12/10/2024
The World Arthritis Day, observed on October 12 every year, is all about raising awareness among people worldwide about the existence and impact of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, often referred to as RMDs.
What is Arthritis?
In simple terms, arthritis is an inflammatory joint disorder that affects the tissues in your body around the joints as well as other connective tissues, ultimately causing joint pain, stiffness and difficulty in movement.
RMDs are a diverse array of diseases that commonly affect the joints, triggered by problems related to the immune system. In severe cases, it can even lead to significant disability.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are over 100 different forms of arthritis and its related diseases. Among its most common types include rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
Causes and Symptoms:
Some of the most common symptoms include pain and stiffness in joints. Apart from these, some patients also complain about redness as well as decreased range of motion of the joint.
The risk for this disease increases with age and obesity, while there have also been cases of family history. Some people also complain about heat and swelling in joints.
There are several self-care tips to manage arthritis pain:
• Keep a check on your BMI as excess body weight usually ends up stressing the joints leading to pain.
•Following a balanced diet allows your body to function normally and keeps you away from several diseases. Those having arthritis should try and eat more anti-inflammatory food items like green leafy vegetables, legumes, berries, nuts, ginger and others.
•Also, it must be noted that Vitamin D and calcium play a significant role in the overall health of your joints.
•Performing exercises like walking, cycling and swimming allows you to reduce joint stress.