Eswar Krishnan, MD, assistant professor of Immunology and Rheumatology at Stanford University School of Medicine, has found that high uric acid levels are a link between Gout and Heart Failure.

Our friend, Timothy Spaulding, a Top Health Blogger for the Arthritis Community on Wellsphere and author of the Current Arthritis News and Research Blog explains in his recent article.

Spaulding explains that uric acid naturally occurs in the body as a byproduct of many different foods. High levels are best known as a cause of gout.

According to Dr. Krishnan, the “study shows that high levels of uric acid significantly increase your risk of developing heart failure later in life.”

The good news is that the test for measuring this is very cheap and easily available. In fact, a simple $2-blood test may allow doctors to determine whether a patient is at risk of developing heart failure sometime in their future.

Dr. Krishnan analyzed data obtained from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute participants of the Framingham Offspring cohort study. That study began in 1971 and the participants were followed for cardiovascular events for 25 years.

There were 4,989 participants in the Framingham Offspring study, and of those, 4,912 were eligible for Dr. Krishnan’s study. There were 196 cases of heart failure recorded.

After adjusting for a long list of variables including smoking, weight, alcohol use, diabetes, kidney problems and use of anti-hypertensive medications, Dr. Krishnan found the occurrence of heart failure was significantly higher among those with high uric acid levels.

So if you suffer from Gout make sure to talk to your doctor about your risk for heart problems. Also check out Flexcin the all-natural Joint Pain Supplement. The primary component of Flexcin is CM8™, which relieves joint pain at its source, reduces inflammation and irritation of the joints and tissues. It has been helpful for many sufferers of arthritis, gout, bursitis, sports injuries and fibromyalgia.

This study appeared online in August in the journal circulation of Heart Failure. Check out Timothy Spaulding’s full article here and other interesting topics on his Current Arthritis News and Research Blog.

Do you suffer from Fibromyalgia? There can be several other conditions that are co-existent with the condition and one is irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS.

Our friend, Timothy Spaulding, a Top Health Blogger for the Arthritis Community on Wellsphere and author of the Current Arthritis News and Research Blog explains in his recent article about IBS and Fibromyalgia.

“IBS is a gastrointestinal disorder that has no apparent cause. Symptoms include intestinal discomfort and pain along with “alterations” in bowel habits. This means constipation, diarrhea or switching between the two. IBS is reported to affect as many as 20% of the general population and is 2 to 3 times more prevalent in women than men.”

Diagnosis of IBS generally is made after eliminating all other possible causes of the digestive issues.

Current studies indicate that as many as 77% of patients with fibromyalgia also have IBS. In fact, there are four conditions that have a higher than expected rate of co-occurrence with IBS that have little relationship to the digestive system:

· Fibromyalgia

· Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

· Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ or TMD)

· Chronic Pelvic Pain

Other studies have shown that patients with both fibromyalgia and IBS experience symptoms that are 38% more severe than patients with only one of the conditions. Studies have also shown that people with both conditions tend to have a worse quality of life than those with only one.”

In many cases, Flexcin can help alleviate the pain associated with fibromyalgia. The primary component of Flexcin™ is CM8™ (cetyl myristoleate). Of all the ingredients in Flexcin, CM8™ is the most powerful. CM8™ functions in three different ways. First, it acts as a highly effective lubricant in the joints, muscles and other tissues, allowing them to move smoothly. Decrease or loss of morning stiffness is commonly noted shortly after commencing treatment. Next, CM8™ functions as an anti-inflammatory. Relief from swollen joints is often seen after the 4th or 5th week of treatment. Third, it is also an immune system modulator, which can be effectual against autoimmune diseases, such as arthritic conditions. CM8™ relieves joint pain at its source, reducing inflammation and irritation of the joints and tissues.

To read about the common characteristics between fibromyalgia and IBS, check out Timothy Spaulding’s full article here and other interesting topics on his Current Arthritis News and Research Blog.

According to the Arthritis Foundation nearly 46 million Americans suffer from painful arthritis. Are you one of them? It is one of the most prevalent chronic health problems and the nation’s leading cause of disability among Americans over the age of 15.

If you are one of the 46 million people battling arthritis you know that it limits everyday activities that others take for granted such as walking, dressing and bathing. Women are affected more greatly than men, but even children are at risk. Of the people with doctor-diagnosed arthritis 24.3 million are women, 17.1 million are men and nearly 300,000 are children.

