Arthritis prevention starts Today

What is arthritis? Arthritis is an inflammatory disease caused by swelling and tenderness of the joints due to inflammation in the blood. Most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. “ Osteoarthritis causes cartilage — the hard, slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they form a joint — to break down. Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the immune system attacks the joints, beginning with the lining of joints ( Mayoclinic.org). Symptoms are pain, stiffness, swelling, redness, and decreased range of motion according to Mayoclinic.org. Check for joint injury or infection. Past joint injury causes osteoarthritis as well as trauma. The immune system attacking itself cause rheumatoid arthritis. Gout is the third type that can develop.

How can you heal arthritis or manage it? Accupressure, acupuncture, yoga, peppermint essential oils, massage, herbal juicing for rheumatoid arthritis due to it being an autoimmune disease. The focus of treatments are usually to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. But what about solving the underlying problem of pain, joint stiffness, and more. The goal is to get range of motion back and deal with the pain and stiffness as well as discomfort. Trying to replenish the cartilage or reducing the grinding of the cartilage might help for osteoarthritis. Tai chi as a martial art helps.

Is there a behavioral component with accupressure? How does arthritis affect people mentally? There can be a behavioral component of Depression that develops as well as behavioral symptoms that affect our healthy eating habits but nothing serious as developing mental illnesses except for Depression. The Depression adds added feelings of pain and a lack of energy and motivation to go about reducing one’s pain.

WHO develops it? The risk increases with age. Women are more likely for rheumatoid and men for gout.

When is the pain a problem? When the cartilage is damaged and their is grinding or if it affects our daily lives. When obese it adds stress to the body.

Where is it most common and severe? Knees, hips, spine, and hands.

Modifiable and non modifiable characteristics include physical activity, mental activity, and diet.

Why are you writing it and why should I care? My mom has arthritis and I am scared I will also get it in the future. I want to help my mother as well as find a solution for my fear. Some type of arthritis runs in the family. I also have a previous joint injury from my osgoodschleiders when I was younger.

Rheumatoid Athritis and Gut Health is the next Blog Article that follows this Month