Even though it is not difficult to prevent Osteoarthritis, a lot of aging people still end up getting it.
Do you wonder why?
Check this out.
Do you know that Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis among older people?
Do you also know that Osteoarthritis is a disease that affects both men and women?
And that it is one of the most frequent causes of physical disability among older adults?
Before age 45, Osteoarthritis is more common in men,
but after age 45, it is usually more common in women.
So you might be wondering,
What causes Osteoarthritis in people?
The answer is simple.
Osteoarthritis usually occurs when the cartilage wears out and breaks down.
However, to fully understand why cartilage loss can be a serious issue,
which can make it very difficult for you to prevent Osteoarthritis,
You need to understand the;
Importance of Cartilage
I will tell you.
Cartilage is the tissue that cushions the end of your bones where they meet together.
This protects your bones and makes it easy for you to prevent Osteoarthritis.
What this means in simple English is that it allows the bones to glide over each other smoothly and fluidly.
Now, this is the juicy part,
Do you know that if your cartilage has worn away,
you would have a hard time moving your bones?
It usually causes bone on bone friction,
and in certain cases, intense pain.
It can also result in swelling, stiffness, or grinding in your joint.
So now that you know why cartilage loss can be a serious issue,
You should know in detail what causes Osteoarthritis.
What Causes Osteoarthritis
I have stated earlier that what usually causes Osteoarthritis is a result of the wear and tear of the cartilage.
So the question you might be asking is,
what then causes the wear and tear of the cartilage?
The first cause of cartilage loss is;
1. Obesity
According to physics, being heavier places more wear and tear forces on our cartilage and therefore causes arthritis.
The knee joints are particularly vulnerable to the effects of obesity,
and being overweight increases the load on knee joints by 2-4 times,
which usually leads to pain and arthritis,
and increases the risk for knee replacement.
It is always advisable for people to lose weight if they really want to prevent Osteoarthritis,
even if there has been some damage to the joint.
Shedding a few pounds can improve the symptoms and slow the progression of arthritis.
The second cause of cartilage loss is;
2. Trauma
Traumatic events such as a sports injury can injure the cartilage surface and potentially cause a weak spot in the cartilage.
This will make it very difficult to prevent Osteoarthritis.
If the weak spots are present,
the cartilage can break down faster with normal force.
While the damage to the cartilage may be small,
the cartilage will wear faster with weak spots.
So if you or your aging loved ones suffer from a traumatic event, it is advisable to take an oral antioxidant known as N-acetyl cysteine (NAC).
It will decrease the negative impact on the cartilage.
The third cause of cartilage loss is;
3. Joint Instability
When a person has injured ligaments (torn or stretched), it can cause joints to move around too much,
which can lead to joint instability.
As a result of continuous usage without treatment, this can slowly continue to injure the cartilage in the joint,
eventually leading to arthritis.
Soreness or swelling after activity may indicate joint instability.
In addition to it, if the instability is severe, one might experience sudden shifting, popping, or cracking.
Most of the time joint instability is overlooked by physicians,
looking for injured ligaments.
Joint instability, if not checked and treated,
can lead to arthritis.
The solution is to take injections like Prolotherapy, PRP, and stem cells.
They would help reduce instability whether the ligament is loose or torn.
4. Poor Nutrition
Nutrition has a powerful influence on not only your cartilage,
and musculoskeletal system but your entire body.
What you eat can either enhance,
or reduce the effect of the genes in your body,
that protect your cartilage.
If you or your aging loved ones engage in poor dietary habits,
it can lead to a lack of proper nutrition, and can cause major issues not only to your cartilage and musculoskeletal system,
but your entire body.
It will also make it very difficult for you to prevent Osteoarthritis.
The solution is to educate yourself.
It is essential to know what is good and bad for you and your aging loved one’s body,
which will help you know the kind of diet to eat that would enhance their cartilage health.
For example,
Glucosamine and chondroitin are known to preserve and protect the cartilage and slow the progression of arthritis.
Vitamin also helps to protect.
Additionally, resveratrol and vitamin are known for the protection,
and support of cartilage cells.
5. Lack of Exercise
Apart from leading to many other health issues,
lack of exercise can create problems with our joints.
