Adopt a healthy lifestyle to avoid arthritis.
The day helps play a vital role in encouraging people, government and medical experts across the globe to create awareness about arthritis.
World Arthritis Day is annually observed on October 12. The day marks awareness about arthritis, its impact on one’s life and educating people about the symptoms, preventive measures and early diagnosis to cope with any further complications. The day helps play a vital role in encouraging people, government and concerned medical experts across the globe to create awareness and better opportunities for the people affected by arthritis. The theme for this year’s World Arthritis Day is: “Living with an RMD at all stages of life.” It is a global call to remind that Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMDs) is a lifelong journey that impacts the patient’s life and their caregivers, thereby reducing quality of life.
On World Arthritis Day, Dr Bharat Goswami, Orthopedic Specialist at Fortis Hospital, Greater Noida explained that arthritis is a joint-related disease due to which the joints of the body start getting damaged. He said that there are two types of arthritis – the first primary arthritis called osteoarthritis and the other one is rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, and infective arthritis. “Generally, the term arthritis is used for primary arthritis. This disease occurs with increasing age and the joints start degenerating and deterioration of knee cartilage is called osteoarthritis,” Dr Goswami added. He also mentioned that most cases of osteoarthritis are related to knees in India, whereas in the West it is seen on the hip joint.
Dr Goswami also added that after the age of 40 to 45, people’s knee cartilage gradually starts decreasing and if not taken proper care, then it may take the form of arthritis. He also stressed that after the age of 40, everyone is at risk of arthritis. He also noted that people who follow a good routine which includes exercising regularly with a balanced diet filled with nutrients can help to avoid the risk of having arthritis.
Arthritis can happen due to other factors as well including having a family history of arthritis. People who do not have good mobility in daily life are also at risk of the disease. Individuals with deficiencies of Calcium and Vitamin D also have a greater risk of having knee joint pain and can become arthritis patients at an early age.
Dr Bharat Goswami advised that people should adopt a good lifestyle to avoid arthritis. “Walk and exercise should be done regularly. Foods rich in Calcium and Vitamin D should be consumed. You can protect joints from damage by consuming turmeric with milk,” he added.
If you have pain in any joint of your body, immediately consult a doctor and get yourself examined.