Arthritis sufferers will tell you that the condition can come in many different shapes and forms affecting each individual differently. Arthritis causes pain, loss of movement and sometimes swelling. Here are some types of arthritis as described by the Arthritis Foundation:

• Osteoarthritis: A degenerative joint disease in which the cartilage that covers the ends of bones in the joint deteriorates, causing pain and loss of movement as bone begins to rub against bone. It is the most prevalent form of arthritis.

• Rheumatoid arthritis: An autoimmune disease in which the joint lining becomes inflamed as part of the body’s immune system activity. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most serious and disabling types, affecting mostly women.

• Gout: It is usually the result of a defect in body chemistry. This painful condition most often attacks small joints, especially the big toe. Fortunately, gout almost always can be completely controlled with medication and changes in diet.

• Ankylosing spondylitis: A type of arthritis that affects the spine. As a result of inflammation, the bones of the spine grow together.

• Juvenile arthritis: A general term for all types of arthritis that occur in children. Children may develop juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or childhood forms of lupus, ankylosing spondylitis or other types of arthritis.

• Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus): A serious disorder that can inflame and damage joints and other connective tissues throughout the body.

• Scleroderma: A disease of the body’s connective tissue that causes a thickening and hardening of the skin.

• Fibromyalgia: A condition in which widespread pain affects the muscles and attachments to the bone. It affects mostly women.

Half of the Americans with arthritis don’t think anything can be done to help them. But Flexcin is helping thousands of people around the nation and even the world find relief in a safe and all-natural solution. The primary component of Flexcin™ is CM8™ (cetyl myristoleate). Of all the ingredients in Flexcin, CM8™ is the most powerful. CM8™ functions in three different ways. First, it acts as a highly effective lubricant in the joints, muscles and other tissues, allowing them to move smoothly. Decrease or loss of morning stiffness is commonly noted shortly after commencing treatment. Next, CM8™ functions as an anti-inflammatory. Relief from swollen joints is often seen after the 4th or 5th week of treatment. Third, it is also an immune system modulator, which can be effectual against autoimmune diseases, such as arthritic conditions. CM8™ relieves joint pain at its source, reducing inflammation and irritation of the joints and tissues. It also has been helpful for many sufferers of muscle tension and fibromyalgia. All of these characteristics make CM8™ the most important ingredient in Flexcin.

In addition, Flexcin is proudly manufactured in the United States in a state of the art facility under the strict guidelines of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Good Manufacturing Practices, or G.M.P. Before you buy any drug, medical food or dietary supplement, always ask whether it was manufactured under FDA GMP Standards.

Parts of this article were taken from the Arthritis Foundation’s website at www.arthritis.org.

Are you one of the millions of people that suffer from arthritis, a chronic disease, or a physical injury?  Is cooking your passion or, at the very least, a necessity?

Come along on a culinary journey around the world with Melinda Winner in her second cookbook, A Complete Illustrated Guide to Cooking with Arthritis, which will bring the millions of physically challenged individuals back into the kitchen pain free and fearless. As a physically challenged individual herself, Melinda shares techniques for creating mouthwatering recipes for everything from appetizers to desserts, as well as delicious rubs, sauces, and jellies.

A Complete Illustrated Guide to Cooking with Arthritis is packed full of delectable, original recipes sure to delight any palate and is a must-have for any cookbook collection.  Each easy-to-read recipe is written for use by anyone, physically challenged or not, and includes an informative section of kitchen terms, culinary resources, and basic tips to help make everyday life simpler.

“If you have arthritis and love to cook, you must have this book!  Even if you don’t have arthritis, you will love the great mix of traditional and modern recipes.”     - Gayle Long Ward, Wilmington, NC

Melinda Winner has had a passion for cooking since childhood.  She has five forms of arthritis and a birth injury that left her right arm with very limited use, but Melinda still attended culinary school and now enjoys preparing food of all types from simple Southern to fine cuisine.  Melinda has won several national recipe contests, cooked off on a major television network, and published her first cookbook, Yankee Cooking with Southern Charm, in July 2008.  In her spare time, Melinda enjoys horseback riding, swimming, traveling, and hiking.  She has three grown children and five grandchildren. Melinda enjoys life to its fullest each and every day!

Endorsments for A COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO COOKING WITH ARTHRITIS:

Tendinitis is a very common condition that is caused by inflammation of tendons which are flexible bands of tissue that connect bones and muscles.
Tendinitis is usually brought on by repetitive injury of one area. This happens more often with age since the body becomes less flexible and more prone to injury. It can also be caused by infection, Arthritis, Gout, Thyroid Disease and Diabetes. Tendinitis is most often felt in knees, elbows, shoulders, wrists, hips or ankles.

