More than 200 bones in the human body connect at respective points called joints, all of which play a vital role in our mobility. However, if one suffers from arthritis, they experience pain and inflammation in their joints, often making it difficult to move their body parts and function as they usually would.
Given that pain in their joints can negatively affect their quality of life, adults must learn to prevent arthritis.
Your loved ones shouldn’t have to deal with arthritis. As they age, they should move freely to enjoy happy and fulfilling lives. So, can you prevent arthritis? The answer is yes.
At Seasons Retirement, we are dedicated to ensuring your loved one lives a healthy and active life, regardless of their fitness level. Our professional staff will always be on hand to provide tips and support to help residents prevent or relieve the symptoms of arthritis and keep them healthy and happy.
In this article, we will discuss the primary factors you need to know about this condition that affects the joints, focusing on avoiding arthritis.
Arthritis is a medical condition or disorder that affects the joints of the human body.
With arthritis, there is the swelling and tenderness of one or more joints, which leads to pain and discomfort. While this condition occurs in people of all ages, its symptoms are more severe for older adults.
Furthermore, there are numerous kinds of arthritis, but osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common types. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage — a firm, smooth tissue that covers and protects the ends of the bones at a joint — breaks down. It is worth noting that this is the most common type of arthritis experienced by older persons.
Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease, and this type allows the body’s immune system to attack the joints, starting with the joint lining. Other types of arthritis include gout, ankylosing spondylitis, juvenile arthritis, and so on.
Predictably, most of the signs and symptoms of arthritis involve the joints. That said, the symptoms noticed in an individual depends on the type of arthritis, and they include:
It is important to note that these symptoms may be indicators of other illnesses.
To understand how to prevent arthritis, one must be aware of the factors predisposing them to the condition. The following are the risk factors of arthritis:
Some types of arthritis are hereditary. If your loved one’s family has a history of arthritis, they are more likely to develop the medical condition. Furthermore, research shows that some genes predispose people to arthritis.
Depending on one’s gender, they may be more vulnerable to certain arthritis types. For example, women are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than men. Meanwhile, gout, a different kind of arthritis, is more common in men.
As mentioned earlier, the severity of the symptoms of arthritis increases with age. The same applies to the likelihood of an individual developing the disease.
This is a common cause of osteoarthritis. People with a history of injuries in a joint are at risk of developing arthritis in that joint.
A certain level of body weight can strain joints, especially the knees, hips, and spine. It makes people with obesity more susceptible to arthritis.
Age affects the development of arthritis directly, and for this reason, older persons may want to take measures to try and prevent it. Seasons Retirement Communities are dedicated to helping residents achieve their health goals.
Some of the care programs and services at Seasons Retirement focus on stopping arthritis from progressing in older adults and improving the well-being of residents living with the condition.
Here, we’ll be discussing how to prevent arthritis in the hands and any other body part. Sometimes, even after a condition diagnosis, these measures can help slow down its progression. They are as follows:
Our loved ones should be given healthy meals at all times and can add elements to their diet to help reduce joint inflammation. Research suggests that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids can be essential in preventing rheumatoid arthritis in women. Fish, nuts, plant oils, eggs, and milk are some foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids.
At Seasons Retirement, our chefs and dining service teams are dedicated to providing each resident with delicious and healthy meals catered to their unique needs and preferences.
Engaging in physical activities is a great way to prevent arthritis. Moderate-intensity exercises like walking can help keep our joints in good shape while strengthening the muscles that support them. Moreover, these exercises help make the body less prone to injuries when done appropriately.
A certain level of body weight can lead to the breakdown of the cartilage covering the joint. Also, fat cells release cytokines — proteins responsible for inflammation in the body — and these proteins also cause an increased disintegration of cartilage in the joint.
Therefore, weight management is another way for your loved one to ensure they are less vulnerable to arthritis.
People with diabetes are more susceptible to arthritis. This is explained by the fact that blood sugar hardens cartilage, making it more prone to degeneration.
Furthermore, high blood sugar leads to inflammation in the whole body, and this can also cause cartilage damage. However, maintaining a low blood sugar level will keep cartilage strong, reducing the risk of developing arthritis.
If an older person feels pain in a joint and does not go away after a few days, they should see a physician. Early diagnosis of arthritis is essential to slow down its progress, as more harm may occur to the affected joint if left unattended.
If you are caring for an aging loved one, you now have some tips about how to prevent arthritis in older adults, as well as the factors that predispose people to the condition.
Seasons Retirement offers its residents a wide range of care services and programs. These programs are in place to ensure that residents enjoy good physical and mental health to live their best life.