Ask us all you can!
Tips

Understanding and managing ankylosing spondylitis

Understanding and managing ankylosing spondylitis

Understanding and managing ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that mainly affects the spine, causing inflammation of the vertebrae that can lead to chronic pain and disability. In severe cases, this inflammation can lead to the formation of new bone on the spine (ankylosis), causing sections of the spine to fuse in a discomforting position.

Additionally, the condition can cause inflammation, pain, and stiffness in other parts of the body like the shoulders, ribs, hips, heels, and joints in the hands and feet.

Causes
The exact cause of ankylosing spondylitis remains unknown, but researchers state that genetics play a key role in the development of the disease. More than 60 genes have been identified to be associated with ankylosing spondylitis and other related conditions.

As per hypothesis, ankylosing spondylitis may affect an individual when the defenses of their intestines collapse, allowing certain bacteria to pass into the bloodstream, triggering changes in the immune response.

Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of the condition differ from person to person. The distinctive feature of the disease is the involvement of sacroiliac joints—located at the base of the spine—during the progression of the disease. The most common symptoms of the disease are pain and stiffness in the lower back, along with pain in the hips and shoulders. Here are some of the other symptoms:

  • Stiffness of the back that worsens during the night or in the morning
  • Loss of appetite
  • Mild fever
  • Weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • Anemia or low iron
  • Problems in lung function

In some cases, the condition also causes mild inflammation of the eyes (iritis or uveitis), leading to redness and pain. In some individuals, the heart valve is also affected.

Treatment
As of today, there is no known cure for ankylosing spondylitis, and treatment for the condition primarily aims to relieve the pain and stiffness. It may also significantly slow down or even stop some major complications like a bone deformity. Some common treatments are mentioned here:

  • Medications
    There are several types of medications available for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis, but the effectiveness of these medications is different in each person.
    Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen are commonly used to manage pain and inflammation. When NSAIDs are not effective, the doctor may prescribe stronger medications.
  • Surgery
    Depending on the severity of the damage, different types of surgeries are performed. Individuals with severe damage or deformity in the knee or hip joints require joint replacement surgery, while an osteotomy may be necessary for individuals with poor posture caused by fused bones.

Natural treatment
Other than medications, some natural treatments may help alleviate the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis, and daily exercise and posture practice are primarily encouraged to maintain flexibility. These natural treatments can also be combined with medications, but it is important to consult a doctor before starting these treatments:

  • Exercise and stretching
    Staying active is one of the best ways of managing ankylosing spondylitis. Range-of-motion exercises and strength training exercises help strengthen joints and make them more flexible. Stretching can also make the joints more flexible and improve their strength, alleviating pain.
  • Posture training
    Over time, bones in the spine can fuse, causing the person to take up slouching positions. However, good postural habits can affect the pattern of fusion and prevent bone fusing in a position that is not upright. Also, individuals can always use supporting devices like chairs or seat cushions to improve their posture.
  • Heat and cold therapy
    Using a heating pad for stiff joints and tight muscles can help reduce pain and soreness, and hot baths and showers can also provide great relief. On the other hand, ice packs can reduce swelling and muscle inflammation.
  • Stress reduction
    People with ankylosing spondylitis have reported that stress and anxiety can aggravate the symptoms of the disease. To reduce stress, one can undertake meditation, counseling, breathing techniques, yoga, massage, and such.
  • Diet and nutrition
    There is no particular diet routine to follow to manage the condition, but a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals is great to start with. It is highly recommended that the daily diet include the following:
  • Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like nuts and healthy oils
  • Different fruits and vegetables
  • Whole-grain foods and whole grains like quinoa and farro

One must severely cut down or eliminate the foods rich in fat, sugar, and sodium, along with processed foods and boxed or canned foods. Apart from this, alcohol consumption should be avoided as it can interfere with the medications and worsen the symptoms.

Complications
If ankylosing spondylitis is left untreated, the following complications may arise.

  • Fused vertebrae due to chronic inflammation
  • Severe inflammation in nearby joints like hips and shoulders
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Heart, lungs, or bowel damage
  • Eye irritation
  • Compression fractures of the spine

It is important to remember that ankylosing spondylitis is a lifelong disease and its severity is independent of the age and gender of the individual. Even if one is experiencing only mild symptoms of the disease, it is wise for them to visit a rheumatologist for a checkup.

