Psoriatic arthritis was brought to very public attention with the announcement last week that PGA golfer Phil Mickelson was recently diagnosed with the autoimmune disease - a disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own joints and tendons. This “attack” can cause redness, stiffness, warmth, inflammation and pain in the joints of your body. The pain may be limited to one or both sides of your body, cause pain in your fingertips, feet or spine, or may be a more debilitating version - destructive arthritis - that can result in severe pain, destroy bones and disable a person. Psoriatic arthritis may also lead to dactylitis - swelling of the fingers and toes.
Some people with psoriatic arthritis have psoriasis - an autoimmune inflammatory skin disease that results in scaly patches of skin on the scalp, ears, elbows, or buttocks. Like psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis can flare - causing greater discomfort - or go into remission. If someone suffers from both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, the flares of the skin condition can coincide with flares in the arthritic condition. In both cases, stress can exacerbate the condition.
Who’s at risk? Psoriatic arthritis affects both men and women equally. Those with psoriasis are more likely to develop psoriatic arthritis and genetics can play a role. The disease is also most likely to strike those between the ages of 30 and 50.
If you experience any of the above symptoms, see your doctor. Tests to determine your condition may include x-rays, a joint fluid test, a blood sed rate test and a blood rheumatoid factor test.
While no cure currently exists, psoriatic arthritis can, in most cases, be managed with medications that control inflammation. Medications used to treat the condition include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Advil, Motrin), corticosteroids, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (Azulfidine), immunosuppressant medications (Imuran, Neoral, Arava) or TNF-alpha inhibitors (Enbrel).
Risks associated with the psoriatic arthritis include diabetes and heart disease. There are also some risks associated with the medications used to treat the disease because the drugs - used to block tumor necrosis factor (TNF) - can put one at risk for infections.
Notice more runny noses, sniffles and red eyes this year? Thanks to record levels of pollen around the nation, even those of us who haven’t experienced significant allergic reactions before may suffer from mild allergic symptoms such as headaches and irritated eyes and nasal passages.
Your immune system is your defense system. When it recognizes a threat, it takes defensive measures to combat that threat. In the case of allergies, your body is overreacting to an allergen - such as pollen - that is typically deemed a harmless substance. For someone not allergic to pollen, they inhale the grains and the grains are trapped in mucus that you then cough out or swallow.
If you are allergic to pollen, your body reacts differently - and defensively. Those same grains trigger your immune system to produce IgE - an antibody that attaches to mast and blood cells. The offending pollen grains become attached to the IgE and your body steps up its defenses - releasing histamines that attempt to eject the allergen via watery eyes, runny noses, sneezing or coughing. You may also experience itchy eyes, throat and nose or develop dark circles under your eyes due to restricted blood flow around your sinuses.
At this time of the year, many people develop upper respiratory complaints that lead to a visit to their health care practitioner. It seems blooming plants and trees may contribute to a great deal of the problems, with symptoms ranging from a cough, runny nose, allergies, and sinusitis. Being stuffed up with a sinus type headache is unpleasant, so let’s take a closer look.
What is sinusitis? This is an inflammation of the sinus passages located in the forehead and face. Your sinuses are pockets of air with channels that lead to the nose. Anytime these channels become inflamed due to a virus, bacteria, or allergen, symptoms of sinusitis may result.
Inflammation will block the passages, causing pressure in the sinus cavities that can be painful. The passages may also have increased mucous or pus, with a large amount of drainage.
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