Just Another Wrinkle to Aging | Effects of Smoking on Skin

Have you ever considered the possibilities that there are aging effects of smoking on skin? OK we all understand the dangers of smoking when it comes to our health such as lung cancer and even heart disease. But did you also know that smoking can also make you look years older? The next time that you light up a cigarette, remember that there aren’t only health risks involved but that it’ll also make you look years older than you really are. And in this day and time, no one wants to look older.

How Does Smoking Make You Look Older?

The bottom line fact is that smoking can damage your skin and appearance. The aging effects of smoking on skin show up in such ways as:

Creating small lines around your mouth Discoloration of your teeth, And also robbing your skin of important nutrients.

Teeth discoloration is oftentimes associated with aging, which if you’re smoker then that will tend to make you look older. The hair of a person that smokes is also somewhat discolored and this will also make you look years older than you really are. A smoker’s skin is usually in a dry lifeless condition because smoking leaches a lot of the goodness out of the body. The action of sucking on a cigarette on a regular daily basis can often cause wrinkles to form around the lips. And frown lines often forms because the smoker is always looking out through a smoky haze.

Make sure you examine this informative article thoroughly, the challenge and the results have various different versions. Except for the case of over exposure to the sun, smoking cigarettes can age your skin faster than anything else. Besides all of the health risks, as you can see there are also a lot of negative aging effects of smoking on skin. And the really bad news is that the aging effects on skin seem to be even more prevalent in women smokers. You can easily see now why smoking does make you look years older than you really are. If you’re a smoker then you need to stop now! Not only is there health risks involved but there are also aging effects of smoking on skin.

Can the Aging Effects of Smoking on Skin be Reversed?


Once a person stops smoking then there are various skin treatments that can be done to reverse the aging process such as tooth whitening procedures and other anti aging processes to help a person to now look much healthier. By quitting smoking, you no longer have the health risks but now you can also look years younger. Your skin will now have a healthier radiance that you did not have as long as you were smoking cigarettes. Before you light up that next cigarette, think about all the harm that you’re doing to your body. Stop smoking today and look years younger and be much healthier!

Would you like to get more information about the Aging Effects of Smoking on Skin and how to look younger? Visit http://isavehealth.blogspot.si/2016/02/why-smoking-harms-women-more-than-men.html

Making Sure You Act On The Right Information – Pregnancy Facts & Fallacies

Do not worry – I am not going to fill anyone’s head with frightening pregnancy facts that could over-shadow what is one of the truly wonderful times in most women‘s lives.

But it is natural to be apprehensive maybe, even if it is not your first pregnancy. And it can be easy to get confused by all the myths associated with pregnancy – facts and fallacies soon become intermingled, making it difficult to know what is going to be best for your baby

OK, pregnancy can be tinged with fear of the unknown even, if it is your first pregnancy, but for most women the excitement and anticipation of coming face to face with a little baby who’s going to be the most wonderful and important little person you’ve ever met in your life so far (and that includes your partner!) is always going to outweigh any temporary issues you may have.

So, what I’d like to do is to put a few pregnancy facts and figures in front of you that are meant to reassure in some cases and to act as gentle warnings in others.

Once you know the facts, it is amazingly simple to relax and just get into a routine of doing the ‘right’ things and avoiding doing the ‘wrong’ things.

Let’s proceed with this blog post. But hardly anything can be worse than suddenly realising, maybe too late on in your pregnancy, that smoking for example does not only harm you but also can seriously harm your precious unborn baby. Unfortunately, you do not have to be a smoker yourself to suffer from cigarette smoke! Passive smoking can be just as bad for you and your baby.

This is one of the inescapable pregnancy facts that I really must stress!

Whilst I am not medically qualified, I’m a trained scientist and I can evaluate research findings with an experienced eye. I can therefore say that there is no doubting the research which has gone into smoking and health in recent decades.

So I can most definitely say that one of the most potentially disturbing pregnancy facts for smokers is that giving up smoking before you even become pregnant is essential!

