Knee osteoarthritis can double risk of early death

Yes, Knee Arthritis Can KILL You

You can SEE the effects of age in your hair, face, and skin…

And odds are, you can FEEL it in your joints.

After all, your hard-working joints take a beating over the years, and the cartilage that cushions them eventually breaks down.

In the worst cases, this can cause your bones to rub together – a painful condition known as osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis.

More than 80 percent of OA sufferers have knee OA, which hurts like the devil and can prevent you from participating in your daily activities. This becomes a downward spiral that ultimately dampens your quality of life.

But research shows that just HAVING knee OA can have even more dire consequences – it can KILL you.

Joint Jeopardy

OA has MANY risk factors, but some of the most common are age, weight, inflammation, and repetitive movements that stress the joints.

This degenerative “wear and tear” condition affects more than 32 million Americans.

And if you’re one of them, you know that OA pain, stiffness, and swelling WORSEN over time.

Knee OA can eventually make walking, climbing stairs, or even getting out of bed feel downright IMPOSSIBLE.

But as the study showed, it could ALSO put you in an early grave.

Women with knee pain linked to OA nearly DOUBLED their risk of early death… and more than TRIPLED their odds of dying from a cardiovascular event.

The same study found that women with OA in their hands did NOT boost their mortality risk.

OK, so just HAVING knee OA can be deadly – but TREATING it can be, too.

For years, doctors have prescribed OTC pain relievers for OA – especially NSAIDs (like ibuprofen and naproxen) and acetaminophen.

But NSAIDs are known to cause FATAL stomach bleeds, heart attacks, strokes, kidney damage, and other DEADLY consequences.

Not to mention, they’ve ALSO been found to spike the risk of joint damage.

Unfortunately, acetaminophen – a “harmless” drug taken by 60 million Americans each week – is no better.

It’s the number one cause of liver transplants in this country… and responsible for nearly 60,000 ER visits and hospitalizations each year.

Acetaminophen is also linked to 500 deaths every year — HALF from unintentional overdoses.

And friend, it looks like ALL of this pain and suffering is in vain… because research shows that when it comes to relieving knee pain…

Acetaminophen is NO BETTER than a placebo.

Natural Healing

Now, the mainstream may be IGNORING this critical research…

But YOU don’t have to.

Fortunately, there are safe, effective, non-drug alternatives that can manage the pain of knee OA and help restore your quality of life.

And one of the best is glucosamine chondroitin (GC) – comprised of two natural compounds found in healthy cartilage.

GC is a prescribed OA treatment in many European countries, but not here. That’s because some studies show mixed results.

But we DO know that both compounds have anti-inflammatory properties and can help protect cartilage against further damage.

And studies show GC can relieve OA knee pain and swelling as well as celocoxib, the most commonly prescribed OA drug… but without dangerous side effects.

You can find high-quality products from numerous companies, including Designs for Health (Glucosamine Chondroitin) and Jarrow (Glucosamine + Chondroitin).

The typical daily dose is 1,500 mg of glucosamine and 1,200 mg of chondroitin.

But speak to your doctor first, particularly, if you’re on blood thinners.

P.S. I take a deeper dive into knee osteoarthritis – and other natural therapies that can safely dial down pain and stop further damage – in the May issue of Nutrition & Healing, my info-packed monthly newsletter. Learn how to become a subscriber today!

Source:

“Osteoarthritis (OA),” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/osteoarthritis.htm)