Osteoarthritis
The most frequent kind of arthritis is osteoarthritis. It affects millions, especially those over 60. Osteoarthritis may cause joint pain, stiffness, and reduced movement, lowering the quality of life.
Causes of osteoarthritis:
Osteoarthritis results from cartilage degeneration. Cartilage covers bone ends and allows them to move smoothly. Joint wear and tear can break down cartilage, causing osteoarthritis. Other osteoarthritis-causing factors include:
- Age: As joints wear down, osteoarthritis is much more prevalent among senior citizens. Age can weaken joint cartilage, making it more vulnerable to damage.
- Obesity: Weight can strain the hip bones, knees, and spine. Pressure accelerates cartilage breakdown, causing osteoarthritis.
- Joint injuries: Joint injuries like fractures or dislocations increase the risk of osteoarthritis. Over time, sprains and strains can cause osteoarthritis.
- Genetics: Osteoarthritis may be genetic. Several genes have been linked to this condition.
- Gender: After menopause, women have more osteoarthritis than men. Menopause hormones may affect joint health.
- Repetitive stress: Certain occupations and sports can increase the risk of osteoarthritis. Running and basketball players may develop knee or hip osteoarthritis.
- Other medical conditions: Osteoarthritis is linked to rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and lupus. Joint inflammation can cause the cartilage to break down over time.
Keep in mind that not everyone who has these risk factors will develop osteoarthritis and that osteoarthritis can develop due to a combination of these factors.
Symptoms of osteoarthritis:
Any joint in the body is at risk of developing osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease. Depending on the affected joint and its severity, osteoarthritis can cause a wide range of symptoms.
Pain: Osteoarthritis often causes joint pain. The pain can be dull or sharp, worsen with activity, and improve with rest.
Stiffness: Osteoarthritis causes joint stiffness. After inactivity or in the morning, stiffness improves overall with movement.
Swelling: Swelling and tenderness may result from osteoarthritis.
Limited range of motion: As osteoarthritis gets worse, it can make the joint less flexible and less able to move in different ways.
Crunching or popping sounds: A crunching or popping noise may be heard when an osteoarthritic joint is used.
Weakness: During physical exercise, an injured joint may feel fragile and unable to hold the body's weight.
Numbness or tingling: Numbness and tingling might occur around an afflicted joint from osteoarthritis in its more severe forms.
Osteoarthritis' Adverse Effects :
Osteoarthritis, if poorly managed, can cause many complications. Common osteoarthritis complications include:
Chronic pain: Osteoarthritis-related persistent pain may lower quality of life. Pain may make regular tasks difficult, isolating, and depressing.
Reduced mobility: Osteoarthritis may reduce joint mobility and flexibility. This makes physical work harder and increases the risk of falling.
Disability: In extreme circumstances, osteoarthritis might disable the hips, knees, or spine. A disability may hinder jobs and everyday life.
Depression and anxiety: Pain and limited movement caused by osteoarthritis can make people feel sad and anxious. Mental health problems could make the symptoms and quality of life of people with osteoarthritis worse.
Sleep disturbances: Pain and discomfort that lasts for a long time can make it hard to sleep, which can make it harder to deal with osteoarthritis symptoms.
Joint damage: In serious cases, if osteoarthritis is not treated well, it can cause lasting damage to the joints. The following can lead to more problems, like inability or pain that doesn't go away: