Let’s Fight Against Arthritis

Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints, causing pain, and stiffness that worsens with age. Arthritic pain is a common problem that often leads to poor quality of life, as it limits the ability of a person to perform functional activities. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis. Other rheumatic conditions include; fibromyalgia, gout, and rheumatic arthritis. However, arthritis is a term used to describe over 200 conditions that affect the joints and the other connective tissues. These are further split into seven groups: inflammatory arthritis, degenerative or mechanical arthritis, soft tissue musculoskeletal pain, back pain, connective tissue disease, infectious arthritis, metabolic arthritis.

Causes and risk factors of arthritis

The causes of arthritis usually depend on the type of arthritis. However, some of the major factors that may play a role in arthritis are: abnormal metabolism, genetics, infections, injury, and dysfunction of the immune system. Other than these common causes, there are also certain risk factors that can contribute to the onset of the disease. A few factors include:

1. Age: Most forms of arthritis are common in older people, as the risk of developing arthritis increases with age.
2. Obesity: Being overweight or obese can force the body to exert more pressure on the joints and thereby cause the wear and tear of the protective cartilage between the joints.
3. Job factors: Jobs that involve continuous physical movement or heavy lifting, can cause stress in the joints, which can lead to arthritis.
4. Gender: Some types of arthritis only affect men, while a few only affect women. However, the condition is most commonly seen in women than in men.

Reducing the risk of arthritis

There is no way you can completely prevent arthritis, however, you can follow certain measures to reduce the risk of developing arthritis. This means taking appropriate measures to keep your joints healthy.

1. Maintaining a healthy weight: Excess weight puts pressure on joints like that of our hips and knees.
2. Exercise: Though an inordinate amount of physical activity can stress your joints, staying inactive can also trigger arthritis. So exercising regularly in moderation can help to strengthen your muscles that will also act as a support for your joints.
3. Controlling your blood sugar level: High blood sugar level can stiffen tissues that support the joints.
4. Quit Smoking: Smoking stresses the tissue that protects your joints. So avoid smoking for healthy joints.
5. Follow a healthy diet: Include foods like Omega 3 fatty acids/ fish oils, nuts, and seeds, whole grain, olive oil, garlic and root vegetables, and more to keep your joints healthy.

Treatment for Arthritis

Our experts at Apollo Spectra Hospitals, provide various effective multidisciplinary healthcare options to treat arthritis, ranging from pain management therapies, simple non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and advanced non-surgical and surgical interventions like arthroscopy. Early diagnosis is important to reduce the complications and to maintain a good quality of life. So please consult the specialists at Apollo Spectra Hospitals if you notice any symptoms of arthritis.