Motor Oil May Give You Arthritis

Gas station attendants, mechanics, car enthusiasts beware! A study suggests that exposure to motor oil and similar substances may increase your chances of getting arthritis.

This starting discovery comes from Swedish researchers who said mineral oils like hydraulic or motor oils can give you a ...Gas station attendants, mechanics, car enthusiasts beware! A study suggests that exposure to motor oil and similar substances may increase your chances of getting arthritis.

This starting discovery comes from Swedish researchers who said mineral oils like hydraulic or motor oils can give you a 30 percent risk of developing certain forms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Researchers from the Karolinska Institute said these oils appear to contain certain molecules that trigger the development of RA. Their study appeared in “Arthritis Research and Therapy.”

Earlier, tests on rats showed a similar pattern. To confirm this, the researchers studied patients with rheumatoid arthritis between 1996 and 2003.

“Each patient provided details of their exposure to different types of mineral oils, including asphalt and engine oil. The results suggested that exposure to hydraulic or motor oil was associated with an increased risk of two forms of rheumatoid arthritis,” reported the BBC News.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects over two millio
American adults. It is the most crippling form of arthritis that causes the joints to become painful and deformed, making simple activities like walking or opening a jar difficult to perform.

“Unlike osteoarthritis, which results from wear and tear on your joints, RA is an inflammatory condition. The exact cause of RA is unknown, but it's believed to be the body's immune system attacking the tissue that lines your joints (synovium),” explained the Mayo Clinic.

“RA is two to three times more common in women than in men and generally strikes between the ages of 20 and 50. But RA can also affect young children and adults older than age 50,” it added.

Risk factors for RA include old age, being female, smoking, and being exposed to an infection that may trigger the disease in susceptible individuals.

Although experts consider the findings of Swedish researchers rather bizarre, they contend that it merits serious attention, especially since it was published in a prestigious medical journal.

“There are many so-called environmental risk factors such as exposure to silica that triggers RA in some people - combined with a genetic predisposition," they said.

While there are many prescription medications to relieve the symptoms of RA and slow its progression, these have serious side effects like stomach bleeding, indigestion, high blood pressure, and kidney or liver damage. Others have been linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

One exception is Flexcerin, a natural non-prescription product that reduces pain and inflammation, restores and rebuilds healthy joints, and improves joint mobility and flexibility. For details, check out http://tinyurl.com/8jkw6ma