KARACHI:
Osteoarthritis is a type of degenerative pain caused by ageing and pain in the joints. As one grows older, the cartilage that grips the joints begins to break down, causing the bones to collapse. Bone-on-bone action leads to inflammation of joints. However, the most commonly affected areas include hands, fingers, spine, usually in the neck or lower back, hips and knees. Sadly, in Pakistan, nearly everyone is suffering from this disorder. It is common to see at least one to two members of a family suffering from arthritis.
Who gets affected from Osteoarthritis? The chances of developing osteoarthritis increase with age. Many people above the age of 60 suffer from this disease to some degree, but the severity varies. Even people in their 20s and 30s can be patients of osteoarthritis. Among people above 50, women are more vulnerable to this disorder than men.
What are the symptoms of Osteoarthritis? They include joint pain, especially when moving; stiffness after overuse or after prolonged inactivity; and bone growth between the joints of the fingers which may or may not be painful.
How Osteoarthritis can be treated? The treatment focuses on symptom control. The type of treatment that will help the most depends on the severity of the symptoms and their location. Frequently, (OTC) medications, lifestyle changes, and home remedies are sufficient to provide relief from pain, stiffness and inflammation.
Prevention of Osteoarthritis: One may have some dangerous characteristics that cannot be changed, such as genetics and age. However, other risk factors can be controlled. Self-regulation can help reduce the risk of getting osteoarthritis. The body needs to be given support. For instance, an athlete or a gymnast must make sure that their body is taken care of well.
Syed Faaiz Ali
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2022.
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