Arthritis is a condition in which the joints become inflamed and irritated. The cartilage that protects the ends of bones becomes damaged. This can lead to pain, swelling, and stiffness of the joint.
Arthritis affects the large bones of your body including your spine, hips, knees, and ankles. It can also affect smaller bones like your fingers and toes.
The major types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, and psoriasis.
Arthritis can be both acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term). Acute arthritis occurs suddenly as an episode of joint pain with swelling, redness, and heat in a single joint. Chronic arthritis occurs over time and is characterized by persistent joint stiffness and limpness that persists for more than two weeks after an acute attack.
[Note: If you want to know more about arthritis, reach out to a doctor. There are many different types of arthritis. Based on your condition, you should ideally connect with specialists. So, for gout, seek the best gout treatment in Kolkata. For other joint problems, seek the top arthroscopy treatment in Kolkata. In all, consult a specialist for more information and personalized assistance.]
Protecting against arthritis
Now there are several risk factors for arthritis. To stop your arthritis from progressing and getting worse (or to reduce your risk of arthritis), the key here is to eliminate or minimize these risk factors.
If you’re already showing signs of this disease, a significant part of your treatment, in addition to addressing the direct symptoms, will be focused on managing risk factors. In case, you’re still in good orthopedic health but you’re in the at-risk population for having this disease, your doctor will guide you to manage your risks so that the onset of possible symptoms is delayed or mitigated.
What are the risk factors for arthritis?
Here are some of the common risk factors for arthritis:
- Age. You are more likely to develop arthritis as you get older.
- Gender. Women are more likely than men to get arthritis later in life.
- Family history. If a parent, brother, or sister has arthritis, you may be at increased risk as well.
- Injury or trauma. High-impact sports such as football and basketball have been linked to an increased risk of developing arthritis later in life.
- Obesity, smoking, and high blood pressure also increase the chances of developing joint problems later in life.
- Sedentary lifestyle. Sitting down for long periods can lead to back pain, neck pain, and muscle strain. The longer you spend sitting down, the higher your risk of developing arthritis.
- Smoking. It increases the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
Continue reading: How Can You Stop Arthritis? (Part 2/2)