Congregational Health ReSource - A Faith Based Health Organization devoted to wholeness.

Prevention and awareness are key essentials in maintaining our physical bodies. Many resources may be found here including: statistics, demographics, and basic health regulations to assist you in a lifelong journey of whole health focusing on the first component of wholeness, the body. The health and faith resources found on this site combined can bring balance between our body, soul (mind, will and emotions) and spirit. Learn more about the continuum of care in whole health while increasing your faith, utilizing wisdom, and bringing wholeness to your overall being, body, soul and spirit.

Wondering how you can be more health conscious and are unsure where to start? You can check the National Health Observances calendar and see how you and your congregation celebrate health and honor those you love by making them aware of resources and agencies that provide support and materials to help you succeed!

Focus on health observances throughout the year.

Timely Topics:

Here's how to fight the "flu"...

Use this guide to discover the most common causes of the most common symptoms for your illnesses...

Arthritis (OA=Osteoarthritis; RA=Rheumatoid Arthritis)

Description: Joint disease that involves progressive loss of cartilage in the joints, leading to production of irregular bone deposits called bone spurs. There are many types of arthritis; OA (also called DJD: degenerative joint disease) is the most common; RA is a chronic inflammatory arthritis involving the joints of the arms, legs, hands, and feet. RA can appear in much younger patients that OA and leads to severe deformities of the hands and fingers, resulting in disability
Incidence: OA: Very common (the majority of older people; sixty million people at any one time); RA: Less common (.3-1.5 percent of Americans)

Prevalence: OA: Males equally with females; over sixty-five; RA: Females more than males overall; Native Americans (up to around five percent)

Signs and symptoms:

OA:

Joint pain (comes on slowly; especially after movement)
Stiffness (especially in the morning)
Decreased range of motion

RA:

Bone erosion
Joint deformities
Fatigue
Depression
(all symptoms listed above OA)

Risk factors:

OA:

Advanced age (over fifty)
Obesity
Injury to a joint
Stress over time to joints (sports- or job-related)

RA:

Family history
Female
Ages twenty to fifty
Native American background

Usual treatment:

Medication (to reduce joint inflammation: in A, to suppress the immune response)
Lifestyle changes (proper weight maintenance, excise, joint protection)
Other therapies (heat, aquatic exercise)
Surgery (such as joint replacement, for those who have significant pain or loss of function or mobility, especially in RA)

Usual course: Varies, but generally is progressive; poor prognosis with RA because of chronic inflammation leading to loss of function. Neither RA nor OA is curable, so the goal of treatment is control. This means continuous treatment efforts. Severe forms of RA in young adults can render them totally disabled.

Spiritual considerations:

Functional ability varies with severity and type of arthritis. Persons may become more disable over time. Make sure your facility is accessible to affected individuals.
Pain is a major factor. Provide comfort and reassurance. New medications are being developed.

Suggested scriptures: Isaiah 35:3-4; Proverbs 17:22

Resources:

Arthritis Foundation
www.arthritis.org

Faith, hope, and love coupled with wisdom assists the believer in achieving health harmony in the soul (mind, will, and emotions) and spirit. Strengthen your inner man's soul and spirit by the associated articles, resources, and inspiration in our faith section. May the Lord prosper you with whole health. Learn more about the continuum of care in whole health while increasing your faith, utilizing wisdom, and bringing wholeness to your overall being, body, soul and spirit.

We welcome collaboration with any professional health care agencies, as well as, church leaders. Also, if you are interested in linking, contributing or assisting Congregational Health ReSource with content, please contact us.