Urban lifestyle fuels unhealthy eating patterns and inactivity, and is leading to nutritional deficiencies and obesity, which causes and aggravates bone and joint diseases.
People with rheumatoid arthritis wake up with stiff and painful joints, but experience an easing of pain as the day progresses.
At least one in four men and women in India have varying degrees of bone and joint degeneration after 50, with age-related wear and tear, injury, obesity, osteoporosis and rheumatism being the leading causes of pain and restricted movement.
If Left untreated, arthritis can severely impact the quality of life, causing irreversible damage to muscles and bone structure. Severe symptoms can even affect the functioning of organs and lower life expectancy.
Urban lifestyle fuels unhealthy eating patterns and inactivity, and is leading to nutritional deficiencies and obesity, which causes and aggravates bone and joint diseases. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are common in India, especially among the overweight and people above 50-60 years.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that starts appearing in the 40s, usually in women with a family history of the disease. The symptoms of both, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, are similar—painful and swollen joints. But, rheumatoid arthritis causes more disability in the smaller joints such as fingers and toes.
Pain from osteoarthritis, caused by joint overuse injuries, is usually milder in the mornings but becomes acute with continued use of the affected joint. People with rheumatoid arthritis wake up with stiff and painful joints, but experience an easing of pain as the day progresses.
Treatment focuses on a combination of Nutraceutical therapies to relieve symptoms, improve joint function and preserve bone and joint health.
Treating arthritis and rheumatic conditions not only alleviates the symptoms, but also reduces bone damage and subsequent need for surgery. In many cases, lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, are all that’s needed to alleviate arthritic and rheumatic symptoms. For those who need it, a range of other medical options, such as injections, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to slow or stop the immune system from attacking joints, can treat and reverse the conditions. If the pain persists, painkillers such as paracetamol, tramadol and oxycodone, and hydrocodone preparations help relieve pain, while non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) lower, both, pain and inflacondition.
FROM AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR DR GOVIND SHUKLA, NUTRITION EXPERT
Govind Shukla, Specializes in Pharmacology, Toxicology, Nutraceuticals & Herbal Drugs has published More than 100 research papers in National & International Journals. He is also a reviewer of International Journal of Pharmacology & pharmacotherapeutics, Chief editor of IJPNR Journal & Freelance Medical Writer for Different publication Groups including Lambert Academic Publishing Saarbrucken, Germany.