Tendinitis effects people who perform repetitive motions or place a high amount of stress on their joints. Athletes, gardeners, musicians, dentists and carpenters are at high risk for Tendinitis. Some names for Tendinitis are associated with the sport where a repetitive motion causes it, like tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow or swimmer’s shoulder. Rotator cuff tendinitis causes pain in the shoulder and upper arm. Jumper’s Knee is also known as Knee tendinitis. Another common type of tendinitis takes place in the tendon connecting the muscle in the calf to the back of the heel. This is known as Achilles tendinitis. Each of these effects a different tendon in the body.

Doctors are able to diagnose tendinitis by considering the location and start of the pain, if it changes in severity through­ out the day, and the factors that relieve or aggravate the pain are all important clues. Therapists and physicians will use manual tests called selective tissue tension tests to determine which tendon is involved, and then will palpate (a form of touching the tendon) specific areas of the tendon to pinpoint the area of inflammation. X rays do not show tendons, but may be helpful in ruling out problems in the bone or arthritis. In the case of a torn tendon, x rays may help show which tendon is affected. The doctor may also use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to confirm a partial or total tear. MRIs detect both bone and soft tissues like muscles, tendons and their coverings (sheaths). To rule out infection, the doctor may remove and test fluid from the inflamed area.

Flexcin™ is an all-natural Joint Pain Supplement that treats tendinitis. The primary component of Flexcin is CM8™, which relieves joint pain at its source, reduces inflammation and irritation of the joints and tissues. It has been helpful for many sufferers of arthritis, tendinitis, gout, bursitis, sports injuries and fibromyalgia.

Many people think arthritis is only bad in the cold winter months. If you suffer from arthritis or joint pain, you know the real truth. Arthritis and joint pain can be painful at any time of the year, even in the summer when it’s hot outside.

This type of pain can attack in certain weather situations. Even though summer is known for its beautiful, warm sunny days, summer can also bring lots of rainy days, too. In those rainy days, arthritis and joint pain can act up and swell in a very unpleasant and painful way.

But there are other factors involving summertime’s role with arthritis. If you are going to enjoy outdoor activities, be mindful of the fun activities you participate in. For example, you may want to avoid that game of touch football and instead opt for bocce or croquet, which can still be a lot of fun but slightly less physically demanding. Also remember to do lots of stretching before relaxing activities like gardening, which requires lots of bending and kneeling. You may also want to consider sitting on a lowered bench to relieve pressure from your back. You could even consider switching some plants and flowers to a raised bed so you don’t have to do much bending at all. If you play a lot of golf during summer months be aware of golfer’s elbow which is from bursitis. Make sure not to overdo it and give areas that in pain rest between repeated golf outings.

If you plan on taking any trips, make sure you take proper precautions to limit your symptoms of arthritis and joint pain. On long car trips make sure you have lots of leg room. And if you take any flights be sure to schedule time in between layovers so you can stretch and walk around a little bit.

When doing any sort of exercising, be wary of heat stroke. Try to do your exercising in the early morning or evening hours, when it’s not as hot outside. Again, do lots of stretches and drink plenty of water and re-hydrating fluids.

Also check out our Fourth of July Sale, which allows you to declare your freedom from Joint Pain. We’re offering a Buy 2 Get 1 Free special of our joint pain supplement  or FlexPet for dogs and cats. Plus you’ll get free shipping and a free bottle of CalFlex our all natural calcium supplement.

Fibromyalgia is often referred to as the “Invisible” illness or “Imaginary” disease. It was not until 1992 that it became recognized as a true medical problem by the World Health Organization. There are a few reasons for this. Some say it’s because it is often very hard to diagnose since Fibromyalgia’s symptoms often mimmick those of other diseases and illnesses. Others say that it took so long for the medical community to recognize the syndrome because over 80% of the people effected have been women. For decades doctors have been telling patients with Fibromyalgia that they are just hypochondriacs.

What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia syndrome is a common and chronic disorder characterized by widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points. The word fibromyalgia comes from the Latin term for fibrous tissue (fibro) and the Greek ones for muscle (myo) and pain (algia). Tender points are specific places on the body – on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, and upper and lower extremities – where people with fibromyalgia feel pain in response to slight pressure. Although fibromyalgia is often considered an arthritis-related  condition, it is not truly a form of arthritis (a disease of the joints) because it does not cause inflammation or damage to the joints, muscles, or other tissues. Like arthritis, however, fibromyalgia can cause significant pain and fatigue, and it can interfere with a person’s ability to carry on daily activities. Also like arthritis, fibromyalgia is considered a rheumatic condition. You may wonder what exactly rheumatic means. Even physicians do not always agree on whether a disease is considered rheumatic. If you look up the word in the dictionary, you’ll find it comes from the Greek word rheum, which means flux – not an explanation that gives you a better understanding. In medicine, however, the term rheumatic means a medical condition that impairs the joints and/or soft tissues and causes chronic pain.

