Drinking Alcohol Reduces Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Studies released today by the rheumatologist at Rotherham Hospital, in the U.K. at the University of Sheffield, published in the U.K. journal Rheumatology, that drinking alcohol regularly cuts risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

The report states that since alcohol has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect my play a significant role in decreasing the symptoms. The report also concludes that people who drank alcohol had fewer severe symptoms than those who have never drunk alcohol before.

The tests conducted in the study confirmed by x-ray that there was less damage to the joints. The lower levels of inflammation and less pain in the joints were made apparent by blood tests that were taken. The scientist also found that there was less disability and swelling in the patient’s who moderately drank alcohol.

Dr. James Maxwell explained in the report that drinking alcohol lowered the risk of rheumatoid arthritis by 40 to 50 percent. Furthermore, he said that there definitely is some evidence that the immune system is suppressed by alcohol. This evidence provided by the study concludes that the pathway by which rheumatoid arthritis is an influence, is definitely influenced by the effects of alcohol.

873 arthritis patients and 1,004 people, without the illness were used from the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, England to conduct the study.