Living Well With Autoimmune Disease: What Your Doctor Doesnt Tell You ... That You Need to Know
Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related grade of arthritis. OA is what'south known as a degenerative joint disease, and it tends to occur most commonly in the hips, dorsum, hands and feet. In the U.s., over 32.5 million adults are living with OA, which has no known cure. However, sure activities tin can reduce your run a risk of developing OA, and there are steps you tin can accept to relieve the associated discomfort in one case yous've been diagnosed with this health condition.
What Is Osteoarthritis?
OA is a painful joint disease that occurs when the cartilage within a joint starts to break down. Cartilage normally serves as a shock-absorbing cushion betwixt bones, and its breakdown results in bones rubbing direct against one another during movement. This friction causes the os to thicken, which tin cause spurs (bony growths) to develop betwixt joints.
Stiffness, hurting and loss of movement may occur as the joint lining becomes inflamed subsequently long-term cartilage breakdown and spur growth. Over time, the abrasions between bones that occur when they rub together may outcome in permanent joint damage.
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
Symptoms of OA may vary from person to person. However, most people living with this condition tend to experience at to the lowest degree 1 of the post-obit:
- Joint soreness
- Articulation hurting
- Joint stiffness following periods of inactivity
- Morn stiffness that dissipates chop-chop
- Decreased range of motion
- Changes in posture, walking and bodily coordination
- Hurting in weight-bearing areas of the body, such equally the knees, hips, spine and extremities
What Causes Osteoarthritis?
As a person ages, it'due south normal for their cartilage to lose its elasticity. However, intensive stress such as vigorous exercise tin make the cartilage break downwardly faster and brand a person more than likely to develop OA.
There are two types of OA: chief and secondary. Primary OA is known as the more common "clothing-and-tear" OA and is unremarkably associated with aging. Secondary OA may happen from a variety of modifiable adventure factors, including prior injuries, weight and genetics.
While the specific cause of OA is even so unknown, there are several factors that can increase your take chances of developing this condition:
- Weight: Individuals with obesity are at an increased risk of developing OA, as their joints may feel stress due to increased weight-begetting.
- Age: OA is known as the "wear-and-tear" form of arthritis and is associated with increasing age.
- Anatomical sex at birth: OA affects people assigned female at birth more than those assigned male at nascence, particularly after the age of 50.
- Genetic predisposition: OA ofttimes runs in families. In addition, an private with arthritis in one surface area of their trunk is at an increased hazard of developing OA in some other area, such as their knees or hands.
- Past injury or joint overuse: Prior sports or occupational injuries (such every bit physical labor, repetitive motility or frequent heavy lifting) tin contribute to the development of secondary OA.
- Having other illnesses and deficiencies: People with other forms of arthritis have a greater risk of developing the condition. In improver, deficiencies in certain hormones and vitamins C, D and East may also play a role in the development of OA.
Diagnosis & Testing for Osteoarthritis
To diagnose OA, your doctor volition first have a thorough medical and social history in order to build a complete pic of your condition. Included in this medical history volition be a review of your by and present symptoms.
Adjacent, your physician will perform a physical test to check your joints for swelling, abnormal growths and changes in range of motion. Following the physical exam, you volition probable undergo imaging, such as an X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Depending on the results of your imaging, your md can recommend a treatment protocol and action adjustments.
Treating Osteoarthritis
There are no known cures for OA, merely there are steps y'all can accept to foreclose or convalesce the symptoms y'all feel:
- Weight command: For individuals with obesity, weight control may exist the all-time cocky-management technique to alleviate OA symptoms. Losing weight will aid alleviate additional stress on the joints.
- Physical activity: Moderate do can strengthen the surrounding musculature of affected joint muscles and increase flexibility, thus reducing stiffness. Nonetheless, it'south important to consult a dr. for a specific exercise plan because overly vigorous practice may worsen your symptoms.
- Medications: Your physician may prescribe medication to help reduce articulation inflammation and pain, ranging from topical creams to injections inside the articulation.
- Physical therapy: Physical therapy can target and strengthen certain muscles to increment flexibility, in plough helping joint mobility. Occupational therapy tin can also teach y'all how to manage your job responsibilities without further stressing or damaging your joints. These therapies may employ braces or splints to help you lead a more comfortable life with OA.
- Surgery: Surgery and articulation replacement may be reasonable treatment options for more advanced cases of OA. During surgery, surgeons tin can remove or repair damaged tissues, cartilage and bone spurs. You should consult your physician for the most platonic treatment option.
- Diet: Antioxidant intake and vitamins C, D and E are helpful in counteracting inflammation. Eating a balanced and healthy diet tin also assist improve your body'southward natural anti-inflammatory abilities.
Resource Links:
https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/osteoarthritis
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoarthritis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351930
https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/osteoarthritis/
https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/osteoarthritis
https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/osteoarthritis.htm
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Source: https://www.symptomfind.com/health/osteoarthritis-condition?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740013%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex
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