Osteoarthritis is a joint condition. It is the most common chronic disease.
Cartilage is a protective tissue that is present at the end of the bones.OA is a condition that breaks down this cartilage tissue. Due to this, bones rub with each other in the joint.
Osteoarthritis can cause stiffness, pain and other issues in the joints.
Normally, osteoarthritis is a condition of old people. But it can occur at any age. There are various names of osteoarthritis. Wear-and-tear arthritis, degenerative arthritis, and degenerative joint disease are some other names.
In the United States of America, around 30 million people are affected by this disease.
What Causes Osteoarthritis?
Joints get damaged due to the destruction of cartilage. Over time, this damage grows more. This is why age is one factor that is counted responsible for OA. The older you are, the more affected you’ll be.
Here are some other causes of OA or joint damage:
- Ligament injuries
- Dislocated Joints
- Broken cartilage
Some other reasons that can cause OA includes poor posture and obesity. If your family history includes OA then there are more chances for you to be a victim of OA.
Osteoarthritis Symptoms:
As already discussed, it is a disease of joints. Therefore it can affect any joint. But some joints are at higher risk. The areas which joints are on higher risk includes:
- Hands
- Knees
- Lower back
- Fingertips
- Hips
- Lower back
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis:
Some symptoms can be alarming for you if you are a victim of osteoarthritis.
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Inflammation
- Tenderness
Over time conditions become more advanced and pain becomes more severe. You may see swelling over the surrounded area of the infected joint.
Severe Conditions:
OA has 5 stages. Stage 0 is the first condition and stage 4 is the last condition. Stage 0 is normal joint pain and stage 4 is the most severe condition.
If you are a victim of osteoarthritis stage 0. It doesn’t mean you will suffer stage 4 as well. You can recover from stage 0 by taking certain precautions and adopting good habits in your lifestyle.
You will face a severe condition of OA when you loose complete cartilage over a specific joint. Due to this condition, you will face severe symptoms including:
- Increased Inflammation and Swelling:
Synovial fluid aids in reducing friction while joints movement. But it can create swelling if generated in huge amounts. Pain may get more severe when broken fragments of cartilage float in synovial fluid.
- Increased pain:
In some conditions, you may feel pain while moving joints. But in severe condition, you will also feel pain while resting. Due to pain and stiffness in your joints, you will limit your joint movements.
- Joint Instability:
Your joints will become unstable. You will prevent sudden movements. Your joints will become weak and moving rapidly can cause injury. Your bones will spur due to bone weakness.
Treatments can reduce pain and growth of Osteoarthritis. But some conditions are not recoverable neither revisable. So take care of your bones and joints.
Osteoarthritis Treatment:
It is a very slow-developing disease. This is why mostly it is only diagnosed when it causes pain. MRI scan or Xrays are taken to diagnose OA.
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OA is treated according to its severeness and location. Some joints are more recoverable and some are less. Lifestyle changes, a healthy diet, and proper treatment can prevent this disease.
You can get relief from swelling, stiffness, and pain by following the instructions of your doctor.
Here are some treatments:
Exercise:
Daily exercise can keep your all joints moving. It increases the strength of bones and muscles. You can use bone broth powder to make bone broth instantly. This bone broth can be used as a pre or post-workout drink.
Daily exercise can relieve stiffness. 20 to 30 minutes of exercise is recommended daily. Yoga and Tai chi can also improve stiffness in your joints.
Reduce Your Weight:
Being overweight is not good for health. Your bones bear more weight and become weaker. Reducing weight and getting rid of extra pounds can relieve pressure on your bones and reduce pain.
If you are following keto diet to reduce weight, you can add bone broth keto in your diet. It will improve the quality of your bones.
Some other Tips:
- Cold and heat therapy.
- Consume foods or supplements contain Vitamin D and C.
- Eat healthy foods.
- Adequate sleep.
- Prevent sudden movements.
- Take proper medications.
Conclusion:
Osteoarthritis is a very painful chronic condition. Proper precautions can prevent it and if you are in the early stages, take it seriously. Consult doctor, follow home remedies and take proper medications.
Preventing this disease is far better than curing this disease. Eat healthy foods to stay healthy and fit. Ignoring facts can cause you serious harm.
