If I Had My Life to Live Again
Osteoarthritis (OA) is an age-related form of arthritis. OA is what's known as a degenerative joint disease, and information technology tends to occur most commonly in the hips, back, hands and feet. In the United states, over 32.5 million adults are living with OA, which has no known cure. However, sure activities tin can reduce your risk of developing OA, and there are steps yous tin can take to relieve the associated discomfort once you've been diagnosed with this health condition.
What Is Osteoarthritis?
OA is a painful joint affliction that occurs when the cartilage within a articulation starts to break down. Cartilage normally serves equally a shock-absorbing cushion between basic, and its breakup results in basic rubbing directly against 1 another during movement. This friction causes the bone to thicken, which can cause spurs (bony growths) to develop between joints.
Stiffness, pain and loss of motion may occur as the joint lining becomes inflamed after long-term cartilage breakup and spur growth. Over time, the abrasions betwixt bones that occur when they rub together may result in permanent articulation impairment.
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis
Symptoms of OA may vary from person to person. However, near people living with this condition tend to experience at least one of the following:
- Joint soreness
- Joint pain
- Joint stiffness post-obit periods of inactivity
- Morning stiffness that dissipates quickly
- Decreased range of motility
- Changes in posture, walking and actual coordination
- Pain in weight-bearing areas of the body, such as the knees, hips, spine and extremities
What Causes Osteoarthritis?
Equally a person ages, it's normal for their cartilage to lose its elasticity. All the same, intensive stress such every bit vigorous exercise can brand the cartilage break downwardly faster and make a person more likely to develop OA.
There are two types of OA: main and secondary. Principal OA is known equally the more common "wear-and-tear" OA and is usually associated with aging. Secondary OA may happen from a diversity of modifiable risk factors, including prior injuries, weight and genetics.
While the specific cause of OA is nonetheless unknown, there are several factors that can increase your risk 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 equally the "wearable-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 birth, particularly after the age of 50.
- Genetic predisposition: OA ofttimes runs in families. In addition, an individual with arthritis in ane area of their body is at an increased risk of developing OA in another surface area, such as their knees or hands.
- Past injury or articulation overuse: Prior sports or occupational injuries (such every bit physical labor, repetitive movement or frequent heavy lifting) can contribute to the evolution of secondary OA.
- Having other illnesses and deficiencies: People with other forms of arthritis take a greater gamble of developing the condition. In addition, deficiencies in certain hormones and vitamins C, D and E may too play a role in the development of OA.
Diagnosis & Testing for Osteoarthritis
To diagnose OA, your medico will outset take a thorough medical and social history in social club to build a complete motion picture of your condition. Included in this medical history will be a review of your past and nowadays symptoms.
Next, your dr. will perform a physical exam to bank check your joints for swelling, abnormal growths and changes in range of motion. Following the physical exam, you will likely undergo imaging, such as an X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Depending on the results of your imaging, your dr. can recommend a treatment protocol and activity adjustments.
Treating Osteoarthritis
There are no known cures for OA, just there are steps yous can take to prevent or alleviate the symptoms you experience:
- Weight control: For individuals with obesity, weight command may exist the best self-management technique to alleviate OA symptoms. Losing weight will aid alleviate additional stress on the joints.
- Physical action: Moderate exercise can strengthen the surrounding musculature of affected joint muscles and increase flexibility, thus reducing stiffness. However, it's of import to consult a physician for a specific exercise plan because overly vigorous exercise may worsen your symptoms.
- Medications: Your md may prescribe medication to help reduce joint inflammation and pain, ranging from topical creams to injections within the joint.
- Concrete therapy: Physical therapy tin target and strengthen certain muscles to increase flexibility, in turn helping joint mobility. Occupational therapy tin can also teach you how to manage your chore responsibilities without further stressing or damaging your joints. These therapies may employ braces or splints to aid you lead a more comfortable life with OA.
- Surgery: Surgery and joint replacement may be reasonable treatment options for more advanced cases of OA. During surgery, surgeons tin remove or repair damaged tissues, cartilage and os spurs. Y'all should consult your physician for the virtually ideal treatment pick.
- Diet: Antioxidant intake and vitamins C, D and East are helpful in counteracting inflammation. Eating a balanced and salubrious diet tin can also help ameliorate your body'southward natural anti-inflammatory abilities.
Resource Links:
https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/osteoarthritis
https://world wide web.mayoclinic.org/diseases-weather condition/osteoarthritis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351930
https://world wide web.versusarthritis.org/nigh-arthritis/conditions/osteoarthritis/
https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/osteoarthritis
https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/osteoarthritis.htm
Source: https://www.symptomfind.com/health/osteoarthritis-condition?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740013%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex
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