ARTHRITIS
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatments
Diet
and exercise
Health
Equity
We believe in health equity—the
equal opportunity for everyone to live their healthiest life.
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is an
inflammation of the joints. It can affect one joint or multiple joints. There
are more than 100 different types of arthritis, with different causes and
treatment methods. Two of the most common types are osteoarthritis (OA) and
rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
The symptoms of
arthritis usually develop over time, but they may also appear suddenly.
Arthritis is most commonly seen in adults over the age of 65, but it can also
develop in children, teens, and younger adults. Arthritis is more common in
women than men and in people who are overweight.
What are the symptoms of arthritis?
Joint pain, stiffness,
and swelling are the most common symptoms of arthritis. Your range of motion
may also decrease, and you may experience redness of the skin around the joint.
Many people with arthritis notice their symptoms are worse in the morning.
In the case of RA, you
may feel tired or experience a loss of appetite due to the inflammation the
immune system’s activity causes. You may also become anemic — meaning your red
blood cell count decreases — or have a slight fever. Severe RA can cause joint
deformity if left untreated.
What causes arthritis?
Cartilage is a firm but
flexible connective tissue in your joints. It protects the joints by absorbing
the pressure and shock created when you move and put stress on them. A
reduction in the normal amount of this cartilage tissue cause some forms of
arthritis. Normal wear and tear causes OA, one of the most common forms of
arthritis. An infection or injury to the joints can exacerbate this natural
breakdown of cartilage tissue. Your risk of developing OA may be higher if you
have a family history of the disease.
Another common form of
arthritis, RA, is an autoimmune disorder. It occurs when your body’s immune
system attacks the tissues of the body. These attacks affect the synovium, a
soft tissue in your joints that produces a fluid that nourishes the cartilage
and lubricates the joints.
RA is a disease of the
synovium that will invade and destroy a joint. It can eventually lead to the
destruction of both bone and cartilage inside the joint.
The exact cause of the
immune system’s attacks is unknown. But scientists have discovered genetic
markers that increase your risk of developing RA fivefold.
How is arthritis diagnosed?
Seeing your primary
care physician is a good first step if you’re unsure who to see for an
arthritis diagnosis. They will perform a physical exam to check for fluid
around the joints, warm or red joints, and limited range of motion in the
joints. Your doctor can refer you to a specialist if needed. If you’re
experiencing severe symptoms, you may choose to schedule an appointment with a
rheumatologist first. This may lead to a faster diagnosis and treatment.
Extracting and
analyzing inflammation levels in your blood and joint fluids can help your
doctor determine what kind of arthritis you have. Blood tests that check for
specific types of antibodies like anti-CCP (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide),
RF (rheumatoid factor), and ANA (antinuclear antibody) are also common
diagnostic tests.
Doctors commonly use
imaging scans such as X-ray, MRI, and CT scans to produce an image of your
bones and cartilage. This is so they can rule out other causes of your
symptoms, such as bone spurs.
How is arthritis treated?
The main goal of
treatment is to reduce the amount of pain you’re experiencing and prevent
additional damage to the joints. You’ll learn what works best for you in terms
of controlling pain. Some people find heating pads and ice packs to be
soothing. Others use mobility assistance devices, like canes or walkers, to
help take pressure off sore joints. Improving your joint function is also
important. Your doctor may prescribe you a combination of treatment methods to
achieve the best results.
Medication
A number of different
types of medication treat arthritis:
Analgesics are
effective for pain management, but don’t help decrease inflammation.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) help control pain and inflammation. Salicylates can thin the
blood, so they should be used very cautiously with additional blood thinning
medications. Menthol or capsaicin creams block the transmission of pain signals
from your joints. Immunosuppressants help reduce inflammation.
If you have RA, your
doctor may put you on corticosteroids or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
(DMARDs), which suppress your immune system. There are also many medications to
treat OA available over the counter or by prescription.
Surgery
Surgery to replace your
joint with an artificial one may be an option. This form of surgery is most
commonly performed to replace hips and knees. If your arthritis is most severe
in your fingers or wrists, your doctor may perform a joint fusion. In this
procedure, the ends of your bones are locked together until they heal and
become one.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy
involving exercises that help strengthen the muscles around the affected joint
is a core component of arthritis treatment.
What lifestyle changes can help people with
arthritis?
Weight loss and
maintaining a healthy weight reduce the risk of developing OA and can reduce
symptoms if you already have it.
Eating a healthy diet
is important for weight loss. Choosing a diet with lots of antioxidants, such
as fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs, can help reduce inflammation. Other
inflammation-reducing foods include fish and nuts.
Foods to minimize or
avoid if you have arthritis include fried foods, processed foods, dairy
products, and high intakes of meat.
0Regular exercise will
keep your joints flexible. Swimming is often a good form of exercise for people
with arthritis because it doesn’t put pressure on your joints the way running
and walking do.
At-home exercises you can try
include:
The head tilt, neck
rotation, and other exercises to relieve pain in your neck
Finger bends and thumb
bends to ease pain in your hands
Leg raises, hamstring
stretches, and other easy exercises for knee arthritis
For Proper treatment visit your doctor or
Contact Lucy Active Natural Health Clinic (LANHC),
were we use holistic naturopathy approach to reverse and treat disease with the
use of physiotherapy, meta-therapy, massage, natural remedy, diet, e.t.c.
Dr. Lucy +2348133211086