OK, I know it is difficult – I went through the bad times of giving up many times myself but in the end I managed it.

Nonetheless, I genuinely think it would have been easier for me personally if we’d been planning on starting a family because I am sure we are all going to think much more about our baby’s wellbeing than our own.

Anyway, hopefully I have made my point so let’s move on to some less heavy pregnancy facts!

How about taking sufficient rest and avoiding stress? Sounds good to me, but giving up smoking can be pretty stressful so if you are planning to become pregnant, the sooner you start the better so you can have lots of lovely stress-free rest!

One aspect of pregnancy that particularly appeals to me is eating healthy high fibre foods including plenty of vegetables and fruits and taking low-fat milk, yogurt and other dairy produce in moderation but sufficient to keep your calcium levels good!

On the subject of food, one of the real problems is that it can be difficult to distinguish pregnancy facts from fallacies as the situation is so often surrounded with superstition or misconceptions (no puns intended!).

Like, the ‘wise’ old saying “you are eating for 2 now”.


This could hardly be worse advice in our modern society where many of us (me included) are eating at least partly for someone else already.

It’s without doubt that one of the most important pregnancy facts is that overeating is not only bad for you, but also for your baby.

In fact, research data released only this year (2011) has shown that obesity in pregnancy can lead to the baby’s DNA becoming altered so that he or she becomes much more prone to being obese in later life.

At the same time, it’s not only inevitable that you gain weight during your pregnancy but it’s also essential to do so in a controlled and well-informed way.

Chamomile : Growing Medicinal Herbs

Chamomile is one of the most common medicinal herbs that you can grow in your garden. It’s fairly easy to grow and with its many uses, especially as a medicinal herb, it definitely is a valuable addition to your home herb garden.

Grow Chamomile

Chamomile, grown for its daisylike flowers, prefers full sun outdoors. It grows up to twenty to twenty-five inches and is best planted in the ground than in containers. It’s also ideal for mass planting and landscaping provided that each plant is six inches apart. Soil has to be well drained with adequate nutrients, and like most sun-loving herbs, water only when the topsoil is dry to the touch.

One more helpful thing in relation to this subject. Propagation is through the seed. Additionally, starting chamomile from seed can be very tricky and challenging. It is better to start from a young seedling in a container then transplant in the garden once the plant has hardened. An established chamomile plant is very hardy and can tolerate almost any growing conditions.

Medicinal Properties

The key element in a chamomile plant is its flowers. Chamomile flowers are used as medicinal herb, cosmetic agent, herbal tea, aromatherapy ingredient and can even be tossed in salads and beverages.


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Its flowers have anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, nervine or nerve-soothing properties. As anti-inflammatory, it can be used to treat skin irritations, gingivitis, rheumatism, arthritis, and other painful swellings. As antispasmodic, it can be used to relieve stomachache and gas pain, menstrual cramps, indigestion, diarrhea and ulcer. It’s also a very good laxative. As nervine, it’s slightly sedative and can be used to induce sleep and dull pain. It also helps to alleviate anxiety and depression.

As a cosmetic agent, chamomile can lend anti-allergenic and soothing properties to beauty products. It’s sometimes added to soaps and lotions because it can soften the skin. It’s also great for aromatherapeutical applications because it has a calming effect and relieves mental and physical stress. It’s also used in shampoos for its sweet-smelling scent.

In addition, chamomile is not recommended as an alternative medicine for pregnant and breastfeeding women. It’s also anti-coagulant (blood-thinning) and vasodilative (nerve-dilating) and must be avoided, at all cost, weeks before and after undergoing surgery. Use with medications having the same effect is also highly discouraged.

How to Use


This wonderful and common medicinal herb is often use in the form of herbal tea. Dried flowers are added into boiling water then covered and steeped for at least ten minutes. Alternatively, you can also place them in a tea bag to eliminate the need for draining.

Dried flowers can also be used in a bath soak as a relaxing beauty regimen. They can also be made into potpourri and burned for aromatherapy. Commercial chamomile essential and massage oils are also available in the market. If you are in for an organic gastronomical treat, you can eat chamomile flowers fresh by tossing some into your salad or your favorite lemonade.

