Saturday, April 14, 2012

Facts and Treatments for Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is also known as degenerative joint disease, and it is the most tasteless type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when there is a breakdown of cartilage in the joints. It can affect any joint in the body, but it ordinarily occurs in weight bearing joints such as the hips, knees, and spine. In addition, it also routinely affects fingers, thumbs, toes, and the neck.

Finger Joint Swelling

Who is affected?

Osteoarthritis affects about 21 million Americans. Most citizen are at an increased risk for developing osteoarthritis as they get older, but it is foremost to perceive that even citizen in their 20s and 30s sometimes design this condition.

The symptoms of osteoarthritis include:
Pain after overuse (or after lengthy periods of inactivity) Joint swelling Joint fluid accumulation Sore, aching joints (particularly with movement) Bony enlargements in middle and end joints of the fingers (these are sometimes, but not always, painful) Causes of Osteoarthritis

One of the former causes of osteoarthritis is the aging process. Over time, the water article of cartilage increases, but the protein combination of cartilage gently begins to degenerate during this time. It is a natural health of aging that nothing can be done to reverse.

In increasing to aging, however, there are other factors that lead to the improvement of osteoarthritis in some people.
Genetics Being overweight Injury to the joints Too much stress on the joints Repetitive use of joints Interestingly, women are much more likely to design osteoarthritis than men, particularly after the age of 50. Men who are under the age of 50, however, are more likely than women in the same age group to design this condition. Researchers have still not uncovered any requisite clues that might shed some light on why this seems to be the case, however.

There are also some diseases that can put citizen at a higher risk for developing osteoarthritis. Acromegaly and hemachromatosis are two of these. Acromegaly is a metabolic disorder in which there is too much growth hormone, which causes the tissues to gently enlarge. Hemachromatosis is a disorder that interferes with the body's capability to break down iron, resulting in too much iron absorption from the intestines.

Treatment Options

While osteoarthritis is not curable, there are some effective treatments that are routinely prescribed to patients with this condition.
Prescription medications - such as anti-inflammatories, acetaminophen, Celebrex, and corticosteroid injections. Weight control Exercise Physical therapy Natural (alternative) therapies - such as massage therapy, acupuncture, aromatherapy, meditation, yoga, natural supplements. Of the medicine options available, exercise and weight control are believed to be the most effective because of the long-term good health effects that are achieved through regular exercise and maintaining a healthy body weight.

Exercise, in particular, helps to improve joint movement and strengthens the muscles surrounding the joints. Swimming and walking are two of the most ordinarily recommended exercises for those who suffer from osteoarthritis because these activities are the least stressful on the joints.

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