In addition to pain and fatigue, people who have fibromyalgia may experience:
•     sleep disturbances
•     morning stiffness
•     headaches
•     irritable bowel syndrome
•     painful menstrual periods
•     numbness or tingling of the extremities
•     restless legs syndrome
•     temperature sensitivity
•     cognitive    and memory problems (sometimes referred to as “fibro fog”)
•     a variety of other symptoms

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome rather than a disease. Unlike a disease, which is a medical condition with a specific cause or causes and recognizable signs and symptoms, a syndrome is a collection of signs, symptoms, and medical problems that tend to occur together but are not related to a specific, identifiable cause.

How Is Fibromyalgia Diagnosed?
Research shows that people with fibromyalgia typically see many doctors before receiving the diagnosis. One reason for this may be that pain and fatigue, the main symptoms of fibromyalgia, overlap with many other conditions. Therefore, doctors often have to rule out other potential causes of these symptoms before making a diagnosis of fibromyalgia.

Another reason is that there are currently no diagnostic laboratory tests for fibromyalgia; standard laboratory tests fail to reveal a physiologic reason for pain. Because there is no generally accepted, objective test for fibromyalgia, some doctors unfortunately may conclude a patient’s pain is not real, or they may tell the patient there is little they can do. A doctor familiar with fibromyalgia can make a diagnosis based on two criteria established by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). The criteria include

1. A history of widespread pain lasting more than 3 months
2. The presence of tender points

Pain is considered to be widespread when it affects all four quadrants of the body; that is, you must have pain in both your right and left sides as well as above and below the waist to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia. ACR also has designated 18 sites on the body as possible tender points.

For a fibromyalgia diagnosis, a person must have 11 or more tender points. One of these predesignated sites is considered a true tender point only if the person feels pain upon the application of 4 kilograms of
pressure to the site. People who have fibromyalgia certainly may feel pain at other sites, too, but those 18 standard possible sites on the body are the criteria used for classification.

Information provided by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

Here at Flexcin we receive many emails asking about the effects of Flexcin on Gout. So here’s a little basic information on Gout, common prescribed treatments and how Flexcin can help.

What is Gout?
Gout is a painful condition that occurs when uric acid builds up and is then deposited as needle-like crystals in the joints or soft tissues. Uric acid is a substance that results from the breakdown of purines, which are found in many foods. Normally, uric acid is dissolved in the blood and passed through the kidneys into the urine, where it is eliminated. The uric acid crystals cause inflammatory arthritis in the joints. That in turn leads to swelling, redness, burning, pain and joint stiffness.

What Does Gout Effect?
For most people, Gout starts in the joints of the big toe (a condition called podagra). But many other joints and areas around the joints can be affected. These include the insteps, ankles, heels, knees, wrists, fingers, and elbows. Other deposits of uric acid can appear as lumps under the skin that surrounds the joints and covers the rim of the ear. Uric acid crystals can also collect in the kidneys and cause kidney stones.

Why Does Gout Occur?
If there is an increase in the production of uric acid or if the kidneys do not eliminate enough uric acid from the body, levels of it build up in the blood (a condition called hyperuricemia). Hyperuricemia also may result when a person eats too many high-purine foods, such as liver, dried beans and peas, anchovies, and gravies. Hyperuricemia is not a disease, and by itself it is not dangerous. However, if excess uric acid crystals form as a result of Hyperuricemia, Gout can develop. The crystals form, build up in the joint and then cause inflammation.

Risk Factors For Gout?
There are a number of risk factors are associated with Hyperuricemia and Gout. Talk to your doctor to figure out the cause for your Gout. Here are a list of the main risk factors for Hyperuricemia and Gout:

• Genetics
• Gender and Age
• Weight
• Alcohol consumption
• Diet
• Lead exposure
• Other Health Problems
• Some Medications

With proper treatment, most people who have Gout are able to control their symptoms and live productive lives. Gout can be treated with one or a combination of therapies. The goals of treatment are to ease the pain associated with acute attacks, to prevent future attacks, and to avoid the formation of uric acid crystals.