The uses and benefits of growing medicinal herbs in your home is plenty and truly amazing. Having chamomile, along with other common medicinal herbs will make your herb gardening more worthwhile.

To know more about growing medicinal herbs and other herb gardening technique, visit her site: http://www.GrowHerbsInfo.com. Nova Person is an herb expert and a gardener and her site is a collection of all her gardening wisdom and know-how that she learned from her twenty years of experience in growing and tending herbs.

FAQs On Kashayam Tablet

How are Kashayam/ Qwath tablets different from kashayam/ qwath?

The Kashayam Tablet/ Qwath tablets are just a diffferent presentation of the traditional kashayam/ qwath, achieved by cocentrating the kashayams/ qwath further and converting the same into tablet. There is no differnce in the efficacy of the product.

Is this form of presentation accepted in classical ayurveda?


Yes. Ayureda recommends concentration of kashayam/ qwath and conversion into tablet with the name ” Ghanavati”.

What are the advantages of kashaym/ qwath tablets?

They’re easily swallowable- taste immaterial, easy to carry, administration of correct dosage possible, enhances patient compliance and there is no preservatives added.

What does a kashayam/ qwath tablet contain?


A kashayam/ qwath tablet is made from 12gms of crude drug and is equivalent to 6ml of concentrated qwath/ kashayam.

What is the recommended dosage?

It’s recommend a dosage of 2-3 tablets twice daily before food with hot water.

Qwath/ Kashayam tablets available


1. Amruthotharam: For ama, fever and rheumatoid arthritis.

2. Ashtavargam : For all types of rheumatic diseases especially to the upper part of the body and cervical spondylosis.

3. Aragwadhadi : Indicated in skin diseases, fever, vomiting and indigestion. It’s also used to wash and cleanse the wounds.

4. Bruhatyadi : A very potent medicine for all type os urinary infections and inflamation of urinary tract.

5. Chiruvilwadi : Indicated for dyspepsia, indigestion, flatulence, haemorrhoids and fistula- in- ano.

6. Dasamoolam : For debility, acts as a nervine tonic and specially beneficial in rheumatic diseases and chronic diabetes associated with neuritis.

7.Dasamolla kaduthryam : For dry cough, asthma, chest pain, back pain and intermittent fever.

8. Dhanadanayanadi : Indicated for facial paralysis and hemiplegia.

9. Dhanwantharam : For post partum care, lumbosacral pain, bone and connective tissue injury and for strengthening the back of the body.

10. Drakshadi : Useful in pitha dominated diseases like fever, jaundice, anxiety, insomnia and alcoholism.

11. Gandharvahasthadi : For flatulence, low back pain, dyspepsia and constipation.

12. Gulgulluthiktakam : For all types of inflammation especially pertaining to connective tissues, bones and joints, in skin diseases, for wounds and relieving inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.

13. Guluchyadi : For all pitha dominated diseases, metabolic disorders, hyper acidity and peptic ulcer.

14. Indukantam : For relieving peptic ulcer and for relapsing fever and emaciation.

15. Karimbirubadi : Indicated in anaemia, jaundice, dyspepsia, nausea and vomiting.

16. Manjishtadi : For chronic skin diseases of vata kapha dominance.

17. Maharasnadi : For chronic rheumatism, arthritis and nervous disorders.

18. Mahatiktakam : Useful in all pitha dominated diseases, helps to heal all types of internal and external wounds and ulcers.

19. Patolakadurohinyadi : Skin diseases with kapha pitha dominance, small eruptions, fever, insect bites and jaundice.

20. Patolamooladi : This has special capacity to eliminate morbid materials from the body in all chronic skin diseases and in inflammatory conditions of the internal organs and constipation.

