Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory condition of the muscles and joints and is characterized by stiffness and pain in the neck, shoulders, hips, and buttocks. Morning stiffness that lasts several hours is common. The onset of pain can be sudden or gradual and affects both sides of the body. Approximately 15% of patients with PMR develop giant cell arteritis (GCA), and nearly 50% of patients with GCA will develop PMR over time.

PMR is a complicated disease with many complex symptoms. An accurate diagnosis must exclude many other potential diseases. Corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone) are considered the treatment of choice. Patients have an excellent prognosis, although exacerbations may occur if steroids are tapered too rapidly, and relapse is common.

While there have been no major studies on the relationship between inflammatory foods (e.g., wheat products) and PMR, many patients have reported that by following a paleo or gluten-free diet and exercising, they have been able to control their symptoms and taper off the steroids in a period of up to 1 year. In general, avoiding foods that cause inflammation and gastrointestinal problems can sometimes alleviate fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia affects about 2% of the U.S. population, with women older than 50 years being more susceptible to the disorder than men.

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

Peripheral artery disease is caused by buildup of fatty materials (atheroma) in arteries that carry blood from the heart to the head, internal organs and the limbs. Overtime this fatty deposits cause circulatory problem that in turn causes narrowing of the arteries and reduce blood flow to the organs to fail. Other causes include blood clots or embolism, congenital heart disease, and inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis).

Men and woman are equally affected by PAD; however, black race/ethnicity is associated with an increased risk of PAD. People of Hispanic origin may have similar to slightly higher rates of PAD compared to non-Hispanic whites. Approximately 8 million people in the United States have PAD, including 12-20% of individuals older than age 60. General population awareness of PAD is estimated at 25%, based on prior studies.

Peripheral artery disease is a warning sign for a more widespread accumulation of fatty deposits or plaques in major arteries that ends up with the hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). This condition will be reducing blood flow to heart and brain and increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.

The reduction of blood flow to the extremities — usually legs — causes leg pain during walking and causes a condition called claudication (pain, fatigue,aching,tightness, weakness, cramping or tingling in the legs). It can also increase skin ulcerations and in severe cases, tissue death in limbs that will end up to leg amputation. PAD leg pain occurs in the muscles, not the joints.

One in every 20 American over age of 50 has PAD. A research funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in June of 2011 revealed only one third of people with PAD, took their medications to control high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

As stated earlier, PAD often goes undiagnosed. Untreated PAD can be dangerous and can cause loss of a leg, increased risk of coronary artery disease and carotid atherosclerosis. The American Heart Association encourages people at risk to discuss PAD symptoms with their healthcare professional to ensure early diagnosis and treatment. By learning about PAD, people can lower their risk for PAD and its other major complications.

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The Emerging Role of Vitamin K2

Vitamin K refers to a group of fat-soluble vitamins with similar chemical structures that are needed for blood coagulation. Research over the last few decades has shown a new and emerging role for this vitamin in treating osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. Other new and exciting applications for this vitamin have been found in treating Alzheimer’s disease, skin aging, and a variety of cancers. This vitamin was discovered in the 1920s and was called “K” for koagulation due to its role in blood coagulation.  Unfortunately, many people are not aware of the health benefits of vitamin K. The K vitamins have been underrated and misunderstood until very recently by both the scientific community and the general public.

Although the effect of magnesium and vitamin D₃ on calcium metabolism was previously known, the importance of vitamin K in regulating the healthy function of calcium has only recently been recognized.  Vitamin K has now been found to have a role in putting calcium in the right places in the body, such as in the bones and blood, and preventing pathologic calcification of the vessels and soft tissues.

There are three different types of vitamin K: K₁, which is found in plants; K₂, which is made by bacteria or fermentation; and K₃, which is synthetic and, because of the generation of free radicals, is considered toxic. All members of the vitamin K group share a methylated naphthoquinone ring structure and vary in the aliphatic side chain attached at the 3-position. Although these vitamins share a major physiological role, each has other distinct physiological properties. Interestingly, the body is able to convert vitamin K₁ to the more active K₂.

Unlike other fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, and E), the body does not store vitamin K. It is recycled by the body but not in significant amounts, and therefore deficiencies are common.  This is probably due to inadequate dietary intake, lack of cofactors, prescription drugs, and environmental stressors that place high demands on the body’s vitamin K reserves.