over this period. Concerningly, although most gout patients were still 60 or older, the number of patients aged between 20 and 30 had increased by 30%.

‘In some ways, there has been little advance since 2012. NHS Digital statistics show that 234,000 people were admitted to hospital with gout in 2021-2022. The 2023 BMC Primary Care report examined 51,784 cases of people with the disease and found 35.9% suffered at least one more flare during the study period.  It found cases of gout flares are more likely in people who are male, Black, have a higher BMI, suffer from heart failure, chronic kidney disease (CKD), cardiovascular disease (CVD) or who take diuretics.

‘Urate lowering therapies were used in just 27.7% of cases within 12 months of diagnosis, despite the potentially debilitating impact of recurring flares. One of the chief problems the BMC report identified is that many patients give up their treatment, because achieving target urate levels can be challenging.

‘Yet simple blood tests, such as London Medical Laboratory’s General Health Profile finger-prick test, can quickly and accurately measure urate levels in the blood to help people meet their targets and avoid subsequent flares. Knowing uric acid levels can also better inform medical professionals when ULT treatment might be necessary alongside other treatments, such as dietary restrictions.

‘Crucially, by taking a General Health Profile blood test, people can identify if they have high urate levels and are at risk of suffering a very painful gout flare before it happens.

‘Not only does the test identify high levels of uric acid, but also muscle and bone profile, liver and kidney function, risk of diabetes (by checking levels of HbA1c), cholesterol levels and iron levels. London Medical Laboratory’s General Health Profile blood test can be taken at home through the post, or at one of the many drop-in clinics that offer these tests across London and nationwide in over 120 selected pharmacies and health stores.

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240318/Gout-not-just-for-Victorians-1-in-40-Brits-have-this-extremely-painful-disease.aspx?utm_source=news_medical_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=arthritis_newsletter_26_march_2024 

Hope for psoriatic arthritis patients after research breakthrough

From illawarramercury.com.au

Half a million Australians affected by a debilitating skin and joint disease could be one step closer to a cure after a major scientific breakthrough.

Researchers from the Australian National University have discovered a gene mutation is responsible for psoriasis outbreaks.

Patients living with the auto-immune disease carry a mutated IKBKB gene, and patients with psoriatic arthritis could carry two versions of the gene.

Almost one-third of Australians with psoriasis go on to develop psoriatic arthritis, characterised by pain, joint stiffness and swelling.

ANU researcher Chelisa Cardinez said the scientific breakthrough, which came from mice-testing, may lead to earlier detection and treatment.

"Delays in psoriatic arthritis diagnosis is linked to worse clinical outcomes for patients," she said.

"By developing a better understanding of the IKBKB gene and the role it plays in promoting the onset of these diseases, it could bring us a step closer to one day finding a cure," Dr Cardinez said.

                             A breakthrough on the genetic drivers of psoriasis offers hope for people living with the disease. 

                                                                                                  (David Crosling/AAP PHOTOS)

Rebecca Davey is one Australian living with the disease.

"People don't understand the debilitating effects these conditions can have on the individual and a whole family when someone is in constant pain," she said.

Ms Davey was forced to give up her nursing job due to the irritation of constant hand washing on her skin, and says she has faced stigma for her disease.

"So many people are accused of having poor hygiene due to the plaques or even just minor skin lesions as they erupt," she said.

"I had no idea what was causing my hands to flare up all the time ... our poor GPs often don't recognise these conditions early."

There is a shortage of skin doctors in Australia, with just 645 practising dermatologists and only six per cent working in regional or remote areas.

Rheumatologists are also in short supply.

In 2021 there were 380 adult and 20 paediatric rheumatologists in Australia, to care for seven million Australians.

Ms Davey says the shortages are making the disease harder for patients.

"People can wait over a year for an appointment if their symptoms are less dramatic," she said.

"We must raise greater awareness of invisible disabilities such as those created by these conditions."

https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/8568235/hope-after-research-breakthrough-for-psoriasis-patients/