DESCRIPTION:
Polychondritis, also known as relapsing polychondritis, is a rare degenerative autoimmune disease characterized by recurrent inflammation of the cartilage in the body. The disease may affect any part of the body where cartilage is present. Polychondritis affects males and females in equal numbers, with symptoms usually appearing between 40 and 60 years of age.
How does polychondritis develop?
Polychondritis develops when the immune system malfunctions and produces antibodies that attack cartilage throughout the body. It is frequently diagnosed along with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and other connective tissue diseases. The cause of relapsing polychondritis is unknown. As the disease progresses it can cause inflammation in other protoglycan-rich structures, such as the eye, heart, blood vessels and inner ear. The sites of involvement and severity and onset of inflammation varies from person to person.
What are the symptoms of polychondritis?
The most common first symptom of this disease is pain and swelling of the external ear. Usually, both ears turn red or purple and are tender to the touch. The swelling can extend into the ear canal and beyond, causing ear infections, hearing loss, balance disturbances with vertigo and vomiting, and eventually a droopy ear. The nose can be afflicted as well and can deteriorate into a flattened nose bridge called saddle nose. Inflammation of the eye occurs less frequently, but, when present, can lead to blindness.
As relapsing polychondritis advances, it causes more dangerous symptoms such as deterioration of the cartilage that holds the windpipe open. As the disease progresses, it can destroy the integrity of the airway and compromise breathing. Destruction of the rib cartilage can collapse the chest, again hindering breathing. Joints everywhere are involved in episodes of arthritis, with pain and swelling. Other tissues besides cartilage also may become involved, leading to a host of other problems. Occasionally, the aorta or heart valves are damaged.
Conventional medical treatments may help relieve the symptoms of polychondritis but they do not address the root of the problem. Generally, by undergoing comprehensive natural medicine testing, the reasons the body is producing antibodies against itself can be found. Some of these reasons include sensitivities or allergies to foods, inhalants and chemicals and various infections.
Discover why we believe that natural medicine treatments are the best way to treat polychondritis.