The joints are for movement and
regular exercises always help to keep your cartilage healthy, and prevent Osteoarthritis.
Also, running may have a positive effect on normal, healthy cartilage.
It is always advisable to switch from high-impact exercises to low-impact exercises to protect existing cartilage.
However, if you have normal healthy joints, it is advisable to keep running and exercising regularly.
6. Aging and Genetics
Sadly, older patients seem to have less cartilage, and some people usually have the genetic makeup for weaker cartilage.
So while there isn’t much that we can do about our genes,
the solution is to ensure they are healthy by;
paying attention to eating healthy, exercising, limiting chronic exposure to environmental toxicants/chemicals,
better sleep and use of certain supplements, more love and laughter, and having a sense of purpose.
In addition, injecting PRP or stem cells into an arthritic joint will protect and improve the health of the cartilage from the effects of aging for some time.
It is not enough to know the causes of Osteoarthritis,
it is also important that you know how to prevent yourself and your aging loved ones from contracting it.
I will be revealing to you;
How to Prevent Osteoarthritis In Older Adults
1. Diet
Taking foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids will help prevent the development of rheumatoid arthritis among women.
Foods rich in omega 3 acids are;
- Fish such as salmon, tuna, and sardines
- Nuts and seeds such as; flaxseeds, chia, and walnuts
- Plant oils, which includes flaxseeds, soybean, and canola
- Fortified foods such as yogurts, eggs, and milk and supplements
Other foods can help to fight arthritis, they include;
- cherries, which have anti-inflammatory properties
- low-fat dairy, to improve bone density and strength of your aging loved one’s bones
- broccoli, which helps to build bones and slow the development of Osteoarthritis
- green tea, for antioxidants that give the cartilage protection
- citrus, which contains a good amount of vitamin C that helps prevent inflammatory arthritis
- garlic, that prevents cartilage damage
2. Exercise
Do you know that physical activity is one of the best ways to prevent Osteoarthritis?
Moderate intensity exercise five time a week help to keep the joints flexible,
and helps to strengthen the muscles that support them.
Exercise usually involves walking, doing chores around the house, or playing with children and pets.
However, your aging loved ones will only see results from working out consistently.
The difficulty level of exercise should be according to their age,
and fitness level.
Exercise always helps to strengthen the muscles that provide balance and stability,
which will come in handy as a result of injury to the joint being a common way osteoarthritis develops.
3. Weight Management
When a few extra pounds are added,
it may be overlooked,
but every pound added puts four extra pounds of stress on the knees and increases strain on the hips.
This pressure causes the breakdown of cartilage that helps cushion the joints.
You have to ensure that your aging loved ones are conscious of their weight and adopt healthy habits that help them manage it.
4. Quit Smoking
Do you know that people who smoke have an increased risk of Osteoarthritis?
Smoking has the possibility of causing breathing and circulatory problems, which can make it hard to stay active,
and as such, it can prevent movement such as exercise,
which helps to prevent joint flexibility and strengthen muscles that support the joint.
Smoking can also cause breathing and circulatory problems, which makes it hard to stay active.
It can prevent movement, such as exercise, which helps maintain joint flexibility and strengthens muscles that support joints.
5. Medical Consultation
If your loved one begins to feel pain in their joints, and it does not subside within a few days, they should visit a doctor for consultation.
Arthritis is a progressive condition, so if more time passes before treatment begins, there will be more damage to the joint.
Most of the time, doctors recommend medication to help relieve the pain and slow the progression of Arthritis,
and in some cases, they recommend surgery to relieve the pain or repair joints that are badly damaged.
The key to protecting your aging loved one’s cartilage as they get older is to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, exercise, and utilize regenerative options like PRP and stem cells.
These seem to be the best strategy to maintain healthy cartilage and decrease the pain associated with arthritis.
However, if you need help ensuring that your aging loved ones lead a healthy lifestyle,
Lovebird Home Care is willing to step in and ensure that your aging loved ones are well taken care of.
We offer personal services such as bathing, cooking, assistance with walking, eating, grooming, oral hygiene, and other services that will aid your aging loved ones to live a healthy lifestyle.
If you have questions on how we can be of help to your aging loved ones,
you can reach us by clicking here, and we will be sure to answer all your questions.