How to prevent arthritis?
Are you worn out with tenderness, pain, and immobility caused by arthritis? Our best rheumatologist in NJ is here to assist you regarding your joint problems.
Arthritis affects millions of people around the globe each year. Older adults are more susceptible to this disorder than young adults as joints become weak as a person ages.
Want to know how to prevent arthritis? Stick to the article. Today we will discuss arthritis, its symptoms, causes, and preventive measures you can adopt to manage the symptoms.
Introduction to Arthritis
Arthritis is a joint disorder characterized by pain, immobility, and stiffness in the affected area.
Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2016-2018, every 1 in 4 individuals in America encounter arthritis. Women are more prone to arthritis than males. People with a sedentary lifestyle are at greater risk of getting arthritis than people with an active daily regime.
Types of Arthritis
Arthritis can show up in many ways in a person. According to University of Michigan Health osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common of all:
- Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that causes the cartilage of joints to wear off with time causing stiffness, and immobility in the joints followed by pain. Weight-bearing joints like the hip, knee, and spine are mostly affected by osteoarthritis.
- While Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder in which the protective layer of joints is destroyed by immune cells. It occurs mostly in small joints like hands and feet.
Symptoms of Arthritis
The symptoms of arthritis prevail differently in people. Arthritis is a joint disorder. Hence, all the symptoms are related to joints. The most common symptoms a person may encounter include:
- Swelling around the affected area
- Immobility of the joints
- Feeling of ache
- Joint stiffness
- Inflammation
Uncommon symptoms of Arthritis
- Fatigue
- Weight changes
- Dizziness
What Causes Arthritis?
Arthritis is caused by various risk factors. Each of which has its role in inflammation of the joints. According to Healthline, the most common risk factors of arthritis include:
- Age: As a person ages, the joints start losing their mobility and become stiff. Older adults are at greater risk of getting arthritis than young individuals.
- Gender: Both men and women can get arthritis in their life. However, women’s joints often have more mobility due to factors during childbirth. Which may increase the risk of arthritis as compared to men.
- Family History: If anyone in your family has ever encountered arthritis. There is a chance that you may get it. However, it is not mandatory as sometimes arthritis genes don’t express themselves in the next generation.
- Joint injury: Any joint injury such as fracture or ligament displacement increases the risk of developing arthritis.
- Obesity: Excessive weight puts extra stress on weight-bearing joints leading to injury. As a result, arthritis can occur.
- Hormonal factors play an important role in the prevalence of arthritis. Women are more prone to arthritis than men due to increased levels of female hormones.
- Infections: The presence of bacterial or viral infections in a person can cause arthritis.
- Autoimmune conditions such as lupus or psoriatic damage joints and increase the risk of arthritis.
How to Prevent Arthritis?
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease that can cause severe damage to your joints. But its early detection and prevention can reduce the symptoms and your overall joint health. The best practices to prevent arthritis are:
- Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity increases stress on the joints which can lead to arthritis. Hence, maintaining a normal weight is important.
- Adopt an active lifestyle: Incorporate your joints into physical activities and stay active throughout your day to maintain joint mobility.
- Protect your joints from injuries such as fractures. If an injury occurs, ensure proper care and treatment to mitigate the risk of further complications.
- Nutrition for joint health: Eat foods good for joints such as seeds and nuts, olive oil, whole grains, cruciferous vegetables, and garlic.
- Quit smoking: The carcinogens in smoke are fatal for joints. So, avoid its use.
- Manage stress: Stress initiates pain in the joints that make the symptoms of arthritis worse. Hence, stress management is necessary to prevent arthritis.
- Regular health check-ups: In case of arthritis, one must consult a healthcare advisor and attend regular follow-up sessions to know joint progress.
- Stay hydrated: Drink at least 8-12 glasses of water every day to retain joint flexibility and lubrication.
- Avoid overuse of joints: Don’t involve your joints in extensive exercises as it can cause stress on the joints and make arthritis symptoms worse.
- Supplements for arthritis: Several supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega-3- fatty acids are essential in relieving arthritis pain.
- Therapies: If arthritis is not cured by medications and prevention then you can go for therapies. Viscosupplementation Injections are the best alternative to ease arthritis signs.
Commonly Advised Tests for Arthritis
If you feel stiffness, pain, and immobility in your joints. Your healthcare advisor may recommend one or more of the below-mentioned tests to diagnose arthritis.
- X-RAYS uses low-frequency radiations to visualize bone or cartilage damage. X-rays don’t detect early arthritis. However, it can tell the progression of the disease.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) does an in-depth analysis of soft tissues of bone such as cartilage, tendons, or ligaments to detect bone disorders.
- Ultrasound may help diagnose arthritis in the early stages of the disease.
Other lab tests include:
- ESR Erythrocytes sedimentation rate test is designed to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. In this procedure, the level of ESR of a person is measured. If ESR is high, it signifies arthritis. If ESR is low, it signifies no arthritis.
- Arthrocentesis A procedure in which a person’s blood, urine, or joint fluid is analyzed to detect bone disorder.
Connection of Arthritis with Other Body Parts
Arthritis is a versatile joint disorder that can occur in any part of the body at any age. However, there are several steps to minimize arthritis and its symptoms. Wondering how to prevent arthritis, in various body parts? Consider the following prevention strategies.
How to Prevent Arthritis in Hands
Hands are the most used body part which is why their proper functioning is very important. The best ways to prevent arthritis in the hands are:
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Quit smoking
- Do physical activity involving your hands
- Protect your hands from injury.
How to Prevent Arthritis in Feet
- Wear soft and comfortable shoes
- Avoid the use of high heels regularly
- Stretching exercises improve foot mobility.
How to Prevent Arthritis in Knees
- Physical activity such as swimming or cycling is important to prevent arthritis in the knees.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Exercise caution while lifting heavy objects, as they can cause significant strain to the knee joints.
How to Prevent Arthritis at an Early Age
Although adulthood is not the time to get arthritis, its prevention at an early age is necessary to protect yourself from aftereffects.
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Involve yourself in physical activities
- Limit the use of alcohol
- Quit smoking
How to Prevent Arthritis after Meniscectomy
The removal of knee cartilage using surgery is called meniscectomy. The preventive measures you should adopt after a meniscectomy is:
- Act on the advice of your healthcare provider.
- Adopt a healthy lifestyle involving a balanced diet and physical activity.
- Take proper medications.
- Slowly involve your knee in physical activities.
Exercises to Prevent Arthritis
Physical activity is also important for better joint health. As it keeps your joints healthy, it eases pain and increases overall mobility. The best exercises you can perform for arthritis are swimming, as it involves overall body movements incorporating your hands and feet, brisk walking, stretching, and cycling.
Conclusion
Arthritis is an inflammatory joint disorder that causes immobility in the joint, followed by pain. However, by knowing how to prevent arthritis, a person can manage the symptoms of arthritis effectively.
If your condition worsens over time, consult with an expert healthcare professional for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment for arthritis. Read more about arthritis on own website.
Meet Dr. Qaisar Usmani, a Board Certified Rheumatologist with over 20 years of experience in the field, currently serving as Section Chief at Monmouth Medical Center and GPHA, Inc. in Pennsylvania, specializing in the treatment of various Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal diseases.
Meet Dr. Sadia Ghafoor, a board certified specialist in rheumatology who completed her medical training at the University of Medicine and Dentistry School of Osteopathic Medicine and her fellowship in rheumatology at the State University of New York Stony Brook campus, with additional board certification in internal medicine.
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