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Friday, March 20, 2009

What You Need to Know About Degenerative Osteoarthritis

By Borgon Trocepticlon

A common disease that occurs in old age is called osteoarthritis. As the name implies, osteoarthritis is a disease that affects the joints and cartilage of a person. Typically, it affects the knees, hands, and even neck. This occurs in both men and women, but there is a significant difference in the onset. For men, osteoarthritis occurs at an earlier age compared to women.

People with osteoarthritis often feel joint stiffening accompanied with pain. This occurs when the affected joints swell. The range of motion of the joint affected is also limited and if moved about, causes pain. Humid weather can aggravate the pain experienced by a person with osteoarthritis.

Pain is subjective and therefore differs in every person. It can range from tolerable to unbearable pain. Muscle spasms and contractions often accompany joint pain in osteoarthritis. This pain usually happens for a couple of hours but should not last for one whole day. If the pain is prolonged, prompt medical treatment should be given.

The pains of osteoarthritis can also be in a fluctuating manner. Sometimes, a patient will not feel pain for a couple of days and feels normal. There are also days wherein the pain felt is frequent and this is greatly affected by the change in temperature. Osteoarthritis in different joints can also manifest different kinds of pain and intensity, depending on the location.

Age is the most common factor associated with osteoarthritis. People who are in their 40s to 60s are often the ones affected with osteoarthritis. This happens because as people age, the bones and cartilages are getting weaker and can no longer meet the demands of strenuous physical work. There are also a lot of symptoms associated with osteoarthritis other than pain. Some of which are bony enlargements and formation of bones from cartilages.

Osteoarthritis can also be genetic in origin. If a family member is diagnosed with osteoarthritis, you are also at a greater chance to develop it. Necessary lifestyle modifications are important to prevent osteoarthritis. A regular exercise routine would be very helpful in preventing osteoarthritis. This means that a sedentary lifestyle should be changed to a more active lifestyle in order to maintain sound health.

Lifestyle modifications in the prevention of osteoarthritis do not stop with just having an active lifestyle. Obesity is also a major risk factor for osteoarthritis. People who are obese should start doing healthy methods to lose weight because it will help them to avoid serious complications brought about by osteoarthritis. One way of losing weight aside from exercise is eating a proper and balanced diet. Instead of eating foods that are rich in sodium and cholesterol, nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables should be taken.

Osteoarthritis is a serious condition that should not be neglected. Younger people who do not want to be diagnosed with osteoarthritis should take necessary preventive measures as early as possible. Osteoarthritis can cause pain that can't be tolerated by people who have a low threshold for pain. Although medications are available to relieve pain, other symptoms can't just be treated by simple medications. It needs prompt treatment and surgery if possible. - 17274

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