Shingles is a major concern for people with autoimmune conditions, particularly people who are older and more at risk for developing shingles in general. Shingles is caused when the same virus that causes chickenpox, which stays hidden in the body, is reactivated.
This recent study focused on people with autoimmune diseases. The medicine to treat some of these conditions are called anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs. They suppress the immune system. As a result, they can increase the risk of some infections.
The new study looked at records for about 60,000 people with autoimmune diseases. It compared shingles rates for those who took anti-TNF drugs and those who took other drugs. There was no increase in shingles among people taking anti-TNF drugs. People taking high doses of another type of medicine called a corticosteroid had twice the odds of developing shingles.
Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDMS) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease affecting approximately three in one million children.
Autoimmune diseases generally occur when the body’s immune system begins to malfunction and attack healthy tissue in various parts of the body, causing inflammation and damage. In dermatomyositis, muscle and skin are attacked by inflammation, but the joints, lungs, heart, and intestinal tract can also be affected. Continue reading →
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is chronic inflammatory arthritis developing in children under the age of 16 years. Previously called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), juvenile idiopathic arthritis strikes up to one in 1000 children and is one of the most common chronic diseases among children. Continue reading →
From the National Post, February 26, 2013 – This is the story of Erinn McQueen, a varsity athlete who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in her third year of university, at the age of 21. Now 34 years old and married with two children, Erinn had her hip replaced in March 2011 and is unable to return to work. She has tried a variety of treatments over the years, “including biologics that can cost tens of thousands of dollars a year.” She is quoted as saying, “I have been on intravenous infusion treatments and the injections I give myself… It was a pretty difficult thing to realize that I likely wouldn’t play again or even just go for a run… I sort of view RA as the opponent, I wake up every day and know that this is my challenge.” Continue reading →
A fourth joint exam video is now available to be viewed from the JointHealth™ website.
The video is part of a series of five originally created for the ArthritisID PRO app for iPhone. Now you can watch them from your personal computer. Continue reading →
Winter can be a glorious time of year for some of you, whether you prefer to be outside skiing or inside curled up by the fire with a hot chocolate and a good book. Often, though, people experience health issues brought on by this coldest season of the year.
For people who live with arthritis, winter can be a pain – literally. Joints can be more painful and uncomfortable with the onset of rainy and cold weather. A common condition among those with autoimmune diseases is Raynaud’s phenomenon, which can become more bothersome as temperatures drop. To learn about Raynaud’s, check out this article at EmpowerHer.com: Katie Meakem, EmpowerHER, November 2012 or visit the Spotlight on Raynaud’s Phenomenon at jointhealth.org.
When winter is here, do you think you can feel it in your bones? You might not be crazy. Cold weather, for many who live with arthritis, can stiffen muscles and may also worsen arthritis symptoms. Some studies have demonstrated a worsening of arthritis symptoms with low barometric pressure and high humidity. There are theories that low pressure systems, usually associated with damp or rainy conditions, could cause joints to swell. So remember to “Dress warmly, work out inside, and get enough vitamin D. These are some of the ways you can get arthritis pain relief despite the bone-chilling cold of winter weather.” Madeline Vann, everydayHealth, December 2012 .
