Arthritis- the problem of joints. What is arthritis actually? How it’s diagnosed? What is its treatment? And how can you manage it? These are some of the questions this blog will answer. 

Arthritis is a disease associated with joint pain, swelling, and inflammation. Having a lot of other complications like restricted movement, reduced ability to work, weight gain, etc., it is something very commonly found in society. Arthritis has several types like osteoarthritis, juvenile, rheumatoid, gout arthritis, etc., each of which happens due to a particular cause. Before getting into the management, let us know about each type of arthritis. 

Osteoarthritis is when the cartilage in your joints gets broken. Juvenile arthritis, as the name suggests happens in children or young adults, when one’s own immune system attacks tissues surrounding the joint. High levels of uric acid in the blood cause gout. Rheumatoid arthritis is another autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the joint capsule. 

Symptoms of arthritis include joint pain, swelling, and inflammation. Apart from this, there will be reduced movement, and stiffness. It will feel worse in the morning or after long hours of sitting and sleeping. 

Diagnosis of Arthritis

If you have symptoms of arthritis, do visit a doctor. He/she will ask you about all of your symptoms and the problems you are facing. Also, a physical examination will be done. 

• He will check the mobility and the range of motion in your joints. 
• He/ she will check the swelling and tender areas around the problem area or joints.
• He/she will evaluate your overall health to have an estimate of all kinds of possible causes and symptoms. 

Imaging exams like X-Ray, MRI, or ultrasound can further reveal about arthritis and its causes.

• Fractures or dislocations can be the reason for your joint pain. 
• Breaking of cartilage can lead to osteoarthritis. 
• Joint injuries can be another factor.
• Soft inflammation can also be a symptom of the same.  

Are any blood tests done to detect arthritis? 

The answer is no. Unless there are symptoms of gout or rheumatoid arthritis, no such blood tests are done for arthritis. It is mostly a matter of evaluation, physical examination, and imaging exams that are done to have some insights. 

Treatment of Arthritis

 There is no standard treatment to cure arthritis. Also, the way of treating or managing arthritis depends on the overall health of the individual and the severity of symptoms due to arthritis. Mostly, the focus will be on reducing the symptoms. 

Types of treatments may include-

1. Medications- Medications will be given to reduce inflammation, pain, and swelling. It will usually be the formulations that will be anti-inflammatory and painkillers. 
2. Physical Therapy- Physical therapy can help in improving mobility or reducing stiffness. It will help you in adjusting your daily activities to manage your disease. 
3.  Injections- Certain drugs are injected to reduce pain and inflammation in the affected areas. Also, shots may be given to lubricate the joints. 

Surgeries- 

1. Fusion- Two or more bones will be joined to immobilize the joint. It will reduce the pain that was caused by movement. 
2. Joint replacement- In some cases, the affected joint is also replaced with an artificial joint. This will not affect the mobility and joint function will be the same. 

How to prevent or manage Arthritis? 

Prevention is always better than cure. To avoid any kind of health problems, it is very important to take care of your body. You are the controller and the only one who can keep you safe from any such diseases. Be careful of what you do, what you eat, and what you don’t do or eat. These small things can make a big difference in your life. Here are some tips with which you can prevent arthritis and a number of more diseases as well. 

• Do not smoke, drink or consume tobacco. 
• Maintain your body weight. 
• Have a balanced diet. Your diet must be according to your overall health and associated problems. 
• Don’t lift heavy. 
• Avoid joint injuries. 
• Being active is important. 

Foods to avoid if you are suffering from Arthritis 

Certain food items that are high in fat, sugar, refined carbohydrates, and salt can worsen the inflammation and other symptoms of arthritis. Therefore, anyone suffering from arthritis must acknowledge what he/she is having. Here is a list of foods you must avoid- 

1. Red meat- Red meats tend to have high saturated fats and this can increase the inflammation, pain, and swelling in your joints. 
2. High-fat dairy products- Some high-fat dairy products- like milk, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream can cause problems to the current condition but on the other hand, some dairy products like kefir and probiotics can also help you manage or reduce your arthritis symptoms. 
3. Omega-6 fatty acids- Omega-6 fatty acids, widely present in sunflower, canola, nuts, meat, soybeans, and corns, are known to worsen the problem of inflammation and swelling, hence, you should avoid having these in your diet. 
4. High salt intake- Though salt plays a role in a number of metabolic functions in our body but consuming a high amount of salt can lead to increased inflammation and develop a risk of rheumatoid arthritis. 
5. High sugar food items- Having cold drinks, sweet tea, candies, chocolates, fruit juices, or anything that has a high amount of sugar can potentially worsen your swelling. Therefore, one must avoid eating sugary food items. 
6. Fried Food- Like we already know, fried food tends to have more saturated fats as well as omega-6 fatty acids, and both of them can have an adverse effect on the inflammation and other symptoms of arthritis. 
7. Canned foods- High sugar or salt used in canned foods can eventually be a trouble for your not-so-easy-going life. Therefore, keep a distance from such canned food items. 
8. Alcohol- Alcohol can trigger the symptoms of arthritis and also can develop the risk of gout and other types of arthritis. However, some types of alcohol, particularly red wide have anti-inflammatory properties since they have anti-oxidants, so will be beneficial if consumed in an appropriate amount. 
9. Processed foods- Most processed foods like frozen meals and packed snacks have substances that can worsen your inflammation. Therefore, having such products is never healthy. 
10.  Refined carbohydrates- When grains are processed into white flour or rice, the process tends to minimize the nutritional value of the food item and the remaining product can trigger inflammation. 

Therefore, having a good diet is important if you want to manage your inflammation or other arthritis symptoms, else, it will only worsen the ongoing problems. 

You can also check out Getron Wellness’s range of products for arthritis. Our products will help you in the management and heal you fast!