We all have read or, in some form, experienced Arthritis. We may have seen our closed ones suffer from the debilitating condition or have experienced one yourself. Either way, the common knowledge, it impacts the normal day-to-day activities and can restrict body parts’ movements essential in our daily functioning. We all have seen or gone through modifications inside our home and introduced therapies to lower the pain, but do they help? I was recently diagnosed with a mild form of arthritis in my wrist alongside Carpal tunnel syndrome.
My in-law’s side, the condition is more prevalent. To understand science and minimize the pain somehow, I started digging my resources” Google.” There is a lot spoken about this condition, hence I just highlighted the key points and have referenced below some great resources on it. Also, I have added an article on “Food that can reduce inflammation.” I found it great cause” altering our food habits” is the least we can do to mitigate the pain associated with the condition. This can reduce our dependence on high dosage “Pain Killers” too.
Some food types that I have already mentioned in my blogs are
What is this condition?
In short, Arthritis is an inflammation of joints. Single or multiple joints can be impacted. Osteoarthritis results in the patient experiencing swelling, pain, and stiffness in the joints. Arthritis commonly kicks older individuals above 50 years of age. Sometimes the younger population can also suffer due to autoimmune disorders. Arthritis is defined by the collapse of cartilage, the robust but flexible tissue that covers the ends at the joints of the bone. It allows stable joint movements. Several parts of the body can be affected, most often the hands, shoulders, spine, knees, or hips.
There are over several types of rheumatic diseases, but the two most well-known arthritis kinds are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. My mom has arthritis in her knees and hands; my dad has inflammation in the spine. My husband’s side of the family has some osteoarthritis, mostly impacting the knee joints.
As per NIH, Osteoarthritis is most typical in middle age or late adulthood because the joints’ cartilage begins typically to thin as people age. However, it can occur earlier in life, especially after injuries affecting the joints, such as a type of knee injury called an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. People who are overweight or whose activities are particularly stressful to the joints are also at increased risk of developing osteoarthritis.
Some studies have indicated that Arthritis is an acquired condition. It can be spontaneous, but mostly it is hereditary. It can run in families, so you may be more likely to develop arthritis if your parents or siblings have the ailment. The genetic side can make someone more susceptible than other factors. The genetic changes can also combine with environmental and lifestyle factors associated with osteoarthritis risk, such as obesity and activity that places excessive stress on the joints.
With all the literature on arthritis and the hereditary link associated with it, scared me. As a mother to my two beautiful daughters, I started modifying the lifestyle risks. I started researching how this “Life impacting” condition can be altered or the risks can be minimized.
I came across the article that I had scooped, which talks about “How food can help us reduce inflammation.” I have mentioned in my blogs many food types that are excellent in minimizing inflammation. Let’s take a look at this article too.
The following article outlines some foods that Fight Inflammation Caused by Arthritis
References/Resources
https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/osteoarthritis#genes
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-arthritis-hereditary/
https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/juvenile-idiopathic-arthritis