This article is for information purposes only. Always consult and seek the advice of a physician/licensed healthcare professional with any questions regarding a medical condition or medication.

Related Reading

Tips for Buying the Best Dog Food

Tips for Buying the Best Dog Food

Most of the dogs do not have a food fuss and may eat almost anything that you feed them. Dogs are not choosy at all when it comes to food and nutrition. Hence, it is important to make sure that the food that you are purchasing for your dog is healthy. The landscape of dog food has been developing by leaps and bounds in recent times. There is a wide variety of options to choose from in the online and offline market. Given the wide range of options that are available today, buying the best dog food might seem to be a confusing task indeed. All the commercial pet food that is available in the market today is regulated by the FDA. Therefore, most of the products do contain nutritious, healthy, and safe ingredients. But it does help to know certain basic factors you should look for while buying food for your dog. Prioritize on the nutritional guarantee The best dog food, which meets the dog’s needs adequately has a statement written on the label of the product, from the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Buy from some of the best dog food brands, such as Fromm Family Foods, Earthborn Holistic, Nature’s Variety Instinct, and The Honest Kitchen.
Different Types of Kitchen Cabinets Available for Your Home

Different Types of Kitchen Cabinets Available for Your Home

The most important aspect when designing your kitchen is deciding on the type of cabinets. In addition to functionality, kitchen cabinets score on aesthetics as well. Once the layout is planned, you can go ahead with choosing the cabinets. If you’re remodeling your home or just the kitchen, what you need to consider are the types of cabinets that furnish your kitchen. Here are a few types of kitchen cabinets that you can choose from. Base cabinets These kitchen cabinets are mounted on the floor and they are placed after checking out the floor plan. A major part of your job in the kitchen is on these base cabinets, which hold and support the countertops. These base cabinets are combined to carve out kitchen islands. A number of base cabinets are fused/set against one another and installed on site. The base cabinets, in addition to supporting the countertops, serve as drawers to hold your cutlery and appliances. Wall cabinets Mounted on the walls, these cabinets can store everything, right from your cookware to cookbooks. In terms of design, they offer utmost flexibility. Wall cabinet kitchen is available in varying heights, multiple widths, and custom depth options. This customization helps you to fit in your stuff of varying shapes and sizes into the wall cabinets.
How to Pick the Right Dog Food for a Sensitive Stomach

How to Pick the Right Dog Food for a Sensitive Stomach

In today’s world, where you are presented with over a dozen choices for every item you would purchase for your own kitchen, it is not surprising that you have an equal number of options for your dog’s food. However, choosing the perfect brand and formula for your dog out of a range of options in the market is not an easy job. Your pet depends on you and trusts you to make the right choice for them. Therefore, it is imperative that you do your research about the products available in the market, understand what your dog needs, know what might be your pet’s problems, and then make a sound decision. What is a sensitive stomach? Dogs are known to have voracious and large appetites. Keeping that in mind, it is normal to assume that they have strong stomachs. They can eat close to anything be it sweets, bakes, chewy gum, hard leather or even woolen socks for that matter! It always so happens that the strongest of them are prone to allergies and can develop a disorder which is medically translated as a sensitive stomach. This might be due to a sudden change in the food habits or even due an infection picked up from somewhere.
All You Need to Know about Cat Food

All You Need to Know about Cat Food

For cat owners, cat food is a hot topic. You need to think about it in different aspects. The best thing is to know which ingredients are good for cat food and which are harmful. If you are aware of this, you can get an idea about the quality of the cat food just by going through the label. It is always sensible to stick to one brand of cat food. However, you may also want to try and prepare cat food yourself. There are also various options for wet cat food as well. Cat’s love for fish is universal, so you can do without going for expensive cat food. Nevertheless, whether you buy it or prepare cat food at home, you need to ensure that the food contains enough nutrition and calories. You would need to have some idea about the ingredients that must be present in cat food and make a worthy selection for your cat. Basic ingredients present in good cat foods Cats need a variety of nutrients to stay healthy and active; they need various vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins, and oils. The following is a brief explanation of the basic ingredients that should be present in cat foods.