ARTHRITIS.....THE TENSION FOR OLD PEOPLE.......

 Hello everyone! Today I will talk about a problem which is very common in old people. Yes! It is about Arthritis. You may be thinking what it is… So without any delay, let's get started!!!

Well, what is Arthritis? In brief, it is problem of joints. What are the joints?? They are a specific point where two or more than 2 bones meet. It is majorly constructed of cartilage which is a type of tissue covering the joints. If you want to learn more about joints, then ask in the comments and I will write on that as well. Back to the topic. Arthritis. So, Arthritis is the swelling of one or more of your joints. The principal manifestations of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age and that is why most old people have pain in their joints. The most prevalent types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The following are some reasons or risk factors of arthritis:

Family history:- You have high chances of developing arthritis if your sibling or a parent previously was afflicted with the same problem.

Previous joint injury:- It is the most common cause of arthritis and you have higher chances of developing it if you previously had an injury(a serious one).

Age:- Old people are more likely to develop Arthritis. It can be said that arthritis is an age factor.

Gender:-As I told before that there are 2 main types of arthritis. Males are the afflicts of osteoarthritis whereas, women have rheumatoid arthritis.

Obesity:- Obesity refers to people who are overweighted and have a  30.0+ BMI.( for details check my blog on weight below)

COMPLICATIONS:-

Severe arthritis, particularly if it affects your hands or arms, can make it difficult for you to do daily tasks. Arthritis of weight-bearing joints can keep you from walking comfortably or sitting up straight. In some cases, joints may become twisted and deformed.

TYPES OF ARTHRITIS:-

Osteoarthritis: - It is mostly found in males. It is strongly associated with aging and is a major cause of pain and disability in older people. Its targets are Hips, Knees, PIP, and DIP joints of the hands, neck, and lumbar Spine. It rises progressively with age and is reported in 45% knee and 25% in Hip OA. It is mostly reported in women except for the hips, where men are equally affected. Although some patients are asymptomatic, a lifetime replacement of hip and knee OA is reported in aged 50,11% in women and 8% in men.

Rheumatoid arthritis:- In rheumatoid arthritis, the body's immune system targets affected joints, which lead to pain and swelling.  In some people, the condition can damage a wide variety of body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels. An autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body's tissues. Unlike the wear-and-tear damage of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity. The body's immune system attacks the lining of the joint capsule, a tough membrane that encloses all the joint parts. This lining (synovial membrane) becomes inflamed and swollen. The disease process can eventually destroy cartilage and bone within the joint.

GOUT:- It is an inflammatory disease that is caused by the deposition of monosodium urate monohydrate crystals and is around synovial joints. Levels are higher in men, increase in age, and are associated with red meat.  It also happens with people who are having high serum uric acids(SUA). Gout has become more common over recent years, with increased longevity and the higher prevalence of "Metabolic Syndrome"(  I have also discussed it in another blog)of which hyperuricemia is an integral component. It increases as the intake of red meat, seafood, and offal is increased. 

TREATMENTS:-

ORAL:-  You can intake the following to treat yourselves from arthritis:-

NSAIDs

Disease-modifying agents.

Xanthine Oxidase inhibitors

OTHER  TREATMENTS:-

Relinquish smoking and Alcohol intake.

Reduce Fructose intake.

Avoid omega 6 fatty acids ( eggs, poultry, and meats)

Follow a balanced diet and an organized lifestyle.

IMPORTANT:-

If the conditions become worse, then bone replacement may be required.

These complications are very complicated. Your health is the most precious thing and therefore it is your responsibility. Look after yourself.

Well, friends, so that was it. If anything is still misunderstood, you can ask me in the comments. Feel free to ask anything!! I would write my next blog soon. Till then, Bye!!!