21. Pathyakshadhatryadi : Indicated in head ache with pitha dominance and migrane.

22. Punarnavadi : it’s diuretic, reduces generalized and local edema and useful in jaundice and anaemia.

23. Sahacharadi : Useful in sciatica, lumbar spondylosis, in all nervous weakness and rigidity.

24. Saptasaram : Highly effective in different conditions with proper adjuvants and indicated inindigestion, constipation, abdominal distention, menustral disorders and splenomegaly. Adjuvants used are jaggery, pippali powder, saindhavam and hingu powder.

25. Rasnasaptakam : For pain in hip, low back and legs, inflammations associated with the back, hip, thigh and calf.

26. Rasnadi : For all stages of ghout and other inflammatory conditions of skeleto muscular system.

27. Sukumaram : Indicated in hernia, constipation, menustral disorders, apana vayu disorders and other gynaecologic diseases.

28. Tiktakam : Blood purifier for skin diseases of pitha predominance and also useful for healing wounds and ulcers.

29. Varanadi : For obesity, internal abscess, appendicitis, head ache and loss of appetite.

30. Vasaguluchyadi Kashayam Tablet- Qwath tablet: Very effective in jaundice of various aetiology and anaemia. The adjuvants used are punarnava mandooram and mandooravatakam.


Teas To Help Stop Smoking

Can drinking tea actually help you quit smoking? In this article I am going to have a critical look at the assertion that drinking tea can help with quitting the deadly habit of smoking tobacco. I am aware that tea, especially green tea, has been shown to contain anti-oxidants. Oxidants are chemicals formed in the body due to a variety of reasons. Smoking is one reason why these chemicals are created. These chemicals are important because they react with cellular components causing cell damage. In turn this results in genetic damage and genetic damage is a step towards cancer. The anti-oxidants in green tea have been scientifically shown to mop up oxidants. Therefore, green tea can possibly help combat the carcinogenic effects of tobacco smoke to some degree.

The Claims of Tea Drinking
Remember to study this particular blog post really carefully, the issue and the options have many differences. Teas to help stop smoking? Are there any ingredients in tea that are of help in quitting smoking? There is no doubt that tea contains chemicals that can influence the body in a number of ways. At the same time, is there any sound scientific evidence that supports the claim that tea drinking helps, in any way, to quit smoking? There are teas that can act as an expectorant; that’s, they help to clear the chest of phlegm. Exponents advocate that drinking tea can relieve anxiety and reduce stress, detoxify the body, renew and improve lung function and suppress appetite. It’s claimed that peppermint tea helps to alleviate withdrawal symptoms such as nausea and supposedly helps curb nicotine cravings. It’s also claimed that drinking green tea can help to burn calories thus counteracting weight gain which is often a problem during the initial phase of the quit smoking process.

Teas to Help Stop Smoking- The reality

The scientific evidence for green tea having anti-oxidant properties is convincing. Therefore, green tea may actually help to reduce the risk of smoking related cancer. The worry of course is that the anti-oxidant properties of green tea may discourage smokers from quitting. The anti-cancer benefits are relative and do not equate to returning the smoker to the lung cancer risk of the non-smoker. Evidence in support of drinking tea to help reduce nicotine cravings is less conclusive. I suspect that many of the claims for tea drinking, as a quit smoking aid, are scientifically unsupported. As with many so called ‘natural’ products that are put forward to help stop smoking the benefits are perceived rather than real. They act as a psychological crutch. Nevertheless, this psychological aspect of the quitting process shouldn’t be underestimated. If someone honestly thinks that it helps, then it probably does.

In the final analysis, I’m of the opinion that the claim that drinking tea to help stop smoking is overstated. There is no doubt that green tea is a health tonic. On the other hand, as a quit smoking aid, apart from providing psychological support, there are no real benefits.

Prevention of Dog Arthritis


There are many things that can be done to prevent dog arthritis. It’s important to start prevention early on. Most people start good preventatives too late. Knowing the clinical signs of early arthritis can help you identify if your dog is suffering from dog arthritis. It’s important to understand and incorporate some of the more general things that can be done to prevent arthritis into your dog’s day-to-day life.

