All about Osteoarthritis And Women

You are not the only one who has been diagnosed with osteoarthritis . Many women past age 50 discover OA is the reason for their creaking knees, aching backs, and sore fingers. It seems like arthritis is taking control of our lives.

Arthritis "is the most prevalent form of disability." Primal Kaur MD is the Director of Temple University School of Medicine's Osteoporosis Center in Philadelphia.

In the U.S., one in five adults has osteoarthritis -- 24 million women and 17 million men, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Discover how degenerative bone disease benefits work.

Kaur is an arthritis specialist and says, "I am constantly telling people that their bodies are like cars, so there will be wear as we age." Men typically feel the onset earlier in life than women do, she says. "But after age 55, more women than men will develop it -- and women often have it more severely."

The Latest on Osteoarthritis. What Are You Doing?

Osteoarthritis, also known as "OA", is a disease that causes cartilage to become stiff. It's the rubbery cushion which covers bones and joints. As cartilage becomes more rigid and more damaged over time, it begins to lose its shock absorber properties. When bones start to rub against each other, the pain can begin.

Women tend to be plagued by osteoarthritis more than men. The risk of osteoarthritis is increased by inheritance. A defect in the genetic code that causes defective cartilage, or other joint problems can cause it. Kaur says that if your mother had too many knobby fingers you are more likely to get arthritis.

Additional risk factors include obesity, which places additional stress on your knees. This can cause cartilage to break down. Sports injuries, back injuries, and broken bones can cause damage to the joints. Osteoarthritis is a common condition.

WebMD is told by Kaur that "pain" is the most prominent symptom.

13 Tips: Rein in Your Osteoarthritis Pain

You don't need to live with osteoarthritis. You can make your life more enjoyable. Living well can be made possible by understanding your disease and taking steps to make it better.

1. Lose Weight. Obesity and overweight can cause extra strain on the weight-bearing joint. Weight loss reduces your risk of injury to other joints. This also improves your mobility.

2. Work on Your Diet. Talk to a dietitian if you are looking to lose weight. You can also boost bone strength with antioxidant and calcium supplements: vitamin D (400 IU per day) and calcium (1,100-1,200m daily). The bone protection of antioxidant vitamins C and E could also be possible.

3. Keep active. Exercise is the most effective treatment for osteoarthritis. Exercise can help you lose weight, increase flexibility, reduce pain, lift your spirits, strengthen your heart and blood flow. Water aerobics, shopping, and mall walking are all popular for their ease on joints. Even if exercise seems painful initially, you can keep going with it. Over time it will be easier and reduce your overall pain. Talk to your doctor first before you begin a new diet or exercise program.

4. Be Strong. Osteoarthritis can cause muscle weakness, which leads to greater pain. Exercises to strengthen your muscles can help ease pain and increase stability within your joints, reducing the risk of falling. You can also improve your range of motion by doing special exercises. To ensure you are doing the exercises properly, talk to your doctor or physical therapist.

5. Enjoy the moment. Your life shouldn't be about osteoarthritis. Enjoy life! If you are able to get your mind off of the pain you will feel better. Your mind can be diverted by hobbies, volunteering, or other activities. Talk to an occupational therapist if you have difficulty participating in your favorite activities.

6. Take adjustments. Make adjustments. You should ensure your spine is supported when sitting if osteoarthritis has developed. It means you need to sit down and read while sitting. Adjusting the height of your toilet seat and furniture can help if you have arthritis.

7. Both heat and cold are effective. Warm wax or paraffin, heating pads, heated packs, warm showers, and hot baths can all increase blood flow to reduce stiffness and pain. The use of cold packs to reduce inflammation can be helpful. People keep frozen vegetable bags or bags of ice (like peas), on hand. These cold packs can be wrapped in towels and easily mold to the shape of a sore knee joint.

8. Give yourself a break. Overexerting yourself can make osteoarthritis worse. When you feel the need, it is important to take a step back and slow down. Pay attention to what your body is telling you and stop doing it.

9. Get lots of ZZZs. Good sleep makes your life better. Your body will be able to cope more effectively and you'll feel less pain. You can talk to your doctor or therapist if you are having difficulty sleeping. A better mattress, or a different sleeping position may be necessary. A different sleeping schedule may provide you with more relief from nighttime discomfort. To relax sore muscles, take a hot bath right before you go to bed.

10. Take a soothing massage. Americans rate massage for the treatment of pain equally to medications. A survey found that one in five Americans had received a therapeutic massage at least once last year. Three-quarters would also recommend the service to their friends and family. Massaging can help relieve pain and increase blood circulation to the areas that are affected.

11. Be responsible when using drugs. Tylenol and other non-prescription painkillers (NSAIDs), such as Advil, Aleve or Tylenol can help with osteoarthritis pain relief. It is important that you follow the label instructions when taking these medications. Kaur says that many patients only take 1 pill per day, and then complain about it not working. It is important to follow the instructions and take your medication every day.

Applying creams, lotions, or sprays on the skin may also be helpful in relieving pain. They can also be combined with oral painkillers. However, it is important to use them according to the instructions to get maximum results. Bengay and Icy Hot are some of the top nonprescription pain relievers.

12. Alternative Therapy. Alternative or complementary Therapies are often used when traditional pain relief methods don't work. The research shows that acupuncture may be able to relieve joint pain through the stimulation of natural, pain-relieving chemical substances in your nervous system.

Both chondroitin and glucosamine are both well-known supplements that can be used to treat arthritis. They are both natural compounds found in the joint fluid. They are believed to both increase cartilage formation and lower inflammation. Although there have been mixed findings, one study concluded that the supplement was not effective in mild osteoarthritis. However it did improve moderate-to-severe joint pain. A second study showed that glucosamine could slow down the progression of osteoarthritis at the knee.

Kaur suggests that you try chondroitin or glucosamine. Kaur says, "If this doesn't work it is one thing that you can remove from your to-do list."

13. You can use assistive devices. A cane, knee brace, or walker is a good option if you are feeling unstable and afraid of falling. Kaur explained that aidive devices are able to reduce pain and weight, as well make your feet more stable.

It is important to choose a cane that suits you. Learn how to properly use it. WebMD's Sheryl says that many people aren't able to choose the right length cane for them. It's not clear how to hold the cane or use it. It's not possible to use the cane with the same pain side as you do the cane. This side needs to be relieved.

Osteoarthritis is not the only thing that affects your life. It's because the better you understand how to manage your pain, the simpler you will manage your arthritis and live a full life.