Overview of Arthritis:

Today people suffering from arthritis can effectively manage their disease and live life to the fullest. However prevention of the disease is another matter. The rheumatoid arthritis (RA) results in inflammation of the membranes or tissues lining the joints. You cannot prevent any type of this disease. The other types of this disease are: osteoarthritis, adult-onset arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. There are no pre-determined causes of this disease.

People at the risk of rheumatoid arthritis should understand that no medications or lifestyle modifications exist that can totally prevent the onset of this disease. But by controlling your weight, changing your diet and indulging in moderate exercise can reduce or stop the progress of the disease. You can take measures to manage arthritis only after it is diagnosed. Till you are not certain if a specific bacteria or viruses can cause the disease, simply by being in touch with the people suffering from it will not affect your risk of suffering from it.

Conventional medications use medications and physical therapy to control the disease. But a large-scale research into nutrient intake indicates right diet and supplements can improve the body’s healing processes. Lifestyle changes also play a big role.

Causes of the Disease:

Accidents suffered by the joints or excessive use is responsible for certain types of arthritis. Genetic factors can also make you more susceptible to the disease. However there is a need for more research to determine the effects of these factors on the cause of this disease.

Some people are born with the natural tendency to suffer from degenerative joint disease due to different structure of the vital protein-building blocks in the articular cartilage, covering the joint surface. Though small, but important deformities make their joints susceptible to wear and tear. Joint injuries can also give rise to DJD.

There are no foods that have conclusively been proved to aggravate arthritis in many people. Plenty of diets and simply hearsay information is prevalent about some foods and arthritis, especially the night shade plants, but it is yet to be proved.

One of the rarest types of arthritis called Spure occurs due to allergies to the wheat products. Stopping consumption of these foods will cure the disease. But it can also cause weight loss, diarrhea and osteoporosis. Talk to your doctor if this is a problem for you.

Some precautions can be taken to limit your risk of contracting specific types of arthritis or minimizing disability if you suffer from arthritis.

Arthritis is more prevalent amongst overweight and obese people. Extra weight raises the risk of osteoarthritis in the knees, and in few cases, the hips and hands. Women are more prone to this disease. Men with extra weight have increased the chances of suffering from gout. Maintaining your recommended weight will prevent the onset of this disease or providing relief.

Arthritis Prevention Programs:

The Center for Disease Control has brought out certain programs to minimize the occurrence and effects of the disease. It has chalked out a plan to understand the problems of the arthritis and allows you to completely understand the preventive measures. It has designed the plan to minimize the onset of arthritis and its crippling effects by concentrating on these 3 areas:

1. Surveillance, epidemiology and prevention research to make the scientific base strong.
2. Communications and education to make people more aware and offer correct information about the disease.
3. Programs, policies, and systems offering better quality of life for arthritic patients and providing arthritis prevention measures.

The Center is still collecting scientific evidence about the benefits of physical activity. Proper diet minimizes the risk of gaining weight, good nutrition is important in avoiding knee osteoarthritis. Moderate physical activity is necessary to keep the joints in the good health.

Source: Arthritis Info 4 U