What Are the Treatments For Gout?
The most common treatments for an acute attack of Gout are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids, which are taken orally or injected into the affected joint. NSAIDs reduce the inflammation caused by deposits of uric acid crystals, but have no effect on the amount of uric acid in the body.

The NSAIDs most commonly prescribed for Gout are indomethacin (Indocin) and naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn). However, many NSAID’s have long term negative side effects such as increased risk of heart attack or Dementia. Corticosteroids are strong anti-inflammatory hormones. The most commonly prescribed corticosteroid is prednisone. Patients often begin to improve within a few hours of treatment with a corticosteroid, and the attack usually goes away completely within a week or so.

As an alternative many people have turned to natural supplements. Flexcin does has been helping people with Gout for years. Similar to many NSAIDs (like Anaprox and Ibuprofen) that are commonly prescribed for Gout, Flexcin works to stop the inflammation caused by the uric acid deposits within the joints. One of the key benefits of Flexcin is that it’s all-natural and does not have any harmful side effects or cause drug interactions.

Flexcin works to reduce the inflammation that occurs during flare ups and by avoiding food that can bring on symptoms, drinking more water and taking Flexcin many of our customers have less severe attacks, if any at all. Flexcin can also help relieve stiffness that is associated with the affected joints in between flare ups.

For Gout, Doctors may also recommend losing weight, for those who are overweight, limiting alcohol consumption and avoiding or limiting high-purine foods, which can increase uric acid levels.

A recent test was done by ConsumerLab.com, an independent testing company, on Multivitamins and Supplement. The test found that 30%  “contained significantly more or less ingredient than claimed or were contaminated with lead.” The news of the test also explains that “many supplements generally provide an “overage” of ingredient, i.e., more than the listed amount of ingredient to make sure that the product maintains potency over its shelf-life. Although an accepted practice, actual levels may be up to 50% higher than on the label.”

They also tested two pet supplements that are on the market and found that “one contained only 46% of the vitamin A and 54.7% of its claimed minimum amount of calcium. Another was contaminated with 6.45 mcg of lead per tablet. This is several times higher than the amount of lead (1.41 mcg) ConsumerLab.com found to be in this same product in 2007. Contamination limits for dogs are not well defined, but, as reference, the FDA notes that children should not be exposed to more than 6 mcg of lead per day and, as noted above.”

A previous test from 2007 was also done by ConsumerLab.com and found the following:

“Problems were concentrated among products claiming to contain chondroitin, a particularly expensive ingredient derived from animal cartilage. Of the eleven products that claimed to provide chondroitin, eight, or 73%, failed testing for the following reasons:

• A “maximum strength” supplement contained no chondroitin at all.

• Three other supplements had only 1% to 8% of their listed chondroitin, of which one also provided less than half of its promised glucosamine. Three more had only 51% to 75% of their chondroitin.

• One supplement contained all of its claimed ingredients, but failed to pass testing because it would not break apart properly, indicating that its ingredients might not be fully delivered in the body.”

Here is a list of the supplements tested:

	Advocare		Joint Max		Rottapharm
	Bronson		Karuna		Schiff
	Country Life		Kirkland		Symtec
	Cosamin		Maxi Health		Swanson
	Cosequin		Nature Made		TriMedica
	CVS		Nature’s Plus		Twinlab
	Doctor’s Best		NSI		Vitamin World
	Drinkables		Nutri Vet		Walgreens
	HydraJoint		Pharmanex		Weil
	GLC		Puritan’s Pride
	GNC		Rite Aid

Unfortunately vitamins and supplements are not regulated by the FDA, so talk to your doctor before choosing one and make sure that they are manufactured under the strict guidelines of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Good Manufacturing Practices, or G.M.P. All Flexcin products are manufactured in the United States in a state of the art facility under FDA GMP Standards. Flexcin does not contain chondroitin, instead it is a combination of several proven ingredients to bring you both short term relief as well as long term joint health.  These ingredients are, CM8 (Cetyl Myristoleate),  Glucosamine Sulfate, MSM, Collagen Type II, Bromelain and a digestive enzyme to assist with absorption.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also know as NSAID are the main medications prescribed to treat Arthritis joint pain. Yet, Harvard Medical School published that NSAID painkillers could increase the risk of heart attack.

Many people are aware of this because of the publicity that came in 2004 when Vioxx was taken off the market. However some people didn’t realized that not only prescription NSAIDs could lead to cardiovascular complications.

Over-the-counter NSAIDs like Ibuprofen and Aspirin “boost blood pressure and can counteract the effect of some blood-pressure drugs.” According to Harvard Health Publications.

Read more here from the Harvard Health Publication.