Banner Graphic, Volume 15, Number 135, Greencastle, Putnam County, 5 February 1985 — Page 15

Over $1 billion a year spent

Quackery items not a remedy for arthritis

By BILL KRASEAN Newhouse News Service Kalamazoo, Mich. Copper bracelets ... megadoses of vitamins and minerals ... aloe vera ... bee and snake venom ... vaccines ... antibiotics ... DMSO ... Gerovital H 3 They’ve all been used to fight arthritis pain. And they’re all unproven and likely to be a waste of money, according to rheumatologist Joyce Cutler. “Americans spend more than $1 billion a year on quackery in an effort to help their arthritis,” Cutler says. “It is estimated that Americans spent $25 on quackery for every $l spent on proven remedies.” Because of the nature of the disease and the difficulty of treating its pain, arthritis victims are susceptible to claims of unproven remedies. Arthritis is a family of more than 100 diseases. The word refers to inflammation of a joint. Osteoarthritis, the so-called “wear-and-tear arthritis, is the most common and ultimately would affect all of us if we live long enough, says Cutler, who is rheumatology coordinator at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo and local chairman of the National Arthritis Foundation. Rheumatoid arthritis and lupis are also common. The cause and mechanism of all three of these varieties remain little understood, Cutler says. About half the arthritis victims seen in doctors’ offices have osteoarthritis. Among hospitalized patients, three of every four with arthritis have either rheumatoid or lupis. “We don’t know what causes most types of arthritis,” Cutler says. “We do know that arthritis itself causes inflammation and that some medications can control inflammation.” Inflammation is what causes the swelling, redness, heat and pain of many kinds of arthritis. It is chronic and it causes the damage inside joints which leads to deformity and crippling. The National Arthritis Foundation says that although the cause of arthritis isn’t fully understood, research is narrowing the search. According to the foundation, circumstancial evidence points to a slowacting virus as the most likely cause of arthritis. The virus may remain latent inside the body for years before triggering its devastating effects. When this unknown “triggering agent” does attack, it disrupts the body’s normally protective immune system. Instead of attacking foreign substances that could cause harm, parts of the immune system spew powerful enzymes into the fluid of joints, attacking the joint lining and cartilage. Once the triggering agent is identified, can arthritis be controlled and prevented? Foundation officials say that is one path to prevention, but that a more likely route to a “cure” would be discovery of a treatment for the disruption of the immune process. Many treatments for arthritis have been tried. Copper has been used for centuries, but Cutler says there never has been scientific proof that the mental has any effect on the disease. “Copper is one of the more harmless and least expensive forms of arthritis quackery,” she says. Diet, too, apparently has little direct effect on arthritis, though it is important for its victims not to be overweight and to eat well-balanced meals, Cutler notes. Vitamin and mineral supplements likewise never have been scientifically shown to affect the disease, she says. Megadoses of the water-soluble vitamins all the Bs and C probably are harmless since the body quickly rids itself of them. But megadoses of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K can be dangerous since these vitamins ac-

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cumulate in fat stores and can produce toxic side effects, she says. Topical applications of substances such as DMSO or aloe vera likewise never have been shown to have an effect in scientifically controlled studies, Cutler says. The National Arthritis Foundation recently issued an alert to local chapters concerning the anticipated American speaking tour of Dr. Ana Aslan, developer of Gerovital H 3, a so-called “wonder medicine for arthritis and elderly.” Cutler says the federal Food and Drug Administration does not recognize Gerovital H 3 as a legitimate medication. There have been no controlled studies of the substance, which is given by injection.

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for its effect on arthritis. “Patients usually don’t tell me if they are using unproven remedies,” Cutler says. “But they do ask me about them. “The big things are the rubs and liniments. They are a way of providing heat to a joint, which can provide some relief. They don’t, however, change the damage or prevent further damage. They produce heat because they are a chemical irritant to the skin. “As long as what they are doing doesn’t cause them harm, we don’t tell them not to doit,” Cutler says. Several medications are currently available to help control arthritis discomfort by reducing inflammation. Aspirin is the oldest and most familiar.

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“Aspirin has its advantages and its disadvantages,” Cutler says. “To get the desired effect, you need to take 12 to 16 aspirins a day. That can cause gastric discomfort in some people. Some forms of aspirin are available with a coating that allows the aspirin to pass through the stomach before breaking down, causing less irritation.” Pills can be taken during meals or with an antacid to reduce irritation. “There are no new medications looming on the horizon,” Cutler says. “Research is going on all the time.” Until a way to prevent arthritis is found, she says, the best advice is simple: If you are considering trying a new remedy or treatment, check with your doctor.

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February 5,1985, The Putnam County Banner-Graphic

February is Heart Month

Special to the Banner-Graphic February is Heart Month in Putnam County, according to Mary Teipen of the American Heart Association Teipen, president of the local division of the Heart Association, explained, “Heart Month was originated with two ideas in mind. It is a time for the American Heart Association to campaign for contributions, and it is also an opportunity for people to become more aware of their hearts and how to protect them from this nation’s number one killer - heart disease.” THE HEART ASSOCIATION con ducts its annual fund-raising campaign in February, and nearly 150

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volunteers will be working in Putnam County this year to reach their goal of $15,000 in contributions. Americans should be aware, said Teipen, that half of this country’s deaths each year are attributed to heart disease. Exercise, proper eating habits, weight control and avoiding cigarettes can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disorders, but so far there is no guaranteed cure. However, the American Heart Association is funding research scientists and setting up community programs in an attempt to find a cure and to teach individuals how to avoid situations which are conducive to heart disease, Teipen concluded.

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