Prevention of Dog Arthritis:


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1) Daily Exercise Let’s face it, the average dog doesn’t get nearly the amount of exercise that it needs. Before dogs became domesticated, they would spend all day exercising by traveling from place to place looking for food. Dog as we know them today, spend most of their day sleeping. Why is that? Most dogs stay at home while their owners go to work. Do you think your dog is exercising while you’re at work? Probably not! They’re lounging around waiting for you to get home. At this point, most dogs are lucky if they can get 1-2 hours of exercise on any given day.

Daily Exercise is a very important key to the prevention of arthritis. There are many different exercises that you can do with your dog on a daily basis to keep them healthy and strong.

To go from arthritis exercise

2) Weight Management Dogs love to eat and that’s why we enjoy feeding them. Having said that, most dog owners don’t believe that their dog is overweight. Veterinarians refer to what is called a Body Condition Score (BCS) to determine a dog’s weight and body condition. In order to maintain the correct body weight for your dog, it’s important to know what their ideal body weight is. Below is the typical body condition scoring used by veterinarians. (Note: Studies have shown that dogs that are mildly to moderately obese live on average two years less.)

1. Emaciated

Ribs and lumbar vertebrae obvious, pelvic bones and all other bony structures obvious and prominent. Tail base prominent and bony.

There are many things that can be done to prevent dog arthritis. It’s important to start prevention early on. Most people start good preventatives too late. Knowing the clinical signs of early arthritis can help you identify if your dog is suffering from dog arthritis. It’s important to understand and incorporate some of the more general things that can be done to prevent arthritis into your dog’s day-to-day life.

1) Daily Exercise Let’s face it, the average dog doesn’t get nearly the amount of exercise that it needs. Before dogs became domesticated, they would spend all day exercising by traveling from place to place looking for food. Dog as we know them today, spend most of their day sleeping. Why is that? Most dogs stay at home while their owners go to work. Do you think your dog is exercising while you’re at work? Probably not! They’re lounging around waiting for you to get home. At this point, most dogs are lucky if they can get 1-2 hours of exercise on any given day.

Daily Exercise is a very important key to the prevention of arthritis. There are many different exercises that you can do with your dog on a daily basis to keep them healthy and strong.

Accentuated concave abdominal tuck Accentuated, severe hourglass shape to waist. No discernible body fat. Obvious loss of muscle mass.

2. Thin

Ribs and lumbar vertebrae easily seen with no fat cover. Pelvic bones obvious. Tail base bony with little soft tissue. Marked concave abdominal tuck. Marked hourglass shape to waist.

3. Optimal

Ribs, lumbar vertebrae, pelvic bones and other bony structures easily palpable with slight fat cover. Tail base smooth with thin, soft tissue cover. Concave abdominal tuck. Smooth hourglass shape to waist.

4. Fat

One more beneficial fact in relation to this study. Ribs and lumbar vertebrae are difficult to palpate. Pelvic bones are palpable with moderate tissue cover. Tail base has fat deposition with moderate soft tissue cover. Concave tuck is decreased to absent. Loss of hourglass shape to waist with back slightly broadened..

5. Obese

Ribs and lumbar vertebrae are very difficult to impossible to palpate. Pelvic bones are difficult to palpate with thick tissue cover. Tail base is thickened from fat deposition with thick soft tissue cover. Abdomen is convex with or without a pendulous ventral bulge. Back is markedly broadened.

3) Joint Supplements This is a very important factor in the prevention of arthritis. But where do you start? There are so many different products out on the market today. Many of these supplements have different ingredient, so how to you know which to choose? There is also a huge pricing difference between many of the products. How do you know which one is the best? Let me explain some key points:

This is very important part of this subject matter. A. You Get What you Pay For! If you want a good joint supplement, you have to pay for it. Quality is key. Not all products are created equal. You should do your research. You should also trust the company that’s making the product to make sure that they’re using the best ingredients.

B. Chondroprotectants/Natural Anti-Inflammatories A good supplement should incorporate both chondroprotectants and natural anti-inflammatories. Most people think glucosamine is enough. Not so! An effective product should contain anti-inflammatories such as MSM or Cetyl Myristoleate along with chondroprotectants such as glucosamine and chondroitin.

