Hyperbaric Oxygen and Inflammatory Arthritis

Before we talk about how hyperbaric oxygen can treat inflammatory arthritis, let’s talk all about what inflammatory arthritis is. Inflammatory arthritis is a type of arthritis caused by an overactive immune system (IA). It commonly affects a significant number of joints all at once.

If diagnosed and treated early on, the symptoms of inflammatory arthritis can be greatly minimized or even eradicated.

While it is uncertain what causes inflammatory arthritis in each person, it is known that the immune systems of IA patients do not know when to slow down, which can assist to prevent significant and permanent arthritic issues. When we are exposed to bacteria, viruses, or fungi, our immune systems respond by producing lymphocytes, which are white blood cells, as well as immunological proteins. Lymphocytes and immunological proteins generate inflammation, which is normally limited and resolves once the foreign substance is defeated.

Inflammatory arthritis patients’ immune responses don’t know when to stop. It activates your body, battling your own tissues rather than viruses and bacteria, causing persistent inflammation. Inflammatory arthritis is referred described as an “autoimmune illness” because the immune system may lose

• Its ability to distinguish healthy cells from harmful cells.

• Joint stiffness and soreness are common symptoms of inflammatory arthritis, especially in the morning following periods of rest or inactivity.

• Inflammation, redness, and/or warmth in the affected joints are prevalent as well.

• Inflammation occurs in other sections of the body, such as the skin and internal organs like the lungs and heart. Inflammatory arthritis patients typically suffer “flares” of extremely painful symptoms.

Inflammatory Arthritis Treatment

Medications that lower swelling and discomfort while simultaneously controlling the immune system, such as steroids, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive medicines, are commonly used to treat inflammatory arthritis.

To avoid losing mobility and joint function, patients must establish a balance between rest (which helps prevent arthritic flaring) and activity (which can help prevent joints from becoming too stiff).

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce pain and inflammation.

Joint replacement surgery may be considered if nonsurgical therapy for osteoarthritis fail to provide long-term relief. If you have inflammatory arthritis, you should see a rheumatologist on a regular basis to have your health monitored and your treatment plan customized.

Rheumatologists are medical practitioners who have received additional training in the treatment of joint and autoimmune illnesses. Rheumatologists differ from orthopedists, who are surgically educated and may be engaged in the treatment of persons with inflammatory arthritis when medical treatments are ineffective.

What Causes Inflammatory Arthritis?

Your immune system is responsible for protecting your body from illness. When the immune system is functioning properly, it recognizes intruders (viruses or bacteria) quickly, mounts a powerful enough response to expel them, and then returns to normal.

Cytokines are body-produced chemicals that act as troops in the body’s fight against disease. These small proteins allow immune cells to communicate and instruct one another by transmitting messages between them. Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines work together to remove an intruder and then settle down so the immune system isn’t continually on the attack when everything is working properly.

Because normal biological tissues are mistaken as harmful substances and attacked as a result, persons with autoimmune disorders like inflammatory arthritis or lupus do not have completely functional immune systems.

A cytokine storm might result from an immune system that is malfunctioning and overproducing cytokines.

During a cytokine storm, many inflammatory cytokines are produced at a much higher rate than usual.

Overproduction of cytokines causes positive feedback on other immune cells, allowing additional immune cells to be recruited to the site of injury and potentially causing organ damage. This technique can wreak havoc on the body, as cytokines attack healthy cells, producing and aggravating inflammatory arthritis symptoms.

Recent research has demonstrated that cytokine storms and overactive immune systems can be effectively treated with appropriate oxygenation of the body. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy can help in this situation and therefore alleviate symptoms of inflammatory arthritis.