A balanced approach and good quality ingredients is key to healthy joints.

Dr. James St.Clair, is the founder of TopDog Rehabilitation & TopDog Animal Health. He’s one of the nations leading experts on arthritis in dogs with regards to prevention and treatment.dog-arthritis dogs-with-arthritis/arthritis-dogs/signs-dog-arthritis

Arthritis Prevention Article Arthritis prevention may seem impossible to individuals, but there can be steps taken to help prevent arthritis from occurring.

Some Less Common Arthritis Types

There are more than one hundred different arthritis types, which are split into 3 main classifications. These are inflammatory arthritis, for example rheumatoid arthritis, non-inflammatory arthritis, for example osteoarthritis, and connective tissue/ autoimmune disease, for example lupus. Arthritis is a term generally used to describe inflammation within a joint, whilst rheumatism is a more general term used to describe aches and pains in or around the joint area. The 3 most common and well known types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. However, there are many rarer and less known types of the disease; we’ll explore some of these in this article.

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS); this is an inflammatory type of arthritis affecting the joints of the spine. After an inflammation attack, the body produces calcium which is laid down over the point where the ligaments attach to the vertebrae in the spine, causing a loss of flexibility. Eventually ankylosis can result, which is a fusing of the bones in the spine. Symptoms include sciatica type pain in the buttocks or thighs and stiffness.

A further beneficial idea related to this topic area. Reactive Arthritis (also known as Reiter’s Syndrome or Reiter’s Arthritis); this is an autoimmune type of arthritis that develops following an infection in another part of the body. It commonly develops in the knees and the back, and responds well to treatment. Symptoms include increased frequency of urination or pain on urinating, pain and swelling in affected joints, conjunctivitis type symptoms and small hard nodules which develop on the soles of the feet or the palms of the hand. Some people also experience recurrent mouth ulcers.


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Psoriatic arthritis; this is an inflammatory type of arthritis which often develops in people with the skin condition psoriasis. There are 5 forms of psoriatic arthritis, some of which can be severe if not diagnosed and treated. Symptoms include swelling, throbbing, redness and stiffness in the affected joints, particularly first thing in the morning or after a period of rest, a reduced range of movement in the affected joints and swelling to the fingers or toes.

Pseudo gout; this is another inflammatory type of arthritis, and, like gout, is caused by the formation of crystals in the joints. Nevertheless, unlike gout where crystals are formed by uric acid, they’re formed from a type of salt known as calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD). This build up of crystals causes swelling and pain in the knees, ankles, wrists and other joints. Symptoms include joint pain and swelling and a build up of fluid in the joint. The symptoms of pseudo gout can mimic the symptoms of gout and rheumatoid arthritis, making it difficult to diagnose at times.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JIA); this is an inflammatory type of arthritis which affects children under the age of sixteen. There are 3 main types of JIA; Oligoarticular (or pauciarticular) JIA, which is the most common form and which affects only a few of the joints, Polyarticular JIA, which affects more of the joints including the digits, and Systemic JIA (Stills disease), the rarer form of the condition, which is a more general illness of which joint pain is one symptom. Symptoms of JIA include stiff, swollen, reddened and painful joints which may feel hot to the touch. This can be accompanied by other symptoms such as a fever or rash.

Fibromyaligia; this is a connective tissue/ autoimmune type of arthritis and is found in the muscles and soft tissues overlying the joints. The cause of fibromyalgia is not yet fully known, but it’s thought to be due to a defective neurotransmitter function in the brain. Fibromyalgia can affect the whole body, and symptoms range from exhaustion, chronic fatigue, muscular pain and spasm, muscle twitching and a disturbed sleep pattern. Although there is no cure for fibromyalgia, there are treatments available that can relieve some of the symptoms.

Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR); this is an inflammatory type of arthritis which most commonly affects people over the age of 65. It causes inflammation of the larger muscles in the body such as the muscles around the shoulders, neck, upper arms and hips. Although the cause of PMR is still unknown, it generally responds well to treatment. Symptoms include stiffness, aching or pain in the large muscles around the neck, shoulders and upper arms, which is often worse in the mornings or after sitting for long periods. Inflammation and swelling can also occur in the soft tissues around the joints.

If you suspect you may have one of these arthritis types, you should visit your doctor so that an accurate diagnosis can be made and appropriate treatment prescribed.

Is arthritis making your life a misery? Would you love to be able to relieve the pain and discomfort of this debilitating condition? Drop by our blog Arthritis Remedy for tips and resources on how to deal with the symptoms of arthritis. Also visit to read reviews of some of the most effective arthritis treatments available.

User deba27 writes: What is arhiritis? A group of diseases affecting joints or their component tissues. Several types of arthritis are recognized, and these can be divided into groups by their clinical course and pathologic appearance. There are 4 basic types of arthritis: inflammatory arthritis, degenerative joint disease, nonarticular rheumatism, and miscellaneous arthritis. Inflammatory arthritis is characterized by inflammation of tissues associated with joints.
 Connective tissue diseases, crystal deposition diseases, infectious arthritis, and spondyloarthropathies are examples of inflammatory arthritis. Connective tissue diseases are a group of acute and chronic diseases characterized by involvement of joints, connective tissue, serosal membranes, and small blood vessels. These diseases are divided into acquired disorders (for example, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, polymyositis, vasculitis) and rare hereditary diseases (for example, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome). Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common variety of inflammatory arthritis. It occurs in younger and middle-aged persons and is characterized by noninfectious inflammation of the synovium (joint-lining membrane) frequently associated with extraarticular manifestations other than in the joints. The etiology is unknown, but genetic, immunologic, infectious, and psychologic disturbances have all been suggested. The systemic disease follows a variable but slowly progressive course, marked by spontaneous flares and remissions.
 There are 3 groups of crystal deposition disease classified according to type of crystal involvement: gout (monosodium urate), pseudogout (calcium pyrophosphate), and calcific tendonitis (hydroxyapatite). Infectious arthritis is an inflammatory joint disease caused by the invasion of the synovial joint by living microorganisms such as gonorrheal, streptococcal, and staphylococcal bacteria. Such arthritis usually results from a generalized infection but may appear following local spread or after trauma.
The spondyloarthropathies are types of inflammatory arthritis characterized by involvement of the axial (central) skeleton (for example, the spine rather than the limbs). Ankylosing spondylitis and Reiter's syndrome are examples of the spondyloarthropathies. See also Connective tissue disease; Gonorrhea; Gout; Staphylococcus; Streptococcus; Uric acid. Degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) is a ubiquitous joint disease characterized pathologically by deterioration of cartilage lining the joints and new bone formation beneath the cartilage. The disease is very common in older persons and is thought to be inherent in the aging process. Degenerative joint disease is marked by a progressive stiffness, loss of function, and destruction of the larger, weight-bearing joints of the body. With advancing age, the continued slow damage causes increasing disability. See also Aging. Nonarticular rheumatism is a group of diseases, also called soft-tissue rheumatisms, that includes tendonitis, bursitis, tenosynovitis, and fibrositis. The etiology is unclear, but the disorder may relate to psychobiologic or sleep disturbances or muscular and soft-tissue abnormalities.

See also Bursitis; Rheumatism. Systemic diseases of other or unknown etiology may produce arthritis or joint destruction. There are neurologic, blood, and endocrine examples of these unusual rheumatic diseases. Disability can often result from arthritis but can be curtailed by general health maintenance, rest, and rehabilitation. Occupational and physical therapies can be helpful. Diagnosis of the particular type of arthritis is extremely important in choosing drug therapy. Rheumatoid arthritis can be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and immunosuppressive drugs are also frequently used. Osteoarthritis is treated with anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs. Cortisone compounds are also used to treat arthritis, but the dosage and duration of treatment must be carefully monitored because of significant side effects. Surgical treatment includes arthroscopic surgery and joint replacement. See also Autoimmunity.